Monthly Archives: June 2020

Skin problems are majorly a result of our bad lifestyle and eating habits. What we consume is what shows on the face. If our body is not healthy, then the skin will also not look glowing and healthy. According to Swami Ramdev, the direct connection of skin problems like acne, pimples, dry skin, eczema, leucoderma, psoriasis etc. is caused when the digestion is not proper and the stomach is upset. Weak intestinal activity and kidney problems also lead to skin damage. In order to prevent this, yoga asanas and pranayamas are very important.

According to Swami Ramdev, we must exercise and sweat it out as through sweating, unwanted toxins get removed from the body.

Since skin problems are directly related to stomachand digestion, Swami Ramdev suggests doing mandukasana and matsyendra asanas. It suggests starting the day with Surya Namaskar as it helps to keep the body away from any diseases. It also helps to keep the mind away from stress and anxiety. Also, doing bhujangasana, vakrasana, shashakasana and uttan padasana are very effective in improving skin texture and keeping the diseases at bay.

According to Swami Ramdev, everyone should do five pranayamas daily in order to get glowing and healthy skin. He suggests doing kapalbhati for half an hour, then anulom vilom for an hour, followed by bhastrika, ujjai and bhramari pranayamas.

Due to psoriasis, the skin becomes dry and at the same time, it starts to crumble at the surface. It builds up bumpy red patches that look very bad. To get rid of this skin problem, add cactus in mustard oil and cook it well. After this, apply this oil on the skin 2 times a day. This improves the skin quality within 1 week or if the situation is extreme, it will take 1 month. Apart from this, patients of psoriasis should not consume salt and sweet with milk. Along with this, eat brinjal as it is very effective.

This skin problem causes it to become red, inflamed, itchy, cracked and rough. Apply aloe vera gel daily to soothe the skin and consume food which provides coolness to the body. The infected patient should take cow urine extract to get rid of the diseases instantly.

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Get rid of skin diseases with Swami Ramdev's yoga asanas, pranayamas and home remedies - India TV News

"It's a really, really daring question and I would never assign anybody to ask that, because I think that people have to walk through their grief in their own way. But that's the challenge that I laid out to myself."

For Elizabeth, this was the answer:

"There are strengths that I'm discovering that I would have never discovered because I was so dependent on her. I was so emotionally dependent on her; she was my anchor, she was the ground under my feet, she was my first phone call in a moment of disaster... I've had to find that in myself."

"There's a level at which you could ask the question, 'Would you rather have this life or that that life?' But those questions are moot because you don't get that choice it's not available. Whenever I hear anybody say, 'I wouldn't trade my life for anything,' I was like, 'Was it offered?'

"It wasn't offered to me that Rayya would live. And the less I rebel against that and the more I flexibly lean into that, the better my life after Rayya becomes."

"In the empirical, non-mystical, post-Enlightenment West, there's an idea about grieving that says that you're not going to be well until you've 'let the person go'. That is so mean. And it's also something that literally no other culture believes...

"I think it makes people feel a lot of shame when they haven't and can't let go.

"I don't think you should have, that you're supposed to, that you were ever supposed to. I think the one thing in the world that you never ever, ever have to let go of is love. Everything else goes.

"They took [Rayya]; they took her body. She's never going to walk into this house again, and I'm never going to be able to put my arms around her again; there's no negotiating that. But I know exactly where she lives in the universe. She is embedded it in my heart and she's incredibly present in my consciousness.

"I meet Rayya a room in my consciousness called imagination... We used to say 'tuckled in' like 'come into my arms and tuckle in' and she lives tuckled, tuckled, tuckled very safely in my heart. There's that level at which I never will and never have to lose her."

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Elizabeth Gilbert had 18 months with the love of her life. Here's what she knows about grief. - Mamamia

Jun 14, 2020 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Bangwato Sikwa, Health Ministries Director, Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division

Nowadays, everywhere one turns, many signs are encouraging various strategies to prevent Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19). But we all need to appreciate that like everything else in life, these initiatives have good and not so good effects. Let us analyze the most common strategies, namely: washing of hands regularly with soap or sanitizer; using a mask to cover the nose and mouth whenever in public; and social distancing.

Regular hand-washing with clean water and soap or sanitizer

The good:Cleaning our hands regularly gets rid of most gems, including coronavirus if we happened to contact it.

