Simple precautions taken against the sun’s dangerous ultraviolet rays can help ward off this problem.

While on the beach, it is advisable to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen and apply it repeatedly. It is a good idea to wear a hat and sunglasses with a UV filter.

It is not only about the beach that one has to think about sun protection. The habit to safeguard self should be incorporated into everyone’s daily routine.

Wearing a hat and seeking shade when the sun is strongest is highly recommended. Using a sunscreen with moisturizer every day would do a lot of good.

A sunscreen with a sun protection factor, or SPF, of 30 or higher should be used. It is important to use such a sunscreen even on cloudy days because clouds do not block the most damage forms of UV light.

Removal of unwanted hair is still a touchy subject for many women. Currently, there are plenty of choices to choose from — shaving, plucking, waxing, threading, electrolysis, and lasers. Choose one, which fits your need perfectly. Plucking/Tweezing
Pluckers or Tweezers are easily available in the market. This method can be done by anyone regularly and lasts up to three weeks.

Suitable for eyebrows.

Threading
This involves a thread of twisted cotton that is rolled over the area from which the hair is to be removed. The hair are caught in the cotton and are pulled out from the root. It has to be done by a professional and can last upto three weeks.

Suitable for eyebrows and upperlips.

Depilatory creams
Depilation means that the hair is removed at the skin line. It can be done in the privacy of one’s home. Depilatory creams are available in gel, cream, lotion, aerosol, and roll-on forms. They contain an alkaline chemical, usually calcium thioglycolate that dissolves the protein structure of the hair and causes it to separate from the skin. One the main disadvantage is one might be allergic to the cream. Depilatory contact with the skin should be limited to somewhere between 4 and 15 minutes, depending on how fine or coarse your hair is. This method is popular because it is pain-free and the effects are long lasting. Regrowth hair will not appear as rapidly as it does with shaving because the hair is dissolved below the skin’s surface.

Suitable for underarms, bikini line and arms. Do not use depilatories near the eyes, eyebrows or any mucous membranes. Depilatories can work well but they can also cause serious skin irritations and even cause second- or third-degree chemical burns, and possibly scarring, if the formula is too strong or if left on too long.

Shaving
This is the most common form of hair removal as it is quick and convenient. Today, companies like Gillette and Braun have introduced special ladies razors in the market. Results can last upto one week, depending on your hair growth. Generally, shaving is done against the direction of hair growth. For sensitive areas, shaving in the direction of the hair growth often works better and gives fewer skin cuts but can be slower. Also, try to shave these areas after lathering up and soaking the body areas for a while. Contrary to popular belief, it does not affect hair growth or thickness.

Suitable for legs, arms, bikini line and underarms.

Waxing
Hot Wax
By far, this is the most commonly used method of hair removal in salons. The wax is heated till melting point and then applied to the skin with a small wooden spatula in the direction of hair growth. The wax and hair are consequently removed using a linen or gauze strip against the direction of hair growth. The procedure is hygienic and safe as the majority of the materials are disposable. A soft re-growth occurs within four to six weeks. Make sure everything is clean and wash the area to be waxed well, before application. Afterwards make sure you use a toner to close the pores

Suitable for legs, bikini line, underarms and arms.

Cold Wax
Cold waxing is the method that most people use at home. It can be bought at any store. It is used exactly like warm waxing.

Mechanical Epilators
They are like razors, but the hair is removed from under the surface of the skin. The advantage of epilators is that it will take longer for the hair to grow back. Also if epilation is performed repeatedly on the same area over a prolonged period of time, the quantity of hair will be permanently reduced. Mechanical epilators have an electric rubber roller or coiled spring that catches the hair and pulls it out, somewhat painfully. Hair must be about 1/4 to 1/3 inch long for the epilator to work. Epilators should not be used on very sensitive skin such as the face, genitals, or armpits.

Suitable for arms and legs.

Electrolysis
Electrolysis is the only hair removal method that’s considered permanent. This method delivers a low-level current usually with a needle to the hair root and surrounding cells. The hair will not come back once its papilla is destroyed. This method is sometimes time-consuming as each hair is removed one at a time. The cause of hair growth, the coarseness of the hair, and amount of hair determine the how much time it takes to remove an area of hair completely. Electrolysis damages hair follicles by passing an electric current through them. However, the technique is painful, time-consuming and expensive as each hair follicle must be treated separately and on multiple occasions spanning months to years. There may be skin holes and redness at treatment sites. There is a risk of infection because the electrode needle has to be inserted beneath the skin into each hair follicle.

Suitable for facial hair.

Lasers
Till date, lasers have been only used for various medical procedures, today it is also been used for hair removal. Over the past 2 years, more than 10 different laser systems have become available to remove unwanted body hair. Nearly all of them work on the principle of heating the pigment (melanin) in the hair follicle to a high enough temperature so as to disable the hair’s growth mechanism. The laser light is absorbed only by the pigment in the follicle, leaving surrounding skin unaffected. The lasers are much faster and can result in permanent hair reduction, compared to other techniques like waxing, bleaching, plucking, shaving, and electrolysis.

