People Told Her To Remove Her Birthmark But ...

Birthmark, or nevus, is a blemish on the skin that is present at birth. Birthmarks do not usually cause problems, although there are some abnormal marks, such as a port-wine stain, which may require treatment.

Question: What are the main types of birthmarks?

The most common birthmark is a simple skin discoloration (nevus pigmentosus), which may be any color from light yellow to black. A mole is typical of this type of birthmark. It does not need treatment, unless it is irritated by clothing or is disfiguring.

Rarer types of birthmarks are generally the result of having a cluster of blood vessels just below the surface of the skin. Typical of this type is the strawberry nevus. It is a slightly raised reddish or purplish mark that appears most often on the face, head, neck, or arms. It grows rapidly for the first year after birth and then decreases in size. In most children it disappears by the age of five.

A port-wine stain is a complex birthmark, sometimes flat, sometimes raised and bumpy. It does not disappear but grows in proportion with the rest of the body. Like a strawberry nevus, it is caused by expanded blood vessels below the surface of the skin.

Question: Why should some birthmarks be removed?

If birthmarks of the port-wine stain type are large enough or serious enough to cause danger in case of injury, they may be removed by plastic surgery. In many cases, removal of a birthmark is not medically advisedFree Reprint Articles, but cosmetics can be used to reduce any embarrassment that the blemish might cause.

A Useful Step for a Better Life

Owing to a disability several people are unable to live life to the fullest extent. What seems to be an everyday activity to most of us might be climbing the Everest for disabled people. Well, we are all human beings. Therefore, the desire to lead better and more successful lives is inherent in the disabled individuals also.

Becoming disabled can be the turning point in the life of an individual who had been leading a normal life till yesterday. Moreover, we cannot deny the fact that several people are disabled since birth!

Disability benefits might not be the ultimate solution to the problems of a disabled individual, but can offer a considerable help. Such benefits enable disabled individuals to lead better lives. Majority of disabled people dread the idea of filing for a disability claim. This is because of the complications involved in the process. However, simply being disabled does not serve the purpose for disabled people. In order to file for a disability claim an individual needs to meet certain specified disability guidelines. Let us examine them.

An individual must be suffering from a serious as well as prolonged mental or physical disability that restricts his/her ability to perform the routine activities of life. In addition, the person needs to obtain certification from a qualified medical practitioner. The medical documents provided by the practitioner must support the fact that your disability forbids you from performing the daily activities of life. At times, many individuals need the money to support their families. Consequently, it becomes essential to receive approval for the claims.

After the process of filing for a disability claim is complete, your claim is assessed by social security administration. Therefore, this body is responsible for deciding whether you would receive the benefits or not. Consequently, even the approval from a certified doctor does not guarantee that disability benefits would be awarded to you.

5 Mistakes That Are Costing You Thousands

Are you making mistakes in your dental office? Those mistakes can cost you money. This article will show you how to prevent the top 5 mistakes from happening in your office.

1 Assuming Perio is Taken Care Of

Having a sharp hygiene team is a beautiful thing. But assuming everything is being taken care of is a big mistake. Be sure you know that a complete perio exam is taking place at every hygiene visit AND the data is being recorded. This is a huge area of liability for you and it's your hygienists responsibility to collect and analyze this information. One way to find out where you stand is to do an audit of your charts. Randomly pull 20 charts of adults seen in the last 6-12 months. How many have a complete perio exam recorded in the last year? Chances are very good that if the percentage is low, so is the amount of perio treatment.

2 Starting Perio Treatment Too Late

My interpretation of the AAP's Perio Classification system is that Beginning (slight) periodontal disease is 4mm pockets with bleeding and slight bone loss and 1-2mm CAL. This is a huge distinction for many dental teams. Often, these are the "difficult prophies" or the patients that have 3 month prophy intervals. I see it time and time again- teams waiting until pockets are 5-6mm deep before beginning treatment while valuable the patient loses valuable bone that could have been saved.

3 Too Little Time for Hygiene Visits

I've mentioned this before and I'll say it again. Every time I have ever coached a team to increase their hygiene time, their production has increased as a result. Now that wasn't they only thing they did. They put in place systems to deliver a higher level of service and enroll more treatment. Critical steps that drive production are left out of the hygiene exam when time is short. When you choose to allow 60 minutes for adult recare and perio maintenance, it's important to outline exactly what will take place during that time. If you are going from 40min hygiene visits to 60min, what are you going to add?

To Be Continued...

Wait- Here are a few action steps to help you get started NOW:

• Do a chart audit-look for current perio charts
• Communicate to your hygiene team that you'd like them to do a complete perio exam on every adult patient
• Give your hygiene team the time they need to complete a comprehensive hygiene exam
• Be proactive and get the information you need to really believe that starting perio therapy early is the right thing to do.

Are you taking too much vitamins?

