Whether you are writing, cleaning, cooking, getting ready for work or scratching your head to meet a deadline, you are constantly using your hands. However, unfortunately, these hands are the most ignored when it comes to beauty and maintenance. How many times do you notice that your nails are cracked and out of shape but you postpone to caress them? That is the bottom line , these nails are treated to be dead tissues , dead and therefore they don’t need to be maintained; this mindset needs to be changed!

Take a look at your fingernails. Are they strong and healthy-looking? Or do you see ridges, or areas of unusual color or shape? The condition of your nails may offer clues to your general health. Illness can cause changes in your nails that your doctor can use to develop diagnose.

Ayurveda behind nails

The nails reflect the quality of tissue production in the body as nails are considered to be the waste product of bones (asthi dhatu) Healthy nails are pink, smooth and evenly shaped.

The root cause of nail disorders like splitting and flaky nails, white spots, vertical ridges or discoloration of the nail bed is an improper diet. Vata type nails are irregular in shape, pale, rough and brittle and bitten. A person with Pitta as the predominant dosha has oval, soft, strong and flexible nails while Kapha type nails are square, thick, large and very white.

Split and cracked nails

Many women are plagued by fingernails that split and crack. What’s causing this? Like body shape, skin tone, and hair texture, our nails’ ability to grow is largely hereditary — so if your mom had weak nails, you’re likely to have them, too. That said, there are things you can do to avoid much of the splitting:

Protect your nails from water. Keep your hands out of H2O, since water can actually dry out nails, causing them to split. Be sure to wear gloves when doing dishes or cleaning.

Apply hand cream religiously. Look for a rich formula, which will seal moisture into nails, making them stronger and more flexible.

Health tips

Fragile nails, split nails, discolored nails and infectious nails are some signs of unhealthy nails which are encountered on account of bad habits like keeping the nails unclean from the bed, not changing the nail polish regularly, poor diet and water intake and biting them rigorously. The chances of these manifestations increase if you use your nails for purposes not defined for them like digging, scratching and the like. Some tips for developing and maintaining healthy nails are as follows:

• Add shine to your nails by massaging coconut oil or warm Castor oil on to them.
• If you do not like nail polish then apply dry soap to your nail and buff or use lemon peel for a similar result.
• Dip a cotton-tipped swab in hydrogen peroxide to clean under the nails and whiten them.
• Before giving yourself a manicure dip your nails in a cup of warm water with one tablespoon of lemon juice.
• Put your fingertips in half a lemon and twist your finger back and forth to clean the cuticles and nails
• If you wear nail polish on a regular basis then, take them off for a day or two every week, in order to let your nails breath.

• Apply speed-dry nail polish when time is of the essence.
• Drink lots of water. Keep your body hydrated everyday to maintain healthy nails.
• Fortify your diet with FDA approved vitamins or supplements. Your fingernails count on you to be responsible with your health and your diet. Unless instructed otherwise by your physician, increase your daily doses of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, calcium, folic acid, protein, Vitamin B12, and zinc.
• Touch up your manicure on a daily basis to prevent chips and cracks.

Nail polish tips:

• Finish with a clear topcoat to add gloss and sheen.
• Start with a base coat to strengthen and protect the nails.
• Store nail polish in the refrigerator to maintain a smooth consistency.
• Try not to store nail polish in a room that becomes cold. The nail polish bottles may break without warning, leaving you with a big mess.

Tags: therapeutic, herbs, yoga, native remedies, eczema

Light therapy is gaining preference in the beauty industry. It is gaining popularity over surgical beauty enhancements in the present scenario as it is a non-invasive treatment.

A while ago, skin conditions like Atopic dermatitis, some forms of psoriasis and eczema were treated using artificial light wavelengths from the ultraviolet (Ultraviolet B (UVB), ultraviolet A (UVA), or a combination of UVB and UVA. It helps significantly in Atopic dermatitis as it can prevent bacterial infections, which are problematic in people with atopic dermatitis. It is also used for allergen-induced inflammatory diseases like allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and a variety of psychological diseases. Mostly used in adults, Photo therapy is used only in severe cases of disease in children.

Why is it preferred in the beauty industry?

