Get A Healthy Whiter Smile

Taking care of your teeth means more than scrubbing with a good toothbrush two times a day with a flouridated toothpaste, and travelling to the dental surgeon two times a year, but those are the basics for nurturing for your smile. As we get older, difficulties with awful teeth and gums start to display in periods of yellowing, chipping or sensitivity. With age, teeth misplace their whiteness and start to yellow: one sure-fire way to take years off your look is by whitening your teeth with a dwelling or expert whitener.

The reality about over the contradict whitening toothpastes
Many toothpastes assertion to be "whitening", but when you read the mark, you'll glimpse the only hardworking component is fluoride. Fluoride is essential for stopping cavities, but it doesn't do a thing for whiter teeth. Other over-the-counter "whitening" goods encompass ovenbaking soda and peroxide. Baking soda wisdom works by friction: it polishes stains from teeth. But, if your enamel is slim in locations, ovenbaking soda can wear it farther, revealing the dentin level under the enamel. When that occurs, you breeze up with a dark location or pit in the tooth. These locations often emerge along the gemlike, where enamel tends to wear away routinely and is weak. Whitening toothpastes can't rectify damaged enamel: it takes a journey to the dental surgeon to restore the missing level with bonding.

Strengthing and fixing damaged tooth enamel
Worn enamel arrives with age: it furthermore seems in junior persons who grind their teeth, persons who consume many of acidic nourishment, and persons with bulimia whose enamel has been damaged away by stomach acids. People with chronic heartburn or unpleasant reflux infection may furthermore have enamel damaged off by unpleasant, but for bruxers (or persons who grind their teeth), the enamel arrives off because of the force used by the jaws. The enamel flakes or chinks off under the pressure. If you grind your teeth, your dental surgeon will suggest that you wear a artificial evening guard over your teeth at night.

Natural tooth whitening remedy and goods
Peroxide is the classic at-home tooth whitening ingredient. Toothpastes like Rembrandt comprise peroxide in a dosage that, over a time span of weeks or months, has a bleaching sway on teeth by six shades or more. Depending on your teeth's sensitivity, you may favour slower-working toothpastes to quick-acting whitening kits. Bleach can make teeth perceptive, so if you try a tooth-whitener, proceed slow at the start, and perhaps two it with a sensitivity-reducing paste for example Sensodyne.

Professional dental surgeon tooth whitening
If you're in a rush, you can have your teeth professionally whitened in about an hour at the dentist's for round $300. Your dental surgeon may use a blend of topical bleaching gel and a lightweight activator to get your teeth super-white in no time at all.

Whiten your teeth without a journey to the dentist
If you don't desire to spend some century dollars, you have other options. Rembrandt has a new two-hour whitening scheme (Rembrandt 2-Hour White from www.drugstore.com) that values dishes and a gel to whiten teeth in a much shorter time than the common two-week time span required for other whiteners. You depart the dishes on for 20 minutes, then take them out for 10 minutes, alternating until the two hours are up. Or you can try other well liked at dwelling whiteners, like Crest White Strips, which take about a week to entire the whitening process.

How to Prevent Chronic Halitosis

I one time took a class in Argentine Tango, which was set up in order that men and women certainly swapped partners while discovering the stylized steps. That was alright, but there was one friend who had none tempo, and three minutes of endeavouring to tango with him (counting to himself and still falling short his steps miserably) was like a faltering, cursing lifetime. But promenading with that poor klutz (I'm no Pavlova, by the way) was not anything contrasted to the man whose wind was so awful, I had to battle to contain my own wind or easily proceed mad. In the couple of steps where we turned away from each other, I had to gasp for a new wind of air, then turn for the next hellish step into the miasma. I sensed awful for the man at first: apparently, taking a tango class wasn't going to make him well liked with women as long as he could not eliminate his awful breath. But shortly, I begun to despise him: how could he not understand the effect his wind had on others? Why wouldn't he masticate a mint, for bawling out loud?

It was so awful that I really advised telling him, a total outsider, that he should masticate gum so I could accept to promenade with him. I didn't have to proceed that far, though, because in the end, I contacted a beautiful, sexy, middle-aged psychologist who was not only a fine and graceful person who promenades, but who stunk pleasant and admired to promenade with me. He organised to display up in front of me more and more often in the colleague swaps, and shortly, I barely danced to the melodies with any individual else.

Preventing awful wind from happening or not less than influencing others
I brush my teeth about five times a day, and masticate gum too. I good swish of mouthwash can be rather refreshing after a garlic topped up evening serving of food as well. But there have been times when forays into Vietnamese preparing nourishment or beer-and-pizza-with-the-guys has left my mouth less than new, which is why I convey gum in my purse for emergencies. This is a fast, provisional answer to curing lunchtime awful breath. While some persons pledge by wind mints, I've discovered that they don't do much for eradicating your wind one time they're gone.

Natural Solution to Stop Bad Breath
If you don't desire to get into any grave wind medications, there easier more natural goods available. For super-halitosis crises, you can use Breath Assure, which is not anything more than capsules of parsley oil. You don't masticate them (I endeavoured it one time and was paid with a powerful, sugary, oily flavour that made me gaze like my friends' feline the day we endeavoured to give him Benadryl to decrease the enlarging from a arachnid bite. The vet didn't identify the kind, just the dosage, and the fluid baby-dose Benadryl made him foam at the mouth for two hours. It was exceedingly unnerving.) The parsley oil works wonders, eradicating garlic wind and enhancing the wind for hours. Maybe that's why Greek, Turkish and Arabic cuisines blend parsley with lemon and garlic for relishes, salads and sauces.
If you are on a designated day and in a pinch with wholeheartedly no wind avoidance procedures on hand, try consuming the parley sprig most bistros location of their plates as decoration. It's free, effortlessly accessible, and it works! Just be discreet so your designated day doesn't apprehend on to your halitosis worries.


Causes of Bad Breath
Bad wind that arrives from nourishment is effortlessly completed off by scrubbing your teeth, scraping your tongue, flossing, gum masticating or the aforementioned Breath Assure, but chronic awful wind can be a symptom of other difficulties wellbeing difficulties for example tooth breakdown, sinus contamination, gum infection, or stomach problems. Eating disorders can furthermore conceive halitosis from the stomach acids churned up by hunger or by vomiting. If you (or the friend in your tango class) know-how chronic awful wind, the first thing to do is get to your dental surgeon for a checkup. After ruling out likely dental care matters, your dental surgeon may suggest a visit to the medical practitioner to direct out other illnesses.

Home Treatment Remedy for Halitosis
Old mouthwashes comprised alcoholic beverage and mint flavorings. New mouthwashes encompass zinc and chlorine dioxide. Zinc halts the method that conceives the sulfur mixtures in the mouth, which are mostly to blame for initating awful breath. Chlorine dioxide murders the sulfur that's currently present. You may conclude to add mouthwash to your normal hygiene program if or not you have other wellbeing matters that need to be settled in alignment to halt chronic halitosis for good.

Pedicures and Foot Care Tips for Year Round Pretty Bare Feet

The foot: an intriguing part of the human anatomy. When we’re born, they take our footprints, persons enumerate our toes and tickle our soles to discover that magnificent baby gurgle. At that astonishing age offspring can really take contain of their feet to masticate reflectively on their own toes. Long before we’re strolling, our parents are packing them into minute little cowhide Oxfords, hiking boots or even minute running footwear, I estimate because they’re just so darned cute. Once we do start strolling, we take our feet for granted. They get us where we desire to proceed, and that’s just fine.

But one time we’re developed and endeavouring to fulfill our sexy destiny, we become cognizant of feet as aesthetic accessories. Turns out, they are more than just balancing devices, locomoting appendages. Feet have the astonishing capability to be exceedingly cute, or they can be downright hideous. Women's feet are generally nicer than men's, and the base fetish is a widespread obsession amidst men. In detail, China one time made the base the prime object of feminine sexy attractiveness, subjecting women to footbinding because minute feet were advised the most attractive. We still contain to the perfect of minute feet, which interprets why it's so hard to find women's footwear in broader that "B" width. It furthermore recounts pointy-toed footwear, stilettos and other trendy footwear that makes your legs gaze magnificent, but can turn toes into what one scribe recounted as "scrambled monstrosities".

Sexy feet, repulsive feet, are not generally a issue of luck. A allotment counts on the care and upkeep regime established by the foot-owner. At an unconditional, bare smallest, feet should be clean. I signify, you stroll on them, don’t you! What if you were stuffed into a cowhide display all day, strolling through parking allotments, jogging in reserves, buying, doing laundry, tapping intolerantly in line at the bank. Feet bear from need of air, from footwear that don’t respire, from sweaty situation on warm summer asphalt. Daily scrubbing with lather and a fastener brush is a good start, but it’s only a start, if you desire good-looking feet.

When it arrives to toenails, there is no in-between. Clean, wholesome, well-groomed toenails are sexy. Grubby, long, unhealthy toenails are nasty, and not to be tolerated. Toenails should be well-brushed with soapy water, clipped short and tidy with clippers, and treated with anti-fungal surgery if fasteners are discolored, broad or peeling. Even young women can get athlete’s base (always wear flip-flops at the gym, at the pool, at the reserve, in any wash that is not your very own), and there topical medicines that can therapy it. (If you don’t understand what athlete's base is, it’s a fungus that determinants feet to set alight, itch and peel).

Assuming your feet are clean and wholesome, the step to attractiveness is a short one. Keep your feet glossy by utilising a pumice pebble a twosome of times a week, wipe them with lotion like Upper Canada Peppermint Foot Cream to hold them supple, and use a clear polish if you don’t like blazingly tinted toes. No one converses about it (except in women's investigations class), but women augment hair on their toes. If your toes are fuzzy, you can wax them to add to general base smoothness. Get a pedicure for that expert polish, but don’t let them slash your cuticles, whose sole reason in life is to hold your feet protected from infections.

Showcase your sexy feet in strappy date-night sandals, sexy vocation pumps or stupid, weekend, jelly thongs with a shiny toe ring for an accent. (Never wear a toe ring and an anklet at the identical time –it’s a gigantic Fashion Don’t). Hiking boots are perfect for long strolls, and they furthermore gaze cute with ragg socks in wool or cotton fabric and tweed skirts. Boots habitually gaze magnificent, and the longer they are, the better they look. (There is a limit—boots that proceed past the knee shout "Dominatrix!" and may not be the gaze you’re endeavouring to project.

Stop a Nail Biting Habit with Proper Natural Nail Care

Stop fastener biting. Break your toddler or child's custom early.

