winter sun can be damaging

Most people don’t need to think twice about liberally applying a sunscreen during the summer or when holidaying abroad, although when the bitterly cold long winter sets in, applying sunscreen is the last thing on many a mind.
The thing is though, whilst temperatures might be veering more towards freezing than scorching outside, this doesn’t mean that the sun can’t do any damage. In fact, it’s quite the opposite, as the sun’s rays could be quietly damaging skin without you even knowing it.

When temperatures are high, and if you’re unlucky enough to succumb to sunburn, the damage which the sun has done will be very visible. When the weather is colder though and skin isn’t protected, the sun could silently be having a very negative impact on skin.

This is why every single person out there needs to get into the habit of protecting the skin from the sun’s harmful rays whatever the weather.

There are many moisturisers and cosmetics out there which contain SPF, and of course there are also many standard sun blocks out there. Have a look at our website for more information and products at www.pureandgentle.com

Dealing with Blepharitis

Over the last few years I have suffered on and off with Blepharitis. Blepharitis is when the rims of the eyelids become inflamed. This can make your eyes red, irritated and itchy. Dandruff-like crusts can appear on your eyelashes. It can be caused by bacterial infection or can be a complication of skin conditions such as seborrhoeic dermatitis (a skin condition that can cause itchy rashes on the skin and scalp). When seborrhoeic dermatitis affects the scalp, it's called dandruff. Another associated skin condition is rosacea, which causes the face to appear red and blotchy which is wear mine comes from.

Blepharitis is a chronic condition, meaning that once it develops you'll probably have repeated episodes. There is no cure. It is estimated that blepharitis is responsible for 5% of all eye problems that are reported to GPs. It is more common in older adults, but can develop at any age.However, there are a range of treatments that can control the symptoms. It is important that you clean your eyelids every day, whether or not you are experiencing any symptoms. You should consider it part of your daily routine, like showering or brushing your teeth. Effective eye hygiene will reduce both the severity and frequency of symptoms.

You should apply a warm compress (cloths or cotton wool warmed with hot water) to your closed eyelids for five to ten minutes. Gently rub the compress over your closed eyelids for two to three minutes, and then repeat. This will help loosen any crusting. Then gently clean your eyelids with a cotton bud. Using warm water with a small amount of baby shampoo, or sodium bicarbonate (a teaspoon dissolved in a cup of water) is recommended. You should always use a mirror when cleaning your eyelids as this will prevent any possible damage to your eyes.

I know from my own experience that if I keep to an eye routine then I keep mine at bay or under control, and if I use certain eye make-up especially eye-liner or waterproof mascara that I remove it throughly and not use it everyday as my eyes start to go itchy and sore.

To find out more then have a look at our site www.pureandgentle.com where we are building a directory of skin condition what they mean and symptoms.

Skin Self Examination – why are they so important!

Skin Self Examination are so important with 200 of new cases every day of skin cancer being diagonised in the UK. My family was one of them 4 years ago. Both my husband and myself have a number of moles, I’m very fair skinned and never go brown very easily. I can remember going on holiday with girlfriends and they only had to look at the sun to go brown while I would go pink and then slightly coloured and that was it. We all do stupid things when we are young we all think we are invincible and it will never happen to me attitude (that’s normal). But as we get older we realise that we are not and things can happen when you least expect it.

That’s what happen to my husband a mole turned black, so luckily he was wise enough to go and see his GP who refered him to a dermatologist. At his appointment he was full checked and she said that the black mole was nothing to worry about but she would just remove it. But another mole she found she was not happy with and removed it straight away and it was sent off for biopsy and within a few days we got the dreaded news that it was a aggressive maligant melanoma. He was rushed back in and operated on within a week and had a large part of skin removed around where the cancer was. The next few weeks we went through hell and back, he went through so many tests MRI scans, blood test, you name it he had it. Thank god he had looked and examined his skin otherwise I might have been telling you the worst.

Checking your skin regularly for signs of any changes, anything that looks abnormal, or any new skin growth, is important to your health – and could even save your life. Doctors recommend doing a skin self-exam at least once a month, primarily looking for changes in the skin that could be signs of skin cancer. After all, who is more familiar with your body than you are – and who better to know what looks right, and what doesn’t? If there is anything that you are not happy with then go to your GP and get it checked out.

