A fresh bruise is usually painful and tender. More often than not, it is reddish and later on turns blue or dark purple. When bruises heal, they either turn yellow or green depending on the skin color of the person who has it. Bruises don’t look good but sometimes having them is inevitable especially if you are one who keeps on bumping into things. Mild trauma caused by bumping into a chair or a table can cause bruises. Extreme strain such as heavy exercise can also result to bruising due to microscopic tears underneath the skin specifically the blood vessels.

There are other causes of bruising though and if you are getting them without knowing how you got them, it would be best to get a blood test to see if there is something wrong. Bruising does not only involve trauma on the skin or the blood vessels but could also happen due to certain ailments. Those with bleeding disorders usually get inexplicable bruises. The elderly also suffer from getting them on a regular basis but it is usually not because of a sickness but because of the thinning of their skin.

Tired of having bruises? As long as you are not battered or get into fights often, bruises are natural especially those who get into unnoticed accidents.

There are natural cures for bruising and this includes applying Comfrey tea on the affected area. The usual ice pack will do the trick too especially if you are in pain because of a particular bruise. Putting an ice pack on will also reduce the inflammation. One should keep in mind however to not use an ice pack if the skin is broken because that is already a wound and needs to be treated differently.

24 hours after using an ice pack, you would need heating pads to improve the circulation of blood in that part of the body.

Keratosis pilaris also known as KP or follicular keratosis is a skin disease manifested by rough bumps on the skin. KP usually appears on the upper arms and on the back although it can also appear on the hands, the legs and thighs and even the buttocks. It doesn’t usually appear on the face but when it does it is usually mistaken for acne.

KP is harmless but it is unsightly and can contribute to anxiety, loss of confidence and depression.

Although skin ailments are not that bad since they can be treated, those with KP usually do not interact with many people since they have no confidence to do so. It also limits one from wearing certain types of clothes.

According to statistics KP affects 50% to 80% adolescents allover the world and approximately 40% adults. It is also interesting to note that the skin ailment is more common among the female population.

Keratosis pilaris is caused by too much keratin produced by the body. The natural protein when made in excess causes hyperkeratinization or the development of hard plugs. As mentioned before, the disease only results to a cosmetic consequence but never really harmful. It usually happens during the colder times of the year when moisture in the air is considerably lower. During these times, the bumps are more pronounced and their color more unsightly.

Usually, these bumps contain ingrown hair preventing the hair itself from exiting the keratin cover i.e. the bumps.

If you think you or a family member is suffering from KP, it would be best to consult with a dermatologist immediately.

KP is also known as the chicken skin condition because it makes one’s skin look like a chicken’s. This common skin ailment has no cure, much to the dismay of many but consulting with a physician and getting keratosis pilaris treatment is a good idea.

AHA is said to be a good treatment for KP and those who has KP are also advised to take vitamin A more regularly.

Prickly heat or sweat rash is a skin ailment common in the tropics. It also happens in colder countries during the summertime because of blocked sweat glands. People with underdeveloped sweat glands usually suffer from this ailment too. Sweat rash is very common though and is not a serious condition. It can be treated by home remedies and can go away pretty quickly.

Rashes usually appear on the feet, the back, neck, groin, armpits, hands, abdomen and the upper part of the chest. Symptoms of prickly heat include mild inflammation on affected areas, stinging sensation, and the appearance of small yet itchy red bumps on the skin. There are a number of causes of prickly heat but usually it’s because of weather that causes excessive sweating which later on result to blockage of sweat glands. Those who are overweight and have a sedentary lifestyle can also get prickly heat easily.

For those who do not really want to bother going to the doctor because of this uncomfortable skin ailment, you can always apply talcum powder on affected areas after your bath to reduce the itching. Another home remedy you can use is baking soda. You should add a few drops of water in a solution of baking soda preferably one teaspoon and apply the said solution to the affected area. An ice pack would be useful too as an immediate relief from the tingling sensation of prickly heat. Cornstarch is also a good alternative if you do not have talcum powder or baking soda. You just have to apply it on affected areas after taking a bath. Your breakfast oatmeal can help too. Other remedies include raw potato (sliced), arrow root powder, and ginger. For those planning to use arrow root powder, you can just sprinkle the powder on affected areas after your bath. If you are thinking of using ginger, grate some and boil it in water. Once the solution is cool, sponge it on affected areas while bathing.

Suffering from acne? There are many ways to get rid of it but just to be safe, it is always best to consult with a dermatologist first.