The bad:The recommended sanitizer, which is effective against coronavirus is one with an alcohol content of more than 70%, or chlorine content of 0.05%. Frequent use of chlorine at this concentration can cause skin inflammation called dermatitis, where the skin may begin to peel off. Using alcohol-based hand sanitizer frequently can lead to skin dryness, dermatitis, eczema, and general skin irritation that can introduce other infections to the skin when it is cracked. To minimize these negative effects, create opportunities to wash hands thoroughly with soap and clean water, and have a moisturizer, ideally petroleum-based, handy to use and keep the skin moist.

The other:The introduction of readily available alcohol-based hand sanitizer has brought temptation and curiosity to those who ingest alcohol. Train the children and youth not to consume hand sanitizer as the alcohol content is poisonous if ingested.

Sanitizers are for surface cleaning and external use only. They will cause severe organ damage if taken into the body in any other form like ingesting, injecting, or putting in through anybody opening.

Use of masks to cover the nose and mouth

The good:Coronavirus is spread through droplets of mucus or saliva coming from an infected person. Covering your mouth and nose with a mask minimizes the risk of the droplet going to another person.

The bad:Masks effectiveness depends on the material used to make it. Ordinary cloth masks do not protect the entrance of the virus if one is exposed to droplets of saliva/mucus from an infected person at a close enough range to go through your mask. The effectiveness is improved when everyone wears a mask and keeps 1-2meters apart.

Masks moisten up after being worn for a long time. A mask that is not washed keeps the virus and can infect the next wearer; therefore, it should not be shared or reused without washing( if made of cloth) Masks worn in airtight areas can make breathing difficult. Steam from the breath through the mask often moistens spectacles which makes reading or driving difficult for those who wear them regularly.

The other:Cloth masks should not be given to children under the age of 2 years. Wash the cloth mask daily with water and soap to kill germs

Social Distancing

The good:Coronavirus, which is carried through droplets, can only travel a maximum of 2 meters (when sneezing). Staying 1-2 meters apart from people in a public area reduces the chances of contracting the virus. Minimizing the number of people you come in contact with by staying home also reduces the risk of contracting the virus.

The bad:We all crave physical human contact, and extreme social distancing can lead to loneliness and depression. Try and keep in touch with people in other ways. Another factor to consider is that people view each other suspiciously, and those with flu-like symptoms get stigmatized. Stay away from other people if not feeling well.

The other:More than 80% of people with COVID-19 recover without much complications and recovery is complete with no further infectiousness, so those who have had COVID- 19 should not be stigmatized. Coronavirus will be part of society for a long time, accept the new normal of social distancing. Social distancing avoids the spreading of other diseases beyond COVID 19.

This articlewas originally published on thesite of the Adventist Echo.

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COVID 19 Prevention: The Good, The Bad and The Other. - Adventist News Network

The human microbiomethat vast collection of bacteria, fungi, and viruses occupying the human bodycomprises trillions of microorganisms, outnumbering our own cells by 10 to one, per some estimates. And if we look really, really closely, we can find at least one million of those microbes on each square centimeter of skin.

Not long ago, the logical response to such a foreign presence would have been obliteration: Scrub the gunk away. But the more we learn about our skins microbiome, the more friend than foe these organisms appear to be.

This isnt news to Paul Schulick, cofounder of For The Biome (Dummerston, VT), a skincare company that views the microbiome as the route to healthy skin. The general population is beginning to understand that the innate resilience of the skin lies in the skin-microbiome relationship, he says. As more consumers become educated on the skin-microbiome relationship, theyll naturally want to do a better job nourishing and protecting their skins microbial environment.

On the Surface

With the value of the U.S. probiotic cosmetics market set to hit $37.8 million by 2025, per market researcher Hexa Research last April, those consumers will have their pick of products promising to do just that.

Awareness of the skins microbiome is still in its infancy, Schulick says, but its being helped by the fairly well-established understanding of the gut microbiome. The concept of taking probiotics for a healthy gut is now shifting to, Okay, how do we do this for skin?

The conversation is already playing out on social media, notes Ccile Kalem, global marketing, active ingredients, BASF Beauty Creations (Pulnoy, France). Consumers are fully aware of the value of preserving their skin microbiome, she says, and a recent BASF analysis found females aged 13 to 24 leading the discussion on Instagram, in particular.

Hot topics include dry and sensitive skin, from redness and rashes to eczema and psoriasis; aging concerns like wrinkles, expression lines, and crows feet; and the consequences of oily skin: blackheads, pimples, scars, and their respective treatments.

Savvy brands are listening. As such, says Paula Simpson, beauty market expert and founder of Nutribloom Consulting, Theres been an influx of microbiome-friendly skincare products hitting the market. Research on the human microbiome has exploded in the last 10 years, and with new discoveries about how microbes affect our health, a diverse skin microbiome is now considered key to keeping skin healthy.