Phototherapy is painless unlike surgeries. It not only rejuvenates the skin at the cellular level, but also improves the collagen and elastin production. It stimulates the skin to convert light energy photons into cellular energy. It can done on people of all age groups, especially to bring back the youthful firm skin with a smooth texture and tone. It can easily treat pigmented and acne prone skin while helping to reduce pores, wrinkles and lines. Light therapy is also used for tanning the skin. It is generally believed to be natural and safe.

There are light therapies available in the market for the home treatment for aging and other skin-related issues. These are cheaper than the treatments provided in the clinics. But are they really safe? Think along with me!

The safety issues

It is notified that pregnant women, people with allergies and thyroid problems and epilepsy should not take light therapy. It is also not recommended to people who are on medication that causes sensitivity to light. Patients with medical problems like Lupus and Porphyria should avoid photo therapy. Those with a history of skin cancer and also those whose immune system is suppressed are prone to danger. People who have minimal exposure to sun and who have very fair skin also should not take light therapy.

Light therapy is not risk less as claimed by the beauty pageants. Side effects and risks depend on the type of light therapy given. Most common and short-term side effects include nausea, jitteriness and headaches. If used injudiciously, it can burn your skin and also cause skin damage, freckling and premature aging of the skin. Itchy skin and dryness are other side-effects. It can also worsen skin diseases like some forms of psoriasis. UV light is a major cause of skin cancer. Prolonged skin treatment with light therapy increases the risk of cancer as well as skin cancer. Light therapy is a mood-altering treatment and can have adverse effects on patients with depression, if used carelessly. Self-medication with light therapy can be dangerous.

However, some of the modern phototherapy lamps are considered safe as they do not emit the fatal UV rays.

-Aparna K V

Tags: diabetes, asthma, obesity, alternative, herbal

Herbs for beauty

Let me share an experience…..

It was early 2005 and I was to get married. I had taken appointments for sittings in a beauty parlor for the bridal package. It included facial, bleach, manicure, waxing and all other regular finishing touches. There were preparatory sittings scheduled ten days before wedding day so that the final day was assured to give best results. So there I was on the table to experience the facial pack which was supposed to rejuvenate and clarify my skin around ten days before the wedding.

After a cumbersome process for more than two hours involving burning sensations f the bleach, the pack was cleared off and I was asked to wash my face. It was then that I realized that instead of flaunting glowing skin, I would now have to sport blemished skin with redness all over. The bleach was actually to harsh for my skin . Though this was not a very pleasant experience I consoled myself that this was just the preparatory sittings and asked the beautician to modify the chemical components in the facial when she does it just before the wedding day. She readily accepted. Soon the thought of new life ahead took over my blemishes and when I stepped into he parlor one Day before the auspicious day for the last and final facial, the blemishes had almost disappeared. I then reminded the lady at the parlour to use milder bleach this time and so did she promise. There was another sitting of three hours this time and after I washed my face , I was red with anger this time and perhaps even confused and ashamed to be front my mom who was always against chemical use on skin. The faint rashes of the earlier facial were now substituted with dark red blemishes and scars. These were very prominent and the worse part was that there was no time left for self healing.

This has happened with nearly half of my friends and colleagues in one or the other facial sitting. But still the need of looking good carries us off to the parlor. But perhaps now we have a choice, a choice which deserves to be explored; that of using herbal beauty products. Just as herbs are used as spices and medications, they are also used as beauty agents. The cleansing properties of gritty scrubs, antiseptic properties of herbs, cooling and toning characters of mud based natural products and moisturizing properties of emollients are all exploited in the beautification industry. The benefits of the most commonly used beauty products are mentioned below:

Turmeric

Turmeric is a major ingredient in many face packs. It is the best choice for glowing bright skin. The flavanoids in turmeric give them this character. Moreover the antiseptic properties treat any mild infections and sores. Turmeric maintains the ph of the skin and this treats pigmentation of the skin. Hence turmeric paste has conventionally been applied on the elbows, face and neck to lighten the skin and keep it a fresh.

Sandalwood

Sandalwood is used in the form of a powder or a paste. It is a cooling agent and treats blemishes, prickly heat and other skin disorders related to excessive heat. On account of its pleasant aroma, it has been a component in many body oils too. It is a good face pack as it tones the skin and also cools and clarifies it.

Neem

This is perhaps the strongest antibacterial and anti fungal agent amongst all herbs. Hence it is applied in paste form on skin to get rid of