The laser is a safe means of hair removal, as it’s designed to penetrate just to the hair root. Thus it’s not invasive to your body. Care is taken in performing laser treatments to ensure that the skin around the hair is protected. The only hindrance for this treatment is the cost, which is prohibitive.

Suitable for underarms, legs, bikini lines, face and back. Laser treatment is not recommended for eyebrows since it could damage the eyes.

Bleaching
Bleaching does not actually remove the hair. It lightens the hair color. To date, no evidence has been presented of harmful effects of bleaching to the skin. However, the bleaching agents that lighten the hair can also alter the pigment in the skin. This can result in a change to the skin texture, making it thicker, coarser and sometimes darker.

The sun is at its strongest generally between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm. If you can plan your outdoor activities before or after these peak hours between 10 and 2, all the better.

Burns and skin damage generally occur during the summer months, but keep sun safety in mind all year round. Snow reflects sun just like water does, and you can get quite a raw burn from the combination of wind and sun.

Wear sunscreen for all outdoor activities, whether it’s hiking, boating, swimming or skiing. Any part of you that is exposed and unprotected is at risk.

There are many “rules” about sun exposure that people used to believe, such as brunette women or dark complexioned women don’t burn and that only “fair” people need to watch out. Despite the coloring of, or level of melatonin in one’s body, everyone has to be careful so all races and nationalities need to apply protection.

Start with sunscreen or sun block, which is different than sun tan oil or plain cocoa butter. Look for the SPF (Sun Protection Factor) on the label of the product you are using. SPF ranges from 8 to 15 to 30 and above. These are important to use even if you have a “base tan”.

Number 8 SPF will provide minimum protection with numbers going upward in the protection factor, the higher the number the better the protection. Make sure that children are completely covered with a high SPF, and look for products made especially for skin that is in and out of the water. Don’t think that a child (or adult) cannot get burned while in the water. Apply often as directed on the label, especially if swimming and sweating, which is what people usually do at the beach and during other outdoor activities.

Don’t forget lips and scalp. There are special balms made with sunscreen that children and adults should wear outdoors. You should protect your head with a hat, the wider the brim the better, and don’t forget sun glasses with sun protection (again, read the label, not all sun glasses protect from the suns’ rays, look for 100% UV (ultraviolet) protection.

Last but not least, know when enough is enough. Be sure to scope out shady shelter during all outdoor activities and drink plenty of water. Be sure to make children take frequent breaks in the shade or indoors to “cool down” and rest while drinking cool fluids slowly. Water and sports drinks, which replenish electrolytes, are much better than soda for this purpose. This will avoid heat stroke, a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. The key to enjoying fun in the sun is to plan ahead and enjoy in moderation.

It is very important to cultivate good habits because the effects of these habits will last you a lifetime. Here are some tips to give you that extra edge

• Keep your hair clean and never neglect shampooing the hair. It is very vital to your hair looking its best and staying healthy. You can even wash your hair daily, but use very little of a mild shampoo and rinse well with water.

• At least once a week, give yourself a face mask. If your skin is oily, apply the face mask more often. Masks help to deep cleanse the skin and tighten it. They also improve the skin’s normal functions and help to delay aging signs. Choose the mask according to skin type.

• Remember to cleanse your face every night, removing make-up and all the pollutants which have been deposited during the day. Use a cream or gel cleanser for dry skin and cleansing milk for oily skin. Then, wash your face if you like. Glowing skin, which is free from blemishes is the result of daily and appropriate cleansing.

• Use a sunscreen before going out in the sun. Choose a sunscreen with a high SPF if you stay out in the sun for longer durations. When you return home, use a moisturizer, because the sun not only tans the skin, but depletes moisture.

• Cream your hands daily. The hands show age earlier than most other parts of the face and body. Apply cream on the hands after washing and bathing in the morning and again at night, before going to sleep.

A birthmark as you get older may refer either to a congenital mole (nevus) or to hemangioma (a kind of small blood vessel tumor of the skin). Moles are found in a great variety of forms and sizes; nearly everyone has one or more of them. Some are only the size of a pinhead, others are several inches in diameter. Their color is usually brown or black, but some are fawn, reddish, or bluish-black. Most moles do not harm unless they are irritated. Danger signs are when moles increase in size, become darker in color, or become more irritable. The pigmented mole rather than the hairy one is the one most likely to cause serious trouble. Hemangioma are tangles are blood vessels so near the surface that they show. The main types are the deep-red (port-wine), the strawberry, and those elevated above the skin. One type called the spider nevi usually appears on the face below the eyes and appears as radiating lines of blood vessels from a central spot.

Warts are found in several different forms and are probably caused by a filtrable virus. Thus, many warts may start from a “mother” wart, usually on the hand. Sometimes they will vanish without treatment. Warts rarely become malignant, but you should consult your doctor about their removal. Untreated, two thirds of warts will disappear on their own after about two years. If they bleed or are disfiguring, painful or itchy, you can try getting rid of them with an over the counter topical medication, or have your doctor or dermatologist freeze or burn them or prescribe an oral prescription drug.