Have you ever heard of taking too many vitamins?  Most of us know little about the use of vitamins including how much and when to take them.  Vitamins are over the counter supplements that aid in the function of the human body.  Food intake is not always providing our bodies with the proper nutrients, therefore, we supplement ourselves in order to compromise.

Did you know that taking too much vitamins may actually hurt rather than help you?  Did you also know that taking the wrong vitamins may affect your metabolism?  Patients don’t always ask us about the proper vitamin intake or supplementation.  Instead they “megavitamin”, a term used to describe the overdose of unnecessary vitamins.  If your are one of the many who take more that the recommended daily dose or doubles up, then you “megavitamin”.

For instance, what color is your urine?  Most urine should be a clear and odorless.  If your urine smells strong, you have too much acid intake.  According to the Mayo Clinic, “if you urine is bright and neon- yellow, the likelihood is that you have too much vitamin intake.”

Vitamins are essential substances needed in very small amounts to perform certain key roles in the body such as regulating metabolism, aiding the formation and repair of bone and tissue and protecting the body against cell damage. They are essential for general health and well-being.
There are two categories of vitamins: fat soluble (vitamins A, D and E), which are found in the fat component of food and water-soluble vitamins (vitamin C, B vitamins). Fat-soluble vitamins are stored by the body; water-soluble vitamins are absorbed and any excess is passed in the urine.  Overdosing on fat-soluble vitamins can cause damage to the body because the level of vitamins can reach toxic levels.
With a few exceptions (vitamin D), the body cannot manufacture vitamins; so they must be supplied by the diet or by vitamin supplements. Many people are misled by false advertising claims for vitamin products suggesting that they boost energy levels. In fact, vitamin pills do not contain energy; energy comes from food, and the best source of energy is obtained from carbohydrate-rich foods such as bread, pasta, rice and potato.
The recommended level of nutrients required to meet the daily needs of a healthy person is expressed as RDA milligrams (mg) or international units (IU). RDA stands for Recommended Dietary Allowances or Recommended Daily Allowances. If you do take supplements regularly, take note of RDAs and always follow the product's directions. Buy your vitamin supplements from a physician Feature Articles, nutritionist or reputable store. 

3 Shoe Stretchers To Consider For Your Problem

Shoe stretchers are easy to use and can get the job done efficiently if you follow the instructions carefully. Prior to stretching your shoe, it is vital you have the correct stretcher for the job. Stretchers actually come in different sizes for men and women and are designed to stretch certain parts of shoes. Here are three shoe stretchers to take a look at.






1. Two-way shoe stretcher

This is the type of stretcher most people think about if their shoes are fitting uncomfortably. A two-way stretcher is going to stretch a shoe’s width and length, thus providing you with more room for movement at the end of the shoe.

2. Vamp or inset

A vamp or inset is going to lift the area above the foot to provide more flexibility when walking. Every time you take a step, the shoe is going to come down on the top of your foot. It is important there is a little room on top so that your foot does not smash.

3. Toe stretcher

The final option to consider with shoe stretchers is a toe stretcher, which will actually lift the area above the toes. This is similar to a vamp as it will provide more comfort above the toes for when you take steps. It can become quite discomforting having the shoe smash or pinch your toes every step that is taken.

As mentioned aboveArticle Submission, there are different sizes of shoe stretchers for men and women along with the different types of stretchers listed above. Take the time to find the most suitable option for your needs.

How to Find the Best Omega Fish Oil

Omega 3 fatty acids are the ' high-quality' fats that are vital for the functioning and proper development and are the smallest stable fats in our diet. Omega 3 is basically a family of three polyunsaturated fatty acids that is Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Alpha-Linolenic acid (ALA). The two principal forms EPA and DHA both of which play important roles in our body.

People understand that they need omega-3 fatty acids to discontinue heart attacks, and they need to be spent daily to fulfill our body's requirement of omega 3 fatty acids. They can also get countless omega-3 fatty acids from fish, but the majority people do not know that the omega-3 fatty acids in seeds such as whole grains and flax may be even more vital in maintaining your health than the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish.

The Omega 3 is one of the newest buzzwords in a healthy diet, because the body does not naturally produce this extremely important compound, it needs to be getting through supplements or foods. The omega-3 fatty acids found in huge amounts in fish oil looks to act as an anti-inflammatory agent with no serious side effects and only the probability of some minor adverse reactions. Fish oil has been shown to advantage those with cardiac problems, increase brain function and improve cholesterol levels.

What Are The Benefits for Health?

There are a lot of benefits of taking an omega 3 fish oil supplement. They help to lowers blood triglyceride levels, reduces the risk of dangerous abnormal heart rhythms, reduces the risk of heart attack, reduces the risk of strokes, lows the buildup of atherosclerotic plaques, help for lowers blood pressures, reduces stiffness and joint tenderness associated with Rheumatoid arthritis.

