How to Prevent an Injury from Scarring

Most of the time, people think of scarring as an unsightly blemish on the skin, while a few individuals look at them as cool and even refer to them as reminders of one’s battle wounds. But is there a way to prevent scarring? To answer that, you will need to know the factors that contribute to its appearance.

Determine the Nature of the Injury

The appearance of the scar will depend on the nature of the injury; such as its shape, size, depth, and even location. The way your body reacts to the injury will also affect the scarring process, because those who are prone to having keloids will have a harder time preventing scars from appearing. Deep wounds will take more time to heal than shallow injuries, but it can also be influenced by how healthy your skin is (and if you have any existing skin conditions), its thickness, the amount of blood that gets to the injured area, and even the skin color.

Scarring is a Healing Process

The first thing a dermatologist will ask you is the cause of the injury and its healing progress. Scar prevention often begins with proper treatment, although scarring from deep cuts are almost always impossible to prevent. Scarring itself is a part of the normal healing process, but the healed tissues no longer contains the normal parts of the skin, that is why the affected area will look a lot different from the surrounding skin.

There are Different Types of Scars

There are three types of scars that result from various types of injuries; these are, thin or flat scars that might fade over time; hypertrophic scars that create raised, thick, and reddish scars; and keloid scars that result in raised, dark or reddish scars that often extend beyond the affected area. The last type of scar is often the result of an overproduction of collagen in the skin. This is common in people with severe acne and will need intervention from a doctor to reduce its ghastly appearance.

These are steps you should observe to reduce the scarring while your injury is still healing.

• Get the best possible treatment for your injury. For example, a cut will heal better if you can get stitches as soon as possible to prevent infection and other complications. If you can’t get a cut stitched soon enough, it will start the healing process, making the stitching less effective.

• Hasten the healing process. Injuries need to be kept clean, moist, and infection-free with clean bandages and doctor-prescribed healing ointments. Disinfect the wound everyday then change the bandages or dressings to speed up its healing process.

• Avoid scar creams. They will not reduce the scarring regardless of the manufacturer’s claims. Most of these products contain vitamin E or other ingredients that will not help at all and might even cause irritation.

• Don’t pick at scabs. This is often the cause of scarring and will slow down the healing process. The scabs will come off naturally, so be patient.

Aloe Vera Compared to Other Natural Skin Products

Aloe vera has been used for centuries as a healing plant. The part of the plant processed for health and beauty products come from the leaves. The leaves contain a meaty substance called aloe vera gel.

Let’s see how aloe vera compares to other medicinal plants that you can grow in your garden.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera has many synonyms and varieties that are also used as medicinal plants. The one we’re familiar with has green leaves and white streaks near the top or bottom of the leaves. It’s a stemless or nearly-stemless plant with not more than 21 leaves. It can survive with minimal water and most weather conditions. Because of the good climate in Singapore, aloe vera thrives both indoors and in gardens. With more than 400 species worldwide, a few of these Aloe have health benefits and are considered super-food by some.

Aloe Vera Latex

There are two types of aloe vera products in the market today. One is called the aloe vera latex which is obtained from a yellow, sticky substance found under the leaf skin. It is taken orally for a variety of diseases such as joint inflammation and other join problems, laxative for constipation, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, vision problems such as glaucoma, colds, bleeding, asthma, depression, varicose veins, seizures, hemorrhoids and others.

Aloe Vera Gel

The other type of Aloe product is an aloe vera gel. It is found in the cells in the center of the leaves. Aloe vera in Singapore is used for a variety of skin diseases and conditions such as acne, sunburns, dry skin, itchy skin, burns, scaly skin, genital herpes, diaper rash, bedsores, frostbite, scabies, dandruff, radiation-induced skin, lichen planus, anal fissures, canker sores in the mouth, and many more. Aloe vera gel is also useful against insects, bacteria and fungi. Not only are some aloe vera health benefits in Singapore effective in maintaining a healthy skin, but aloe vera in Singapore is used to treat hemorrhoids, arthritis, improve blood circulation, and many more.

Other Natural Skin Supplements

Peppermint

Peppermint is a cross between the spearmint and the water mint. It is valued for its menthol and used as an anesthetic because of its cooling effect. The leaves are used to treat colds, sinus inflammation, digestive problems, body aches, skin rashes, dry skin, and menstrual cramps. To be effective, however, it has to be used as peppermint oil.

