When choosing a natural skin care product there should be no toxic or synthetic additives such as sodium lauryl, Parabens, sulphate or colorants, triethanolamine or fragrances. Enjoying your daily hygiene routines are a part of self care. Natural skin care regimes that are manufactured in a suitable fashion, and are packaged in recyclable containers with no animal testing, are pleasant and healthy to use and help to create a sense of planetary and personal harmony when pregnant. During pregnancy, delivery and post partum, a woman’s body undergoes profound changes. For approximately forty weeks and beyond hormonal changes is an ongoing process which in particular affects the skin.
When pregnant the skin needs to make major adjustments to the expanding abdomen, the skin reflects high levels of progesterone and oestrogen by becoming dry or oily and reactive and a natural skin care treatment is important to use during this period. The melanocyte stimulating hormone increases during pregnancy and areas of hyper-pigmentation develops especially on the face and neck, and is referred to as melasma. Due to decreased sebaceous activity of the skin, the thyroid activity increases, seat gland activity increases, and heat rashes are more common. The skin’s deeper connective tissue layers experience rapid stretching, which can be related to hormone stimulation of fibroblast activity on collagen, which in turn causes around 90% of women to develop stretch marks on their abdomen, breasts, legs and arms. The skin becomes permeable and sensitive during pregnancy, leaving it vulnerable to harsh environmental factors. The skin absorbs systemically to some degree what is applied to it. A host of non toxic and toxic agents are absorbed through sweat ducts and enter the superficial capillaries and then enter the blood circulation. It is important for pregnant mothers to find ways to minimize exposing themselves and their baby’s to chemical residues. Routinely found in breast milk and the cord blood of newborns are around 200 toxic chemical residues. It is of the utmost importance to be aware of what ingredients are applied to the skin, as well as the container these skin products are sold in.
Natural skin products should contain concentrated nut and seed oils and botanical extracts. If the product is not organically certified, the product may contain levels of contaminates and pesticides from cultivation and production. There is a wide range of natural skin care products specially designed for pregnant women that contain all certified natural ingredients such as Biodynamic products. Glass or plastic container should also be phthalate free as studies have shown endocrine disruptors in male infants associated with congenital defects due to phthalates a softening agent is found in skin care products and other consumer products.
Claude Bernard has big experience as an author on the topic like natural skin care treatment. He contributes his knowledge on natural skin care products and beauty products. On demand of web publication he writes content for health and beauty in extra.
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Skin functions and structure
Every day you look at the skin on your body, but do you really know much about it.
Its the largest organ in your body and has five functions. It:
Regulates body temperature by controlling evaporation and conserving heat
Protects the rest of your body from the external environment and is the bodies first line of defence
Registers sensations hot and cold, touch, pressure, vibration and tissue injury
Excretes and absorbs, and
Synthesises vitamin D.
Structure
An average human has a surface skin area of between 1.5 and 2 square metres and without skin you would simply evaporate.
Skin holds 650 sweat glands, 20 blood vessels and more than a thousand nerve endings and has two layers.
The thicker epidermis, which is the outermost layer of skin and is the waterproof wrapping, is thinnest on the eyelids at 0.5mm and thickest on the soles of feet and palms of hands at 1.5mm.
As the epidermis does not contain any blood vessels, small capillaries that reach the upper layers of the dermis nourish the cells in the deepest layers. Usually the outermost layer of the epidermis has between 25 and 30 layers of dead cells.
The second layer is the dermis, which varies in thickness from 0.3mm on the eyelids to 3.0mm on a persons back. The dermis contains collagen, elastic fibres, nerves and hair follicles.
In the upper regions of the dermis there are free nerve endings, which allow you to feel sensations of warmth, coolness, pain, tickling and itching.
Sweat and oil glands begin in the lower region of the dermis aptly called the reticular (as in reticulation) region. This is where skin gets its elasticity and if it is forced to expand quickly such as in pregnancy or obesity, small tears appear in the dermis and are seen on the surface of the skin as stretch marks.
Skin cells have a short life cycle of roughly four weeks from when they are produced in the lower layers of the epidermis to when they reach the upper level (the surface) where they are cast off.
If skin is damaged unexpectedly by abrasions, cuts and burns the formation of cells speeds up to replace the skin and heal the wound. If the damage is severe this process makes a scar.
Your skin produces a natural substance called sebum, which is secreted from the sebaceous glands. It helps to prevent excessive evaporation of water from the skin. It keeps skin soft and pliable, but as skin ages the sebaceous glands are less active so you need to replenish your skin with natural preparations to retain the moisture.