An omega 3 fish oil supplement may also help prevent or improve depression, heart disease, Alzheimer's dementia and disease, arthritis, diabetes and hyperactivity. To meet your needs for short chain omega-3 fatty acids found in plants, eat lots of green leafy vegetables, and seeds such as whole grains, flaxseedFree Web Content, beans and nuts.

What Causes Your Dry, Damaged Hair?

Dry, damaged hair is extremely common and is often caused by excessive use of modern technology including hairdryers, straighteners and curling tongs. Many people do no take into consideration the damage that excessive heat can cause to their hair, and so they continue abusing the hair on a daily basis.
It is understandable that these modern hair styling equipment are indispensable in this day and age, however there are ways to protect the hair before you use hair dryers and straighteners on your hair.

The True Cause of Dry and Damaged Hair 

Hair is mainly made up of proteins which are hard fibrous types known as Keratin. The keratin in our hair can become damaged due to a number of different factors.   As well as hairdryers, straighteners and curling tongs, heat lamps and even sunbeds can also have a reaction on the hair, just like the sun can in summer. Other factors which affect dry and damaged hair include:

Your Diet  Another cause of dry hair could be due to your diet. In order to have healthy skin, hair and nails, you need plenty of good, fatty acids which you can get from foods such as oily fish including salmon and tuna, and flaxseed oil is also good. You can add flaxseed oil to your diet by adding two tablespoons a day to foods such as potatoes or even popcorn! Many people do not like the sound of flaxseed oil but it actually has a nutty, buttery flavor so most people do not actually mind it once they have tried it.

Shampoo  Although over washing your hair with heavy shampoo and conditioner can cause your hair to be oily, it can also cause your hair to become really dry too. Most people who have oily hair, have to wash it more frequently, whilst people who have dry hair should really only wash it a couple of times a week. This is because some shampoo can strip away essential oils which dry hair needs. It is always best to use a mild shampoo and to pay particular attention to the roots and the scalp.

Not Conditioning Enough

Conditioners can be a savior for dry and damaged hair, and in order to get the most out of your conditioner, it is better to towel dry your hair before you apply the conditioner. If your hair is particularly in bad condition, it is always best to leave conditioner on for at least 2 to 3 minutes. This helps to soak in as much moisture as possible before washing it off. Unlike with shampoo, with conditioner you really need to focus more of your attention onto the roots and ends of the hair.

If you want it to be even more effective, combing the conditioner through with a fine tooth comb will ensure that it is equally spread throughout the hair.

It is also possible to use mayonnaise instead of an ordinary conditioner, and with that you should leave it in anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour. For best results, always wash the hair with cool or tepid water which will help to close the cuticles and lock in the moisture providing longer lasting results.

As frustrating as dry, damaged hair can be, there are some treatments available to prevent and cure it. An example is if you constantly use hair dryers and other modern styling equipment, you can purchase products such as blow drying spray and hair styling shampoo and conditioner which helps to build up protective chemicals in the hair, before it is exposed to the heat.

Going to the hairdressers also helps and you should aim to have your hair trimmed every six weeks or so. This really does help to prevent and eliminate split ends, and it makes your hair look a lot healthier as it gets rid of the ends which are often the worst affected areas of the hair.

If you are somebody that likes to go swimming a lot, you may want to think about purchasing a swimming hat. The chlorine in the water can really damage your hair if it is excessively exposed to it. So either wearing a swimming hat, or shampooing your hair straight afterwards is essential for protecting the hair.

Overall, there are plenty of products including shampoo and conditioner, which can really help, the best way to eliminate dry and damaged hair is to prevent it in the first place. Be aware of how much heat you are exposing your hair to and buy the necessary protective products if needed.

4 Simple Anti-Aging Steps

Aging happens to all of us. It is a natural process over which we have little control. We do have control over many of the effects of aging, however. Here are four simple things you can do to help diminish the effects of aging.

Anti-aging articles are all the rage these days, so I thought I would chip in my two cent's worth. Well, at a penny a tip, four cents.
We cannot do much about the fact that we age, but we can do something about the effects that aging has on us. Here are four simple things you can do to delay and diminish the effects of aging.

Exercise

Eat

Play

Sleep

Think you can handle those? Exercise One of the most obvious effects of aging is what happens to the outward appearance of our bodies as well as what happens to our ability to use them. When we age, systems slow down, or even break down, we lose muscle mass, our heart begins to have problems, we lose our balance more often, we are more likely to break bones. If injured, we recover more slowly. Wrinkles form, breasts sag, stomachs poke out, and we gain weight.

Simple fact: Regular moderate exercise tightens muscles, builds lean muscle mass, helps keep us flexible and strong. It keeps systems and organs in peak health and operating at optimum efficiency. There are people in their 80's and 90's who are doing "athletic" things. Of course, some of this is related to our genetic makeup, but almost anyone can improve their overall health and fitness through a regular program of moderate exercise.

