Age Spots

      Despite their name, these flat or rounded brown spots that can appear on the face or backs of the hands aren't caused by age. They are simpley areas of excess pigment, which result from years of exposure to the sunlight. Because it takes decades to see the results of sun damage, many people don't notice the marks until later in life, but people who have had significant sun exposure can develop them in their twenties and thirties. Some drugs can make you more vulnerable to sun damage and related age spots. These include diuretics, tetracycline and drugs for diabetes and high blood pressure.

Lighten Up
* Apply the juice of a lemon to the spots at least twice a day. Lemon juice is mildly acidic and may be strong enough to take off the skin's outer layer and remove or lighten age spots.
* Blend honey and yogurt to create a natural bleach that can lighten age spots. Mix together 1 tsp. of plain yogurt and 1 tsp. of honey. Apply the gel once or twice a day.
* A Remedy for removing age spots is to wipe them with buttermilk. This contain lactic acid, which gently exfoliates sun-damage skin and pigmented areas.
* Mix a little bicarbonate of soda with enough of a 50:50 solution of hydrogen peroxide (available from pharmacies and some supermarket) and water to form a gritty paste. Dab onto age spots, allow to dry, then rise off and pat skin dry.
*Strawberry make a gentle, effective treatment mask for fading age spots and lightening freckles. Mash 1-2 fresh strawberries and mix with 2 tsp. of cream to make a sloppy past. Apply mixture to clean skin, leave for 15 minutes, then remove with a warm, damp face washer and pat dry.

Prevention is Better than Medication
* Avoid the sun as much as possible druing peak hours.
*Apply sunscreen to your face and backs of your hands.
* Wear a sun hat
* After you've been out in the sun, apply some Vitamin E oil. It is an anti-oxidant and may help to prevent age spots by neutralizing skin-damaging free-radical molecules.

Acne

   

  Your skin is producing too much sebum - a natural oily lubricant - and the excess is blocking your pores.
Two kinds of acne:
1. Vulgaris - the common form, it occurs on your face, chest, shoulders or back as black heads, white heads or red spots.
2. Cystic acne - occurs as painful cysts or firm, painless lumps.
     Hormone fluctuations caused by puberty, taking contraceptive pill, preiods, pregnancyu or the onset of the menopause often increase sebum production which can trigger an outbreak of acne. other culprits include certain types of make-up, sunbathing and stress. Acne is usually hereditary.
Eradicate Spots Now
* Topical Keratolytic Acids help relieve mild acne by breaking down the oily plugs blocking the hair follicles and slough off dead or hardened cells on the skin's surface. Keratolytes include slicylic acid preparations such as clearasil Medicated Wipes, Derma Veen Acne Cleansing Bar and sulphur-based treatments such as Clearasil Acne Treatment Cream.
* Benzoly peroxide treatments such as Benzac AC Gel and Wash, Clearasil Ultra, Oxy and PanOxyl work by mildly irritating the skin, encouraging an increased removal of skin cells as well as suppressing bacteria. Start with a lower strength as stinging and redness can result.
Topical antibiotic treatments can also be useful in controlling acne. Examples include clindamycin (Clinda Tech solution) and erythromycin (Eryancne 2 per cent gel), and both are available on prescription. in more severe cases, your doctor might also prescribe oral antibiotics.
* Retinoids are very effective treatment for acne but they can also cause the most irritation. They are available in topical or oral form, but are also on prescription.
* At the first hint of a pimple, put an ice cube in a piece of plastic wrap and hold it on the area affected at least twice a day, or every hour if you can, but for only 5 minutes at a time. The cold will reduce the redness and ease the inflammation.
Alternative Acne Treatments
* Apply a drop of tea-tree oil to blemishes three times a day to discourage infection and speed up healing. Research has found that 5% tea-tree oil is as effective against acne as 5% benzoly peroxide solution.
* For acne that flares up before a menstrual period, drink 1 to 2 cups of chasteberry tea a day. Some studies show that this herb helps to regulate female hormones, but give it two or three months to work. Sage and red clover may also help control excess production of sebum by moderating hormone levels.
* Apply vinegar or lemon Juice to pimples using a cotton wool ball. The acids present in lemon juice and all vinegars can help to fluch out pores. Toothpaste smeared on an outbreak is also reputed to work well - try applying it before you go to bed.
* A folk remedy for healing pimples is to use a mixture of spice and honey. Mix 1 teaspoon of powdered nutmeg with 1 teaspoon of honey and apply it to the pimple. Leave it on for 20 minutes, then rince off. There's no scientific proof that this helps, but honey does have antiseptic properties.
* Apply aloe vera. One study found that 90% of skin sores were completely healed with aloe vera within five days. buy a product containing aloe vera, or squeeze the gel from the middle of a freshly cut leaf and apply it to the skin.
* Applying live, natural yogurt to the skin soothe and heal, particularly after a camomile steam bath has opened up the sebaceous glands. Allow the steam to rice over your face.

Keep Your skin clean- but not too clean.
* Over cleansing itself can cause acne by stimulating the sebaceous gland to produce more oil. Avoid granulated cleansers. and don't use a face washer, which is abrasive and may harbour bacteria. use disposable cleansing pads.
*Make a skin cleanser by adding 1 teaspoon of Epsom salts and 3 drops of iodine to 125 ml water. Bring to the boil, allow to cook and dab it onto spots with a clean cotton wool ball.
*Clean face razors with surgical spirit after each use.