How Does Honey Fades Scars?

honey for acne scars
Nutritional values in raw honey can treat acne scars and other chronic skin diseases.

Ancient geeks when they get wounded in battle, there main remedy to soothe was honey. Though there is no conclusive research to validate the health benefits of honey, possible benefits of honey have been documented in Islamic texts, Greeks and in Vedas. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) glorified healing benefits of honey.

Even in modern times honey is used to treat health as well as skin diseases, to fade scars, and is included in cosmetic products. Recently a Reddit.com (social networking site) user shared how she cured acne using raw honey.

How to use Honey to Fade Scars

From minor burns to chronic skin diseases you can use honey as a home remedy. According to experts blend 2 tbsp of honey with 2 tbsp of olive oil. Now apply it on acne scars or other scars. Rinse it off with water.

You can also use 1 tbsp of baking soda with 2 tbsp of honey to exfoliate your skin.

Note: Repeated use or topical application is important to fade scars.

Also read: You can’t ignore benefits of Papaya for skin

Properties in Honey

Honey consists of high levels of monosaccharides, fructose and glucose.

  • Antioxidants in honey help to fight radicals.
  • pH level of honey refrain bacterial growth.
  • It consists of antimicrobial and antibacterial properties to heal wounds.

Don’t miss this: What Benefits Vinegar has for you skin?

Why We Recommend Raw Honey?

James F. Balch suggests raw honey, as filtered honey loses its nutritional value due to heating and processing. You can get honey from grocery but for unprocessed honey you must find some expert.

Well it’s not tough to get some raw honey to test it out.

Conclusion

Though there is no scientific evidence that honey can treat scars, many philosophers and experts suggest honey to soothe skin diseases. Raw honey has more nutritional values than processed one.

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Top 10 Benefits of Castor Oil for Skin

castor oil for skin

Do you remember your grandmother threatening you to give castor oil if you don’t eat food? Most of us have experienced this thick and odor oil. But unfortunately we limited its use as laxatives.

From centuries castor oil has been used to treat major health issues. But because of its odor (I guess) it didn’t receive much press attention.

Before delving into benefits of castor oil for skin let’s have a brief intro about castor oil.

Castor oil is extracted from seeds of castor oil plant (Ricinus communis). It is colorless to very pale yellow liquid with unpleasant smell. It’s a vegetable oil and native to Africa and India. Cosmetic industries as well as other industries use castor oil as main ingredient.

10 Amazing Benefits of Castor Oil for Skin

Ricinoleic acid is the main protein present in castor oil, which has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. To steal the benefits of castor oil opt for organic castor oil.

1. Castor Oil Remedy for Dry Skin

Our largest organ skin has capability to release natural moisture which refrains skin from drying out, but at times skin fails to do so. Applying external moisturizer helps skin a lot.

Mix equal quantities of castor oil and coconut oil in a bowl and apply it on your dry skin. Rinse it off after 30 minutes. Repeat the process.

Face Mask Remedy:

Mix 1tbsp of castor oil with egg yolk thoroughly, and then apply it on your face in circular motion. After leaving it for 20 minutes rinse it off. Apply perfumed moisturizer after this.

2. Castor Oil for Sunburn

This remedy is only for minor burns, major burns need doctor’s attention.

Anti-inflammatory properties present in castor oil helps soothe sunburns. Apply castor oil mixed with coconut oil in equal quantities on affected area and soon it will relieve pain.

3. Itchy Skin Remedy

Skin protects our body and natural moisture present on skin protects it from harmful bacteria. Because of dehydration your skin fails to release natural moisture, this triggers itching and bacteria starts invading resulting in chronic skin diseases.

Apply castor oil on dry itchy skin; soon you’ll see the result. You can also mix coconut oil with castor oil.

4. Castor Oil for Wrinkles and Fine Lines

Main protein which is responsible for skin’s elasticity is collagen. Decrease in collagen leads to wrinkles and frown lines. Castor oil when applied on skin gets absorbed and it stimulates production of collagen. It also hydrates skin from the outside. Thus makes your skin softer and smoother.