Exercise doesn't HAVE to be exercise, by the way. Gardening is exercise. So is walking, bicycling, aerobics in front of the TV (Richard Simmons, ladies), yoga, weight training, and playing with the grandkids.

Divide exercise into three types: Muscle building and toning, aerobic (cardiovascular) activity, and stretching. A simple weight training routine two or three times a week, a walk five times a week, and a few minutes of stretching every day should do it. Regular exercise keeps you looking, and feeling, good.

EatWhen people age, their nutrition often suffers. First of all, we have all kinds of exhortations to eat less, lose weight, etc. At the same time, as we age, our metabolism slows down and our body's ability to process certain nutrients diminishes as well. Many seniors lose interest in food. Our taste buds even betray us.

For seniors, eating should be fun, of course, but it needs to become a bit more logical. The body requires nutrients, but is having a hard time processing nutrients. Metabolism drops, fat starts packing on, but we need to keep our nutrient level up at a time that our sense of taste is deserting us and we are losing interest in food and a lot of other things anyway.

The exercise I was talking about earlier will help keep the appetite up while raising metabolism and increasing our enjoyment of life as well. It will also be necessary to make yourself eat what you are supposed to eat when you are supposed to eat it. If you have any doubt about your ability to get the appropriate nutrition from the foods you do eat, supplement your diet with vitamins and minerals. At the least, you might want to take a daily multivitamin supplement. Look for the ones that say they are for seniors.

Seniors also tend to not get enough protein. You might not need to butcher a whole cow, but try to make sure that you are getting your protein. While not perfect answers, supplements such as Ensure can help you get protein and other nutrients if you are not sure.

If you are exercising regularly and eating properly, you will feel more like having fun!PlayHaving fun can have many benefits to anybody at any age, but can be of particular importance to seniors. As we age (I am 62) many of us begin to feel isolated as we quit going to work, friends die, it gets harder to get around, everybody around us (those young folks) seems to enjoy things that seem meaningless to us. Based on what a friend of mine, a geriatric nurse, told me, this is the slippery slope that leads many perfectly healthy and normal people to a chair on a senior daycare porch. She told me that many of her patients were fine, they had just figured that there was no reason to be interested in life any more.

Social interaction can keep juices flowing that otherwise would dry up, and I am talking actual chemicals, hormones, and enzymes. Spend time with friends and family. If you no longer have a job to go to daily, why not volunteer in order to keep physically, mentally, and socially active. Find something you always wished you could do, but didn't have the time because you were so busy earning a living. People with partners and pets live longer, healthier lives. There's a clue.

Keep your mind active with puzzles and games. Believe it or not, a little Sudoku, or a few logic puzzles can not only help mental alertness and thinking ability, but can actually contribute to physical health.

Just thought I'd mention, sex is good for you too!SleepRest is important at all stages of our lives, and it becomes very important as we age. Regular exercise, proper nutrition, and some fun will help you fall asleep at night and sleep well. Most of us, both young and old, should be trying to get between six and eight hours of decent sleep a night. Just because you wake up a couple of times to take care of some urgent business doesn't mean that you need to stay up.

If you feel you are not getting enough sleep, or are just not rested enough, by all means have it checked out medically. In the meantime, maybe some meditation during the day can help. Hey! That's M-E-D-I-T-A-T-I-O-N so you don't need M-E-D-I-C-A-T-I-O-N!Have a happyScience Articles, healthy life.

What Causes Upper Back Pain?

Upper back pain is something a number of people around the world suffer from. Almost every one of us is susceptible to it. It is, therefore, important for all of us to know what causes it.

Besides accidental injury, a displacement of upper disc has been found to be among the leading causes of upper back pain. The parts of the body that are more frequently in motion are more susceptible to injuries, and since the upper back is quite stable in this regard, so the upper back is not easily hurt during lifting heavy objects. However, such condition as spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease and herniated disc can indeed cause upper back pain. But it is not very common.

What has emerged as one of the most common causes is rather simple- wrong posture. That may sound quite an unlikely cause at first, but sitting for long hours in wrong posture can have disastrous affect on your back. And upper back is what a poor posture affects the worst.

Another cause can be a lack of strength in the upper back region. If the muscles of ones upper back are not strong enough the chances of injury increases.
Simple everyday tasks might injure ones back, without one even coming to know of it. So, if you think you have a weak upper back, start strength building exercises for upper back.

Repetitive motion has also been found to be injurious for the upper back. For instance, if you work on a particular machine in a particular posture and the repetitive movements on the machine involve your upper back, the chances of your suffering from upper back pain are heightened.

The best cure for upper back pain in such situations is building the strength of your upper back. Weight training exercises, coupled with stretching exercises and yoga are found to be very effective in this regard.

