Going to School- Watch out for Lice

August 12th, 2010

If it is time for your children to return to school, be on the lookout for lice bugs.  Cases of these pesky bugs always peak when kids return to school.  They can only be passes during close contact.  School aged children often share hugs, clothing and have sleepovers.  These are perfect ways to spread lice. 

Stay away from chemical laden treatments.  They are harmful to children, and they actually do not work very well.  Many super lice have become immune to the commonly used chemicals.  Instead opt for natural lice remedies.  Life Organics Lice Shampoo is a perfect choice.  They use a combination of natural oils and enzymes to kill lice.  Their treatment kit also removes the hard to get rid of nits before they hatch into new lice bugs.

Coconut Oil for Skin & Hair

June 24th, 2010

It is better to use natural ingredients for skin and hair, but in most products you will find chemical ingredients that are tend to be very drying.  Coconut oil is a great natural ingredient.  It is non-greasy and makes a perfect natural alternative. 

Coconut oil is often used in creams, lotions and scrubs.  It is gentle and absorbs into skin easily.  One of the best things about coconut oil is that it does not leave a greasy film on skin like many product do.  Many natural oils are very fragile and do not have a long shelf life, this is not true of coconut oil.  It does not break down easily. 

The fatty acids in coconut oil are perfect for rejuvenating skin cells.  It will make skin soft and smooth.  It has also been shown to reduce the signs of aging and wrinkling. 

Coconut oil is great for hair and scalp care as well.  It is often used in shampoos and conditions to relieve itchy scalp problems.  Many chemical products just coat the hair.  Coconut oil actually penetrated the hair shaft to add moisture and protection.  It is great for treating hair that has gone through chemical processes such as coloring and perming.  It is very a great natural way to rejuvenate the hair.

Mens Skin Care

June 14th, 2010

Mens Skin and Hair Products

Wrinkles are a constant struggle for men and women as they age.  Youthful skin is capable of snapping back into place, but years of sun exposure and other damage skin looses its elasticity and unwanted wrinkles appear anywhere on the face of men.  The often appear first around the eyes and mouth areas. 

The sun is the number one culprit that causes wrinkles.  Mens skin care often ignore sun damage! Sun causes damage deep in the skin to collagen.  It can make skin appear leathery and dry as well as cause hyper pigmentation.  As upper layers of the dermis become damaged they loose resilience and are more susceptible to wrinkling. 

There are other factors that may contribute to wrinkles.  Hereditary is a possibility.  Smoking also causes wrinkling around the mouth.  Diet is important as well.  Eating a healthy diet and consuming plenty of water will keep skin hydrated and reduce wrinkles. 

There are good ingredients that can be used in creams and serums to reduce wrinkles.   One such ingredient is Matrixyl 3000.  It has been shown in studies to reduce wrinkles on its own.  Hyaluronic acid is another good anti wrinkle ingredient.  It works by exfoliating skin.  Alpha Hydroxy Acids such as Glycolic Acid and Vitamin C are great anti wrinkle agents.  Vitamin C works by helping skin to manufacture collagen.    Glycolic Acid is able to penetrate deep into skin because it has a small molecular structure.  Deep in skin is where the damage actually occurs. 

Using an anti wrinkle cream daily can make skin look and feel younger.  It can reduce wrinkles and give skin its youthful glow again.

Controlling Itchy Dandruff

May 10th, 2010

Many people suffer from itchy and annoying dandruff.  It is hard to controll and can be embarassing and uncomfortable.  Dandruff occurs when the normal cell renewal process of the scalp is not working correctly.  In a healthy scalp dead cells are sloughed off and replaced monthly.  Flakes occur when cells are released prior to dying. 

Most people recogninze dandruff when they see small flakes on clothing and in hair.  The flakes may be oily and are usually itchy.  Some people experience severe dandruff with mounds of flakes on the scalp.   This is generally a chronic condition that comes and goes. 

Most experts believe that a fungus, called Malassezia, is the root cause of dandruff.  This fungus is present on the scalp normally in small quantities, but sometimes it multiplies in large numbers causing problems.  An unbalanced scalp, one with too much or too little oil, can allow fungus to get out of control and problems such as dandruff to occur. 

The best way to create a healthy scalp is to create a proper oil balance.  Many dandruff treatments actually do the opposite by using chemicals that can dry the scalp.  Zinc pca is a natural ingredient that can remove fungus and regulate the sebum gland, which produces oil, at the same time.