Frontline Defense

The reason is elementary. The skin is the bodys largest organits frontline barrier against the elements, infection, toxins, and the loss of water and nutrients.

At the very front of that frontline is whats known as the visual stratum corneum, which is the uppermost, nonliving layer of the epidermis and also the most active site where the skin microbiome resides, Simpson explains.

The microfloral component of the skins barrier is in constant contact with our environment, and works collectively to protect against invading pathogens, to influence or alter the immune response, to provide a source of nourishment to skin cells, and to break down natural metabolites on the skin.

Our Microbiomes, Ourselves

This symbiosis between our microflora, our environment, and ourselves is consistent with hologenome theory,1 which Schulick describes as an acknowledgment that the whole, or holo, of our microbial and human DNA, or genome, is a collective community: a hologenome.

The upshot: We dont evolve alone. Our microbiome acts as our copilot in this process and, in many ways, is as much a part of us as our human cells, he says. Were part of a vast, interdependent network of natures kingdoms and the environmentall connecting, communicating, competing, and cooperating with each other for resources, survival, longevity, and legacy.

In the Balance

Thats an intense relationship, and one that our modern world too often upsetswith the consequences plain to see.

Clinical studies associate skin conditions ranging from accelerated aging and skin sensitivity to atopic dermatitis and even dandruff with some level of what Simpson calls microbial dysbiosis. That could mean an over- or under-population of the bacterial genera or subspecies normally present on healthy skin, or a flourishing of transient or pathogenic bacteria that perturb otherwise balanced skin microflora.

For example, evidence hints that eczema could reflect a depleted skin microbiome, Schulick notes, which, in turn, affects the skins ability to retain hydration, while increasing reactivity. Meanwhile, acne may signal a diet- or stressed-induced imbalance of what he calls commensal bacterial strains. The point, he says, is that all of this is connected: the skin, the microbiome, and the way we live our lives.

Thus, he views such conditions less as problems than as messages from our skin. Whats interesting, he says, is that when someones experiencing chronic stress, eating a nutrient-deficient diet, or struggling with mental health, they most likely have an unbalanced microbiome.

Down and Dirty

Another habit wreaking havoc on a healthy skin microbiome is our societal obsession with cleanliness and lack of awareness as to what harsh skincare ingredients do to our microbiomes health, Schulick continues. Our microbiomes are part of us, yet we constantly stress and strip them.

Simpson agrees: Part of the problem is over-cleansing, over-treating, and using too many products that congest, strip, or break down a healthy, balanced skin microbiome. Yes, exfoliation and peels decongest and reveal new skin cells, but they also eradicate the oils and microbes that moisturize, balance, and guard against skin damage.

So, a case of dermal dryness may not be a call to moisturize. The issue, Schulick says, could be the trans-epidermal water loss that can occur in skin whose microbiome is continuously stressed or wiped out with harsh products.

What to do? Repopulating a rich and biodiverse microbiome is a great place to start, he suggests, and typically shows rewarding cosmetic results while helping skin adapt gracefully as it ages. Giving the skin a breather allows the microbiome to recalibrate and flourish. Eliminating harsh ingredients is one of the best things to do for microbiome health, and one of the easiest to enact. Formulators: take note.

From Science to Skincare

We know that certain ingredients disrupt the skins natural processes, Schulick continues. So, the obvious approach is to exclude these ingredients from product formulations and focus on the nutrients that feed the skins microbiome.

Prime among those are probiotics. As science and research advance, Simpson says, skincare and nutraceutical formulations will become more specialized and targeted. Clinical studies already correlate and target specific bacterial genera, subspecies, and strains to specific skin-health conditions, and integrated approaches via nutrition, supplementation, and skincare will continue to evolve.

Shes particularly bullish on the nutrition arm, as evidence suggests that probiotics effects on skinto say nothing of systemic healthare superior through diet and supplementation over topical skincare alone, she says.

In the gut, for example, probiotics influence skin through the immune system, regulating inflammation and supporting the skins metabolism and barrier function to promote a balanced skin microbiome, she explains. Probiotics also detoxify and rid the body of pathogens or bad bacteria in the gut before theyre absorbed into the bloodstream. This communicative process between the gut and skin depends upon the trillions of microbes in the gut that trigger immune-communicative receptors that then influence skinthe gut-skin axis.

That said, a role for topical application remains. Applied topically, probiotics can complement nutrition by helping rebalance the skins ecosystem while controlling or destroying harmful bacteria that aggravate the skin, she says. They calm and nourish skin cells, and encourage water retention and skin moisture by strengthening the skin barrierthe primary active site of the skin microbiomeand provide extra support and protection against environmental and chemical pollutants and the harmful pathogens we expose or apply to our skin each day.