You just need to apply castor oil on wrinkles and fine lines for 15-20 minutes and then rinse it off. Repeat the process for best results.

Also read: How to get rid of forehead wrinkles

5. Castor Oil to Prevent Stretch Marks

Castor oil gets absorbed into skin fading stretch marks. For pregnant women castor oil is must recommended oil. Mix castor oil with coconut oil to apply on stretch marks.

6. Castor Oil for Acne

Ricinoleic acid present in castor oil makes it a super remedy for treating acne blemishes. Skin when secrets excess oil gets accumulated over skin pores with dead skin cells forming pimples/blemishes. Anti-inflammatory properties in castor oil soothe these blemishes and controls excess oil production.

Anyway, for severe acne we recommend consulting doctor.

Other treatments for Acne

7. Castor Oil Fades Scars

Acids present in castor oil penetrate into tissues and stimulates its growth. Thus fades scars. Regular application is important.

Related post: 10 Home Remedies for Acne Scars

8. Removes Warts and Skin Tags

Warts are caused due to virus infection on outer layer of the skin. Whereas tags are formed when bunch of collagen and tissues gets trapped inside skin it forms skin tags.

Regular topical application of castor oil can remove warts and tags.

9. Castor Oil Works as a Great Moisturizer

If you’re looking for inexpensive and quick moisturizer then opt for castor oil. Fatty acids present in castor oil gets absorbed by skin easily, hydrating dry and itchy skin patches.

Few drops of castor oil are enough to bring your skin back to life.

10. Antimicrobial Properties

Acids present in castor oil has antimicrobial properties that helps to heal open wounds, ring worms, minor cuts and other fungal infections.

Few drops of topical application can do this work for you.

Did we forget to disclose any top benefits of castor oil for skin? Do share in comments.

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witch hazel for acne

Why Minocycline for Acne is Not Recommended

minocycline for acne

Minocycline has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties which can treat acne. Propionibacterium acnes, the bacteria which is the main cause of acne blemishes can be restrained with anti-bacterial properties.

It was believed that minocycline is most effective antibiotic for treating acne inflammation. Anyhow, after studies it was proved that other tetracycline antibiotics can treat acne without side-effects. Though minocycline has properties to treat acne, it’s now not first line antibiotic acne treatment because of its adverse effects.

Related post: Cortisone Cream for acne

Below listed are few points disclosing why minocycline for acne is not recommended.

  1. Minocycline belongs to tetracycline antibiotics and it can treat bacterial infections, skin infection, severe acne and urinary tract says Drugs.com. However it’s very expensive when compared to other oral antibiotics.
  2. Drugs.com doesn’t recommend minocycline for pregnant women, as this may harm unborn baby and may permanent cause tooth discoloration.
  3. Minocycline neutralizes birth pills. Experts don’t recommend minocycline if you’re taking birth control pills.
  4. Makes your skin sensitive to sun.
  5. Long term use of minocycline may cause hyperpigmentation. (Source: pubmed.gov)
  6. This antibiotic treatment may induce hypersensitivity reactions affecting liver, kidney, and lungs, also may cause autoimmune reactions. (Source: pubmed.gov)

Considering its adverse effects with its efficacy in treating acne, experts don’t recommend minocycline for acne as first line antibiotic treatment.

Note: Anyway if you want to give this pricey antibiotic a try then don’t do it without doctor’s prescription.

Share your home remedy for acne here in comments.

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shea butter for treating acne

Zinc Oxide for Eczema

zinc oxide for eczema

According to Medline Plus, zinc supplement fails to treat skin diseases like eczema and allergies. Anyway zinc oxide when used topically showed improvement in treating atopic eczema.

There are different types of eczema. Atopic eczema is the most common type of eczema. So note that one remedy won’t work for all eczema. You must try, test and use to treat eczema and for this you must take doctor’s help.