Chamomile

There are two varieties of this herb used for food and medicine. The flowers are usually dried to help with the following conditions and diseases: gastrointestinal disorders, hemorrhoids, joint pains, insomnia, inflammation and spasms, menstrual disorders, hay fever, and many more. The essential oil from the leaves are used in cosmetics too.

Thyme

Thyme is also one of the oldest medicinal plants around. It has been used in embalming, cooking, and for treating various ailments. This includes acne, hypertension, cough, weak immune system, and more. It can also be used as a fungicide, pesticide and disinfectant.

Rosemary

This herb is used not just as a spice but also to boost the immune system, improve blood circulation, enhance memory, stop pain and inflammation, heal skin problems and slow down aging. The essential oil is extracted from the leaves for it to be effective. It can be orally ingested or applied as a salve or paste.

Pot Marigold

Marigold flowers can treat a lot of skin diseases like acne, eczema, rashes and dermatitis. It is also used to ease pain, cramps, swelling, sprains, and inflammations. Other conditions that can be treated include the following: ear infections, fungal infections, athlete’s foot, ringworm, vaginitis, and jock itch.

Sage

This herb is used for food and medicine. It can treat digestive problems like gastritis, diarrhea, heartburn, flatulence and bloating. Women can also use sage to ease menstrual cramps and the negative symptoms caused by menopause. Other ailments that can be treated include depression, Alzheimer’s disease, gingivitis, mouth and nasal problems, depression, over-perspiration, asthma, and many more.

Lavender

Lavender’s essential oil is used for various skin problems in Singapore. It is a purifier and smells good too. It is commonly found in cosmetics and body products like shampoo, perfumes, and oils. Studies show that lavender can treat digestive problems, insomnia, anxiety or depression, headaches, toothaches, and hair loss. It also has anti-fungal properties and can heal wounds faster.

Basil

Basil leaves are not only used for cooking but can also eliminate digestive problems. The seeds are used to treat hypotension, cancer and others. Most parts of the plant are used in various ways to treat the following diseases or symptoms: gonorrhea, diabetes, bacterial infections, common colds, and headaches.

Gotu Kola

Like aloe vera, gotu kola is also known in Ayurvedic medicine as a treatment for almost any viral, bacterial and parasitic infection. This includes colds, flu, tuberculosis, cholera, urinary tract infection, shingles, syphilis, dysentery, and more. It is also used to treat diarrhea, asthma, stomach ulcers, anemia, tonsillitis and jaundice.

Tea Tree

In Singapore, tea tree oil or melaleuca oil is used for its antiviral, anti-fungal, and antibacterial properties. It can clean wounds, repel insects, stop the growth of bacteria and mold, treat acne, treat fungal and bacterial infections, and even treat warts. When used in steam treatment, it can clear up clogged sinuses. At home, you can boil the leaves to extract the oil.

Siberian Ginseng

This type of ginseng is more affordable than the Korean variety. Ginseng is often used as tonic to relieve stress and boost the immune system. Among its other benefits are the following: improved memory, treat menopause problems, increase appetite and stamina, cure respiratory problems, and boost energy.

Peppermint

Peppermint has been used since ancient times as a flavoring and treatment for various ailments. This includes cold, inflammation, digestive problems, mouth and sinus problems, menstrual problems like cramps and nausea, headaches and other body pain, dry skin and rashes, and bacterial infections of the skin.

4 Ways to Dry Your Nail Polish Rapidly

To have pristinely manicured nails is perhaps one of every woman’s goal when it comes to beauty and grooming. The only peeve many of us have when it comes to manicure is the time we spend waiting for the nail polish to completely dry.

When we get impatient after a few minutes of waiting and blowing on our nails, there is a tendency that the manicure will be ruined once we touch it.

For gals on the go, fret not because there are a number of options you can do to dry your nail polish quicker than just blowing on them and flailing your hands. Here are some convenient and relatively easy ways for quick drying nail polish.

1. Keep it thin. When applying your nail polish coating, opt for several thin coats for it to dry quicker. Before applying the next thin coating, allow the first coating to dry for 3 minutes before applying the next one. This way the waiting period in drying the polish is shorter compared to applying thick coatings.

2.Ice it. The second method is affordable and convenient but not totally comfortable. First fill a bowl with cold water, enough for your five fingers to be submerged in the water. Also add a few cubes of ice to retain the coldness. As soon as you finish painting your nails, dip your hand in the cold water and keep it there for 3 minutes.

3.Blow it away. Your hair dryer can double as a manicure drying device. Keep it in the cool or the low heat setting in order to dry your nails fast. Don’t blast the nail polish in the strongest setting to avoid messing up the manicure.