Adds Shaheen Majeed, president worldwide, Sabinsa (East Windsor, NJ), Because products in topical format are comparably less complex to develop and face less rigorous regulations, they can be developed more quickly than most other delivery systems. Another advantage: most skincare formulations are applied topicallyso they have the familiarity factorand yield results rapidly since theyre used directly at the affected site.

In both topical and ingested formats, the species, subspecies, or strain makes or breaks the product. Unfortunately, current topicals usually mount what Schulick calls a spray-and-pray approach: spraying yourself or ingesting strains that may not be compatible with your skin or guts commensal bacteria. You dont know for sure which strains will take root or if theyll encourage a healthy microbiome.

The lesson, says Simpson, is that not all probiotics are created equal. Its imperative to use the correct bacterium according to the mechanism of action on the skin. For example, S. thermophilus has been found to promote skin hydration and ceramide production; other strains may help calm inflamed or blemished skin. To be effective, a product must provide a formulation with appropriate, viable strains.

Preposterous

Probiotics are hardly the only game in town for formulating microbiome-based skincare. As Schulick says, Were seeing that the most effective way to nourish the skins microbiome is with prebiotic and postbiotic nutrients.

He describes the former as like a fertilizer for your microbiome, while the latter are invaluable nutrients created during fermentation. Fermenting whole ingredients with strains like L. reuteri, L. rhamnosus, and L. plantarum produces remarkable results for the skin, he notes, adding that the postbiotic nutrients they create truly ignite communication between the skin and its microbiome, helping to nourish the connection between the skin and all its response systems.

BASFs Kalem notes that the cosmetic use of fermented postbiotic ingredients first took root in Asia but is expanding as options and awareness grow. For its part, BASF produces its Phytofirm Biotic ingredient by fermenting non-GMO, traceable European soybeans with a specific strain of L. plantarum. In vitro and in vivo tests show that the peptide- and lactic acidrich extract increases production of the dermiss key architectural proteins collagen and elastin, promoting a more youthful appearance, she says.

As for prebiotics, Sabrina Leoty-Okombi, R&D project leader at BASF Beauty Creations, notes, Oligosaccharides are the first molecules we think aboutboth for the benefits of their film-forming action, which improves the skin barrier and maintains good hydrationand for their sensorial properties, which are interesting for formulas.

Majeed notes that xylitol, rhamnose, fructooligosaccharides, and inulin are the most widely used prebiotics for nourishing probiotics. Obviously, its important to choose a prebiotic that can enhance the growth of the specific microorganism of interest, so that only a selective microbiome is propagated.

Prebiotics also promote scalp health. Our researchers studied the specific microbiotic composition of an oily scalp versus a normal scalp and highlighted the existence of six bacterial species more abundant on a healthy scalp, Kalem explains. The result is Scalposine, a BASF ingredient that she says rebalances the scalps unique microbiome. An internal clinical study showed that it acts prebiotically to allow the recolonization of oily scalps with the beneficial strains, with in vivo results showing increased scalp comfort and longer time to hair re-greasing between washes.

Rabbit Holes and Roads Ahead

So, whats next for microbiome skincare? A mix of opportunities and challenges, say the experts.

In other fields, notes Aurlie Courtois, scientific communication at BASF, living bacteria have proven their effectiveness in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications, but little data currently exists on the ingredients incorporated into cosmetic formulas. Thats now the most challenging goal of the cosmetics industry: the introduction of live bacteria into cosmetic formulations.

Simpson is optimistic. Higher grades of efficacy and formulations tailored to specific skin conditions will improve and expand as science and formulation stability evolve, she believes.

Nevertheless, the science supporting microbiome-based skincare is complex stuff, not to mention a shift from how weve normally cared for our skin, she says. So, when it comes to consumer demand, Theres still a lot of work to do.

No wonder Schulick considers education the biggest challenge. This concept requires an acceptance of the interconnectedness of whole-body and mental wellness and how this impacts the health of the microbiome and, in turn, the skin.

It may be something of a rabbit hole, he says, but its one that most will be glad they jumped into. I know I am, and its what continues driving my motivation to grow public awareness.

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Skincare science and the microbiome - Nutritional Outlook

Multi-moisturizing is starting to become beautys new buzzword, but its far from a new trend, especially for estheticians like myself whos been implementing this technique into my practice for years. So what is it? Well, you mightve heard or even delved into multi-maskingwhere one applies different masks to different areas of the face, according to specific skin concerns. For multi-moisturizing, same rules apply, but using different moisturizers. For years, weve lived comfortably with the notion that one moisturizer will aid in keeping our skin healthy and hydrated despite experiencing multiple skin concerns, but thats not entirely true.

