Heal Your Heels!

Dry heels can be both irritating and really ugly! When the skin on the heel of a person’s foot gets too dry, it may become thick and hard as well as cracked and flaky. Often, dry heels are little more than a cause of annoyance and embarrassment, especially when a person must walk around in sandals or bare feet in front of others. In some cases, however, the heels may become so dry, irritated, and cracked that the feet begin to bleed. The skin of the heel becomes very hard and may even develop discoloration.

CAUSE

The primary cause of dry, cracking heels is neglect- simply not taking the time EVERY DAY to take care of your feet! I know I am so guilty of this. Other causes include poor fitting shoes, wearing open heeled shoes, age and certain skin conditions.

TREATMENT 

Exfoliation is an important part of treatment for dry heels. There are many products on the market that can help a person to get rid of dry, dead skin cells. For example, a person may use a heel smoother, which is small device designed to smooth cracked heels and slough off dead skin. A person may also use a pumice stone or even a rough towel to rub away the dry skin; there are even exfoliating creams that have tiny particles for rubbing off dead skin. Some people recommend soaking the feet in warm water before exfoliating to make the process easier and more effective.

Moisturizing is another important part of caring for dry heels. When you get out of the bath or shower, you should apply a moisturizing lotion. However, moisturizers aren’t just for after bath time; a case of dry heels probably warrants moisturizing at least twice per day. Wearing a moisturizer to bed is also a good idea, as it allows the moisturizer to soak into the foot during the night, without such impediments as shoes rubbing up against the heels.

The trick to remember is this- beautiful and healthy feet are no accident. Moisturizing two times EVERYDAY is the real key!!

Want more info on healthy and beautiful skin?
http://swissbeautyworkshops.blogspot.com

So, what is the right way to wash your hair?

Most of us think we have this all down pat, after all, we have been washing our hair all our lives. How could we go wrong with something like washing our hair? However, we might be washing our hair the wrong way and contribute to its damage without actually knowing it.

What we should remember about our hair is that the individual strands of our hair, no matter how thick or strong it looks, is actually very delicate. So we cannot just tug and pull at it, or else it would break.

So, what is the right way to wash your hair? 
The first thing you should do is to comb the tangles out of the hair before you wet it so the hair would wash easily and the tangles would not worsen. For best results wet your hair with warm water to open the scale-like cuticles of the hair and wash all the oil and dirt off. And then, you can rinse your hair with cold water afterwards to close the cuticles and add to the shine of your hair.

Rinse your hair under the shower to rid it of the leave-on conditioner and styling aids you have used previously, using gentle strokes of your fingertips. Then, pour a dollop of shampoo in the palm of your hand. Rub your hands together, and then apply the shampoo to your scalp. Take note that you should put the shampoo on your scalp and not at the ends of your hair, as the shampoo would dry your hair's ends and cause it to weaken and split. Also, do not mix your hair all over your head as you shampoo because it will get all tangled up. After this, rinse the shampoo off.

More often than not, we need to shampoo our hair for a second time. The purpose of the first shampoo is to clean the oil and dirt off; the second shampoo is supposed to let the shampoo treat our hair. So, repeat the process, but let the shampoo sit on for around a couple of minutes. Rinse the hair completely after this.

To get the excess water off your hair, just squeeze the water out. Do not pull or tug at the hair because the hair is at its most delicate when it is soaked. When the excess water is out, apply a dollop of conditioner  and apply it along the hairline, the nape and the ends of the hair. Pile your hair then inside a shower cap and let the conditioner stay there for around ten minutes. And then, rinse it off completely.

The process described here does seem tedious and time-consuming. But remember, having great hair takes a bit of time and effort. And it is definitely worth it for picture perfect hair.

Want more info on healthy and beautiful skin? 
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The "bottom" line...

I know this is a bit off subject, but today I’m posting about the health of your babies bottom.

When your beautiful baby is born, her skin is often perfect in every way. It is softer and smoother than it will ever be again. You are upset when she wakes up and her bottom is red and irritated when you change her diaper. What happened! What did you do wrong? Absolutely nothing!

ALL BABIES HAVE DIAPER RASH! Having a diaper rash is a normal part of being a baby. There are many ways you can limit the amount of rash, but from time to time it will flare up again.

WHY BABIES GET DIAPER RASH

Start with ultra sensitive skin, add the chemicals and moisture of urine and poop (yep, I used the “poop” word), cover the area with a diaper that rubs back and forth, and you have diaper rash. This damaged skin is susceptible to the invasion of bacteria and yeast, which can make the rash worse.

If you are constantly battling rash, here are some helpful hints to minimize it:

1- Change diapers frequently - at least every two hours in newborns.

2- Try different brands - if using disposables, another brand may fit a little better and cause less friction.

3- Rinse cloth diapers - add a half-cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle. This helps remove alkaline irritants.

4- Wipe well - be sure to wipe all the poop and urine away.

5- Use unscented wipes or just plain water - these are less irritating.

6- Diaper rash cream - More sensitive bottoms need cream with each new diaper.For best results try a water repelling, herbal based cream.

Want more info on healthy and beautiful skin? http://swissbeautyworkshops.blogspot.com

Eyelashes Falling Out?

I get this question every so often at my Swiss Beauty Workshops...

My eyelashes keep falling out. Is this normal? Why does this happen? Is there is anything I can do about it?

Eyelashes fall out normally from time to time, just as hair elsewhere on the body does. But they can also fall out for other reasons. The medical name for this problem is madarosis, and some causes are pretty obvious - such as the way you remove eye makeup. Wiping your eyes too vigorously can pull out a few lashes: better to use an eye makeup remover that does the job without the need for rubbing. In addition, heavy mascara can actually weigh down delicate lashes and cause them to fall out, and the pressure of an eyelash curler can pull them out as well.

Some have a nasty habit of unwittingly pulling out their eyelashes without much thought to the consequences. It is never a good idea to fiddle around with your eyelashes as they take lot longer to grow back than the hairs in other parts of your body.

Other potential causes include eyelid infections from sharing makeup or using a dirty applicator. A thyroid condition (either underactive or overactive) can also be to blame. You also should investigate the possibility of infection with a mite called D. folliculorum, which can cause swelling and inflammation of the eyelash follicles.

If none of these possibilities seem to fit your case, you might consult an eyelid specialist (an oculoplastic surgeon), who should be able to figure out what's going on.

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