Also read: Sulfur for Eczema

Zinc oxide for Treating Eczema

Not just for treating eczema, zinc oxide can be used to soothe skin. Dr. Marilynn Syrett says to protect skin from harmful UV rays zinc oxide turn to be safest treatment. This is why many sunscreen creams add zinc oxide as main ingredient.

  • Wash the entire eczema affected area with water.
  • Pat dry and apply with zinc oxide paste on it.
  • If you’re allergic to zinc, cod liver oil, petroleum jelly or any other ingredient in zinc oxide, don’t use it.
  • Follow doctor’s prescription.
  • For rough or thickened eczema affected areas you can use bandage containing zinc paste and ichthammol paste so that it boosts absorption of medicine and soothes skin.

Related post: Interesting Facts About Eczema

Excess oil production caused by puberty can be controlled by topical application of zinc oxide. Thus it can be used to treat acne in some cases.

Must read: Apple Cider Vinegar for Eczema

Note that zinc oxide leaves thin white residue on applied part which can’t be rubbed.

Overdose may cause side-effects, consult your doctor before considering zinc oxide. Side-effects include hives, itching, skin rashes and difficulty in breathing.

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home remedies for eczema

How to Use Doxycycline for Acne

doxycycline for acne

Doxycycline for acne may or may not work for you. It’s an antibiotic that fights acne causing bacteria in the body. Though doxycycline is proved to treat acne Drugs.com don’t recommend it without Doctor’s prescription.

According to American Academy of Dermatology, this antibiotic is prescribed in case of acne spread all over the body. Anyway doctors may prescribe this treatment depending on your acne status.

Apart from treating acne, doxycycline treats chlamydia, urinary tract infections, eye infections, intestinal infections, gum disease and gonorrhea.

Let’s have a look on how to use doxycycline to get rid of acne.

Related: Natural remedy for itchy acne on skin

1. Consult your Dermatologist

Don’t take doxycycline unless any physician prescribes it. Make an appointment with dermatologist and tell your doctor if you’ve any of these diseases – kidney disease, liver disease, asthma and if you’re taking any other tetracycline treatment avoid doxycycline. This helps to be safe from side-effects of doxycycline.

2. Follow Prescription

Strictly follow the prescribed medication, avoid taking in large or small amount. Take one full of water with doxycycline for acne. Different brands of doxycycline have different dosage instructions.

In case if you missed any dosage take it as soon as you remember it, if it’s already time for next dosage then skip the missed one. Don’t take double dosage to replace missed one.

Also read: Fish Oil for Acne – Why Not Use It

3. Avoid Going out

Doxycycline increases chances of sunburns, wear sunscreen or wide spread hat while going out. Try to stay in shade in summer.

Also read: Rose water for acne

4. Go for regular check

If you’ve any other disease then regular check is important. According to Mayoclinic.com doxycycline may develop impaired kidney function as a side effect.

Note: Doxycycline for acne is not recommended for pregnant women.

According to Drugs.com children shouldn’t use this medicine as this can cause yellowing or graying of teeth.

Share your experience with doxycycline or any other antibiotic used to treat acne.

Don’t miss: Treat acne with Shea Butter

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food and acne

10 Home Remedies for Acne Scars Removal

home remedies for acne scars

Your body is made to take care of itself; it can manage, healing injuries and fading acne scars. But when you squeeze or touch acne pimples skin loses its elasticity because of loss of collagen, this makes skin to depend on external treatments.

Anyway, before trying home remedies for acne scars prevent pressing or squeezing acne blemishes. Yes, we knew that you can’t stop squeezing or pressing, apply hydrogen peroxide or other creams which keeps itching at bay.

A short intro about Acne

Oil glands present under skin produces excess oil called sebum making to clog skin pores and dead cells present on the skin along with bacteria gets accumulate on skin pores forming pimples or blemishes. Acne is most common skin disease.