Sweat and sebum exit the skin through tiny openings called pores.
When products containing chemicals are used on the skin, the delicate balance of the way skin renews itself can easily be disrupted.
Using skin care products that are made from natural ingredients work in a complementary way to support the skins structure and help it to function correctly.
Im passionate about helping people find out about natural, organic & herbal cosmetics, skin care, hair care & personal care. My motto “giving nature a chance” reinforces my commitment to nature & the environment. Cheers Sonya Natural Skincare
Our skin is the largest organ on our body. It protects us from toxins, chemicals and poisons on a daily basis. Therefore proper skin care is essential to maintaining healthy, soft, beautiful looking skin. Skin care products today contain chemicals and preservatives that can irritate the skin. However home skin care remedies are simple, inexpensive and use all natural ingredients, because you should never put something on your skin that you couldn’t put in your mouth.
In the day of “going green” many people are shying away from conventional skin care treatments. More and more people are choosing organic or more natural ingredients to cure and teat their skin ailments. Making your own homemade skin care products is as easy as opening your refrigerator or fruit basket. Natural skin care includes the best choice of ingredients that are entirely from nature. Fruits are a readily available natural resource and inexpensive to purchase. Food allergies and skin irritation are less likely to occur with natural skin care because of their organic nature, plus most people already know what foods they are allergic too. Filled with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, fruits provide both the skin and the body with essential nutrients that are required to restore, develop and grow. In addition, these nutrients are coming from a direct source grown from the earth not like synthetic vitamins and minerals that are found in commercial products. Because natural skin care is so easy to make and use you can modify skin care recipes to fit your own skin care needs.
Natural skin care recipes normally contain the fruit pulp, fruit juice or in some cases both. To smooth out the concoction milk, honey or water maybe added as well. Depending upon what you are trying to treat additional ingredients may be added such as oatmeal, wheat germ, brown sugar, and dried herbs. These are made into facial cleansers, scrubs, moisturizing creams, facial masks, lotions and soaps. Each mixture is indicative for a specific skin type or ailment such as normal, dry, oily and sensitive skin, acne and pimple treatments, black head removers or whitening solutions.
Fruits contain a naturally occurring chemical compounds alpha hydroxy acids (AHA). They are well known for their use in skin care products, cosmetics, dermatologist’s offices, and health spas. Alpha hydroxy acids are well known for their anti aging effects such as reducing wrinkles, and enhancing the overall look and feel of skin. In skin care AHA’s help to peel away the top layer of dead skin cells. When you remove this top layer of skin it leaves you with a fresher, softer, smoother skin from underneath. Maltic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid and citric acid are all forms of AHA’s, which can be used in natural skin, care remedies.
Matlic acid is found in apples, vinegar, applesauce and cider. Apple juice is an effective home remedy for reducing wrinkles, itching and inflammation. It can also be used as a skin conditioner, cleanser, and toner. Add a cup of apply juice the next time you take a bath to get the full body effect from apple juice. Lactic acid is found in buttermilk, yogurt, powdered skim milk, sour cream, blackberries and tomatoes. Tartaric acid is contained in grapes, grape juice, wine and cream of tartar. Citric acid is found in citrus fruits such as lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruits. Lemons are probably the most frequently used fruit for home skin care. Lemons cleanse, freshen, and lighten the skin. Lemons will soften rough patches of skin, deodorize smells and tone your scalp to prevent dandruff. Limejuice can also be a helpful skin aid. It can prevent acne, control oily skin, remove freckles, relieve tired eyes and reduce rough or dry skin. Orange juice is effect at reducing pimples and acne, white heads, acne scars, blemishes, boils and age spots. Mango leaves are known for their antiseptic properties. Pineapples will soften the skin and rejuvenate dry skin. Peach skin is a great anti-wrinkle cream. Apricot juice is helpful with sunburns, itching and eczema. Avocados and bananas are great for facial masks and can be used together.
Whichever fruit your remedy calls for you know you’ll be getting the highest quality skin care available. Plus you know its quality because you r doing the mixing and mashing. See the difference a natural skin care remedy can make on your skin today.
Graduated with a BA in exercise science and have worked in the medical field since. My focus is alternative medicine however all aspects of health interest me. Check out my health website! Everyday Health, Live your Life to the fullest! http://www.universalhealthinfo.com/Fruit_For_Skin_Care.html
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