Beautiful hands and fastener care start with basics, and not having raggy, bleeding cuticles is a prime step in having presentable hands. Granted, one of the hardest customs to shatter is to halt fingernail gnawing, but it’s furthermore one of the more disfiguring things that can occur to a hand. We all understand somebody who bites their fasteners to the fast, then begins on those ragged cuticles. Nail-biting generally begins in early childhood as a toddler with some persons not ever outgrowing it, while other ones only revert to nail-biting in times of stress.

A digit fastener gnawing therapy that assisted remedy 18 year vintage girl's difficulty from when she was a child.

I understand a New York woman who halted gnawing her fasteners when she was eighteen, because she liked to be a air journey assistant, and she had read in one of those “How to Be a Flight Attendant” tour guides, that gnawed fasteners would hold her from being acknowledged into “Smile School”. (It was a long time before, when airlines furthermore had age limitations for stewardesses.) I adored her substantially as she halted through sheer willpower.

At first, she went retro and was dressed in hand-coverings a lot. She furthermore begun bearing a fastener document in her purse in order that when a fastener got divide or roughened, she could be careful of it on the spot. She was dressed in hand-coverings because taking off a hand-covering to gnaw a fastener is a large way to make yourself hesitate and address, and then halt the demeanour before it starts. She not ever did become a air journey assistant, but she did have her hands photographed for a bulletin publicity for the Chicago manicure and fastener salon that she frequented and one time more a couple of years subsequent for a Los Angeles fastener care and manicure salon.

Nail care and fastener gnawing products
There are some goods on the market to halt nail-biting, super-hot or acrid things to decorate on your nails. I've perceived some nail-biters state that the nasty flavour didn't halt them, but they should work for some people.

Finally, for nail-biters and non-nail-biters alike, hand elite right before bed is a large way to hold your skin smooth. When things are looking uneven (or if you’re a biter who’s endeavouring to quit), you can get some magnificently slim cotton fabric hand-coverings, slather on a hand elite like Sephora’s Bliss Glamour Glove Gel and hand-covering up until morning. The cotton fabric will hold the hand elite off the pillows and on your hands where it belongs. And for a genuine spa-treatment, get some little cotton fabric socks and give your feet the identical experience.

Nail polish displays off those fingers.

And for a little certain thing additional try a pleasant brilliant fastener polish for your next manicure. OPI fastener goods give a large expert complete that examines like you went to a manicure salon or spa. But purchaser beware of the "fake" acrylic manicure. Your own natural fasteners are better than utilising phony "glue on" nails. If your manicurist doesn't correctly clean tier devices, acrylic fastener submission can origin the feared fastener fungus that has to be particularly treated for months at a time. My recommendations save the acrylic french manicure for a exceptional happening or event like assisting the Boston symphony in a very dark sleek gown.

How to Polish, File, and Buff Nails Like a Professional Nail Salon

Are you fatigued of paying out thousands of dollars each year at the tack salon? If you’re like most of the nation allocations are tighter than ever. To recompense for high gas costs and the getting higher cost of sustenance, tanning and massages salons are observing a descent in customers due to the economy. In augmentation, more women are forgoing their once a week visit to their certified tack technician and are doing their tacks at home. However, recognising how to suitably buff and organise their tacks can be a challenge. If not wrapped up in the right way, you can truly severe impairment your nails. So, take a view at these not hard steps and study the correct way to buff nails.

Use Salon Products and Tools
There are thousands of fastener goods on the market today and understanding which devices you need to correctly buff your fasteners can be tricky. However, if you visit your localized attractiveness shop you will need to choose up only a couple of products. First, a handheld fastener buffer is absolutely crucial on your register of supplies. These gaze alike to emery boards; although they have some distinct tinted panels and emerge more like a foam block. You may furthermore desire to catch a couple of containers of tinted polish or OPI polish in French white if you’d like to give yourself a French manicure.

Before Filing or Buffing…..
Before you start filing away at your fasteners, there are a couple of things you should do first. Be certain to eliminate all vintage polish with a mild digit fastener polish remover. Look for those without acetone for the gentlest results. After getting relieve of the polish, soak your hands in moderately hot soapy water for 10 minutes. This will make suppler your fasteners and skin to permit you to not only buff your fasteners better but furthermore eliminate the redundant cuticle areas. You can make your own homemade hand spa by loading a large basin with moderately hot water and supplementing a little allowance of scented bathing tub oil to the water. After soaking your hands, be certain to dry them completely.

Buff Nails the Right Way
To start, catch your fastener buffer and document your fasteners as you commonly would (rounded, rectangle or oval). With the roughest edge of the buffer, start to buff your nails. Use a softly side-to-side shift when doing this. The major reason of this stage is to glossy out any foremost ridges your fasteners may have. Next, use the next roughest edge of your buffer and replicate the process. This will farther work any ridges out of your fastener area. To complete the buffing stage, utilize the smoothest part of the buffer to polish your fasteners until they shine.

Be certain not to be too uneven when you are utilising the first couple of edges of the buffer. These are intended to only be utilised softly on the nails. Being too hard-hitting can lead to a divide or portion in the fastener, which is nearly habitually tough to fix properly.

Tips for Professional Salon Results
After you’ve effectively buffed your fasteners, address taking your homemade manicure to the next level. Grab your very well liked lotion (with or without sun block) and a two of clean cotton fabric hand-coverings (socks will work if you don’t have gloves). Lather your hands in the lotion, put them into the hand-coverings and delay for 10 minutes. When you drag your hands out, clean and dry them well. You will find they are unbelievably natural and soft! Be certain to swab your fasteners well, request a peak outer garment of polish and start decorating them in your yearned color. Allow the first outer garment of polish to set and request another slim coat. Finish with a peak outer garment and permit it to dry.As you can glimpse, getting attractive fasteners doesn’t inevitably need an costly journey to the salon. So, rather than of expending cash on artificial acrylic fasteners this time of the year, address taking the natural path and doing your fasteners and toe fasteners yourself at home!

Eye Shades

Your eyes are the most exciting and expressive feature you have, so emphasizing them with make-up is extremely important.

Your eye can be divided into three parts, when it comes to makeup:


The eyelid
The center, or depth area
The brow bone

One-third from the base of the lashes to the crease line, and two-thirds from the crease line to the eyebrow. You can achieve this proportion with well judged make-up.

Choosing the right colours for your eyes is extremely important for outstanding effect. Professional make up artists follow these basic rules:

BLUE EYES - all the metallic(s)- gold, bronze, silver and silver greys, mauve, brown pink and fleshly tones.
BROWN EYES -gold, bronze, khaki pewter ,navy blue, mauve pink and fleshy tones.
GREEN EYES -gold, bronze ,grey, earthy tones, fleshy tones.

Keep the basic principles of light and dark in mind while applying color. Dark color recedes areas, light bring areas forward.

Tips for pretty eyes

Eye makeup application asks for, practice and patience. Once you have mastered the art, eye makeup will become a matter of minutes and seconds. Eye makeup involves three steps of applying,
Mascara
Eyeliner/ eye pencil
Eye shadow

Applying the mascara

Before applying mascara, consider curling your lashes with a lash curler to open up your eyes. This is helpful to frame the eyes, especially if your lashes are short.
To curl eyelashes with a lash curler your should start by squeezing in "steps" from the lashline to about 3/4 of the way toward tips.
To apply mascara, place your finger about mid-lid or on your eyebrow and pull up in order to hold your lid taut.
Holding the wand horizontally, sweep on mascara from roots to ends. Apply only to lash tips at first. Roll the wand slightly as you move, wiggle the wand slightly from side to side, along the lashes to distribute mascara evenly.
Allowing lashes to dry between coats thickens the lash while avoiding clumps. Let the mascara dry for a 4-5 minutes. Don't hurry, relax and wait. This point is where the wet mascara can smudge easily and leave messy marks where you don’t want them. Check your work before you begin the second coat, blinking can cause the wet lash ends to leave tiny mascara marks on your lids. Clean with a Q-tip or disposable applicator as you go, as needed.
Once the first application has dried, apply a second. For thicker lashes, carefully apply mascara to the upper side of the lashes as well. Wait and let it dry before you continue.

Don't:

Do not overload your eyes with mascara in hopes of creating lusciously thick lashes. Result, a look that is thick, smudgy, and unattractive.
Don't apply a second coat until the first one has fully dried.
Don't apply a mascara that's too dark. If you've got blonde, red, or brown hair, stick with a brown or darker brown shade. Using a dark black color will create a look that is way too dramatic.

Applying the eye-liner

Lining the lashes is a great way to add extra flair to your eyes. It's simple to apply and can be done in mere seconds.
Determining the right color to use is a cinch. If you've got blonde, red, or light brown hair, go with a brown shade. If you've got dark brown or black hair, use a black eyeliner.
Unload some of the liner (if using liquid liner) After removing the brush from the tube, stroke it over the opening several times to minimize the amount of liquid on the tip.
Get real close to the mirror. Tilt your head back till you've got a good visual of your lash line. While holding the brush between your index and thumb, prop your pinkie on your cheek for stability. Keep your mouth slightly open to relax the facial muscles...this will make you less likely to blink.
If you choose to use a pencil eyeliner, Extend a very thin pencil line as close to the lashline as possible, along the most inner part of the upper lid near the nose. This is a place often forgotten but add an attractive natural definition to the eye.
Apply a thin stroke from the inner corner of your eye's upper lash line all the way out to the outer corner. If you want to line the lower lashes go light as a line too heavy on the lower lashes can give an un-natural, owl-like effect on the eyes.
Line the lower lash line with a pencil. Take an eyeliner pencil, and using the same body positioning, put the pencil at the mid point of your lower (outer) lash line and take the line to the outer corner.

Note: Eyeliners can be worn with or without eye shadow. But... if you're wearing eyeshadow, you must apply eyeliner. Also, don't want to line the entire lower lash line, unless you have big eyes.

Applying eye shadow

You can own as many as you like, but no one needs to wear three eye shadows at the same time, two shades- a base and a defining tone are enough.
Always keep your eyes moisturized. Wrinkles causes make-up to "cake-up" in your wrinkles so please don't let your precious eyelids and upper eyes dry out.
Follow it up by applying a light yet normal layer of foundation on eyelids and upper eye area.
For the base, choose a darker color and apply it to the inner third of the eyelid and "run" it to about half way to the corner of the outer eye.
When applying eye shadow to the crease of the eye, keep your eyes open and slightly tilt your head backward. This will enable you to better see the shape you are creating and allowing the shadow to go into the crease.
The contour will be a lighter shade of whatever base you chose and will begin at the remaining two thirds of the area shown and should "run" out to the end of your eyelid but should subtly blend in with your base at the inner one third. (The colors you choose will be those that match your "wardrobe" of the evening of course).
The accent gets applied to the lower "fold" of the eyelid as you "stretch" your eyelid by closing your eye and raising your eyebrow at the same time. Apply a fine line of the lightest shade of eye color that matches your "palette" to this area.
The highlight is what makes your brow appear to be "higher". It is usually a white or the lightest color. Once you have "painted" all the minute areas of your eyes.
Blend them with a big, soft, blending brush. Sweep the brush up and away from your eyes toward your temple. Sweep in the direction of your lashes.
Use the spiral brush or lash comb to give lashes a final brush-through, after they’ve dried to remove any clumps and give lashes a more natural look.
If you apply mascara to lower lashes, go light. Apply by brushing the lashes with the wand in a vertical position to sweep across lashes or apply gently lash by lash. Adding too much mascara on the lower lashes can be aging to more mature eyes.

