Archive for August, 2009
Curr Med Chem. 2009; 16(20): 2485-97
Arakawa T, Yamasaki H, Ikeda K, Ejima D, Naito T, Koyama AH
Virus infection is one of the major threats to human health and can be avoided by minimizing exposure to infectious viruses. Viral clearance of pharmaceutical products and sanitization of skin and mucosal surfaces would reduce such exposures. Even with such care, virus infection does occur, requiring effective treatments by antiviral or virucidal agents. Natural products, in particular ingredients of foods and drinks we normally consume or metabolites present in human body at low concentrations, would have advantage over synthetic drugs as antiviral agents for safety concerns. For this reason, we have been studying natural products for their effects on virus inactivation and growth. Such natural products, which we have been focusing, include gallate derivatives, caffeine present in coffee, caffeic acid present in coffee and various fruits, ascorbic and dehydroascorbic acids and a cell metabolite, arginine. Here we will review our work on antiviral and virucidal activities of these compounds and the mechanism of their antiviral and virucidal effects.
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Are you frustrated with looking for an effective clear skin treatment? There are many different things that contribute to blemishes and acne. There are many natural solutions that can heal blemishes and help prevent new ones from forming. Let’s start with Active Manuka Honey.
Honey has been used for centuries as natural medicine for a variety of different conditions. Only recently have researchers learned that some of the enzymes in honey have natural anti-bacterial activity. Scientists have shown that Manuka Honey, a mono-floral variety produced in New Zealand, has the highest anti-bacterial activity of all.
Certain types of bacteria are found in the skin’s pores and contribute to the minor infection that accompanies blemishes and acne. Many of the acne-formulated cleansers that you see on the market, including Clearasil, contain an antibacterial agent called triclosan. Researchers have shown that the acne causing bacteria are becoming resistant to triclosan. Probably because of it’s wide-scale use in shower gels and hand soap.
Manuka honey has proven effectiveness against other types of anti-biotic resistant infections. For clear skin treatment, look for cleansers that contain the honey and after you clean your face at night, try using a night-cream that also contains it. Creams containing it are effective for healing blemishes and killing the bacteria that can cause new ones to form.
Vitamin A creams are sometimes prescribed for treating acne, although their exact activity is unknown and the prescription creams often cause burning and excessive dryness. Avocado oil and Shea butter are natural sources of vitamin A. They soothe and prevent excessive dryness. In fact, Shea butter is a valued for its pharmaceutical activity in countries where the tree grows. Shea butter, avocado oil and active Manuka honey are found in some of the best night creams on the market. They work for everyone, regardless of their skin type.
In addition to a good clear skin treatment, you may also want to avoid some ingredients that are commonly found in skincare and other personal care products, because they are known to clog the pores and contribute to blemishes. There are many ingredients like that, but the most common ones are petrolatum, mineral oil and paraffin wax. They are derived from petroleum; crude oil. They are not compatible with the skin’s natural oils and interfere with the natural rejuvenation processes.
If the clear skin treatment that you are looking at contains any of those ingredients, don’t buy it. It will make your problem worse, instead of better.
Bottom line, inflammation of the tiny sebaceous glands is one of the things that cause blemishes and acne. The most powerful natural anti-inflammatory that has been discovered to date is a form of keratin, a protein that makes up over 90% of the skin’s cells. It has been shown in clinical studies to reduce inflammation by inhibiting the production of bio-chemicals that cause it. The biochemical is called PGE2 creams containing the special form of keratin have been shown to inhibit its production by up to 70%. So, now you know what an effective clear skin treatment should contain. All that you have to do is go shop.
To learn more about vitamins for healthy skin, and other incredible substances for natural healthy skin care, visit my website today.
Laurel Levine
http://www.articlesbase.com/skin-care-articles/why-arent-you-using-an-effective-clear-skin-treatment-755294.html
An Oil free anti-aging facial moisturizer is the recourse many people are taking these days to get a wrinkle free and smooth skin. But does it deliver? No, it does not. Because, to your surprise, you are throwing out the baby along with the bucket of water.