Go about exercising systematically and under informed guidance so that you do not injure yourself in an attempt to make yourself stronger. It is important for you to understand that painkillers are not the way to go. You need to remove the very roots of your back pain. Medication, thereforeFind Article, should be your last option and not the first one. Correct posture and regular physical exercise is the most effective answer to upper back pain.

Do You Really Need Nutritional Supplements?

Nutritional supplements are one of the ways to fill the nutritional gap that may be arising due to improper diet. It fills this gap by providing the vitamins, minerals, and other substances that we may be missing out on.

In addition, personal food preferences, lifestyle habits, or special health needs may prompt a person to take nutritional supplements in order to remain fit and healthy.Before taking any nutritional supplement you must know the deficiency in your body and then accordingly with proper consultation through some health experts you can start taking nutritional supplements.

Reasons to take nutritional supplements

• Nutritional supplements aid in the body’s abilities to ward off disease and sickness. When the body has a proper nutritional balance, it is better able to fight off infections or sickness.

• Nutritional supplements can enhance your body’s function. It cleans the human body and restores the deficiencies present inside.• Nutritional supplements helps in better healing. Choosing the right supplements for the specific needs a person has will provide the body the fuel it needs to enhance re-growth and healing within the body.

• If you are vegetarian then you may not get all that you need from your diet and therefore a nutritional supplement can keep you on top form.

• Some people either dislike dairy products or only like a few and therefore to fill the basic nutritional requirement of the body you must go to some external means. Nutritional supplements are the best to solve such issues.

• Smokers and alcoholic beverage drinkers need a greater supply of vitamins B and C since they find it harder to absorb these nutrients. Those on a weight loss diet should use supplements to ensure that their nutritional needs are being met even as they eliminate or reduce the amount of certain foods in their diet.

• Pregnant women are advised to take supplements that contain ingredients beneficial to them and their babies, such as folic acid, vitamin D, iron, phosphorus, and calcium.

• Nutritional supplements also help to enhance memory and mental functions. It keeps you healthy and gives natural nourishment to your brain.

Nutritional supplements if taken properly are an excellent way to ensure your body has all it needs to be healthy.

Overcome Depression. Do not suffer any longer!

The key to winning your battle with depression is knowledge. You simply need to know how to overcome, and all the information you need can be given to you. Find out what the doctors don't even know.

Depression is an unbearable pain that no one can understand unless they have been through it. Pain so intense that death seems like a good option, an adequate escape path. Sometimes death even seems like the only way to escape the torment.

BUT there IS a way out!

I suffered from depression and anorexia most of my childhood and teenage years. I didn't know what was wrong with me. My depression worsened year by year, and I got increasingly suicidal. At the age of seventeen I completely broke down. I couldn't fight the battle any longer. I just wanted to die.

I had written suicide letters, straightened out my belongings, and was ready to carry out a suicide plan. I was at boarding school, and it was late at night. I had waited until my roommate had fallen asleep, and was ready. Then a friend of mine came into my room for no reason; she just felt something was wrong. Having been miraculously stopped from committing suicide, I decided I wanted to live, but only if I could live without depression and anorexia.

So I saw a psychiatrist and a counsellor, I took anti depressant medication, I read books and I studied everything I could find on depression. I then found out exactly how to overcome depression, and you can too. I now have a wonderful life, a gorgeous husband, and an awesome son. I now enjoy life, which I never thought possible.

To find out how you too can overcome depression go to www.overcomedepressionnow.com You have the right to a life that you enjoy; a life with meaning, joy, laughter and hope.

You deserve a life worth living.

The Truth About Asthma Cough

That chronic cough may well be a symptom of asthma. But how will you know? This article explains why a persistent cough should not be ignored!

It's difficult to predict if a chronic cough could be asthma related however, instead of trying to ride out the symptoms, people are encouraged to see their doctor.
If the coughing seems to be worse during certain times such as night time or following any type of exercise then mild asthma could be at play. So what do you do and how can you tell? Well, medical opinion is the best course of action to take. Many people would use some form of cough suppressant however, it must be noted only asthma medications will effective if the cough is a symptom of asthma.

Asthma Or A Cough?Asthma cough is not suspected by many sufferers initially simply because the symptom could be associated with any number of other conditions. However, persistent and chronic night time cough should not be ignored and you should seek your doctor's opinion straight away.

Not Just A Child's Disease It's important to realize asthma is not just a disease affecting children. In fact, adults have a better than 10 percent chance of developing asthma symptoms in their lives and that's why it's important to recognize a persistent cough as possibly more than just a by-product of a severe cold or flu.

During an adult's working life, they may be constantly exposed to non allergic triggers such as workplace irritants or even hormonal changes. Isolating the times when a cough is at it's worst is important when discussing your situation with a doctor.