EYES SHAPE SECRETS

If you have small eyes never apply liner to the inner rims; put it above or below the lash line.
Flesh coloured eyes shadows, brushed on to your brown bone will open your eyes. When using colors stick to sweeping one shade over the eye rather than several.
If you eyes are very round, apply a natural (not black) kohl pencil around the whole eye; if they are very narrow or almond-shaped, open with the brown shaped trick and/ or pencil the outer corner.
Plucking your eyes brows will make the whole eyes area seem larger. Do not go mad as thin eyes brows look awful, but just clean up the area beneath the arch by plucking out hairs that are not part of the main brow the difference will be startling.

Eyebrows tips

The following tips will help you care for and maintain those well-groomed eyebrows:
Don't over-tweeze. Always follow the "less is better" approach.
Follow the natural shape of the brow.
Never apply colour in heavy, solid lines. Rather, use light, fine, feathery strokes to simulate the natural eyebrow hairs.
Eyebrows should always be a few shades lighter than your hair colour - never darker! When they are darker they look artificial and have a tendency to distract attention from the beauty of your eyes.
Never shave your eyebrows - they will only grow back stronger and more coarse.
If your brows are a bit flaky or scaly, lubricate them at night with a little Vaseline or castor oil.

Managing Heel Pain

Heel pain is generally the result of faulty biomechanics (walking gait abnormalities) that place too much stress on the heel bone and the soft tissues that attach to it. The stress may also result from injury, or a bruise incurred while walking, running, or jumping on hard surfaces; wearing poorly constructed footwear; or being overweight.

The heel bone is the largest of the 26 bones in the human foot, which also has 33 joints and a network of more than 100 tendons, muscles, and ligaments.

Conditions that cause heel pain generally fall into two main categories: pain beneath the heel and pain behind the heel.

Pain Beneath The Heel
If it hurts under your heel, you may have one or more conditions that inflame the tissues on the bottom of your foot:


Stone bruise: When you step on a hard object such as a rock or stone, you can bruise the fat pad on the underside of your heel. It may or may not look discolored. The pain goes away gradually with rest.
Plantar fasciitis: (subcalcaneal pain) Doing too much running or jumping can inflame the tissue band (fascia) connecting the heel bone to the base of the toes. The pain is centered under your heel and may be mild at first but flares up when you take your first steps after resting overnight. You may need to do special exercises, take medication to reduce swelling and wear a heel pad in your shoe.
Heel spur: When plantar fasciitis continues for a long time, a heel spur (calcium deposit) may form where the fascia tissue band connects to your heel bone. Your doctor may take an X-ray to see the bony protrusion, which can vary in size. Treatment is usually the same as for plantar fasciitis: rest until the pain subsides, do special stretching exercises and wear heel pad shoe inserts.

Pain Behind The Heel
If you have pain behind your heel, you may have inflamed the area where the Achilles tendon inserts into the heel bone (retrocalcaneal bursitis). People often get this by running too much or wearing shoes that rub or cut into the back of the heel. Pain behind the heel may build slowly over time, causing the skin to thicken, get red and swell. You might develop a bump on the back of your heel that feels tender and warm to the touch. The pain flares up when you first start an activity after resting. It often hurts too much to wear normal shoes. You may need an X-ray to see if you also have a bone spur.

Initially, your doctor may instruct you to apply ice for 10 minutes several times a day (especially after activity and at bedtime), using an ice bath or cubes in a bag. If the problem persists he/she might prescribe painkillers, such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Foam heel cups or shoe inserts (called orthotic devices) may also be helpful.

Bathe your feet daily in lukewarm (not hot) water, using a mild soap, preferably one containing moisturizers, or use a moisturizer separately. Test the water temperature with your hand.

In addition below are, stretching and strengthening exercises for the Achilles tendon and the calf muscles that will help you heal faster. These exercises are to be done barefoot.

Do heel raises to help stretch and strengthen the Achilles tendon and the plantar fascia .
While sitting on a chair, grab a towel with your toes as if you are going to pick up the towel with your foot. Repeat this exercise several times a day.
Strengthen your leg muscles by standing on the ball of your foot at the edge of a step and raising up as high as possible on your toes. Relax between toe raises and let your heel fall a little lower than the edge of the step.
Walk on your toes only, then walk on your heels only, then walk backward to the starting point. Carry hand weights (10 to 20 pounds) to increase the value of these exercises.
Stand straight with your hands against a wall and one leg slightly behind your other leg. Keeping your heels flat on the floor, slowly bend both knees. You should feel the stretch in the lower part of your leg. Hold the stretch for 10 to 15 seconds. Repeat the stretch 6 to 8 times. This stretching exercise may be helpful for plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis and calcaneal apophysitis.
Lie down with your upper body supported on your elbows. Tighten the top of the thigh muscle of one leg. Raise your leg on a count of 4, hold for a 2 count, and then lower the leg on a 4 count. Relax your thigh muscles. Then tighten the thigh and repeat. Do 3 sets of 10 repetitions each day. Once your leg gains strength, do the exercise with weights on your ankle. This strengthening exercise may be particularly helpful for patellofemoral syndrome.
Lie on your stomach. Tighten your thigh muscles and slowly raise your injured leg off the floor on a 4 count. Hold the leg up for a 2 count, and then lower the leg on a 4 count. Relax your thigh muscles. Tighten the thigh and repeat. Do 3 sets of 10 repetitions each day. Once your leg gains strength, do the exercise with weights on your ankle. This strengthening exercise may be helpful for hamstring strain.
Walk or run barefoot whenever possible.
Practice stress reduction techniques to relax your muscles—and your mind. These have been shown to help relieve pain. For instance, try tensing and releasing the muscles in your body from your head to your toes.

As the pain decreases and your strength improves, gradually return to your usual activities. Exercises that keep your full weight off your feet, such as bicycling or swimming, will help you maintain fitness during recovery. Only a relatively few cases of heel pain require more advanced treatments or surgery. If surgery is necessary, it may involve the release of the plantar fascia, removal of a spur, removal of a bursa, or removal of a neuroma or other soft-tissue growth.

Know Your Nail Type

Fed up with spending time on your nails only for them to snap minutes after your manicure? Well, if the products you're using aren't right for your nail type, you could actually be killing your nails with kindness. Truth is, just like skin and hair, nails come in types- five, in fact. Nails can be dry, brittle, damaged, sort or normal, and they need to be treated accordingly. Here's how to diagnose your particular nail type - and how to treat it property.

Dry Nails
Dry nails lack lustre and look dull; plus, if you run you r thumb over the nail, it will drag slightly instead of sliding cleanly across. The secret to treating dry nails is to rehydrate them - vitamin E is fantastic for this (just like it is on dry skin) so open vitamin capsule and rub it directly onto the nails morning and evening. It'll also help if you always wear a moisturizing base coat to hydrate the nails twenty - four/seven and prevent further drying by switching from soap to hand washes. Finally, steer clear of pearlized polish. The ingredients used to make them sparkly can be dehydrating.

Brittle Nails
Gently press the sides of your nails together. If your nail doesn't bend, chances are you have brittle nails. These have no moisture left in them at all. Which also means they have no flexibility and shatter as soon as they bash on something. This causes most people to reach for the nail hardener, but this is the worst thing you can do as it makes the nail even more rigid. It's better to boost flexibility by oiling the nails nightly with almond oil instead. The shape of your nails will also add strength. The best is a squoval shape ( where the sides of the nail are left straight and only the top is rounded ), as this helps the nail absorb shocks better.

Damaged Nails
If your nails are flaking or splitting, you have damaged nails. These are most commonly caused by severe dehydration. Help them with a treatment base coat to heal the nail, but make sure that, as you apply it, you stipple it into any flaky spots (just like you would cover peeling paint). This will prevent air bubbles forming under the polish and stop flaking - which is important, as flaking polish takes nail cells with it, increasing damage.

You also need to ensure that the cells that grow through next time are strong and healthy, so use cuticle oil twice daily; if the cuticle is supple, the new cells can push through more easily so they arrive at the nail bed in the best of health.

Soft Nails
If your nails bend at the slightest touch and rarely grow past your fingertip you've got soft nails. To get them back into shape, you need to harden them up. The simple way to do this is to apply a nail hardener or try rubbing in a little essential oil of elemi (order this at health food stores). In fact, any oil will help strengthen soft nails as it keeps out their main enemy, water, which softens them even further.

Always wear gloves when you're washing up and apply hand cream after washing your hands.

Normal Nails
If you have none of the above problems - your nails bend slightly when pressed, look pink and shiny and will grow easily - you're lucky, you naturally have normal nails. Try to keep them that way by moisturizing them regularly with hand creams, and avoiding harsh detergents and overly hot water.

Felon

A felon is a severe infection of the pulpy tip of a finger, usually caused by infection with Staphylococcus bacteria occurring as an abscess of the distal pulp.

Fingertip pulp is divided into numerous small compartments by vertical septa that stabilize the pad. Infection occurring within these compartments can lead to abscess formation, edema, and rapid development of increased pressure in a closed space. This increased pressure may compromise blood flow and lead to necrosis of the skin and pulp.

Cause
A felon usually is caused by inoculation of bacteria into the fingertip through a penetrating trauma. The most commonly affected digits are the thumb and index finger.

Common predisposing causes include
Splinters,
Bits of glass,
Abrasions,
Minor puncture wounds. A puncture wound means you impaled yourself on some foreign body.
A felon also may arise when an untreated paronychia spreads into the pad of the fingertip.
Felons have been reported following multiple finger-stick blood tests.

Symptoms
Patients present with rapid onset of severe, throbbing pain, with associated redness and swelling of the fingertip. The pain caused by a felon is usually more intense than that caused by paronychia. The swelling will not extend proximal to the distal interphalangeal joint. Occasionally, the high pressure in the fingertip pad will cause a felon to spontaneously drain, resulting in a visible sinus.

Diagnosis
Bone and soft tissue radiographs should be obtained to evaluate for a foreign body

Treatment Options
If diagnosed in the early stages of cellulitis,
A felon may be treatment with elevation, oral antibiotics, and warm water or saline soaks.
Tetanus prophylaxis should be administered when necessary.