Start by finding a place that is bright enough with good lighting, and stand in front of a full-length mirror. Then start with your head and work down, looking for the following:

*New moles, growths, lesions or blemishes
*Any growth, particularly a mole, which has changed in size, texture or colour. That includes moles that are asymmetrical, have uneven edges, or have changed in appearance
*Any type of lesions that refuse to heal
*Any type of growth at all that looks different from other ones on your skin

When performing a skin self-exam, be sure to look at your entire body, including your back, arms, legs – even between your toes! If there are hard-to-see areas, ask a spouse. Some people are more at risk for skin cancer than others. If you fall into this category, you may want to keep a journal of your skin exams, writing down what you see to make it easier to keep track of changes. People who are most at risk are those who:

*Have a history of skin cancer in their family
*Are older
*Have a weakened immune system
*Have had excessive exposure from ultra-violet (UV) rays, either from the sun or tanning beds
*Have had skin cancer already in the past
*Are Caucasian, especially with fair skin, red or blonde hair, and burn easily – although people from all ethnic groups can get skin cancer

From my families experience we have all changed our attitude to the sun, the damage is most likely to happen when we are children or young adults so make them aware too of the danger of the sun. Let them play outside the sun has benefits too, but at certain times of the day and make them wear t-shirts, suncreams, hats etc. I have spent the last four years researching sun creams and what effect sunexposure has on your skin which is now all on my website www.pureandgentle.com I will over the coming months write some blogs about staying safe in the sun which I hope you will find helpful.

Gardeners are failing to protect their hands

GARDENERS are putting their green fingers at risk of serious skin disease, research has revealed.

A study of the borough’s gardeners and growers found that despite more than a quarter (28%) suffering from skin conditions such as hand eczema, more than two-thirds (68%) admitted failing to protect their hands adequately in the garden.

The research revealed skin problems were so serious in 69% of those surveyed that
they had sought professional medical treatment, with more than one in 10 (15%)
being forced to stop gardening because their condition was chronic.

Only 32% of those questioned always wear gloves to safeguard their hands from potentially dangerous plants and chemicals, yet 19% admitted certain plants caused skin problems. Seemingly harmless flowers such as chrysanthemums, tulips and Alstromeria can be a trigger for hand eczema or hand dermatitis, as can the
drying effect of the soil.

The research was carried out by www.myhandeczema.co.uk to raise awareness of skin problems among the 41 million people in the UK who have access to a garden.

What is Eczema?

Eczema, or dermatitis, is a skin condition that affects all age groups. In mild forms the inflamed skin is dry, hot and itchy, whilst in more severe forms the skin can become broken, raw and bleeding. It is not contagious.

Types of Eczema
There are a number of different types of eczema; determining which one applies to you is the key to treating it.

atopic eczema – this common eczema is linked with asthma and hayfever and usually runs in families how to spot it – itchy, dry, red and inflamed skin. If infected may crack and weep.

contact dermatitis – something that comes into contact with the skin irritates it or causes an allergic reaction how to spot it – dry, inflamed skin where the irritating substance has had contact, often on the hands how to treat it – avoid contact with irritating substance common offenders – certain metals, chemicals, toiletries, perfumes and detergents.

adult seborrhoeic eczema – characteristically affects adults between the ages of 20 and 40 how to spot it – it is usually seen on the scalp as mild dandruff, but can spread to the face, ears and chest. The skin becomes red, inflamed and starts to flake. what causes it – the condition is believed to be caused by a yeast growth.
Consult a naturopath or herbalist for an appropriate anti-fungal dietary programme; typically avoiding sugar and taking prescribed anti-fungal herbs and supplements.

varicose eczema – varicose eczema affects the lower legs of those in their middle to late years who suffer from varicose veins. Commonly the skin around the ankles is affected, becoming speckled, itchy and inflamed. what causes it – poor circulation how to treat it – prevention is preferable to cure. Make sure you get plenty of bioflavanoids in your diet (from citrus peel, peppers, blackberries and apricots) or take a supplement of bioflavanoids with vitamin C and essential fatty acids which stimulate circulation.

discoid eczema - usually found in adults how to spot it – appears suddenly as a few coin shaped areas of red skin, normally on the trunk or lower legs. They can become itchy and can weep fluid. what causes it – may be triggered by an infection, bite or sting.

