Nail psoriasis is a common condition for those with skin psoriasis, affecting from 10 to 50% of all patients. It can occur on both fingers and toes - but since toes can be hidden in socks and shoes for a large proportion of the day, fingernails are the real worry for many.

So what are the characteristics of nail psoriasis? The most noticeable textural difference is referred to as pitting. These are tiny, punched-in depressions (basically little craters on the skin). They look as though the nail has ’sunk in’ around those areas and are caused by psoriasis affecting the nail matrix, and changing the plate growth as a result.

Another common feature of nail psoriasis is when the nail grows thicker and crumbles at the ends. This is caused by the matrix splitting away from the nail plate, and is known as onycholysis. As the ends are whitish, the appearance of this can be particularly unpleasant, as it looks similar to nail fungus. (more…)

Windburn which, truth be told, is a misnomer. Yes, it looks like a burn. And it certainly feels like a burn. But it is really a drying effect. Windburn results from a combination of cold wind and low humidity, which depletes the oil layer on your skin. As you might have guessed, folks who live in warm southern climates are virtually immune to windburn, unless they take a trip north in the dead of winter. The condition is most likely to affect those who spend time outside in cold, dry, windy weather. And keep in mind that any exposed, unprotected part of your body is vulnerable, not just your face. A windburn can hurt just as much as a sunburn, but fortunately it is far less serious. It will usually fade away on its own in a couple of days, provided you take proper care of the affected skin. Here are some tips that you can consider to adopt to speed the healing process.

1. Bundle Up

When you head outdoors in wintry weather, every exposed part of your body needs to be covered. Wear gloves to protect your hands and a stocking cap or hood to protect your ears. Better yet, cover your entire head with a ski mask. (more…)

Some evidence suggests that a cause of varicose veins is constipation. The theory is that straining to pass feces during constipation raises the pressure in the abdomen, which is transmitted to the veins of the legs. If you are susceptible to varicose veins, you may benefit from a high-fiber diet, containing fruit, vegetables, beans, pulses, oats, seeds and nuts, to prevent constipation.

PROANTHOCYANIDINS (or procyanidins) may help to alleviate varicose veins, possibly by strengthening the walls of the veins. Studies have shown them to be useful in treating varicose veins. If you have varicose veins, incorporate proanthocyanidins in your diet. Good sources include red wine, dark chocolate, cranberry juice, apples, blueberries, grapes (especially the skins), peanuts and bilberries. (more…)

One of the key differences between conventional skin care and natural or organic skin care is not the ‘active’ ingredients such as green tea or vitamin c, which excluding water may make up to about 5of any product, rather it lies with the base ingredients. In natural skin care, the base ingredients are often a mix of vegetable oils and butters or waxes in contrast to the synthetic ingredients often found in conventional skin care. The use of base oils has enormous benefit for the skin. Instead of being an inert (non-active) synthetic carrier for the active ingredients, base oils contain nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids that support and nourish the skin. I would go so far as to count base oils as active ingredients in skin care. So, in fact, in natural products up to 95of any product has a supportive ‘active’ effect on the skin. In comparison, the synthetic base ingredients in conventional skin care by enlarge, lack significant therapeutic benefit.

There are many factors that affect the absorption of topical ingredients into the skin and in reality, many topical creams just sit on the surface of the skin, effectively plumping the superficial skin cells but rarely having any effect on deeper layers. The skin is designed to be selectively absorbent, being relatively permeable to fat soluble substances and relatively impermeable to water and water soluble substances. Fat soluble ingredients such as oils are absorbed more effectively and have greater effect on the cell membrane and skin matrix, supporting skin nourishment. As carriers, oils can also transport essential oils, phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals into the skin where they are most effective, rather than just having a ‘surface’ effect. In addition, oils also help prevent skin dehydration by providing an effective water loss barrier which in turn leads to plumper, more hydrated skin. (more…)

Acne is just one of the many skin problems amongst men and women especially those who are in their teen years. Acne can appear on the face, neck, chest and even on the back. Some causes of acne are hormonal imbalance, unhealthy diet and lifestyle and even stress can give you some nasty breakouts. Though there are many products now that are available to help cure acne prone skin, some still prefer the natural way because it is not only effective but it is also cheap.

One of the best natural remedies you can take to help you treat your acne prone skin is by drinking marigold tea. You can mix 1 tablespoon of honey on this tea. You can also apply the same mixture of tea on your acne skin every night. This acne mixture can take away the sebum of the skin and can also lessen the breakouts. (more…)

A boil is more of a common thing then people realize, and many people choose to safely treat their boil outbreaks in the comfort of their own home. This is totally ok, so long as you follow the boil treatment tips we outline this article.

Firstly, it helps to know where a boil comes from. Boils are typically a result of coming into contact with a dangerous bacterium known as the Staphylococcus strain. When Staph bacteria comes into contact with the skin it may travel down a hair follicle and infect the hair follicle’s pour and when this happens a boil outbreak occurs. Anyone can suffer from a boil outbreak and suffering from one does not mean you or someone else is diseased. A boil outbreak is a skin infection, not a virus. And is a totally treatable condition. (more…)

The confidence level of a woman is determined by 3 main factors - weight, skin condition and skin tone.

A skin’s appearance is one of the biggest concerns to all women. Constantly exposing ourselves to natural elements in life such as the sun and aging issues make it inevitable for us to come face to face with skin matters such as pigmentation and unevenly skin tones.

However, hyperpigmentation is usually harmless in regards to health. On a down side, hyperpigmentation can indirectly affect a woman’s inferiority complex and appearance when imperfections show up on their delicate skin.

Hyperpigmentation are mostly developed due to natural causes, such as the UV rays and aging. UV rays are one of the contributing factors that trigger pigmentation’s and unevenly colored tones. Unavoidably, we can’t stop the manifestation of unappealing sunspots without the use sunscreen lotion and the discipline to keep up with the routine. (more…)

What is a wart?

This is basically a small uneven growth which mainly occurs on the hands or feet and looks like a hard blister. Warts come up as a result of a viral infection and there are up to 10 different types of warts. A good number of these types of warts are known to be harmless. However, they are highly contagious and usually find their way into the human body through a broken skin or even from one person to the next by skin contact. This is the main reason why the hands as well as the fingers are the most common areas to be affected by warts. Warts have been known to vanish after a few months but in some cases it can take years and are also known to reoccur.

Warts on Fingers:

As previously stated this condition comes about as a result of a viral infection. For this reason individuals with a high level of immunity have reduced chances of being affected by warts on the fingers or an eruption of warts. When the immune system within a body is weak, it automatically means that the capability of the body to fight off this infection is quite low. This is then likely to cause the development of more warts on your fingers. (more…)