If fluctuance is present, incision and drainage are appropriate. The preferred techniques are a single volar longitudinal incision or a high lateral incision . Your doctor will make the whole finger numb by injecting an anesthetic once into each side of your finger, just beyond the knuckle of the hand. Then he or she will make one or more small cuts in the tip of your finger to allow the pus to drain out. A narrow gauze strip may be left in the wound to hold it open for continued drainage. The gauze may need to be replaced every day or two as it absorbs bacteria and debris from inside the wound. A doctor usually will prescribe antibiotics that work against "staph" bacteria infections, such as dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen, Pathocil) or cephalexin (Biocef, Keflex, Keftab).

Incision techniques not recommended include the "fish-mouth" incision, the "hockey stick" (or "J") incision, and the transverse palmar incision. These incisions are more likely to result in painful, sensitive scars and damage to neurovascular structures.

Postoperative care includes loose packing, splinting, and elevation of the hand for approximately 24 hours. Dry dressing changes with twice-daily saline soaks, range-of-motion activities and, eventually, scar massage may accelerate return to normal activity.

The recommended length of treatment varies from five to 14 days and depends on the clinical response and severity of infection.

Consult a hand surgeon for more complex cases.

Skin Foods

Unlike our body ,the skin too requires special nutritional attention to keep looking fresh and healthy . Try to incorporate these foods into your diet pattern for a healthy body and skin.

Clam chowder
Carrot and orange soup
Chilled mint and cucumber soup
Spinach borscht
Pea, mint and lettuce soup
Parsnip and apple soup
Smoked salmon ramekins
Smoked mackerel pate
Chicken liver pate
Guacamole
Tabbouleh
Artichoke and avocado salad
Tomato and tarragon vinaigrette
Brie and porcini tart
Apple, dolcelatte and walnut shrudel
Radicchio and grape salad
Chicken with melon, grapes and asparagus
Pear and walnut salad with watercress
Spinach and watercress roulade
Gado gado
Pasta vongole
Salmon and lemon lasagne
Smoked mackerel and spinach fishcakes
Salmon and asparagus risotto
Salmon and celery ledgeree
Chicken strognoff with tarragon
Somerset steak and cider pie
Minted meatballs with yoghurt sauce
Fruite compate
Mixed fruit with butterscotch sauce
Oranges in caramel
Apple and fig crumble (with oat, topping)
Cinnamon apples and plums
Blackberry and ricotta pancakes
Flapjacks

Applying Blusher

How to apply blusher

There's no one correct way to apply blusher. The method you use depends on the type of look you want to create.

For a natural healthy glow

Apply foundation (and if necessary powder) as normal. Smile - where your cheek is naturally at its fattest is where blusher needs to go to create a natural look.
Apply blusher in a small circle, blending well. For the best results, try gel blusher. Powder over the top.

For sexy cheekbones

Using powder blusher, sweep colour in an arc following the line of your cheekbone up from the apple of your cheek to your hairline. Keep colour light and blended - you want a wash rather than a stripe of colour.
Add a little shimmer on the highest point of your cheekbone nearest your eye.

Easy Blusher Tips

It's important to keep your brushes clean, otherwise, they'll gather bacteria and transfer it onto your skin. This will inevitably cause spots and blackheads.

An effective and quick way to clean your blusher brush is to use baby wipes. These will also clean any other make-up brushes you may have.

For a sun-kissed sheen

Using a blusher brush containing only a hint of bronze or pinky-brown powder, sweep colour along your cheekbone and then up round your hairline across your forehead. Again be careful that it doesn't look like a stripe, just a brush of colour. Repeat on the other side so the colour joins.
If you have gone too heavy with the bronzer, wipe the blusher brush clean and then use it to blend. This will soften the colour. Another trick which will help reduce the colour further, should you feel you need it, is adding a little translucent powder over the top. Be careful not to build up too much powder though, as this will just make your skin look caked with make-up.

Adding Sparkle Eyes

Add a Sparkle to Your Eyes

Diet is of vital importance for the health and beauty of the eyes. People using their eyes for long hours or working either in extremely bright or in dim light must necessarily take care of their eyes.

A balanced diet of milk, butter, fruits, green vegetables and proteins should be taken for the proper care of the eyes. Each of the essential nutrients needed by the body plays some part in the health and beauty of the eyes.

Healthy mucous membrane, or the normal flow of tears, determines the sparkle in the eyes. A good diet is also essential to the health of certain tissues, known as mucous membranes, which line the tear ducts and tear glands.

The ideal diet is the natural and uncooked food. Fresh fruits such as oranges, apples, grapes, peaches, papaya and pomegranate; green vegetables like lettuce, cabbage, spinach, turnip tops, root vegetables like potatoes, turnips, carrots, onions and beetroots; nuts, dried fruits and dairy products being the most essential ones.

Genuine whole meal bread is the best and most suitable. Cereals are also necessary but they should be consumed sparingly. .

Digestion and health of the body can be altered due to excessive intake of jams, cakes, pastries, white sugar, white bread, tea and coffee, together with meat and fish.

Alcohol, Constipating or wind/gas forming foods and other intoxicating substances are also harmful and should be strictly avoided.

Riboflavin and vitamin B2 are necessary for visual health. Green leafy vegetable, milk, cheese, egg, citrus fruits, banana, tomato, brewer's yeast, almonds and sunflower seeds etc are valuable natural sources of this vitamin. Dull eyes and abnormal vision due to riboflavin deficiency can thus be found in almost any person who fails to eat these foods.

Raw carrots contain vitamins and help to maintain the eyes in a healthy and bright condition. Therefore they should be taken liberally.

Effect of Vitamin A

Vitamin A is the most essential constituent for normal and healthy eyes. Therefore liberal amount of vitamin A must be continuously supplied by the food.

Cod liver oil, whole milk, curd, butter, egg yolk, pumpkin, carrots, green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, mango papaya, orange and melon are a valuable sources of this vitamin.

The eyes may become sensitive to bright lights and the person may suffer from visual fatigue and a consequent feeling of tiredness if vitamin A is in short supply.

Visual fatigue and sensitivity to light grow progressively and becomes more pronounced in case of the severe deficiency of this vitamin.

An adult should have at least 10,000 units of Vitamin-A daily in order to keep the eyes normal, beautiful and bright.

Hair Problems

SPLIT ENDS

Split ends are caused when hair is damaged, either by harsh shampoos, too much direct from the sun or a hair dryer, perming or bleaching or very often simply because the tips of hair are very old.

The only cure for split ends is to have them trimmed off; if left, they may split further up the hair, making it look dull and lifeless.

HEALTHY HAIR : In top condition, the scaly outer shell, or cuticle, of each hair lies flat and smooth along the whole length of the shaft.

Split End Treatments :

Mix 1 tsp honey with 2 Tbsp olive oil, then beat in 1 egg yolk. Massage on hair in small sections. Wrap head with shower cap for 30 minutes. Rinse and shampoo.
Massage hair and scalp with warm avocado or olive oil. Wrap hair securely in a towel. Leave oil on hair about 8 hours or overnight. If left on overnight, put a shower cap over head to avoid staining pillows and bedding. Wash hair, then rinse with a vinegar /water solution.
Hot Oil Treatment :

1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup boiling water
Place olive oil and boiling water into large glass bottle or jar with a lid. You may need to wrap a towel around the bottle to avoid burning yourself. Shake very well until oil is emulsified. Massage into hair, taking care not to burn your head. Put a shower cap or plastic bag over your hair and wrap your head in a hot towel that has been soaked in hot water then wrung out. Leave mixture on your hair for 1/2 hour, then shampoo as usual.


VERY-GREASY HAIR

Mainly due to hormonal problem, the sebaceous glands tend to become overactive and produce too much sebum.

Tips on managing Greasy hair :

Avoid too much brushing of hair because it might further stimulate the oil glands that are already over-active.
Wash your hair every third or fourth day or even more frequently, depending on individual comfort. A good nourishing liquid shampoo is often the best answer.
Excessive oiliness if neglected can lead to falling hair. If treated in time it can be prevented.
Wear your hair in easy-to-manage, well cut style. Light perming can help as it lifts the hair slightly away from the scalp, making it less easy for the sebum to travel up the hair shaft.

VERY -DRY HAIR

May result from hereditary or hormonal problems-or due to a result of damage caused by over-use of heated rollers, hot hair dryers, perms and bleaches.

You can protect your hair :

By using very mild shampoos and good quality conditioners.
By having them trimmed regularly.
By going in for once-weekly hot oil treatment. Use warm olive or almond oil and massage it carefully into the scalp and hair.
Leave the oil on overnight, if possible, by covering the hair with a plastic bath cap and a toweling turban. Wash the oil off the next day by applying diluted shampoo directly to the scalp before applying water.
Mayonnaise Conditioner. To recondition the hair, shampoo hair with homemade shampoo or a shampoo from the natural foods store. Rinse and towel dry. Apply regular mayonnaise (not salad dressing) to the hair. Massage in. Let sit for 10-15 minutes, shampoo again lightly and rinse with an apple cider vinegar and water solution.

Athlete's Foot

A fungal infection of the foot that produces cracked, sore, itchy skin between the toes. Most common in teenagers and young adults.

Athlete's foot, also called tinea pedis, is a common, persistent fungal infection of the feet that particularly affects the skin between the toes. The condition can be caused by several types of fungi that thrive in warm, humid conditions. A foot inside a shoe is the perfect place for the fungus.

What are the Causes?

Athlete's foot often affects teenagers and young adults, who tend to sweat more and wear enclosed footwear, such as trainers, for long periods. It is rare in children. Athlete's foot can be picked up by walking barefoot in communal areas that are warm and humid, such as changing rooms and poolside.

Sweaty feet, tight shoes/socks, not drying one’s feet well after swimming, bathing, or exercising all contribute to the development of athlete’s foot.

What are the Symptoms?

Athlete's foot most commonly occurs between the fourth and fifth toes and produces the following symptoms:

Cracked, sore, and itchy areas of skin.
Flaking, white, soggy skin.
In some people the skin becomes very sore and even bleeds a little.
Athletes foot may also produce itching and burning of the feet.
Some times, the infection spreads on to the sole or the sides of the foot or affects the toenails, which then become yellowish, thickened, and brittle.Toenail infections cause scaling, crumbling, thickening, and even partial loss of the nails. These changes can also result from other conditions such as psoriasis, injury, and aging. Untreated, athlete’s foot can result in blisters and cracks that may lead to secondary bacterial infections.

People who have athlete's foot are more susceptible to ringworm of the groin, another fungal infection. Those with acute tinea infections may develop similar outbreaks on their hands, typically on the palms. This trichophyde reaction, also known as tineas manuum, is an immune system response to fungal antigens (antibodies that fight the fungal infection).