4.Get the spray. Who knows that a great nail polish dryer is just sitting in your own kitchen? Use a cooking spray to dry your manicure. The oil present in cooking spray is also good to condition the cuticles. Get the regular cooking spray and avoid the flavored ones.

5 Tips to Fake Dewy Summer Skin

When you think of glowing, radiant skin, bare summer skin is what often crosses our minds. Luckily, you can now challenge that notion and get naturally luminous skin even on a cold season. So start your quest to achieving that dewy summer skin with these following beauty tips.

1. Exfoliate Weekly. Sure, you may be sloughing off dead skin cells every night with your physical exfoliator, but it’s also a good idea to incorporate chemical exfoliator in your routine once a week. This will help in breaking down and eliminating oil and product residues that are lodged deep down your pores. A little reminder though: if exfoliating during the day, make sure to put on extra SPF before doing your make-up for added UV protection.

 

2. Apply Makeup After Moisturizing. Want to ensure that your foundation smooths over your face flawlessly? Try applying your makeup while your moisturizer is still moist to the touch. The moisture from your moisturizer is what will help blend your concealer and foundation easily, resulting to a dewier and more natural finish.

 

3. Ditch Shimmery Foundations. You’re born with glowy – not shimmery – skin. So instead of using a shimmery foundation, use highlighter to add extra glow to certain parts of the face—not all over the face. Pat on a little amount on your cheekbones, nose bridge, and on the centre of your forehead to get just the right amount of glow.

                                                                                                                                 

4. Opt for a Moisturizing Spray Mist. Using spray mists with zero moisturizing ingredients will only dry out your skin. Instead, opt for one that contains moisturizing vitamin E and skin-plumping hyaluronic acid to give your skin an instant luminizing effect.

 

5. Skip the Gloss. When creating a dewier look, avoid the lip gloss as it tends to overwhelm the overall look, making you look oily instead of dewy. A sheer or satin finish lip colour would be a much better choice to seal your look. If you want a more matte finish, blot the formula after applying it to your lips.

A dewy-looking skin isn’t only for the summer; you can sport it even in the colder months, too. All you have to do is use the right products and follow these quick and easy tips. How about you? How do you get that fresh and dewy look?

Acne-Fighting Products That Won’t Dry Your Skin

Stopping acne breakouts and maintaining a smooth, healthy skin sounds more like a pipe dream, right? Well, not anymore. Truth is, ditching your zit problems without zapping out your skin’s moisture is now possible thanks to these tested-and-proven acne-fighting products. So go ahead and test these products out for yourself, and see how easy it is to get a youthful and acne-free skin.

1. Mario Badescu Drying Cream. Yes, its name says ‘drying’ but don’t let that fool you. With its potent colloidal sulphur and zinc oxide combo, this cult favourite will surely zap your zits into oblivion while healing and soothing your skin using its high aloe content. By using this product, you’ll finally be able to skip the dry and flaky in-between stage of healing from zits.

2. Kate Somerville Anti Bac Clearing Lotion Acne Treatment. Unlike other lotions, this one works deep within the pores to clear out any existing blemishes and discourage the future ones. It’s loaded with a powerful concentration of benzoyl peroxide to fight off acne, while its sesame seed and argan extract hydrates and soothes your skin.

3. Origins Original Skin Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay. Acne breakouts aren’t the only things that this purifying facial mask can cure. It’s wealth of ingredients like the rose clay and Canadian willowherb aids in restoring your skin’s radiance, refining your pores and gently polishing your skin’s surface. With this, you’ll be able to get rid of your acne problems and get a seriously glowing and healthy-looking complexion.

4. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment. This fast-acting formula uses both exfoliating acids and benzoyl peroxide to turn your rather dull and blemish-ridden skin to a clearer canvas. Not only does it treat all your existing breakouts, it also clears clogged pores and blackheads. What’s even better is that it’s smooth and easy-to-absorb texture makes the product easier to apply and wear under any type of makeup. Pure perfection indeed, especially for girls who love wearing makeup.

5. Miracle Skin Transformer Acne Control. Compared with other products, this formula gives a rather instant and long-term result. This product works by visually correcting any signs of acne and redness, while its salicylic acid content works by fading away all the existing blemishes, leaving you with smoother and fairer skin.

Getting a smooth acne-free skin is just every girls dream, and with these products out in the market, getting both is no longer just a far-fetch dream.