Dead Sea Shampoo and Scalp Psoriasis & Eczema

April 3rd, 2010

Dead Sea Shampoo

Dead sea shampoo is one of the most sought after shampoos on the market. However, make sure that the dead sea shampoo that you use has at least 5% black dead sea mud. The best is when the mud content is around 10%. This is the perfect amount to give you therapeutic benefits without drying out the hair really bad. Also make sure to use a dead sea conditioner after you use the dead sea conditioner as it deposits the dead sea mud on the scalp so that it stays after the rinsing process.

Are there bad and good dead sea shampoos. The answer is YES!

Dead Sea Shampoo For Scalp Psorasis  & Scalp Eczema

A bad dead dead sea shampoo will simply strip the hair of vital oils and the main moisture barrier of the scalp. And remember that this moisture barrier is the scalp’s main defense against conditions like scalp psoriasis and scalp eczema. There is also believed to be a fungal or bacterial aspect to scalp psoriasis and scalp eczema! This is why dead sea is so amazing. Dead sea mud is believed to be very healing to scalp psorias and scalp eczema – even seborrheic eczema as this is caused by excess oils on the scalp that is generally related to fungus and bacteria that is gathering inside the hair follicle. Similar scalp problems and scalp conditions can be helped with Dead Sea Shampoo and Dead Sea Conditioner.

Contact us for more information about Dead Sea Products and how they can help skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.

Tea Tree Oil Properties and Benefits

February 27th, 2010

Tea tree oil has many uses.  It is an antibacterial disinfectant that comes from the leaves of the tea tree.  People have used it for thousands of years.  Recently, it has gotten a lot of attention as studies have shown that it indeed does have many healthy benefits.

Tea tree oil is used to cure the three types of infectious organisms:  bacteria, virus, and fungus.   It is also known to fight some infections that tend to be antibiotic resistant.  For these reasons it is commonly used as a natural remedy for skin ailments like acne, sun burn, blisters, oily skin, athlete’s foot, herpes, warts, bites, rashes and smaller wounds. 

Tea tree oil is good for hair care use as well.  It is often used in shampoos and conditioners.  It can treat scalp problems that stemming from fungus or infection such as dandruff and scalp acne.  Tea tree oil is also used in natural lice treatments.  It has been shown to be a good deterrent for the pesky bugs. 

Some studies have even shown that tea tree oil can work as a treatment for respiratory problems such as sore throats, congestion, and coughing.  It has been used with more severe respiratory problems including asthma, tuberculosis, and bronchitis.

Tea tree oil can be used as a mouth wash as well.  It is a good natural cure for bad breath because it kills the bacteria.  Rinsing with tea tree oil can also help remove plaque and heal gingivitis and inflamed gums.  Tea tree oil is good treatment for canker sores and laryngitis as well.  While it is not poisonous, ingesting large amounts of tea tree oil could make you sick. 

 

 

Switching to Fragrance Free Products

February 26th, 2010

The switch is on for many people to fragrance free products.  Many things we use everyday are now available in fragrance free versions, like deodorant, laundry detergent, and toilet paper.  There seems to suddenly be a big market for fragrance products. 

So why would you want to buy fragrance free?  Many people opt for fragrance free products because they suffer from allergies or have sensitive skin.  Fragrances can be irritating especially on conditions such as acne or other skin disorders. 

There are even many people who are fragrance sensitive and chemical sensitive.  Fragrance sensitivity can cause symptoms such as headaches, migraines, tight chest, wheezing, and rhinitis.  Some other problems that are reported such as respiratory problems, dry burning eyes, sinus problems, rashes, dizziness and nausea.  People have even made claims that are more serious like memory lapse, depression, and anxiety.  There are those who would like to limit fragrances in public locations.  This may seem extreme, but some chemical and fragrance sensitive advocates say that is unfair for these people to be subject to fragrance irritants everywhere they go.  Some workplaces have begun to adopt a no fragrance policy. 

It is important to note that not all products labeled unscented or fragrance free are completely free of fragrance chemicals.  Sometime manufacturers use a second chemical to mask the smell of other chemical products.  The scent may not be detectable but the chemicals that may be irritating are still there.  If you read the labels closely you should be able to tell.  The FDA requires manufacturers to list “fragrance” in the ingredients when any fragrance, even a masking one, is included.