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made by visual observation of the symptoms. The podiatrist eliminates the possibility of a bacterial infection by performing a microscopic examination of skin scrapings to determine the type of fungus causing the infection. Other tests include growing a fungal culture from skin scrapings and examining the patient's foot under an ultraviolet light.

Treatment Options

The affected area can be treated using an over-the-counter antifungal preparation available in form of creams, powders, and sprays, which should be applied at least twice a day .It is important that you continue to apply the preparation to affected areas for a few days after the symptoms have cleared up to make sure that the infection is eradicated.

If over - the - counter preparations do not help or you are unsure of the diagnosis, consult your doctor, who can give you further advice about treatment or prescribe a antifungal drug. The most effective chemical treatments these days are the imidazoles, eg miconazole and clotrimazole. If the infection becomes systemic, stronger antifungal medication may be prescribed. These drugs include griseofulvin (Fulvicin® and Grisactin®) and concentrated forms of terbinafine and itraconazole. Griseofulvin can cause side effects such as headache, nausea, and numbness, so it is used as a last resort.

If the infection is bacterial, a course of oral antibiotics may be prescribed.

Prevention

To prevent the infection from recurring, you should wash your feet at least once a day, more frequently if they become sweaty, and
Dry them thoroughly between the toes.
Avoid tight footwear, especially in the summer. Sandals and “flip-flops” are the best warm weather footwear.
Wear cotton or synthetic running socks which absorb sweat and change the socks daily or more frequently if they become damp.
Dust an antifungal powder on your feet and into your shoes.
At home, it may help to wear open - toed shoes or go barefoot.

Dressing Slim

No matter what size, age, height, or weight you are, you can look younger, thinner, and better than ever with these transformation techniques for makeovers.

Before choosing your clothing you have to know what you are going to do! If you think you will head down to Fiordland National Park in the winter with a cotton t-shirt a pair of Jeans and a swannie your chances of survival are very slim. Being prepared is everything!

Here are my tried-and-true secrets for camouflage dressing that will work for you.

After utilizing these tips, you will be amazed by your own transformation that not all those gorgeous creatures you see in magazines, TV, and movies are anorexic, attached to their treadmills, or creatures from another planet.

They are just real people, who know how to accentuate the positive and downplay the negative.

Tips for figure flattery :

Match your hose (or slacks), to your shoes. Legs look longer and thinner when hose is toned to skirts and shoes.
Pleated trousers conceal tummy bulges, so if this is your problem stick to those pleats. An A-line skirt emphasizes body length while hiding thighs. The longer the vertical "line" of the total look the more slimming.
Use a shirt like a jacket or a tunic. Choose a generously cut shirt in a heavy or lined fabric. It's an elegant look over slim pants, flowing gently over every possible skin.
Dress in one color. Wearing one color from shoulder to shoe streamlines the body. It's called monochromatic dressing. If you don't want to limit yourself to just one color, choose colors that are closely matched. If you really want to look thin stick to darker colors. Darker, duller, cooler colors recede and are more slimming than lighter, brighter, warmer colors which advance. You may also wear lighter and/or brighter (cool) hues, but use them to create focal points as opposed to wearing them from head to toe. Your focal points will generally be high and/or on the inside: above the fullest line of bust and/or down the entire length of the garment usually in the center-front position..
If you have a chubby neck, choose v-neck lines.
They create the illusion of a longer, leaner body.
Solid fabrics are more slimming than patterned. They are more so by degree. The more they look like a solid, the less they enlarge; the splashier they are the less they slim. A splashy print with a black background worn with solid black will usually create as much impact as any personality might crave.
To bring attention to the face and away from the body, wear a choker and matching earrings.
A long jacket is a "pounds parer." It can make any outfit look elegant while hiding figure flaws.
Choose a low-heeled shoe that is cut low on the instep. Stick to a thinner, more graceful heel.
A loosely fitted vest can hide a thick waist. Wear belts in a low slung manner or gently held around the waist. Always wear control top pantyhose with Lycra. A body suit can eliminate bulge. It also gets rid of unsightly panty lines and fabric pulling.
Choose a well-fitted jacket. A look that is too loose or boxy tends to add pounds.
Simple styling is most slimming. Cuffs, pockets, and buttons can add width to the body.
For the most part, squares and circles are not particularly slimming. Vertical rectangles are probably the most useful; they would be seen in a straight shift for example
Wear prints only at the slimmest part of your body. Stay with smaller rather than big flowery prints.
Look for fabrics that drape the body. This would include light wool, cotton, and rayon.
Don't make the mistake of going for all long pieces. Go for contrasting proportions. Mix a longer jacket with a shorter skirt, shorter jacket with pants, etc. Also, if you use a center panel in a dress to create verticals, make sure the panel is less than one third of the width of the garment. More will broaden. (If the panel is a different color; it is most effective if it is the lightest or the brightest.)
Try to observe these rules at work in the clothes you wear, and in the clothes others wear. There's no better way to get the benefit of these principles than to study them and master them and experiment in your own wardrobe.

Foot Massage

A foot massage can be performed at any time you wish or as part of a home pedicure procedure. The following illustrations depict some standard foot massage techniques that a nail technician might perform on a client during a pedicure. Wear lose, comfortable clothes and sit comfortably with your back supported.

For massage you'll need :

2 teaspoons (10 ml) castor, jojoba, soybean, or extra-virgin olive oil
3 drops lavender essential oil
1 drop German chamomile essential oil
1 drop geranium essential oil
Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl. Stir thoroughly. Yields 1 treatment.

Start by relaxing your foot. Hold your foot so that one hand is on the sole and one on the top. If using a massage oil or lotion, protect clothing and furniture with a towel or two. Rub oiled or creamed hands together vigorously to warm them before beginning the foot massage. Working from your ankle to your toes. Massages it with long, firm strokes. Stroking, stimulates circulation and warms the foot.

Holding your heel in one hand and your toes in the other circle your foot five times clockwise then anticlockwise. This will loosen the joints and relax the foot.

Starting with your big toe, stroke the length of each toe in turn and, when your reach the tip, pull gently to stretch it out. Repeat this three times. Pulls and Squeezes can be very calming.

Using our thumb and starting at your big toe move along the line of pads just below your toes. Press on each one firmly before moving on to the next. Work your way to your little toe, then change hands and, using your other thumb, work your way back. Repeat twice.

Holding your toes in one hand, use your thumb on the other hand to press along the sole, pressing in a line from the base of your big toe to the center of your foot, following the line of the metatarsal. Repeat on all your toes, then repeat on the top of your foot following the same line. This will help in releasing tension in the inner and outer longitudinal arches.

Starting at your heel, use your thumb to press along the inside edge of your foot all the way up to your big toe. Press firmly and follow the line up over your instep. Then repeat on the outside edge of your foot, from your heel to your little toe.

Finally, massage the lower half of your sole, using firm pressure. Rotate your ankle, both clockwise and anticlockwise, as in step 2. Repeat step 1, using long, firm strokes from ankle to toes. Put on a cotton sock and repeat the massage on the other foot.

Chapped Hands

Chapped hands are a result of very dry skin, occurring as a result of reduced moisture, or water, content of the skin. The surface of the skin holds a certain amount of water. When the water content decreases, the skin becomes dry, itchy, and uncomfortable.

Most of us have our pet peeves about our hands. Some have dry coarse hands; others have cold clammy hands. Some have soft thin delicate hands where the skin tears easily. A little knowledge would help you to exposed to minor cuts, burns and bruises in the kitchen or while doing chores.

Symptoms of Dry, Chapped Hands :

Hands that are chapped usually have the following characteristics:

Roughness
Dryness
Redness
Peeling
Cracking
Sensitivity
Tenderness
Causes and risks Factors :

Some individuals have a genetic predisposition to dry skin. Their skin tends to become drier, with age.
Dry air, resulting from winter's low humidity and the use of indoor heat, can cause skin to dry out.
Long, hot baths and showers can also make skin dry.
Factors that increase a person's risk of chapped hands include the following:
Frequent hand washing, which may be associated with the person's job
Prolonged exposure to cold, dry weather
Sunburn or windburn
Allergic reactions to skin care products
History of a skin disorder, such as eczema
If chapped hands are left untreated, the person may have -difficulty doing things without wearing protective gloves, recurrent skin conditions such as outbreaks of eczema or skin inflammation, infections, which may occur when bacteria enter cracks in the skin

Here are some household tips to rectify the problem.

SUGAR AND OIL :
Take 3 tablespoons of sugar, one tablespoons of oil (any oil, vegetable oils, olive oil or almond oil will do). Mix the sugar and oil, beat to a blended consistency. Rub into the hands. Keep rubbing for 5 -7 minutes, then rinse well with warm water. The dead coarse skin is removed and the hands appear soft and clean.

SUGAR AND LIME:
Take one tablespoon lemon juice, one tablespoon sugar, one tablespoon water. Lightly mix all these ingredients and rub all over the hands. Keep rubbing it in till it starts to dry. Rinse with water. Softens coarse hands.

HONEY LEMON JUICE AND OIL:
Take one-teaspoon oil (any oil, vegetable oils, olive oil or almond oil will do), one teaspoon lemon juice, one tablespoon rose water. Mix well together. Rub over crusty elbows, knuckles and other hardened areas. Keep rubbing it in, then after 5 - 7 minutes rinse off. This not only nourishes the skin, but also keeps it soft.

LEMON JUICE AND BARLEY POWDER:
Take one tablespoon barley powder, one tablespoon lime juice. In case barley powder is not available, boil barley for 10 minutes. Extract the juice and mix it with lime juice. Apply on the finger joints to get rid of dark circles. Rub well into the skin. Leave it to dry and then apply and rub again. After it has dried, then rinse off. Softens and whitens the knuckles.

POTATO JUICE:
Take two potatoes, peel and grate them. Extract juice of these potatoes. Apply all over the hands, especially over the knuckles and finger joints. The potato juice can also be applied over scars left by wounds, cuts or burns. If used regularly, it helps to eliminate these scars and lightens dark areas around the knuckles and finger joints.

ONION JUICE:
You can relieve minor kitchen burns on the hand just by rubbing a raw onion on the burn. Take an onion, cut it into half and rub on the burned area. It immediately reduces inflammation and relieves pain.

COLD MILK:
Did you know that blisters on the hands while cooking, can be cured with a cold milk compress if applied immediately? Put some cold milk on the blister; dab it two or three times on the blisters. It soothes immediately and actually aids healing.

TURMERIC POWDER:
So often hands get minor cuts while chopping vegetables or while performing other household chores. In cutting your fingers or hands, immediately apply turmeric powder onto the wound. It stops bleeding and aids healing.