Can it be cured
No, but Eczema will, in most cases, clear up over time. Some sufferers will require treatment, for others it may seem to go away of their own accord or as they grow out of it. However most adult sufferers will find their skin remains sensitive and they may have a predisposition to flare ups throughout their life. Avoid caustic detergents (foaming agents) such as sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) found in most commercial shampoos, shower gels, face washes and bubble baths. Products containing petrochemicals (eg mineral oil, petrolatum, petroleum, propylene glycol, paraffinum liquidum) used over time can congest skin and trigger inflammation and eczema flare ups. Use skincare products and body oils made from pure plant oils instead. Artificial colour and fragrance in products are a common irritant that trigger sensitivities. Some essential oils may also trigger a reaction. Be aware that chemicals and substances in your environment can affect your skin. Use a mild washing powder, wear natural materials next to your skin and don’t let your skin come into contact with household chemicals.

Atopic eczema is often linked with asthma and hayfever so reduce exposure to dust mites, pollen and mold.
Note – It’s important that any natural approaches you choose are not seen as an alternative to consulting your doctor but as a complement to an agreed medical treatment plan.

Organic beauty products mired in myth and confusion

Leading beauty journalist Alice Hart-Davis claims organic and natural beauty products are mired in “myth and confusion”.

Writing in the Daily Mail, Hart-Davis cites a current US lawsuit in which 26 leading natural and organic brands are accused of falsely labelling products as organic — under Californian law personal care products sold as ‘organic’ must contain at least 70% organically produced ingredients (excluding water and salt).

In Britain, points out Hart-Davis, no such laws for personal care and beauty products exist, leaving consumers struggling to understand a raft of claims, standards and logos. This legal grey area allows “companies to describe a product as organic even if it contains only tiny amounts of organic ingredients”.

Those customers who look for evidence of organic certification are likely to find themselves even more confused, claims Hart-Davis. With such a wide variance of requirements — the Soil Association organic health and beauty standard requires a minimum of 70% organic ingredients while Ecocert sets a 10% organic ingredients requirement — and five different certifiers, making informed choices is made unnecessarily difficult, she says.

Hart-Davis writes: “As a beauty writer, I think this situation is ridiculous. It is madness that a product can be decreed ‘organic’ by one organisation yet not meet another certification body’s standards. It is confusing for buyers and makes the whole organic arena an easy target for cynics.

From an article in Natural Products newsletter Aug 9th

As cool winds blow, psoriasis flares

As the days of summer give way to cool autumn breezes, most folks many skin suffers breathe a sigh of relief. But this may not be the case if you suffer from psoriasis a chronic condition affecting the skin and joints of upwards of 4.5 million adults in Amercia and 2% of the population in the UK, as well as many children.

Indeed, as autumn rushers in colder air and we start to put the heating on and cover our bodies with warmer clothes, psoriasis can worsen -sometimes inviting more of the dry, scaly, itchy red patches associated with this condition to develop.

Psoriasis most commonly appears on the scalp, knees, elbows, and torso but can develop more readily in areas where skin is traumatized or ‘broken’ anything that causes that to happen -like cool, dry air can also exacerbate the disease. We live in homes with double glazing so that our houses are well insulated and our air is dry and warm which can effect our skin leaving it dry and dehydrated.

According to the National psoriasis Foundation, this irritating skin condition comes in several different forms with varying levels of severity. In nearly all
cases, however, it begins when the normal system of cell turnover goes awry.

Normally the top layer of skin makes itself over every 28 to 30 days, the old cells are microscopically shed, while the new ones take their place. In psoriasis, however,
this natural process is sped up dramatically, cells can turn over as quickly as every two to three days. The old cells don’t shed off normally and new cells multiply so quickly they stick together and form lesions called patches or plaques. In the most common form of this condition, the end result can be dry, scaly, red, and sometimes
itchy patches of skin. And the drier your skin gets, the worse the patches can look and feel.
Continued use of a good penetrating moisturizer, as well a bath oil, is absolutely vital to controlling psoriasis in any weather, but particularly during cold weather.
Always apply a moisturiser as often as possible, particularly after bathing.

Have a look at our website www.pureandgentle.com for moisturisers and bath oil that are kind to your skin.