Why use Jojoba Oil on the Hair

February 26th, 2010

hairThere are a lot of natural substances that are good for the hair, but jojoba oil is one of the best.  It comes from the seed of the jojoba tree, but it is actually a wax ester rather than an oil.  The reason that jojoba oil is so beneficial to the hair and scalp is that it is very similar to natural human sebum, oil.  It is more similar to human sebum than any other compound that can be found in nature.  

Some people feel that applying jojoba oil to a dry scalp may actually trick the skin into producing the oil it needs.  This can help balance the scalp.  Creating a good balance on the scalp is the first step to a healthy scalp.  Jojoba oil is also non-comedogenic so it will not cause any kind of reaction.  It can also help with skin and scalp conditions like eczema and psoriasis.  A good jojoba oil shampoo has at least .5% jojoba oil. And also make sure that your jojoba oil shampoo does not use harsh chemicals.

Jojoba oil has many benefits to hair and scalp.  It provides long term moisture.  Some water based moisturizers can evaporate, but not jojoba oil.  It is a stable substance and will retain its benefits and antioxidants even when stored for a period of time.  Jojoba oil spreads well and absorbs easily into skin. 

Overall jojoba oil is excellent in many skincare and hair care applications.  It can be used on the hair in shampoo, conditioner or scalp treatments.  It is often used in face and body in lotions and serums as well.  Some other ways to use jojoba are lip treatments, cuticle creams, makeup removers, and body oils.

Skincare with Hyaluronic Acid

February 26th, 2010

skin care

Hyaluronic Acid is always present in the human body. All tissue in the body contains this important acid. It originates deep down in the layers of skin. HA is an important part of a healthy body because it provides moisture and binds the skin tissue. Hyaluronic Acid is an essential important component of the skin.

 Hyaluronic Acid in the layers of our skin tissue is what helps keeps skin smooth and full. Aging, unfortunately, causes HA in the skin to decrease. Less Hyaluronic Acid makes skin loose some of its elasticity as well. This will often result in sagging and fine lines and wrinkles to appear. It can also make skin sag.

Hyaluronic Acid has an amazing ability to retain moisture. It is able to hold up to one thousand times its weight in water. Moisture is vital for healthy skin. Skin that has optimal moisture will always appear more youthful and healthy.

Hyaluronic Acid also has the ability to help skin produce collagen. Both the loss of collagen and damaged collagen are another cause of skin that looks damaged and wrinkled. Collagen makes up the base of the skin structure and is imperative for youthful looking skin. The more collagen in the skin, the firmer and younger looking it will be. By increasing collagen HA can help reduce wrinkling.

Skin can regain some of its youthfulness and radiance by restoring the Hyaluronic Acid. Hyaluronic Acid can be found in a wide variety of products. It is common to find it in skin creams and skin serums. It can also be taken as a vitamin or supplement.

Learn About Black Hair and Itchy Scalp

January 19th, 2010

Black Hair and Itchy Scalp

It is not uncommon for African American’s to have problems with itchy scalp.  There are a few conditions that can cause black hair to experience itchiness.  A few of the more common conditions are dandruff, dermatitis, and scalp acne. 

Dandruff is a typical itchy scalp condition for people of all hair types.  It is typified by small flakes accompanied by itch.  Usually, it is mild.  Sometimes it can be worse with flakes that mound together in patches on the scalp.  For many people this is a chronic condition and can be embarrassing. 

Another condition that black hair is prone to is contact dermatitis.  This is a reaction that is either due to an allergy or irritation.  One cause can be chemicals in hair products.  There are chemicals in perms and straighteners as well as many shampoos and conditioners.  Another cause of irritation in black hair is often tightly woven braids and extensions.    

African Americans can be prone to scalp acne as well.  Acne on the scalp can be similar to the acne on the face, but it should be treated in a different way.  Scalp acne can be mild or more severe with large pimples and sometimes even cysts.   Even though this is a very itchy situation scratching can cause infection and scaring. 

For the scalp to be healthy it is important that it has the proper amount of oil.  If there is too little or too much oil on the scalp problems can occur.  When the sebum gland overproduces oil can build up making greasy hair and scalp and causing breakouts.  Too little oil can also cause breakouts because the hair follicles can be left open allowing bacteria to become trapped.  Natural ingredients can be used to create a proper balance.  Zinc is a great ingredient that cleans the scalp as well as regulates the sebum gland.    Thyme and sage are good for detoxifying the scalp.  Jojoba oil and emu oil hair products are excellent at providing moisture to both hair and scalp.