An Asthma Fact Asthma causes thousands of deaths each year so it's a potential killer. Asthma should be treated as an on-going maintenance project and sufferers need to be on guard 365 days a year. Avoidance of known triggers and consistent use of medication give sufferers every opportunity to lead normal lives. Asthma Cough Facts Wheezing is associated with this type of cough and it's described as non productive, meaning it doesn't produce wheezing. It's an irritating experience in the fact it has an almost hollow sound and the irritation in the throat seems unmovable. If the cough goes unchecked, shortness of breathe or even episodes of vomit can occur. Children In children, the episodes will be frequent and parents should keep a check on when the coughing is at it's worst.

Isolating these times is valuable information for your doctor. It may occur most when the child is at play or during the night. You also want to check the child's breathing and look for rapid breathing. If the cough is breaking up normal sleep habits or it's so pronounced that it wakes the child, then your doctor will need to know. Breathe Easy Rescue inhalers Free Reprint Articles, or short term medicines are the most common type of asthma medication. Long term medications include anti-inflammatory preparations such as Corticosteroids and Leukotrine modifiers.

What is the best course of treatment. This is an area your doctor is best placed to advise you about but usually a combination of both is the best management practice. Inhalers are quick relief and great for diffusing potentially harmful episodes while long term medicines will help prevent and reduce swelling in the airways.

Is My Makeup The Reason For My Dry Skin?

Dry skin affects a lot of people. They deal with it daily and have to keep to skin routines that work and be able to adapt with different products in the case that one starts to lose its effectiveness. Dry skin can mean dull skin, usually leading to a tight feeling, itching, flaking.

Some people have worse dry skin than others, with itching becoming truly annoying and requiring emollient moisturizers and extra care. You may find that you become especially vulnerable during winter months when the harsh cold temperatures, drying winds, and low humidity virtually lay waste to your skin.

You may find that there are many reasons why you have dry skin, and among them, the makeup you wear may only be adding to your dry skin problem.
Many forms of makeup are created every day. Liquid eyeliner. Lipstick with a wet shine like lip gloss. Liquid eye shadows. Mascara that takes several steps instead of one little swipe in order to get that long lash look. While many of these may not bother you, the one thing that goes completely all over your face is foundation.

Finding the right foundation for your skin type is a must. Generally you do not have to worry about other types of makeup unless you realize they happen to be doing adverse things to your skin, but usually something like mascara will not be of any bother.

Foundation, on the other hand, is meant to cover your entire face in order to even out skin tone, hide blemishes, and if you have the right foundation, help protect your face from the outside elements that typically damage your skin (though if your foundation has a sunscreen in it, usually it will not be very strong and you will require additional sunscreen for actual sun protection).

Some makeup items may contain talc, which is a known drying ingredient that is occasionally used in cosmetics. Talc may also be referred to as talcum powder, and is created from talc, a mineral that is very commonplace. If your makeup or foundation contains talc, then you have a problem right there.

You will have to replace any items that contain talc, which may also have other negative effects on your skin. Talc has come under fire from some researchers as a cause for certain types of cancer. However, despite drying your skin, there has been no concrete study done to prove talc is dangerous, and as it has been used safely for years in society, these claims may be unfounded.

Still, talc in your makeup means dry skin for you. Talc is not the only skin drying ingredient your makeup or foundation may contain, so you may want to do some research on the ingredients found in them, specifically in your foundation. If your foundation claims it is meant for dry skin and your skin is still drying out, it may or may not be your foundation.

You must remember that not every cosmetic or product will work for you, even if it is meant for your skin type. Everyone's skin will react differently to a product, so if you notice adverse effects, you may want to look into switching up.    
A good way to help your skin stay moisturized even when you plan on wearing makeup is to put on a lightweight moisturizer before adding your foundation and color cosmetics. Doing so will also make it much easier to smooth on your foundation and help to give you extra moisture and protection against drying agents in your immediate environment.

It may seem tedious to go over all your cosmetics to be sure they have the right stuff, but if you want to help save your dry skin, then it is a necessary tactic and something your skin deserves.

Hard Water Hard On Your Skin?

It can be extremely annoying when dry skin does not seem to want to go away. Even more annoying is when you are unable to figure out why. Your skin just seems to be unable to retain moisture, even with amount of babying you do to it.
You wash carefully, put on plenty of moisturizer, and still it feels tight, looks flaky, and refuses to be soft. So what is the deal? Is there some hidden factor you are missing?


It is very likely that you are. Many people take their usual shower, perform their usual facial routine, use their specific products, and never consider the single, largest thing they are constantly putting on their skin.

Your water. A lot of people do not even know what type of water they have. Still others were not even aware they have a water type. However, most people do have a water type that they might want to know about. In your case of continuously dry skin, you definitely will want to find out.

There are in fact two different types of water; hard and soft. If you find that your skin continues to be dry even after all the work you put into it, the problem may lie in the fact that you have hard water and it is helping to keep your skin dry.

