Dry eyes troubling you?

Do you feel unpleasantness in the eyes or the presence of foreign objects, particularly a feeling of sand particles being lodged in your eyes? Do you experience discomfort even after a brief exposure to cold winds, air conditioners or after reading books even for a short period?Does your vision blur after prolonged use of computers, tasks like sewing and embroidery or with a few hours of television viewing? Does this discomfort and eye-strain tend to worsen at the end of the day?If you are experiencing these and various such analogous symptoms, you could be suffering from a condition called dry eyes.

As we all know, our eyes are constantly lubricated by the tears from tear glands to keep them moist and hydrated. This helps to protect the eyes by washing away the dust particles, provides oxygen and nutrition to the cornea and prevents infections. When tears produced by the eyes are insufficient then you could end up with dry eyes. Some common causes include:

* Age: As we get older, the tear production diminishes, leaving the eye too dry.

* Diseases including diabetes, Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis or Parkinson's.

* Hormonal changes, especially after menopause

* As a side-effect of certain prescription medications.

* Hot, dry or windy conditions: High altitude, air-conditioning, cold weather, and smoke can also cause dry eyes.

* Frequent usage of computers and hours of television watching or too much reading.

* Some contact lenses users can experience dry eyes when their contacts seem to work against moisturization.

* An eye injury or other problems with your eyes or eyelids

* Vitamin A deficiency or insomnia can also lead to dry eyes.

* Eye surgeries for vision correction like LASIK also can aggravate dry eye.

Although dry eyes may not cause much damage, it is in your own interest to consult your doctor if there are prolonged signs and symptoms of dry eyes. Your ophthalmologist or eye doctor can check for dry eye by examining your eyes, pinpoint the exact cause and suggest appropriate medications and treatment.

The following self care measures will help:

* Drink plenty of water.

* Protect the eyes from harsh weather conditions like wind and dust.

* Avoid smoking and second hand smoke.

* Use a humidifier, especially in the winter.

* Make sure the medications that you are taking are not causing dry eyes.

* Eat healthy food with nutrients like vitamin A, C and E and those containing omega-3 fatty acids.

Keep taking a break and blinking often when your are watching TV, using computers or when you are indulging in eye-straining activities.

* Do not wear contact lenses for prolonged periods if that is the cause of your dry eyes.

* Get plenty of sleep.

Related:Does your pupil size matter when you are considering Lasik eye surgery?

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My winter skin and hair care routine

My beauty routine for winter is very simple. All the aids that I use are usually natural and inexpensive and most of these are already present in your kitchen cupboard and home garden while a few others can easily be bought from the local stores and supermarkets. Here’s how I use them to my advantage.

As the lips are the fastest to dry during this time of the year, they need to be kept moisturized always. Firstly, I gently exfoliate the lips by applying fresh butter on them and then use a toothbrush or a wet cloth to sweep off the dry flakes. Then I mix a little honey and glycerin and apply it to my lips. This remedy is excellent to prevent and treat chapped lips. I reapply this honey mixture on my lips several times during the day. Warm olive oil application also does the trick. I never bite or chew or lick my lips as such habits can break the fragile skin, making it prone to infection. Licking lips frequently makes them rough and prone to chapping as the enzymes from the saliva work on it to evaporate the moisture.

For my face, I use a mild scrub once in a week followed by a good hydrating face pack. Sloughing off skin cells in winter with a scrub won’t harm your already dried-up skin; in fact, it helps to maintain the skin’s natural moisture level. Removing this outer-most layer of dead skin buildup actually aids in the absorption of other moisturizing products. Usually I apply fresh aloe vera on my skin, which deeply nourishes it. Sometimes I also use honey to which a few drops of rose water and glycerin is added and spread it all over my face and neck. This keeps my face radiant and glowing.

With regard to my hands and feet, I constantly apply body lotion and moisturizer whenever my skin feels dry and make it a point to do this even before going to bed.

As the soles of feet tend to crack more in winter, I pamper them with a relaxing foot-bath and slough off the flaky skin with a pumice stone, after which I apply petroleum jelly on them. I also take time to indulge in that luxury called ‘oil bath’ at least thrice in a week in this season. This pre-bath oil massage with olive oil or coconut oil keeps my skin silky smooth and soft. When I don’t have time for a special ‘oil bath’, I add a few drops of almond oil or olive oil to the water that I am using to bath. This helps retain the moisture lost when bathing.