Since there are a lot of ways to get rid of acne and those horrid craters, there are also a lot of medication that can treat it, it’s just a matter of finding the right one for you and your skin.

The right acne treatment is like finding the right shoes for a particular dress. It would take a while for you to find the perfect one but once you find it, you’d be quite happy.

Aside from the many topical creams in the market today, there are also pills one can take to get rid of acne. The 7 Day Acne Detox System is one of them. The said system has active ingredients that include milk thistle, super fruits or antioxidants, apple cider vinegar and dandelion root. For those interested in trying this out, it would be best to look for a reliable review of the product.

If you do not want to buy any pills or topical cream to treat your acne or if you are scared of trying them out, you’d better call your dermatologist right away and get a consultation. Facing the problem head on is advised in such a situation. Your dermatologist will be able to guide you nay, help you get rid of acne. But why go to a dermatologist if you can just try out various products being advertised online? Well here’s the deal, the treatment you need may be different from the treatment that another person needs. Sometimes, acne is not caused by nutrition, genes or irritants because believe it or not, breakouts can be caused by stress too. How does this happen? Well if you are stressed out, your immune system is also affected. This means that the weaker your immune system the more prone you are to breakouts and other skin ailments. This is the reason why you should consult with a doctor first before anything else. 

Usually mistaken as psoriasis, kin asthma is defined as a chronic inflammation occurring on the skin –in general terms of course. Here are a few things you should know for you to determine if you have skin asthma.

Symptoms of Skin Asthma

Itchy dry skin

Skin lesions usually on the cheeks

Ear discharge

Rashes on the cheeks, arms, legs

Crusting or oozing blisters

What are the causes of skin asthma?

Genetic

Irritant food

Irritant saliva

Sudden changes in environmental temperature

Poor nutrition and health

Atopic eczema

Allergic rhinitis

How do I prevent skin asthma?

Avoid stressors

Get ample sleep

Avoid eating cheese, tomatoes, corn, yeast, wheat, and nuts.

Do not drink milk.

Do not expose yourself in dusty places.

Don’t smoke.

Recommended Home Remedies

Apply aqueous cream in affected areas to keep your skin moisturized.

You can also use antibacterial ointments and apply the solution on your skin.

Colloidal oatmeal is also a good way to stop the itching. All you have to do is add this to your bath water.

Drinking oolong tea twice a day will also help those who have skin asthma.

Please note that you should still consult with your doctor if you think you have skin asthma.

What is Colloidal Oatmeal?

If you would like to try putting colloidal oatmeal in your bath, you must first learn what it is. Also known as Avena sativa L. colloidal oatmeal helps in keeping the skin smooth and also stops itching. This is of course not your breakfast oatmeal so it is not advised that you eat it. You only add these oats to your bath to harness its soothing effects. If you haven’t seen colloidal oatmeal yet, it is like fine powder and when it is added to bathwater, the dispersion is quite milky. Ask your dermatologist where you can buy it or just look for colloidal oatmeal online. 

Photo via doktermudatrader.blogspot.com 

Sweating is a normal bodily function but what if you sweat too much?

What is normal?

We all sweat –that is normal and this happens when we are in a rather warm environment or when we are exercising. We also sweat when we are under psychological or physical stress. According to David Pariser, MD a professor in the Dermatology Department at the Eastern Virginia Medical School in Virginia, we have about 2 to 4 million sweat glands on the forehead, hands, underarms, face and feet.

Why do some of us sweat more than others?

Some people sweat 4 times more than usual even if in a cool environment. Researchers have not yet seen what causes it but medical professionals think that it has something to do with the connection between the sweat glands and the brain.  This is also genetic since sweating too much also called Hyperhidrosis ru in families.

Treating Excessive Sweating

Talk to a doctor about your problem. More often than not, he or she will give you prescription strength deodorant. Botox injections on certain parts of the skin will also work but of course, you would need to ask your doctor about it if it is a good solution for you.

For more tips, you may want to take a look at Perspire Much? Another article dedicated to excessive sweating and possible solutions.

The Right Antiperspirant

Choosing the right antiperspirant for those with sensitive skin can be difficult but here are a few tips you might want to keep in mind. Look for a deodorant that effectively stops sweat and prevents odor. Do not worry if you haven’t found the right one, you will soon as long as you take a look at the active ingredients of the deodorants available in the market. Deodorants with alcohol content are great to keep you dy but if you have sensitive skin it would be best to use a stick instead of a roll on. Finding a deodorant without fragrance is also ideal because perfumes mixed in deodorants can cause rashes.