On the surface, it might seem logical that an oil free anti-aging facial moisturizer is a good moisturizing and anti-aging solution for our skin, but the reality is very different.
Our notion for oil based facial moisturizers is that the oils in them clog our skin’s pores and leave a sticky greasy feeling behind. This may only be a partly true fact as you might have been using oil based anti-aging facial moisturizers with mineral oils in them!
This might shock you, Minerals oils in your facial moisturizer cream! Yes, Mineral oil is widely used in sub standard skin care moisturizer creams because it is cheap. Although it moisturizes the skin temporarily, but the cost you pay in terms of your skin health is too much.
Mineral oils clog the skin’s pores and leave them suffocating for fresh air. The skin cannot breathe freely and thus it is unable to cleanse itself from the toxins. The accumulated toxins lead to many skin problems like acne breakouts, allergies, skin rashes and skin inflammation.
Our skin also has natural oils that are vital for skin health preservation. These oils get lost during the course of the day due to the stress, environmental pollution and other factors. An anti-aging facial moisturizer helps preserve these vital natural oils in your skin.
So, many people try to look for oil free anti-aging facial moisturizers because they have suffered from the harmful effects of mineral oils in their previous mineral oil based facial moisturizers and also because they are not yet aware of the outstanding beneficial natural oils that can work wonders for their skin health and youth.
Some of these types of natural oils are -
1) Grapeseed Oil – This oil is a strong antioxidant and creates a protective film on your skin. This invisible film locks in the vital moisture and natural oils in your skin. It is rich in linoleic acid and various other oils that are vital for skin health.
2) Babassu – This is a very light natural wax. It helps effectively in softening and soothing your skin. It also creates an invisible film of protection on your skin which helps prevent the skin’s natural moisture from escaping outside. This film also prevents dirt and grime from entering within your skin.
Babassu is made from Babassu oil, which is found in the kernel of the babassu fruit in the Amazon. This wonderful oil is very beneficial for naturally curing wrinkles. It works equally well for oily and dry complexion persons.
By all this key scientific information, you now know that an anti-aging facial moisturizer is the key to regaining healthy, vibrant and glowing skin.
Visit my website, which I have dedicated for an extensive research on such natural oils and substances which play a proven role in anti-aging and giving a healthy and vibrant skin naturally.
Vijay Raisinghani
http://www.articlesbase.com/skin-care-articles/oil-free-antiaging-facial-moisturizer-dont-throw-the-baby-out-with-the-bucket-of-water-724670.html
Our skin is the reflection of our health and vitality, physical, mental and emotional wellness. A radiant and glowing skin indicates good health, positive attitude and vibrates self-confidence. On the other hand, a dull and blemished skin shows an unhealthy body, stressful lifestyle and carelessness towards one’s own personality.
Who doesn’t want to look good, and good looks start with good skin. You may think it’s not such a big issue; there are several products in the market to make the skin beautiful and glowing in a jiffy. But as you use them, you must also be realizing that it is not so. These cosmetic products produce temporary effects on skin, have lots of side effects, and are very costly and not suited to all skin types. Then, what’s the way out? Here’s where we come to our topic of discussion, to care for the skin in a natural way that is natural skin care.
Natural skin care is not just about using skin products produced without chemicals; it’s an ongoing process of a result of a healthy life-style, right diet and off-course right skin products to be applied directly.
First of all, natural way of caring for skin starts with some life-style changes we need to take care of. Getting enough sleep: ‘Beauty sleep’ is not just a saying; its meaning goes far beyond that. As the rest of the body, for healthy skin, sleeping adequately is a must. At least 7 – 8 hours of sleep (hours vary for person to person), ensures a relaxed mind and body, normal blood flow, takes care of all wear and tear during the day, energizes you and brings the glow back in the morning. Dark circles around the eyes, blotchy skin, and lifeless appearance of face are all side effects of not getting enough sleep. So switch off that TV, log-off your laptop, and get from the party on time to catch a good night’s sleep.
