Archive for February, 2010

Apple Cider Vinegar Can Treat Itchy Scalp

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

Apple cider vinegar is old remedy for all kinds of things.  It can be used for skincare, bug bites, and sunburn.  And it is also good for hair care.  Itchy scalp is a problem that many people suffer from and apple cider vinegar can help.    

Apple cider vinegar is a completely natural product.  It comes from the fermentation of apple juice into hard cider.   A second fermentation process turns it into apple cider vinegar.  Apple cider vinegar takes the goodness of apples and adds the extra acids and enzymes that come from the fermentation process. 

One common cause of scalp itch is dandruff.  With dandruff the scalp is flaky and has some scaling.  In some cases dandruff suffers may even have large mounds of flakes on the scalp.  It is usually very itchy and bothersome.  Dandruff is caused by the build up of bacteria on the scalp.  Apple cider vinegar works by killing these bacteria and restoring the scalp back to heath. 

Scalp itch is also sometimes caused by the buildup of hair products.  Most hair products, shampoos, conditioners, and dyes, have a high level of pH. The scalp naturally is low pH.  Apple cider vinegar has a pH level that is more consistent with the that of the scalps.  This makes it work well as a rinse.  Using diluted apple cider vinegar solution to rinse hair after shampooing can restore the pH level on the scalp and remove the build up left behind from hair products.  Using this rinse once or twice per week can work to reduce itching.  Apple cider vinegar does have a smell, but it will disappear when hair dries.

Using Hyaluronic Acid to Increase Collagen Production

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

skin Hyaluronic Acid is one of today’s most popular anti- aging ingredients.  It works great at addressing the problems that accompany skin that is aging.  One of the main things that HA does is to help form collagen in the skin. 

Hyaluronic Acid and collagen are both found naturally in skin tissue.  With age the amount of HA and the amount of collagen in the skin both decrease.  The decrease of HA and collagen are a large part of what causes the skin to begin to wrinkle and sag.   

Why are these substances so important to skin?  Collagen provides the structure and firmness in skin tissue.  Hyaluronic Acid is like a cushion for the collagen proteins, and it works to fills the gaps between the collagen.  Hyaluronic acid is also the way that skin retains moisture.  It can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water. 

Hyaluronic Acid is able to promote the production of collagen.   It is one of the key components of the cellular matrix that includes several proteins, including collagen.  HA enables the structure to hold water and provides cushioning and resiliency.   It is also able to enhance circulation and encourage healthy skin cell growth.   

The combination of HA and collagen is vital in the fight for healthy looking and feeling skin.  It will decrease premature wrinkling, increase skin hydration, and keep skin smooth and moist.  Increased collagen will also boosts skin elasticity.  With proper Hyaluronic Acid and collagen amounts skin tone will be firmer and the overall complex of skin will look better. 

Hyaluronic Acid can be found in many anti-aging products.  It can be found in cream form or serum.  And it can even be taken in supplement form.

Jojoba Oil – Excellent for Hair and Scalp

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

hair picJojoba oil is one of the best natural substances for the hair and scalp.  It is extracted from the seed of the jojoba tree.  Although it is known as a oil it is actually a wax ester.  The reason that jojoba oil is so beneficial to the hair and scalp is that it is very similar to natural human sebum.  It is more similar to human sebum, oil, than any other compound that you will find in nature.  

Some people feel that applying jojoba oil to a dry scalp may actually trick the skin into producing the oil that is missing.  This will create a balance on the scalp.  Creating a good balance on the scalp is the first step to a healthy scalp and hair.  Jojoba oil is also non-comedogenic so it will not cause an allergic reaction.  It is also useful in healing many scalp conditions like eczema, dandruff, seborrhea and psoriasis.    

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

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

 

The Effects of Collagen on the Skin

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

imagesCAA9AD30Collagen is the protein that forms the structure of your skin. When you get older collagen starts to break down. It can be damaged by many things. The sun of course is one of the main culprits. Some of the other factors that can affect the skin are hormones, environmental toxins, free radicals, and nutrition. Smoking also causes collagen to break down and the skin to wrinkle and age. 

 The rate at which collagen is produced slows as we get older. This decrease in the amount of collagen along with collagen that is damaged leads to sagging, wrinkling, and sometimes drooping skin. Collagen makes the skin look full and youthful. Collagen in the form of creams and serums doesn’t really work very well. Collagen molecules are not small enough to penetrate deep into skin. The collagen must be down in the layers of the skin in order to do its job. Many people do collagen injections. This does work temporarily to plump the area around the injection. The problem with injections is that the results do not last long. There can also be some bad side affects. In addition injections tend to be high in cost.

The only way to really get more collagen deep into the skin where it is needed is to actually increase natural collagen production. There are some great ingredients that have been shown to help the skin produce collagen. Vitamin C is a supplement that has been used for centuries. It has been shown to increase collagen production naturally. Hyaluronic acid and Matrixyl 3000 have both also been shown to aid in collagen production. Using a good skin cream or serum with the proper ingredients may increase collagen production. This will make skin look and feel younger. It can also reduce wrinkles and help rejuvenate the skin.