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Extremes of temperature, excessive sun exposure and alcohol consumption may all contribute to the condition telangiectasia, more commonly described as broken capillaries. Whenever these tiny vessels become dilated, they are likely to be visible at the skin surface, particularly around the nose and cheeks. The usual cosmetic treatment is known as sclerotherapy. This involves injecting each capillary with a saline solution, causing the swollen vessels to collapse. Most individuals find the treatment effective, however, there is a possibility that the problem may reoccur within a year or two. The best preventive measure is to avoid extremes of weather, always apply good quality organic moisturiser, and to limit intake of salt, alcohol, and saturated...

Ageing is a complicated process involving the interaction of numerous biological factors with the external environment. Along with inevitability, it is the transient and elusive characteristics of ageing that frequently capture attention. Most of us will know someone who appears ten, even twenty years younger than their chronological age. It also seems true that profoundly stressful or sad life events have a potential to age those afflicted, sometimes dramatically and with physical changes that seem to occur overnight. From the perspective of this humble reality, it is wise to ignore and avoid cosmetic products and procedures which promise to eradicate or reverse the visible effects of skin damage and ageing. The concept of eternal youth is...

Newborn babies and children have skin that is delicate and particularly susceptible to environmental stresses such as pollution, extremes of heat, cold, and sunburn. Many infants will suffer from one or more of the common skin complaints such as nappy rash, cradle cap, and eczema. Sensible treatment from an early stage will usually limit the severity and impact of these conditions. Nappy rash Nappy rash is identified by a constellation of small red spots appearing around the child’s bottom, groin, and legs. In serious cases the skin may become inflamed or broken with evidence of suppuration. The usual cause is wet or dirty nappies breaking down into ammonia compounds, subsequently causing bacterial skin irritation. The initial treatment for...

Most leading manufacturers of organically certified cosmetic and personal care products have reported consistent sales growth in Europe, Asia, and North America during the previous five years. A recent report published by UK based Organic Monitor seeks to isolate the most significant trends in consumer behaviour which are believed to underlie future potential within this popular market. Organic Monitor’s report was developed through the process of interviewing new and seasoned consumers of natural personal care products in the UK. Within the survey’s sample distribution, 89% of consumers cited the avoidance of synthetic chemicals as an important reason for choosing products based on natural ingredients. It was interesting to discover...

Is your family shampoo potentially harmful? Let’s begin by considering the three compounds mentioned previously. These were methylisothiazoline, dimethicone, and the grouping generally described as parabens. Methylisothiazoline is sometimes included in shampoo and personal hygiene products to limit the potential for microbial contamination in water based solutions. Like many artificial preservatives, methylisothiazoline appears to disrupt the biological integrity of experimental animal subjects. The most alarming of these was the finding that prenatal exposure in laboratory rats resulted in disorientation and destruction of immature nerve cells. This research raised the possibility that the neural development of unborn human babies might...