Freckles usually develop in persons with light complexions. They may be found on various parts of the body, but are more common on the face and back of the hand. They usually appear after the fifth year of life and attain their maximum size by adolescence. There is no known remedy for removing them permanently, and serious scarring often results from attempts to remove them. Some fade as you age, others may be camouflaged with cosmetics.

Most adolescents have pimples when they have reached the age of puberty. Blackheads are plugged up sebum at the pores of the sebaceous glands. Excessive growth of the horny layers of the skin at this point may be a primary cause. Their blackness is due to exposure to air and to dead cells, and not to dirt. Persons with oily skins have more blackheads than those with dry ones. The best preventive of blackheads is adequate sleep and rest, a well-balanced diet, plenty of fresh air and extreme cleanliness. They may be removed with a metal extractor after the skin has been carefully washed with soap and warm water and treated by application of hot clothes. Care should be taken to sterilize the extractor before and after use to avoid infection.

The most common form of acne is pimples, which are small skin lesions containing pus. The several varieties of acne are all due to the over production of the oil or sebaceous secretions associated with the appearance of sex hormones during the adolescent period. At this time the fat glands with sebum undergo a rapid development. If they become clogged and infected pimples will appear. Acne, more common with boys than girls, usually disappears by the age of 25, but in some instances is present for a much longer time. Diet is often the responsible agent in causing acne. One of the best measures to control acne is to wash the face gently at least three times a day with warm water and soap or detergents, and to avoid all creams or greases on the face.

Impetigo is a skin disorder that is characterized by scaly sores or blisters which are very itchy. It is caused by certain bacteria and not by a fungus. sales or crusts spread rapidly over the scalp, face, neck, and so forth. When the reddish blister ruptures it dries with a yellow crust. This skin disorder is very contagious and requires thorough washing of the skin with soap and water to prevent spreading. The doctors usually prescribe antiseptic ointments to treat the infection. A variant form of impetigo is called barber’s itch because it is often acquired in barber shops.

Scabies, is called the “old fashion itch.”. It is caused by a small mite (Acarus) which burrows into the skin to deposit its eggs. It produces a very severe itching usually between the fingers and toes, under the arm pits, in the groin, palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The itching is more intense at night time. Consult your doctor for medication to control this pest and also be sure to change your clothing and bed linen daily to help prevent reinfection.

Hives are little pinkish or white elevations (wheals) on the skin surface. They may cover the entire body and sometimes are found in the mouth. Hives can be a form of allergy, consult your doctor as he can perform allergy tests to determine the cause. The skin may be bathed with a solution of bicarbonate of soda or rubbed with mineral or olive oil or other soothing application.

Prickly heat can occur in children and adults who sweat profusely. It is caused by clogged-up sweat glands resulting from summer heat, excessive clothing, or other causes. Wearing light clothing and avoiding soap in cleaning the skin are helpful. Application of talcum powder or a soda bath are very soothing to children. In severe cases calamine lotions are used.

• Freckles Age Spots

  Freckles are tiny black spots spread all over the face. They tend to appear more on the nose, cheek bones, and forehead. Freckles are accumulation of pigments in the skin that have little or no pigment. The pigment in the skin increases in order to protect its inner layer due to repeated exposure to the sun. Due to continued exposure, the skin acquires freckles.

  In rare cases, some could lead to skin cancer, malignant melanoma.

  Treatment
  Avoid exposure to sun for long duration. You should use a sunscreen whenever you move out in the sun. Consult a Dermatologist

• Whiteheads

  These are tiny, white raised spots and are caused by the accumulation of hardened sebum or oil in the pores of the skin when a sebum blocks a hair follicle deeper in the skin.

  Treatment
  Do not remove them forcibly. Drink plenty of water and fresh fruits and fruit juices. Mix beauty grains and skin tonic and rub regularly on the affected areas to dislodge them.

• Blackheads
  Blackheads are not dirt and cannot be washed away. A blackhead results when dead skin cells and sebum block a hair follicle near the surface of the skin. Blackhead causes the oily skin pores to be enlarged and the texture becomes coarse and rough. When a pore is fully blocked, a pimple can result. Blackheads cause acne.

  Treatment
  Do not remove them forcibly. Drink plenty of water and fresh fruits and fruit juices. Keep the skin clean by washing it with plain water. Wash the face with a medicated soap using warm water. Consult a doctor.

• Enlarged Pores

  The enlarged pores result due to over activity of the sebaceous glands in the skin. The pores are clogged due to excessive secretion of oil, the pores may also become thick making the skin coarse.

  Treatment
  Wash the skin with a medicated cleanser to reduce the surface oil. Use a good quality skin toner daily to remove oil from the skin and to close pores. This will result in a smooth clean textured skin.

• Warts

  Warts are small firm lumps and are caused by a virus that infects the skin cells. They can appear anywhere on the skin, particulary on the hands and feet. They are contagious, so one should protect them from coming in contact with others skin. They may go away on their own within 2-3 years. Doctor may prescribe medication for dissolving or removal of wart. Doctor may advise you to remove it by cutting or burning it or by laser surgery.