Water that is considered to be hard means the water contains a large amount of calcium, magnesium, and iron deposits. If you notice your shower or tub slowly but constantly building up deposits, such as rust, soap scum, and lime, you probably have hard water.

Not only will you be cleaning your tub more often and possibly dealing with clogs in your pipes, but you will also be left with skin less inclined to be soft. Hard water makes it more difficult for substances to dissolve in it efficiently, such as soap. When you lather (which you may also realize is difficult to do) and then rinse off, you may not be removing all the soap from your skin.

This is through no fault of your own, but rather the inability of your water to wash all the soap from your skin. Soap that remains on the skin aids in drying it out, leaving you with flaky, itchy skin. Remaining soap can also aid in the clogging of pores, giving you dry skin and a few extra skin irritations.

Because both hard water deposits and cleansing products are left on the skin, it can also cause your skin to become more irritated and susceptible to damage, especially when it comes to facial skin and the fragile blood vessels beneath. Hard water can even cause your skin to become thinner and aggravate skin conditions, such as rosacea.

Washing in hard water means even with good products meant to help your dry skin, you still have to fight to get your skin in the condition you want it to be. If you have well water, then you can easily obtain a water softener to help avoid hard water.

Soft water means there are fewer deposits in the water, giving your soap better lathering power and making it much easier to wash off, freeing your skin of excess soap after you towel off and giving you a better chance at softer, more moisturized skin.

However, many people get their water through public means. If you do, then if your water is not already soft, then you may have a bigger problem in trying to get soft water.

Yes, you cannot do too much to remedy the water coming out of your faucets unless you want to opt for having a major installation of a water softening unit. If you are unable to do this, you will have to learn to live with your hard water by using less soap and taking shorter showers, giving your hard water less access to your skin.

You could buy water to use for your face in order to help keep your skin from dealing with hard water, and continue using your current skin products.

Even if you are unable to do anything about hard waterBusiness Management Articles, at least now you can have peace of mind by knowing your water was the final puzzle piece in the dryness of your skin.

Scratching Your Dry Skin

The problem with dry skin is not just that it is dry. It is not just that it looks dull. It is not just that it can be flaky. One of the main things about dry skin that can drive people crazy is when dry skin becomes itchy.

Some people can have dry skin and never be bothered by any itching their dry skin might bring up. However, there are other people who might scratch, scratch, scratch away and still not feel relief from their dry skin. Having annoyingly itchy skin may occur at any time if you naturally tend to have dry skin. There are other people who experience the worst itch during dry winter months and even moisturizers and creams do not seem to help.
You can experience itchy dry skin just about anywhere on your body. Legs can become annoying when you are at work or school, the top of you head can be embarrassing because dry skin and constant itching can lead to dandruff-like flakes, and itchiness on the face can lead to a less than pleasant look. Yes, it is hard to stop scratching, but the important thing is that you need to learn how to do so.

Even if scratching at a patch of dry skin seems to yield results in the form of dead skin cells flaking off, scratching is doing you no good. Constantly scraping away at your skin with your fingernails will only serve to aggravate your skin further and worsen your condition. For some people with dry skin that happens to be the result of a skin condition such as eczema, scratching can have some very nasty results.

Scratching your dry skin can lead to skin cracking or splitting, which can be very painful and lead to potential infections, giving you yet one more problem to deal with when it comes to your skin. So if you cannot scratch, what do you do to relieve the itch? First off, if your skin is so dry that it is creating an unbearable itchiness, you need to look into a better moisturizer.

If you do not currently use a moisturizer, you need to get one, pronto. It would be a very good idea to get a moisturizer that is an extra emollient in order to enhance the strength of the moisturizing power, as your skin needs it badly. Avoid moisturizers with fragrance; you want a moisturizer with performance, not one that smells nice (not to say that you should get one that smells disgusting; most moisturizers smell fine even without any extra scents).

There are also products out there meant to help exceptionally dry skin in terms of both moisturizing as well as stopping the itch. You might want to try one of these products if your itchy skin is driving you crazy. If one moisturizer works during several months of the year and suddenly you find it is inadequate during winter months, try switching it up with something more powerful during those times.

You may also want to buy a humidifier to help keep the air in your home a little less dry.

Even if you have dry skin, you do not have to be at the mercy of its itch. Make a note of any products that may worsen your condition instead of making it better and get rid of them right away. By taking a few steps, such as avoiding long, hot showers, and using moisturizersFree Reprint Articles, you can stop the itch and be free from the concern of harming your skin by forever scratching away.

Big Drug: Bad Drug

Think before you swallow the claims made by Big Drug in their TV commercials. They invent new diseases and persuade you to buy their newly created drugs to cure those new diseases. Or worse, they have a product that's not selling so they invent some disease that can be eased by this non-selling product. The result of these slick TV commercials is that Big Drug have increased their profits exponentially. Be afraid! Do not fall for this misleading nonsense.