GELATIN:
For those people who have split nails and cracked hands, a good 'soak' in gelatin will certainly help. Take a packet of gelatin or lemon jelly, pour it into a cup of hot water. Make a packet of gelatin or lemon jelly, pour it into a cup of hot water. Make a paste and put it to set. When it has set, soak the hands in this jelly, keep rubbing the nails and cuticles as well as the hands. Keep them soaked for at least 15 minutes. A regular use of this treatment prevents cracks on the skin of the fingers and the cracking and splitting of fingernails. Eating jelly also helps promote a healthy growth of nails.

BUTTERMILK AND ALMOND OIL:
Take one tablespoon almond oil and one cup buttermilk. Mix well, apply on the hands. Massage well, let it dry, then apply again. Repeat this till all the solution is used up. Use this at night, before bedtime. Wear cotton gloves and sleep. Next morning, rinse well. This treatment ensures that the hands remain soft and maintain a good skin texture.

Wrist & Hand Workout

Injuries to the wrist and hand commonly occur following a fall. Reaching out instinctively to break the fall often damages the wrist, resulting either in a fracture or in a strain to the ligaments that hold the bones together. Initially, there will be swelling and bruising; then, as the tissues heal, movement will feel restricted and painful. If the wrist has been in plaster, the hand and wrist often feel vulnerable when the plaster comes off; any movement may be difficult and painful.

For these injuries it is important to start with simple movements and progress gently. Be prepared for some soreness, but expect this to settle a few minutes after you stop exercising.

Arthritis can make the finger joints painful and swollen. At first they are likely to be too sore to exercise, but once the heat and swelling has subsided, gentle exercises help to restore mobility. Consult a professional for advice before you start.

Below is a list of Wrist and Hand exercises:

GRIP RESISTED FINGER FLEXION
Sit at a table with your arm resting on it, elbow bent. Grip, squeeze and manipulate a soft ball, lump of play dough, handful of cotton wool or the like, making your fingers do the work.

WRIST LIFT RADIAL DEVIATION
Starting in the same position as for the Grip exercise, left, put your hand on its side with the thumb pointing upward. Moving from the wrist only, lift your hand off the table, Relax and repeat.

FIVE-FINGER EXERCISE WRIST EXTENSION, FINGER EXTENSION & COORDINATING FINGER MOVEMENTS
Starting in the same position as above, place your palm flat on the table. Moving from the wrist, lift your fingers off the table, Relax and repeat. Then, keeping your palm on the table, lift and lower one finger at a time. Relax and repeat. Drum your fingers on the table, lifting each finger in turn. Repeat.

FINGER DEXTERITY COORDINATING FINGER MOVEMENTS
Starting in the same position as above, touch the tip of your little finger with your thumb. Move your thumb to the tip of your fourth finger, then your middle finger and finally your index finger. Work back the other way and repeat.

THUMB
Touch your thumb to each finger in turn then stretch out into the "hitch hiking" position. Aim to place the thumb as low down the finger as possible.

WRIST DEVIATIONS
With arm resting on table and hand hanging off the table, slowly turn hand to side. Hold for 5 seconds and slowly return to starting position. Turn hand to other side. Hold for 5 seconds and slowly return to starting position.

WRIST EXTENSOR STRETCH
With arm resting on table and hand hanging off the table and elbow straight, slowly grab the hand and slowly bend the wrist down until a stretch is felt. Hold for 5 seconds and slowly return to the starting position.

WRIST CIRCLES
Sit in neutral position with your arms resting on your armrests. Slide your forearms forward slightly and make loose fists with both hands. Inhale. Exhale and slowly rotate both wrists outwards, letting your forearms follow the movement. Rotate outwards ten times, continuing to breathe. Keeping your hands in loose fists, rotate inwards ten times, continuing to breathe. You should feel a slight stretch in your wrists during the rotations. Increase the range of the circles slightly if you don't feel a stretch.

WRIST STRETCH BACKWARDS
Sit with elbows on a table and palms together. Lower your wrists to the table until you feel a stretch and hold this for 5 seconds. Note you must keep your palms together.

WRIST STRETCH WITH ELBOWS STRAIGHT
Place arms on a table. Move your body over your hands until you feel a comfortable stretch in your forearms. Hold for 5 seconds.

MORE
Listen to your body, keep the back of the neck and spine lengthened and the rib cage lifted. Remember to breathe as you work with the different exercises.

It is far better to perform the exercises gently 4 times a day than to be very forceful once a day.
If your progress is slow you may benefit from expert advice and treatment from a physiotherapist or hand therapist.

Alopecia

Alopecia in Women

Hair loss in women can be transient (synonyms = temporary/telogen effluvium/non-genetic) or permanent (genetic/androgenetic alopecia). Alopecia, or hair loss, can occur in any body area but is particularly noticeable when it affects the scalp.

Hair loss can be temporary or permanent.
Alopecia is not always associated with ill health, but it may cause embarrassment.

Causes

Alopecia in women may be attributed to three factors: aging, hormones, and genetics.

Patchy hair loss is usually due to alopecia areata, an autoimmune skin disease, which causes that cause bald patches to appear on the scalp. Areata is Latin for "round" or "circumscribed", which means that people suddenly see bald spots here or there, or little, tiny short hairs that are broken off.

In alopecia areata, the affected hair follicles are mistakenly attacked by a person's own immune system (white blood cells), resulting in the arrest of the hair growth stage. Alopecia areata usually starts with one or more small, round, smooth bald patches on the scalp and can progress to total scalp hair loss (alopecia totalis) or complete body hair loss (alopecia universalis).

If the hair loss has any unusual features-suddenly a lot of hair is coming out, if hair is coming out in a bizarre or unusual pattern, even if it's very severe, premature general thinning of the scalp, see a dermatologist.

Female Pattern Baldness

Generalized hair loss is normal in elderly women as a result of menopause. After the hormonal changes of menopause, many women find that the hair on the head is thinner, while facial hair is coarser. In women, usually the degree of hair loss is not as extensive as it is in the male population. The most common cause of alopecia in women is oversensitivity to the hormone testosterone, producing a characteristic pattern of hair loss. Women with older female family members who endured thinning of the hair are more likely themselves to be subjected to androgenetic alopecia. In the Jan. 30 Science magazine, researchers revealed that the gene harbours a mutation in family members afflicted with alopecia universalis.

Treatment Options

Women seeking treatment options for alopecia should stick to treatment options approved by the established medical community. Consult a dermatologist who will probably be able to diagnoses alopecia areata by the appearance of your scalp.

One medication, which has been approved, by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat female pattern baldness is Minoxidil, used topically on the scalp. Minoxidil (Rogaine for women) has been proven to show minimal improvements in 50 percent of women and moderate improvements in 13 percent. Minoxidil requires a twice a day application of either the 2-percent or 5 percent solutions. Any gain achieved with Minoxidil will be lost if the patient stops using the product.

Corticosteroids

Injected into the hairless patches may be effective in promoting re-growth. If your scalp has patchy scarring, you may need a skin biopsy to diagnose the underlying cause. Scarred areas may be treated with topical corticosteroids or antifungal drugs, but if the damage is severe and has affected the hair follicles, it is unlikely that new hair will grow.

Hair weaving, hairpieces, or change of hairstyle

Hair weaving, hairpieces, or change of hairstyle may disguise hair loss and cosmetically improve your appearance. This is often the least expensive and safest method of treating female pattern baldness.

Suturing of hairpieces to the scalp is not recommended as it can result in scars, infections, and abscess of the scalp. The FDA because of the high rate of infection has banned the use of hair implants made of artificial fibres.

At all costs, you must avoid hair loss treatment methods, such as shampoos or pills that promise miracle cures for hair loss.

Facial Masks

How to use a Mask

Masks are fun to use and can help clean pores, absorb oils, and give the skin a radiant glow

Wash your face. Always wash face in upward, circular motions. Always do to your neck whatever you do to your face. After washing face, remove residue with a wet cloth and splash thirteen times. Masks work best when they're applied to clean, dry skin.
Follow directions. Don't keep a mask on longer than suggested. Not keeping it on long enough will be a waste of money and time.
Rinse your face thoroughly with warm water after removing your mask.
Follow up with your favorite toner or freshener, and then apply your moisturizer or night treatment.
Choosing a face mask:

Those of you with a normal skin, can go for a mask, once a week. For oily skin, two to three times a week is a great way to keep oil and breakouts at bay. If you have dry skin, a hydrating mask once a week can really help, but keep the deep cleansing varieties for once-a-month treatments.

AVOCADO AND HONEY NOURISHING MASK
A good feed for dry, ageing skin.

1/4 ripe avocado
1 teaspoon runny honey
2 teaspoons Greek live yogurt
2 drops jasmine or rose essence
Preparation & Application:

Mash the avocado very thoroughly with a fork, then stir in the remaining ingredients. Apply quite thickly to the face and leave on for at least 10 minutes. Wipe off with a dry muslin cloth, then rinse the cloth in warm water to remove the rest of the mask.

After such a rich mask, it is a good idea to refresh your skin with a toner, such as a rosewater toner.

CUCUMBER AND CLAY TONIC
A good tonic for normal-to-oily skin.

5 cm (2 in) piece of cucumber
4 teaspoons green clay
2 teaspoons brewer's yeast
Mix all the ingredients in a blender until smooth. If a little watery, add another 1-2 teaspoons of clay.

TURMERIC AND EGG FEED
A luxurious facial feed for tired and dry-to-normal skin.

1 egg yolk
2 teaspoons turmeric
2 teaspoons brewer's yeast
2 teaspoons pollen grains
2 dessertspoons jojoba essence rosewater, to blend
Whisk the egg yolk and then add the remaining ingredients. This mask is easy to apply but rather sticky, so sponge off carefully and it will leave your skin beautifully smooth

EGG FIRMING MASK
This mask can take years off your face - for an evening !

1 egg white
4 -6 teaspoons kelp powder
1 drop geranium essence
Lightly whip the egg white until white and bubbly but not stiff. Thoroughly mix in the kelp powder geranium essence. Smooth thinly over the face and wait for it to dry thoroughly before wiping, then rinsing, it off.

FULLER'S EARTH FACIAL MASK
Suitable for all skin types.

1 tablespoon Fuller's Earth.
11/2 - 2 tablespoons rosewater (for a medium - to - oily skin) or
a small quantity of a rich face lotion (for a dry skin)
Mix the ingredients thoroughly then apply with a natural bristle beauty brush. If you are using rosewater, keep the mask moist with thin slices of peeled cucumber. Leave for 10 minutes then remove with warm rosewater. Pat dry with a fine - textured towel.