I have oily hair, so it doesn’t pose much of a problem in winter. I wash it once a week with a mild herbal shampoo which is followed by an herbal rinse to give it bounce and shine. I never wash my hair before oiling it well. This is usually followed by a good conditioning hair pack before shampooing which I keep on for 20-30 minutes before rinsing it off. Generally, I prefer to massage it with aloe vera gel for a few minutes for a deeper conditioning. This helps to soften my hair significantly. As this is time when hair mostly tends to split, I trim my hair once in a week (my hair grows very fast…) to prevent split ends from working their way up the hair shafts.

I follow a diet which consists of a lot of lentils, veggies like drumstick, salads, and vitamin-C rich foods like amla (Indian gooseberry), lime/lemon and oranges and fruits like bananas. There is no major change in my diet , as such during winter. However I see to it that my fluid intake is considerable to keep myself hydrated well from the inside. Also I don’t miss my daily exercise routine of Pranayam and Yoga.

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Ease razor bumps with this terrific cucumber-yoghurt soother

I don’t prefer waxing as a method of hair removal. Undoubtedly, it gives hair-free arms and legs for weeks together, but I find it so painful, cumbersome and messy. The other reason for disliking it is that I have a sensitive skin which tends to break into rashes soon after I wax. Depilatory creams are okay with me, but I usually go for shaving to get rid of that superfluous hair growth. It’s quick, non-messy, and hassle-free; above all it doesn’t hurt. Agreed that the re-growth is faster when compared to waxing, but it doesn’t make the hair grow any darker or thicker. Sometimes, though, there are these problems of getting a few razor bumps as also the chances of getting ingrown hair, but overall it’s a very convenient way to get smooth, hair-free arms and legs in a jiffy.

To soothe razor bumps and prevent ingrown hair, I normally slather on a homemade puree made of cucumber and yoghurt, immediately after shaving or whenever I have a minor razor-bump breakout. The cool cucumber’s anti-inflammatory action calms shaving irritation, while the probiotic yoghurt’s lactic acid gently exfoliates the skin to prevent ingrown hair.

The recipe for cucumber-yoghurt soother:

Ingredients:

1 cup yoghurt
½ a cucumber

Method:

Blend cucumber and yoghurt to get a puree. Apply this mixture on hands, legs or whichever area that has been shaved and let it remain for 15 minutes. Then rinse off with cool water.

See also:
Face mask with cucumber and yoghurt

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Best of the year 2007

Here are some of the best and the most popular posts of the year 2007. Enjoy!

Skin and body care

How to apply cream bleach
Bleaching tips.

The luxury called oil bath
An oil massage before a bath can rejuvenate the skin; especially recommended for ageing persons and during winter.

Toe-nail care
Caring for your toe nails.

Hair removal

Shaving hair
Shaving does not make your hair grow faster and thicker.

Health and beauty from your kitchen and garden

11 things you can do with olive oil
Olive oil is not just meant for Italian cuisine…

Honey for a smooth skin
Get the goodness of honey on your skin.

Sugar as beauty aid
Sugar for exfoliating dead skin, for waxing….

Sandalwood (Chandan) and Red sandalwood (Rakta Chandan) for health and beauty
The pastes from the bark of these rare, valuable trees soothe the skin.

Face packs, masks and scrubs

Fix your dull and tired skin with masks and complexion scrubs
Face masks to lighten blemishes

Homemade hydrating masks for winter

Health and beauty with spices

Fenugreek (methi) for health and beauty

Did you know that ingesting fenugreek seeds could ease your aches and that a fenugreek-yoghurt pack nourishes your hair?
Medicinal uses of black pepper (Kali Mirch)

Black pepper can cure so many ailments.

Hair care

Combination hair care

Is your hair oily with dry, split ends?

A simple trick to get natural curls

How can you curl your hair naturally?

Remedy for dull, limp hair

Does your hair become limp and lifeless within a day or two of shampooing?

Get rid of head lice

Lice-infestation does not necessarily mean that you lack good hair hygiene.

Home-made hair care products

Home-made shampoos for your hair
Easy-to-make dry shampoo recipes with the ingredients from your kitchen.

Amla (gooseberry) for hair
This wonder berry does a world of good to your hair.

Aloe oil for split ends

Making this oil at home is so easy and convenient.

Beauty for your eyes
Natural look for eyebrows is in
Pencil thin eyebrows look awful. Go with the natural look.

Natural remedies for dark circles around your eyes
A combination of yoga and home remedies might help to lighten those ‘panda like’ patches around the eyes.

Your precious eyesight

Does your pupil size matter when you are considering Lasik eye surgery?
When it comes to correcting your vision-defects by surgery, you need to consider all the pros and cons associated with it.

Ears

Is earwax buildup dangerous?
Do not attempt to remove earwax with cotton swabs.

Benefits of ear piercing
The acupressure benefits of piercing your ears.