10 Effective Remedies for Acne Scars Removal

With steroid creams you may treat acne blemishes but they leave scars on your face and no one in this world would love to have acne scars. With natural remedies you can not only fade acne scars but also make your skin youthful.

Nature is packed with thousands of remedies to treat various skin diseases but here we’re sharing only few home available remedies, so that you can choose one among them.

1. Papaya Remedy for Acne Scars

Two main nutrients present in papaya are vitamin A and papain (an enzyme). Whereas vitamin A acts as antioxidant to restrains acne causing bacteria, papain acts as an exfoliator to clear clogged pores by removing dead cells.

Not just acne, papaya benefits for skin are endless, which includes removing frown lines, hydrates skin, heals injuries, controls premature aging etc…

Remedy

  • Get some fresh papaya and mash it.
  • Mix 2 tbsp of honey to the paste and apply it on your face or affected part.
  • Rinse it off with cool water after 20 minutes.

2. Honey Remedy to Remove Acne Scars

honey for acne scars

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in honey helps in treating acne and also help to fade acne scars. Not just skin disease, honey can be used to treat other major health problems. You can take it internally or use it topically.

Here is a case study about honey treating acne.

Remedy

  • Add 1 tbsp of honey with 1 tbsp of grape seed oil.
  • Then add 1 tbsp of lemon juice.
  • You can also add 1-2 tbsp of essential oil.
  • Then apply it on acne scars.

Else you can try directly applying on acne scars.

3. Aloe Vera for Acne Scars

Like honey, aloe is another nature’s gift to human kind. Packed with vitamin A, B complex and C, aloe can be used to treat acne, eczema and psoriasis. To treat acne with aloe you just need to apply aloe gel on affected part and rinse it off after few minutes repeat the process and you can see wonders.

Repeating same remedy will help you to fade acne scars.

Also read: Aloe Vera benefits for skin

Remedy

  • Take fresh aloe leaf and peel its skin to see gel like substance.
  • Apply the gel on acne scars.
  • Rinse it off after few minutes.

You can use aloe vera internally. Click here to make aloe juice.

4. Lemon to Fade Acne Scars

lemon jucie for dark spots

Vitamin C present in this citrus fruit helps to rebuild collagen which was damaged because of acne and by squeezing pimples. It also helps to lighten dark spots and scars on skin.

Remedy

  • Directly squeeze lemon juice in a bowl and apply it on acne scars using cotton ball.
  • If you’ve sensitive skin, then dilute lemon juice by adding water to it.
  • For lemon mask, mix lemon juice, tomato juice and sandal wood to make paste. Apply this paste on affected area and rinse it off after 20 minutes.

Lemon makes your skin sensitive, so while going out either wear sunscreen cream or wide spread hat.

5. Olive Oil for Acne Scars Removal

Olive oil is obtained from olive tree berries, packed with antioxidants and vitamins, works great for skin diseases. It can be used both internally and externally.

Remedy

  • Using cotton ball apply olive oil on acne scars.
  • Leave it for few minutes so that your skin absorbs olive oil.
  • You can remove excess oil using a soft cloth.
  • Rinse it off after few minutes.

6. Baking Soda for Acne Scars

Baking soda is best remedy to exfoliate dead cells accumulated on skin. Anyway it may dry your skin so apply moisturizer after using baking soda.

Remedy

  • Mix water with baking soda to make paste.
  • Apply the paste on acne scars and massage for about 2 minutes.
  • Then rinse it off.

For sensitive skin we don’ recommend baking soda, anyway you can consult dermatologist.

Also read: Using baking soda to treat pimples

7. Raw Potatoes for Acne Scars

potatoes for acne scars

This comfort food consists of vitamin B, vitamin C and potassium and magnesium. Place raw sliced potato on acne scars to see what this vegetable can do for your skin.

Remedy

  • Slice fresh potato and rub it on acne scars in circular motion.
  • Repeat the process until you see sliced potato dried.
  • Take another sliced potato and do same.
  • Leave it for few minutes and then rinse it off with water.