Additional Homemade Facials

Mix 1 1/2 teaspoons honey, the juice from 1/2 of a lemon, and 3-tablespoon yoghurt. Stir in 1 whipped egg white. Apply to face and let set about 15 minutes. Then wash off with lukewarm water.
Make a paste from a little oatmeal and water. Apply to face and let it dry. Then wash off with lukewarm water.
Mash half of an avocado and apply to entire face. Let set for about 20 minutes and then wash off.
Mash 1/2 banana and add 1-tablespoon honey and 2 tablespoons sour cream. Apply to face and let set for about 10 minutes. Then wash off with lukewarm water.
Two tablespoons of cornmeal mixed with enough water to make a thick paste makes a great inexpensive facial mask. Gently apply to face and wash off.
Soak 1 cup dried apricots in water until softened. Puree in blender or food processor with 2 tablespoons skim milk powder. Apply to face and let set about 15 minutes. Then wash off with lukewarm water.
In a food processor or blender, combine 1/2 cucumber, 1-tablespoon yoghurt, a few strawberries, and 1-teaspoon honey. Apply to face and let it dry. Then wash off with lukewarm water.
To loosen blackheads, combine equal parts baking soda and water in your hand and rub gently on your skin for 2 to 3 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Hair Coloring

You must knowing some important findings on hair coloring products. Here are several basic types of hair dyes on the market:

Temporary hair colors
Which are applied in the form of rinses, gels, mousses, and sprays. They coat the surface of the hair and usually wash out within two or three shampoos.

Semipermanent dyes
Penetrate into the hair shaft, but not as deeply as permanent dyes. Although semipermanent dyes do not rinse off with water, they do fade and wash out of hair after about five to 10 shampoos.

Long-lasting semi-permanent
A newer category that promises to last through 24 washings. In general, the more permanent the color the better the grey coverage and the more accurate the color. This is a better choice than the semi-permanent if you have a lot of gray to cover.

Permanent hair dyes
Especially those that lighten and color in one process. These formulations penetrate deeply into the hair shaft and don't wash out. Permanent hair-coloring products consist of two components that are packaged separately and mixed together immediately before application. One package contains a solution of hydrogen peroxide (usually 6%) in water or a lotion base. The other package usually contains an ammonia solution of dye intermediates and preformed dyes—called couplers. The primary intermediates are ortho or para diaminobenzenes, aminohydroxybenzenes, and to a lesser extent dihydroxybenzenes that develop color on oxidation. If you are trying to cover gray, you'll have the most success with this group of dyes.

Research has shown that some of the substances in hair dyes are readily absorbed through the skin and scalp during application.

The new study’s findings indicated that women and men who dye their hair frequently might be at increased risk for hematopoietic cancers. The early studies showed an association between hair dye use and increased risks for multiple myeloma (cancer of cells in the bone marrow), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (cancer of the lymph system), and leukemia (cancer of blood-forming cells) in both sexes, and ovarian cancer in women. Almost all the early studies indicated that increased risk might be restricted to long-term or frequent hair dye users, particularly users of dark hair dyes.

First timers should:

Pick a color as close to your natural color as possible.
Worry less about brand name and more about desired color.
Choose a temporary or semi-permanent formula.
If you color your hair at home, please be sure to read the instructions carefully and do a patch test before hand. This is especially important if you change from one brand to the other. Medications you are taking can also make you more sensitive to hair color, which may result in itching or burning of the scalp.

A safer way to cover grey or change your own natural color is to have highlights and lowlights added, so the actual product never touches the scalp.

Preventing Cataracts

Cataract is a vision – impairing cloudiness in the eye’s lens. Cataracts are common in older adults – nearly half of those over 75 have them – and millions of operation is performed each year to replace the clouded lens with an artificial one. But the condition can be prevented before it reaches that point. The latest research on cataracts suggests three ways in which women in their fifties may reduce their risk:

Take a supplement of a least 362 mg of vitamin C every day.
Eat plenty of brightly colored fruits and vegetables rich in the plants chemicals known as carotenoids.
Don’t smoke.
Carotenoids prevent the less common but especially troublesome posterior sub scapular type of cataract. These cataracts affect vision more than other types because the opacity (cloudiness) is located further back in the lens. Women who eat a diet rich in carotenoids are less likely to suffer form this type of cataract- as long as they are non- smokers. Smoking and diabetes are the two biggest risk factors for cataracts.

Vitamin C, carotenoids and folate (a B vitamin also shown to reduce cataract risk) have something in common. They‘re all antioxidants meaning that they reduce the damage that occurs as a result of normal chemical reactions in the body‘s cells. Such oxidative damage may contribute to cataracts. Vitamin C also seems to retard the clumping of protein in the lens that creates the opacity.

In a separate study carried out in Baltimore, USA, researches found that Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) offers women some protection against developing nuclear and posterior sub scapular cataracts.

Protective vegetables and fruits

Carotenoids are plant compounds that help to safeguard your precious vision. You can get you fill of these protective nutrients by eating plenty of these colorful fruits and vegetables, like

RED VEGETABLES:

Tomatoes
Red peppers
ORANGE VEGETABLES:

Carrots
Pumpkin
Butternut squash
Sweet potatoes
DARK GREEN VEGETABLES:

Spinach
Watercress
Kale
Spring greens
Broccoli.
ORANGE FRUITS:

Mango
Papaya
Cantaloupe

Nails and Your Health

During a health check up, your doctor may examine your nails, which will often reflect not only the state of your health, but also what you're been eating -- and what you're lacking. Thin, peeling nails, or nails with white spots or ridges, mean your body is running short of zinc. You should incorporate more legumes, beans, mushrooms, brewer's yeast, and whole grains into your meals.

Are your nails spoon -shaped or fluted ? This may signal a lack of iron and/or vitamin A. Load up on your greens, sprouts, carrots, melon and pumpkin. Eat small portions of iron -rich liver and other red meat. Brittle nails may be a sign that you need more biotin, which is found in yeast mushrooms, grapefruit, watermelon. bananas, and strawberries. It could also mean you need more iron --easily obtained from red meat, greens and carrots --or that you lack zinc.
Fragile nails and nails that show horizontal or vertical ridges could mean a deficiency in vitamin B. Carrots, spinach, brown rice, melon, and walnuts are good, natural sources.

Poor nail growth could mean you're not getting enough zinc. Hangnails can be painful and look red and inflamed. You may want to try adding foods that are high in folic acid like barley, bran. legumes, lentils., and mushrooms. vitamin C could also help: orange, citrus, guava, amla, and all green vegetables are good sources. Avoid taking supplements to improve nail health as too much of any single vitamin could also lead to brittle and fragile nails. Get your vitamin from food. When you nourish your whole body, nails will automatically begin to look healthier.

ALLERGIC REACTIONS

Cause:
The usual culprit is nail polish. besides the vicinity of the nails, the reddish itchy spots may appear on delicate skin areas such as the eyelids of the neck or face, touched by the nails.

What to do:

take an antihistamine tablet and dab on calamine lotion.

BRITTLE BREAKAWAYS

Cause:
The main villain is lack of moisture. Each time you put your hands in water the keratin swells and shrinks when dry. this weakens the bonds that hold up the nail matrix. Too long nails and faulty filing can also have a similar effect.

What to do:

Soak for ten minutes at night in baby oil or olive oil.
Keep nails short.
Use a file with a sponge centre.
A coat of white iodine strengthen snails.
Use oil based, not acetone removers.
If a nail starts to break cut it.
If you need to show off your nails, patch up the crack. tear off a small corner of thin paper from an unused tea bag -- as wide as the nail break and about 1/2" long. Apply quick drying glue to the nail tear and let it dry. Next saturate the centre of notch with glue and place on the nail. Moisten the rest of the patch with glue and fold it around the torn part and under the nail. Smoothes the paper edges down with a little glue and the sides of a tooth pick and buff lightly. polish.
If any glue geys on your skin remove with a cotton bud dipped in remover.

CHEWED -TO-THE -QUICK

Cause:
Stress, habit, nervousness

What to do:

When you get the urge to bite do something else your hands. Sit on them, wiggle them in the air, create stuff.
A regular manicure is a good incentive.
Keep cuticles tidy.
Consider nail wraps while you wait for them to grow.
Get " No Bite " or " Stop That Bite " from your chemist.

CRACKED UP, DENTED, SPOTTY
Cause:
Injury to the nail matrix, specially under and lunula.

What to do:

It takes two to six months to grow out. In the meantime keep clipping.

FUNGAL INFECTIONS

Cause:
Trapped moisture.

What to do:

Use ant fungal ointment. wait till the infection has cleared before using polish. Throw away products used on infected nails.

INGROWN TOE NAILS

Cause:
A nail cut too short, curved at the corners, too-tight shoes resulting in the nail cutting into the flesh causing pain, swelling and inflammation.

What to do:

Dip a cotton bud in antibiotic ointment and push under the nail edge. If infection and pus sets in, consult a doctor.

SPLIT, SORE CUTICLES
Cause:
Picking, biting, dryness, or extra zealous clipping which leads to tougher, more unmanageable.

What to do:

Massage regularly with a nourishing cream to keep moisturized.
Soak hands in warm sudsy water for a few minutes before easing cuticles back to soften them.
Push back gently with an orange stick.
clean away the skin clinging to the nail using the flat side of a nail file.

PEELING WEAKLINGS

Cause:
Illness, overuse of harsh detergents, nail glue and acetone remover, faulty filing, too much exposure to water

What to do:

Wear rubber gloves for household chores.
Use oil based polish removers.
Try a soft grain nail file and leave the sides alone.
Don't buff.
Keep hands out of very hot water.
Massage hand cream or hot almond oil into cuticles and nail after washing hands or at bedtime.

YELLOW MENACE

Cause:
Cigareyye stains, cheap or too drak nail polish, acetone remover.

What to do:

With a swab dipped in diluted hydrogen peroxide.
Insert into half a lemon and twist back and forth.
Keep polish -free for a while.

Ulnar Neuropathy

Ulnar neuropathy is an inflammation of the ulnar nerve, a major nerve that runs down into your hand. It supplies movement and sensation to your arm and hand. Ulnar neuropathy causes numbness, tingling, or pain into the arm and hand on the side of the little finger. Bicyclists call this condition "handlebar palsy".

Bicyclists are especially prone to this condition because of the repeated shocks and bouncing that can occur while holding the handlebars when riding. Other activities that involve stress on the hands and wrists may also irritate the ulnar nerve and cause ulnar neuropathy.

Cause and Occurrence
The ulnar nerve may get inflamed in several areas as it travels from your neck to your hand. The ulnar nerve is commonly inflamed during bicycling from repeated shocks or bouncing while your hand is holding onto the handlebar. The nerve may be stretched when held in the lower position of a drop handlebar. Other activities that involve repetitive movements of the wrist may cause ulnar neuropathy

Symptoms
Basically, symptoms of handlebar palsy include ;

Tingling
Numbness, or
Pain on the outside or middle of the forearm; this sensation of discomfort may run all the way to the little finger.