For most of us different areas of the face experience different conditions and irritations, such as dehydration, thinness around the eyes, dermatitis, eczema, excess oil, and a propensity towards acne. These ailments require a different approach to healing, making multi-moisturizing a boon, and something to try. Our skin goes through so many changes due to uncontrollable elements like environmental stress, allergies, hormones, and aging, which all have the potential to compromise our moisture levels and can cause inflammation and overactive sebaceous glands. So that begs the question: are there other products that you should cater to certain areas of your face? If you can check any box of the following scenarios below, I would say absolutely. But before I get to that, lets begin with the basics.

Moisturizers are an external source of formulated products that contain varying combinations of ceramides, emollients, occlusives, and humectants that protect, lubricate, and act as a barrier against environmental stress. According to a 2017 study published by Clinical Medicine & Research, moisturizer application smooths skin surface by filling spaces between skin flakes and restores the ability of the lipid bilayers to absorb, retain, and redistribute water content. Additionally, they safely alter the skins natural balance of oil, lipids, and protein. The study also cites the types of hydration broken down by molecular function.

Theres so much confusion surrounding dry skin, as folks mistake this skin type for dehydrated skinwhich is a skin condition. Dry skin lacks oil whereas dehydrated skin lacks water. Folks can have dry skin while experiencing skin inflammatory conditions such as dermatitis. In the 2017 Clinical Medicine & Research study, it states moisturizers are the most important basic skin treatment for optimal atopic dermatitis recovery regardless of severity as it penetrates and helps reorganize skin layers structure. Therefore, its recommended as a key step for dermatitis treatment together with avoidance of triggers and therapeutic measures to control symptoms and inflammation. If you have dry skin and experience some form of inflammatory ailment, then multi-moisturizing could lead your skin down a faster road to healing as a lot of products that treat dry skin contain antioxidants such as Vitamin-A, which can trigger dermatitis.

The Formula:

The most common skin type yet the hardest to strike a balance. Combination skin is the perfect candidate for multi-moisturizing as skin tends to be more oily on the forehead, nose, and chin area while dry around the cheeks. This skin type is difficult to treat as hydrating products can leave the cheeks moisturized but cause even more oil in the T-zone, resulting in breakouts. Oil-control products aimed to clear up your T-zone can leave the cheeks feeling parched, dry, and lackluster. If this sounds like your skin, here you go.

The Formula:

The biggest mistake those with oily/acne-prone skin can do is skip moisturizing altogether. People who have oily skin experience overactive sebaceous glands due to over-exfoliating, not cleansing properly, environmental stress, diet, and more. This leads to common acne conditions such as acne vulgaris. Acne Vulgaris is a common, chronic, inflammatory, facial skin disorder that can affect individuals from any race, ethnicity, or cultural background. Ceramide and humectant products best suit this skin type as the humectant will flush out the pores nicely breaking up excess oilwithout compromising the skin barrierwhile the ceramide will allow your skins lipid layer to lock in moisture, while also acting as a barrier against environmental pollution and bacteria. A 2018 study by The Journal of Clinical Aesthetic Dermatology conducted a study over four weeks for those with oily skin and mild acne vulgaris. Patients were given a topical retinoid to treat acne. When applied to the entire face, patients experienced contact dermatitis on other areas of the skin.

The Formula:

Not to be confused with sensitized skin. Sensitive skin is generally dry by nature, begins at a young age, could run in the family, and has thinner skin which makes blood vessels closer to the surface and redness more apparent. Sensitized skin is a condition that can develop over time and is triggered by many things from using too many active ingredients, stress, pollution, diet, and hormones. Sensitive skin typically lacks water content and needs an immense amount of hydration to remain balanced, but if you also suffer from eczema, flaky, tight skin in certain areas, using a couple of moisturizers can reduce redness and treat flakiness at the same time. Sensitive skin is highly reactive so using claiming ingredients is vital.

The Formula:

Folks with normal skin types have mastered the art of balancing the oil production, water content, and protein in their skin, which is ideal. Multi-moisturizing is more of an option for this skin type rather than a necessity. A nice gentle way to multi-moisturize with normal skin would be to multi-layer and add more hydration or aging preventatives with active ingredients or lightweight serums.

The Formula:

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Is Multi-Moisturizing the New Multi-Masking? All Signs Point to Yes - Well+Good