8. Raw Tomatoes to Fade Acne Scars

Lycopene present in tomatoes have an antioxidant property which helps to fight bacteria.

Remedy

  • Mash raw tomatoes into a bowl.
  • Now apply tomato pulp on your face.
  • Rinse it off after few minutes.

9. Cucumber for Acne Scars

Though this vegetable didn’t receive much press attention, it’s packed with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties help to heal acne and fade acne scars.

Remedy

  • Soak sliced cucumber in water for few minutes so that all nutrients get transferred to water, then wash acne scars with this water.
  • Else, make cucumber juice and mix yogurt to it. Apply this paste to your acne scars.

10. Apple Cider Vinegar Remedy for Acne Scars Removal

apple cider vinegar for acne scars

ACV is packed with antimicrobial properties which help to kill bacteria. It can be used to treat chronic skin diseases like eczema. Apple cider vinegar can also fade moles.

Read this: Vinegar benefits for skin

Remedy

  • Get raw apple cider vinegar from local store or through Amazon.
  • Apply it on acne scars using cotton ball.

Did we miss any effective and inexpensive home remedy for acne scars here? Please share in comments so that we could include in this post.

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Natural Remedy for Eczema with Sea Water

There are many controversies surrounding the use of sea water for treating eczema. Because soaking eczema flare-ups in sea water is nothing but just like “adding salt to an open wound”.

Yes, it pains but British Association of Dermatology claims that Dead Sea water can be used to treat eczema. Treating eczema has more worth than having mild pain.

Why Sea Water Treats

Salt in sea water dries out eczema wounds and refrain further infection, may be this feature of sea water helps to treat eczema. Anyway, there are different types of eczema and same remedy may not work for all. So you need to try your luck with home available remedies to treat eczema.

Because of the antiseptic properties of sea water it’s an effect natural remedy for eczema. Wounds when exposed to seawater it pains so it’s up to you to weight the benefits of sea water with pain you get.

Also Read: Can’t stop scratching?

Have a look at forum discussion.

Eczema is a chronic skin diseases, main cause is still unknown. Anyway hereditary and food you eat may trigger eczema. Skin becomes dry, itchy and scaly. Applying antioxidant and antibacterial creams can relieve itching. Though it gets treated using creams and home remedies if you don’t care of your skin they appear once again.

7 Interesting Facts About Freckles You Must Know

facts about freckles

It’s a myth that freckle causes skin cancer.  Freckles can no way lead you to skin cancer. Anyway as people with freckles have lighten skin and weak skin protection from UV rays; they may prone to get skin cancer.

It is important for you to differentiate myths from facts of freckles. Below listed are interesting facts about freckles.

1. Kids can have freckles

Baby with 1 to 2 years of age can have these brown spots on her face, shoulders and arms.

2. Freckles are formed by a bunch of melanocytes

Skin gets its color because of a pigment called melanin produced by cells called melanocytes. Melanin doubles when your skin gets exposed to sunlight to protect you from harmful UV rays. When a bunch of pigments accumulates at one place because of uneven distribution it forms a dark brown spot called freckle.

3. Freckles are harmless

Normally freckles are harmless. Except few people who think freckles add beauty, for others it’s a cosmetic concern.

4. Genetics Causes Freckles

If anyone of your parent has freckles chances of you having freckles are more. Hereditary is one of the main causes of freckles.

5. Brown spots of freckles lighten and darken naturally

Depending on the climate, freckles spots may lighten or darken. In summer when your skin gets exposed to sunlight more melanin is produced which results in dark spots and in winter they get lighten. No need to worry if you see this change.

6. Freckle spots can be lighten

You can try natural remedies to fade these spots or try bleaching and fading creams available in local stores. We recommend talk to your dermatologist before taking any medicine.

7. You can also prevent freckles

Freckles darken when exposed to UV rays, so avoid going out in summer if possible, or else wear sunscreen creams and hats to cover your skin from sunlight.

If you want to get treated then consult your dermatologist.

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