It’s important to note, too, that during early stages of the injury symptoms might be limited to tingling (the familiar “pins-and-needles” sensation) while riding with drop handlebars; this distress should disappear if one removes the hands from the lower position on the bars. If ignored, however, the tingling can rapidly progress to numbness and intense pain.

In fact, the pain can be sufficiently intense to prevent cycling altogether, except for pedalling a stationary bicycle without placing the hands on the handlebars

Treatment
Treatment for this condition may involve anti-inflammatory medications, wrist splints, or therapeutic exercises. Wrist splints may help to reduce the discomfort. When you are bicycling, it might help to wear padded gloves. Try adjusting the position of your hands on the handlebar, such as by changing your grip from the top to the sides of the handlebar. In case of need the doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications or B vitamins.

Rehabilitation Exercises
You may do all of these exercises right away.

Neck Range of Motion Exercises
Neck Rotation: Sit in a chair, keeping your neck, shoulders, and trunk straight. First, turn your head slowly to the right. Move it gently to the point of pain. Move it back to the forward position. Relax. Then move it to the left. Repeat 10 times.
Neck Side Bend: Tilt your head so that your right ear moves toward your right shoulder. Move it to the point of pain. Then tilt your head so your left ear moves toward your left shoulder. Make sure you do not rotate your head while tilting or raise your shoulder toward your head. Repeat this exercise 10 times in each direction.
Neck Flexion: Bend your head forward, reaching your chin toward your chest. Hold for 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times.
Neck Extension: Bring your head back so that your chin is pointing toward the ceiling. Repeat 10 times.
Scapular Range of Motion: Stand and shrug your shoulders up and hold for 5 seconds. Then squeeze your shoulder blades back and together and hold 5 seconds. Next, pull your shoulder blades downward as if putting them in your back pocket. Relax. Repeat this sequence 10 times.
Elbow Range of Motion: Gently bring your palm up toward your shoulder and bend your elbow as far as you can. Then straighten your elbow as far as you can 10 times. Do 3 sets of 10.
Wrist Range of Motion: Bend your wrist forward and backward as far as you can. Do 3 sets of 10.
Straight Finger Flexion: Make a right angle with your knuckles and keep your fingers straight. Hold this position for 10 seconds. Repeat 5 times.
Finger Squeeze: Practice squeezing items between each of the fingers on your injured hand. You can use paper, pens, and sponges. Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat 5 times for each finger.
Grip Strengthening: Squeeze a rubber ball and hold for 5 seconds. Do 3 sets of 10.

Prevention

Check out the following tips to avoid this painful problem:

Make sure your bike fits. When purchasing a bike, see that you are properly measured. Serious biking enthusiasts should consider consulting a professional who can advise on appropriate fitting techniques.
Padding is key. Padded gloves and handlebars cut back on stress and possible injuries.
Sit Right. Sitting in a more upright position puts less weight and pressure on hands and wrists.
Rest Up. Rest periods while biking long distances and between bike trips are recommended. Changing hand position on the handlebars frequently when biking can also help reduce the risk of injury.
See a doctor with any injuries. PM&R physicians can recommend the right balance of exercise, padding, and bracing to help avoid chronic injuries.

Eye Check-ups

Good eye sight can only be maintained by having regular eye check-ups done by an ophthalmologist.

Most people go through in life without any disease of the eye, while others might need corrective lenses at some time. Regular eye check-ups help in early detection of any problems that might make a difference between good eyesight and blindness.

In a typical examination, an ophthalmologist determines how much a person can see without corrective lenses, and if the need arises tries to improve the vision by selecting suitable option.

The first step involves the assessment of how well both the eyes work together (binocular vision), then he/she will carefully examine the inside and outside of the eyes. He/she will measure the pressure inside and outside of the eyes. Patients above 40 and younger ones that have near relative with glucoma need to get the pressure inside the eye tested.

This will follow checking of the width, or field of the vision and then color vision.

Normal sight is classified as 20/20 which means that you can read letters of a fixed size on a chart at a distance of 20 feet. A measure of 20/32 indicates that you can read a line at 20 feet which another individual with normal vision can read at 32 feet.

Sun and Skin

You need to understand that excessive sun can be the skin's worst enemy. Therefore it is essential that you adopt following guidelines into your daily routine to protect your skin from the harmful radiation of the sun.

Avoid excessive exposure to the sun between the hours of 10.00 AM to 3.00 PM. When the radiation of the sun is intense.
When you are in the Sun, wear protecting clothes, such as hats, long sleeves and use sunscreen.
Never to use tanning beds as they are increasing source of skin damage and ageing.
Use a sunscreen on exposed areas of your skin everyday. When choosing one, select that protects you from both kinds of UV radiation-UVA & UVB.
Use sunscreen that has Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or greater. An SPF of 15 means that you can stay in the Sun 15 times longer than you normally could before your skin begins to burn.
Apply the sunscreen liberally and half an hour before you go out in the Sun so that the sunscreen is well absorbed into your skin.
You might have to try several before you find one that does not cause any skin reaction.
But above all, you need to remember that the best protection against skin cancer and other damage is to avoid the Sun.
Harmful Radiations Of The Sun
The sun emits three form of radiation infrared, visible and ultraviolet. Infra red and visible light are valuable because they provide warmth and the ability to see. Ultraviolet rays can be harmful depending on their wave-lenght:- UVA (longest), UVB (middle length) and UVC (shortest). Each one them penetrates the atmosphere and affects our health in different ways.

UVB Rays: These rays are absorbed into the epidermis and can cause skin cancer by altering the normally well-organized behavior of cells. By breaking down the collagen and elastin building blocks they can create , by further causing wrinkles, clumping up the protein, weakening the walls of small blood vessels and spider veins etc.

UVA Rays: These rays can be as harmful as UVB rays. UVA is absorbed into the epidermis and pass through the dermis. They remain in high intensity all day long and not just peak hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. unlike the UVB rays.

UVB and UVA rays can both damage the protecting covering of eyes known as Cornea. The resulting damage to the lens and the retina may cause cataract and visual acuity problems.

The sun also affects the immune system UVB and particularly the UVA rays can damage the langerhans cells, which are important component of immune system within the skin. UV rays can damage the WBC (White Blood Cells) as well, rendering them important in face of the enemy. In addition damage to the langerhans cells and WBC can reduce the effectiveness of the immune system leading to vulnerability of the skin to viruses and other diseases.

UVC Rays: These rays are absorbed in the ozone layer and if small amounts of these rays succeed in passing through, they are absorbed in the epidermis of the skin.

Protecting With a Sunscreen

Sunscreens are available in the market in the form of creams, gels, lotions, sprays and ointments. They contain various agents which have been proven to protect the skin against the rays of the sun.

Para-amino-benzoic acid or PABA, PABA esters (glycerol, padimate A, padimate O, or octyl dimenthyl PABA) and cinnamates are agents which are effective in protecting the skin against UVB rays. Benzophenones (oxybenzone, methoxybenzone and sulfisobenzone) and Parsol are effective in protecting against UVA rays.

To totally protect your skin, select a sunscreen with a combination of two of these agents, one of UVA rays and one of UVB. Take the help of a dermatologist to chose a product that suits your skin type. Also, at the same time pass a test on hand before applying it on the face.

Some factors need to be considered while choosing a sunscreen:

Does it protect my skin or do I have signs of sun exposure?
Is it too occlusive and sticky?
Do I break on pimples when I use it?
Do I break out a rash?
Depending on these factors you can pick a sunscreen from the options available :

If you have a dry skin avoid using tretinoin (Retin-A, Stieva-A, Retisol-A, Refuva-A, Renova, Vit A Acid) which tends to dry the skin, a cream base can be a better choice e.g. Ombrella 15 or Photoplex). Retisol-A is particularly good because it combines a broad-base sunscreen with tretinoin and a moisturizer in a single cream.
If you participate in sports or swim, sunscreen that will not wash off immediately are recommended (Ombrella 15 or Presum 29 are useful)
Thus , the need of sunscreen varies with the skin type, your daily activities, geographical locations and climatic condition. As UV rays are reflected from sand, sun, water, snow and ice. The frequency of application of a sunscreen, too will vary with your activities. If you work out-of doors, whether in winter or summer, several applications of high SPF sunscreens throughout the day will be required.

How To Apply A Sunscreen

The key to an effective use of sunscreen is to:

Be diligent about their application.
Apply them regularly and in adequate amounts. Thinly applied sunscreens markedly decrease the sun protection factor.
Apply sunscreen on your children regularly as well, to the exposed areas of their body.
Cleanse the skin, before application (sunscreen).
Apply sunscreen (min 15 SPF) to areas of body which will be exposed to the sun.
Apply moisturizer if necessary.
Apply make up.
Reapply the sunscreen if needed throughout the day depending on the amount of sun exposure and your rate of perspiration.
Sunscreen are most effective when they are applied to cool, dry skin, so they should be put on 20-30 minutes before sun exposure. The reason being:

The sunscreen needs a cool dry surface to bind to the top layer of the skin.
There is a possibility that you might get a heat or sweat rash from the sunscreen if applied when the skin is hot because the sweet pores are open.
How To Be Safe In The Sun

Apply a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15, such as Ombrelle 15, daily to sun exposed areas of the skin.
Apply the sunscreen about 30 minutes before sun exposure when the body is cool and dry so it will bind better to the skin.
Reapply sunscreen throughout the day according to the amount of sun exposure you receive. If you are participating in sports which make you perspire, reapply sunscreen every hour.
Protect the sun exposed areas of the body all year round.
Apply adequate amounts of sunscreen, one ounce for one body for one application. If you are using adequate amounts of sunscreen, you should be purchasing it as regularly as you purchase toothpaste. High-risk areas for cancer such as the face and hands should receive an extra dose of sunscreen. If you don't mind the look of a total block, use zinc oxide or titanium dioxide on the particularly sensitive areas such as the nose and cheek bones.
Be thorough in your application: sun exposed skin which is not covered will burn.
If you are wearing loosely woven clothing, put sunscreens on underneath them. The sun also penetrates wet clothing easily.
Wear waterproof or water-resistant sunscreens if you plan to be in the water. Waterproof sunscreens last for 1 1/2 hour and water resistant sunscreens for about 30 to 40 minutes. They should be re-applied to dry skin allowing a bonding period of 20 minutes before re-entering the water.
Wear 100% UV-protected sunglasses that wrap around the eyes. Darker sunglasses do not necessarily filter out the UV rays unless they are specially coated.