Get Moving: Now that you’ve got enough sleep, its time for some exercises as well. Be active, walk, jog, exercise, hit the gym, do stretches during office hours too, take the stairs, do anything to keep moving. Inactivity affects the skin by promoting bloating and puffiness, cellulite and loss of muscle tone. Exercise also helps us to relax and de-stress, both necessary for a healthy skin.
Drink lots of water: Water helps to detoxify the body’s system, bathes the cells, eliminates waste products, help in digestion, purify blood and the list goes on and on. The point is to have at least 2 liters of water a day, avoid carbonated and sweetened drinks and have fresh juices and soups as additional source of fluids.
For a shiny and smooth skin, drinking honey mixed in warm water in the morning helps a lot. Secondly, natural way of caring for skin by eating right.
Let’s discuss some basic points:
Have lots of fiber: Eating food that is rich in fiber help a good digestion and constipation is totally taken care of. This eliminates the root of many skin problems like acne, psoriasis, spotty skin etc. we must have lots of fruits, fresh veggies, whole grains, and salad. The idea is to cut on processed food and fast food because these contain almost no fiber. Eating things in their natural form is the mantra to get the most benefit out of it.
Cut on excess sugar: The more we take sugar, the more sugar enters our bloodstream. Over some time, this results in a process where the glucose molecules damages protein molecule by sticking to it. This causes damage in collagen, cartilage and ligament, thus forming wrinkles. So, the next time, you are adding the second spoon of sugar to your tea/ coffee or going to bite on your favorite sweet…think again!!
Get some good fats: These are the fats needed to build cells, membrane, hormones etc. Lack of the good fat can lead to eczema, acne and dry skin. The sources to get these fats are cold-water fish, walnut oil, flaxseed oil, nuts; also you can try fish oil supplements.
Apart from these basic dietary requirements, we need to have a balanced diet containing Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, Fats, all essential ingredients which comprises an adequate diet. This is absolutely vital for a healthy body and mind along with a smooth, glowing skin.
Last but not the least, we come to the most interesting part of out discussion. Natural skin care products, to be applied regularly for best results. According to the classic definition of natural skin care products, these are products found and used in their natural or raw form without any chemicals and manufactured in such a way so as to preserve the integrity of the ingredient.
There are many products, which can be bought from the market, manufactured by reputed companies. But best is to spend a little time and prepare some easy recipes for taking care of common skin problems and daily cleansing and toning.
Skin Care Tips:
· Stop using soap on your face (if possible, on body also). Use gram flour and milk to make a paste. Apply it gently and rub a little, then wash off with water. Believe me, it’s much better that any soap!!
· Massage body with mustard oil 10 minutes before bath, and then take a warm bath. Your skin will be moisturized and smooth.
· Massage your body with milk. Milk moisturizes your skin naturally.
· For daily cleansing, mix sandal wood powder with rose water and add 4-5 drops of milk in it, then apply on face and body. After 10 minutes, take a warm bath.
· Warm honey and mix with lemon juice, then apply on face. Let it dry, and then wash off with warm water. It refreshes and cleanses your skin.
· For preparing natural bleach, mix lemon juice in milk. Then massage it on your face and body. It bleaches you skin naturally.
· To remove sun-tan, mix cucumber juice with tomato juice, rub on skin, wash off with cold water.
· Mix milk cream with flour, apply that paste on to your skin, then wash off to get a smooth skin.
These are the basic ways of caring for skin naturally. The glow and radiance that comes with the natural care practice is for all to see and is everlasting. Just remember: Beauty is not skin deep…still it starts with the skin!!
Dr John Anne
http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/tips-for-natural-skin-care-86241.html
It never fails for a teenager that acne can pose a real problem. Therefore, most teens equate facial skin care with prevention of or treatment for acne symptoms. Most teens soon learn the degree to which good hygiene should be linked to clear facial skin.
Oil in the skin helps to cause and aggravate the extent to which acne can disfigure facial skin. By reducing the amount of oil on his or her face, a teen can work to prevent the development of acne flare-ups. Of course, the reduction of that oil should not be done in a manner that can do harm to the teen’s skin.