Teeth

Exercising teeth the natural way
Eating certain foods will exercise your teeth naturally.

Do you grit and grind your teeth?
Bruxism could be as a result of chronic stress also.

Correcting a gummy smile
Are your oversized gums marring the beauty of your smile? Fret not; cosmetic dentistry is there to your rescue.

Health issues

Common cold is so very common in winter
Why is it that we catch colds so frequently in winters?

Burning incense and candles bad for health?
The aroma from incense and scented candles could be exhilarating to your senses. But it can pollute your surroundings.

Are some of the popular remedies for back pain just useless?
Can osteopathy really cure your back pain?

Beware of dust mites on your pillows
Your allergy could possibly be due to these tiny, annoying creatures called dustmites.

Hypochondriacs over the net
Do you constantly surf the net for your supposed illness?

Tips to beat monsoon blues
Rainy season is not so gloomy, after all.

Yogic diet
Does your preference for certain foods have anything to do with your temperament?

Sleep

Home remedies for sleeplessness
Easy ways to get a good night’s sleep

Sleeping for long hours is not good for health
Do not laze around on your bed for long. It could be bad for your health.

Women’s health issues

Home remedies for PMS
On those days of the month, when you are down in the dumps, try these yoga poses and home-remedies.

Exercise and Fitness

Facial exercises
Exercise your face to counteract wrinkles.

When exercise can be harmful
Why you shouldn’t exercise in the vicinity of roads with heavy traffic?

Pranayam

Sitali and Sitkari Pranayams
Breathing exercises to cool your body

Bhramari Pranayam
The ‘bumble bee’ breathing exercise for a glowing face.

Home remedies

Home remedies for bad breath
Home remedies for burns
Home remedies for acidity

Water-the elixir of life

Water to cure minor ills
Hydrotherapy works wonders.

Water as a wake-up aid
Splash cold water to pep you up for the day.

Summer woes

Prickly heat
Excessive thirst

Personal growth

Is daydreaming good for you?
Daydreaming is not a waste of time.

Cultivate voice impact
Your voice can reveal a lot about your personality.

Others

Lose weight by reading sensational novels
Should you start reading racy novels to lose weight?

Wishing you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year 2008.

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Of Men, Cosmetic Surgery and Botox

If you had believed all along that women were the only ones negatively affected by idealized body images portrayed in the media, then you are highly mistaken. TV images of hunky male physiques affect a man’s body image as much as they do to a woman’s. In a study, it was found that even a brief exposure to media images of muscular men affects a man's view of his body. Those who viewed more prime-time TV and music videos felt worse about their looks.

A recent study has revealed some very interesting facts - Most women, and large numbers of men, are interested in seeking recourse to cosmetic surgery to enhance their looks. David Frederick, a UCLA psychology graduate student and lead author of the study said, “The majority of women expressed some interest in cosmetic surgery, and more than one-third of men expressed some degree of interest, which I found really surprising. We know there is tremendous pressure for women to be thin and have a certain appearance and for men to be fit and muscular, but I would not have guessed that so many people would be interested in surgical body alteration.”

The DailyMail reports that more and more middle-aged men are turning to Botox to smooth away their wrinkles and that they are willing to shell out millions of bucks on the treatment in their quest to look younger. Injections of fillers - gels which iron out lines and plump up the lips - and permanent lip implants – all these seem to be quite popular with men who want to hold back the hands of time without going under the surgeon's knife, it adds. No doubt, men can be treated with Botox for cosmetic procedures in the same way as women, but, the fact is, they require higher doses of Botox in all treatment areas as they have a greater muscle mass than women.

Men losing the battle with bulging waistlines and sagging faces are also resorting to liposuction to have their stubborn fat sucked out of their bellies and eye bags cut away to make them look younger. Savina O'Neill, of London Plastic Surgery Associates says, “These anti-ageing measures are no longer just part of the woman's domain - most men nowadays appreciate a little external help when it's needed.”

Pic credits:fotosearch.com

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Weekend Beauty Read

• 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic checks out Prevage's New Anti-Aging Night Cream
• Makeup Moxie reviews Sara Happ Lip Scrub and finds a solution for dry Winter lips.
• Say NO to clumping. Beauty Anonymous recommends Kate Magical Long Gel Mascara
• Jeni from Savvy Skin writes about her Favorite Makeup.
• Beauty and Personality Grooming - Lemon as beauty aid
• Enter Spoiled Pretty's latest giveaways, sponsored by J.R. Watkins and The Body Shop.
• The Muse's Boxing Day Steals and Deals: Tarte, Vincent Longo, Bath & Body Shop, and many more sales to be found online!
• Have a look at A Touch of Blusher's favorite Chanel blusher!

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