Do not be misled by the warm and fuzzy TV commercials directed at you by the big pharmaceutical companies. Those companies do NOT have your welfare at heart. They’re in the dairy faming business and you are their prize cash cow. They milk and they milk and there is no end to their ingenuity when it comes to separating you from your hard earned dollars.We all know about Vioxx.

We know that the FDA licensed this drug, despite obvious lethal side effects, and advised its use for arthritis sufferers, in particular. Arthritis patients are very vulnerable. They can’t move without pain and they frequently are used as guinea pigs by their own doctors as well as Big Drug companies. The FDA is so influenced by Big Drug, that it rushes to license medication without proper testing. In the case of Vioxx, it was obvious for years that Vioxx caused heart attacks in those very vulnerable arthritis patients for whom it was prescribed with gay abandon.

The editor of the Lancet states  that the FDA and Vioxx’s manufacturer, Merck “acted out of ruthless, short–sighted, and irresponsible self–interest.”That’s just one indictment.  Merck, manufacturer of Vioxx was forced to settle thousands of law suits.  But how many heads rolled in the FDA? Well, none, actually. It took a whistle blower to expose the true risks.
For every high profile disaster like Vioxx, there are hundreds of silent killers pushed on a trusting public, which falls for those warm and fuzzy TV commercials. Note that Big Drug is not permitted to advertise to the public in any countries except  the United States and New Zealand. There is a very obvious reason for this. Sick people are vulnerable.
 If you advertise a drug that you say will help them, they’re going to ask their doctor to prescribe it for them. They trust you and they trust their doctor.

They shouldn’t.Big Drug Companies actually invent new diseases, for which they offer a panacea.  When did you discover RLS, Restless Leg Syndrome?  When you saw it on a TV commercialPsychology Articles, that’s when. Now you think you might have RLS and maybe you should try that drug which purports to cure it.Be afraid.  Pay attention to the very fast disclaimers at the end of those TV commercials. They paint the true picture of life on unnecessary drugs.

The Teeth Whitening Procedure

The Teeth Whitening Procedure

There are many methods used for teeth whitening. You can opt to do your teeth whitening at home with a kit you can buy at any drugstore or even one that can be bought from your dentist. There is also a bleach teeth whitening procedure that your dentist will do in his office. The newest procedure for whitening your teeth is the laser method and this too is done in the dentist’s chair.

What to Expect with the Laser Bleach Teeth Whitening Method

A teeth whitening gel is used in conjunction with a laser instrument. A bleaching gel that is translucent will be applied to your teeth. The gel is infused with crystals and a laser light will be used in order to activate those crystals. They in turn absorb energy from the laser light in order to penetrate into the enamel to increase the teeth whitening effect.

Often your regular dentist doesn’t perform laser bleach teeth whitening; rather a dentist schooled in cosmetic dentistry is the one to perform the procedure. How long it will take in order to whiten your teeth will depend entirely on how discolored and stained your teeth are at present.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages to the Procedure

Typically it takes just a single visit to a cosmetic dentist in order for your teeth to get lighter. A brilliant smile is the best advantage to having a teeth whitening procedure done. Though you may not have ivory white teeth, they will in fact be much brighter than when you walked into the office. Having whiter teeth will give you more self confidence and you won’t feel the need to hide your teeth when you smile.

One disadvantage to the laser teeth whitening procedure is the results are quite dramatic and those that know you well will see an immediate difference in the color of your teeth. Another disadvantage may be the high price involved as the laser bleaching technique is the most expensive of teeth whitening procedures. On the other hand, it is the fastest method to a great smile.

Just How White Can Your Teeth Get?

The teeth whitening procedure cannot perform miracles so if your teeth are discolored because of heavy smoking, coffee or cola beverages, you can rest assured that they will become brighter. There is no set standard in the field of cosmetic dentistry for labeling the color of your teeth but one standard that is often used is called the Vita shade guide. There are four ranges of shade in the Vita guide and they are:

A- a reddish brown shade
B- this is a shade of reddish yellow
C- only gray is in this shade range
D- the final shade range is reddish gray

When it comes to the A shade group there are five different levels of darkness. For B, C, and D ranges, there are just four different levels of darkness.

Another consideration is that not all of your teeth will be the same color. Eye teeth are usually the darkest of the teeth and your front teeth are often the whitest. Molars can land between the brightest and the darkest of your teeth. The goal for anyone having a teeth whitening procedure is to have their teeth looking as bright as possible and also looking natural.

When you consult with a cosmetic dentist, he will go over your expectations of the teeth whitening procedure and tell you what you can realistically look forward to. No matter what teeth whitening procedure you decide uponScience Articles, the results for one person will not be the same for the next. How your teeth are structured and the amount of dental work you have had before as well as the teeth whitening procedure you choose will directly affect the end results.