A teen should not plan to scrub his or her face repeatedly. A teen should instead set aside time for carrying-out a gentle face wash at least twice a day. That gentle wash should remove from the face any surface dirt that has alighted itself. That would then prepare the face for application of beneficial creams and lotions.
What sorts of creams and lotions should a teenager use on his or her face? If that teen hopes to avoid a future acne flare-up he or she will use a water-based cream or lotion. An oil-based product would simply re-introduce the oil that had been removed during the periodic gentle washings.
Now as a teen becomes first a young adult and then an older adult, he or she might well find that any acne problems gradually disappear. That of course does not mean that no adult needs to give attention to the basics of facial skin care. Older adults need to learn facts that relate to a new sort care for facial skin-care for aging skin.
Older adults often need to use a moisturizing product on the face. Older adults also need to learn about the importance of collagen and elastin. Both collagen and elastin are proteins, proteins that are found in all healthy skin. Yet as skin ages, it can loose its ability to make collagen and elastin. Why is that significant?
That is significant because collagen has fiber-like characteristics. Collagen can give cells added strength. When skin cells contain an adequate amount of collagen, then they feel firm to the touch. When cells begin to loose collagen, they can start to wrinkle and sag. The absence of collagen in aging cells explains the appearance of wrinkles and loose skin on older adults.
Now the re-introduction of collagen can strengthen the cells on the face. Yet that added collagen does not solve the problem, unless it is accompanied by the introduction of elastin. Elastin makes cells more flexible. When cells contain an adequate amount of elastin then they are able to return to their original position on the body.
As older adults learn about facial skin care with collagen and elastin, they might be tempted to smear on products that contain these two ingredients. Such products simply fill the spaces that develop between the wrinkle lines.
What do knowing adults purchase instead? They buy products that can stimulate their cells to make more collagen and more elastin. By using such products, older adults can put an end to their tendency to avoid looking in a mirror.
The production of collagen and elastin in the cells of the face has provided those in the know with a great opportunity. They now enjoy the chance to see a well-toned and youthful facial skin staring back at them, each time that they look in the mirror.
Laurel Levine
http://www.articlesbase.com/skin-care-articles/discover-how-to-rethink-the-focus-of-facial-skin-care-583555.html
Aging is a natural process, and it is also true that no one can completely prevent nature. Anti- aging skin products have completely revolutionized the concept of skin care. Anti Aging is the process of delaying the effects of aging, particularly of skin like wrinkles, lines, crowfeet and sags. Many of the anti aging products include ingredients that are risky and have been linked to cancers. Anti- aging skin products prevent general ageing of the skin by providing reinforced protection against daily aggression. These anti-aging products fight both visible and invisible signs of ageing. The best anti aging product is most likely to contain ingredients that fight aging: Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (AHA), antioxidants, collagen and Vitamins C, D, E and K. Botox is one of the effective anti aging treatments available. Many of these vitamins are antioxidants which fight against free radicals in the body.
Beta-Hydroxy Salicylic Acid (BHA) or its alternative alpha-hydroxy acids rids the skin of dead skin cells through exfoliation. Antiaging Exercise is a natural procedure that often works better than any chemical-based product. Facial tone exercises, including wiggling the ears, moving the mouth in rotation can help minimize or to get rid of wrinkles. Anti-aging skin products are available for both men and women. Anti-aging products for dry skin are available in a variety of forms. Several of the anti aging products we have in the market these days already have added vitamins. Anti-aging products for men are specifically formulated to enhance the texture of a man’s thicker and tougher skin as compared to a woman’s skin that is far more soft and delicate.
Other popular anti aging supplements such as estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, DHEA, thyroid and melatonin are also essential in an anti aging product. These are more commonly as hormone supplements that delay aging. Botanicals such as grape seed extract, soy compounds, green tea and Gingko biloba are relatively new in the market and have gained great popularity in recent years, but their healing qualities have yet to be proven through randomized, placebo-controlled human trials. Vitamin B, though what evidence does exist is promising. Moisturizers have not been extensively researched, but have been shown to improve the hydration and appearance of skin. Vitamin A, or retinols have shown great promise.
Juliet Cohen
http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/anti-aging-products-251052.html
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