Home & Living

A guide on how to maintain your skin, hair, nails, teeth and eyes to show the world a healthy you.

SKIN

Your skin is your body's guard, protecting your internal organs against bacteria, chemicals, and external shock. It is also the body's thermostat, regulating the body's temperature through the sweat glands. How you take care of your skin is reflected in it's present condition and in years to come.

Skin Care

• 
  
  Bathe at least once a day with soap and water. Cleanse your face at least twice a day; in the morning and before you retire to bed in the evening. Avoid harsh soaps and long periods in the bath, which can encourage dryness. Use soap suitable for your skin type.
• Shower immediately after swimming so that salt water and chlorine won't irritate or dry your skin.
• Pat off sweat with a clean towel to prevent irritation. Do not share towels or clothes as skin infections can be passed through these.
• In the bath, remove outer layer of dead skin cells by rubbing a loofah or washcloth in circular motions on your skin. This will help skin look fresher.
• Eat a balanced diet supplemented with zinc and vitamins A, C and E.
• Lubricate the skin from the inside by drinking plenty of water: at least six to eight glasses per day. Cut down on tea, coffee and alcohol which can cuase water loss.
• Use an anti-perspirant or talcum powder to keep the skin cool and dry.
• Allergies, hormonal imbalances, infections or stress can cause skin disorders. Consult your doctor, especially if there is any abnormal bruising or if suspicious moles appear.
• Get sufficient sleep every day. Fatigue is reflected in the skin's condition.
• Always remove makeup before going to bed.
• Exercise frequently. Exercise makes skin glow by encouraging blood circulation and increasing the oxygen supply. People who exercise regularly have better skin tone and texture and fewer wrinkles.
• Don't smoke. It's bad for the health and hastens ageing.
• In humid weather, wear loose cotton clothes to prevent skin irritation.

Anti-ageing strategies

• Wrinkles cannot be avoided. However, avoid strong sunlight, which can cause premature ageing. Too much sun also increases the risk of skin cancer.
• If you have to go out into the elements whether it is sunny, windy or wintry, use a sunscreen on exposed parts of your skin, not forgetting delicate areas like your lips and the tips of your ears. Reapply regularly. Wear clothing with a tight weave. Wear a hat to shade your scalps and face.
• Moisture at leat twice a day: once in the moring and in the evening before going to bed.
• Moisture the delicate skin area around the eyes with special eye creams or gels. Pat on very gently using the third or fourth finger.

What You Should Know About Skincare Products  

CLEANSER	This products cleans the skin of grime and make-up.  Different products cater for every skin type and ever need.  It come in the form of a lotion, a cream or a bar.  Whichever form you use, do not cleanse your face more than twice a day.
Cleansing Cream	It is made from pure oil and water that dissolves dirt and make-up without over drying the skin.
Cleansing Milk	It is an oil in water mixture that functions similarly to a cleansing cream.
Special Cleansers	A pH balanced cleanser is specially formulated to be as close as possible to the skin's acidic balance.
	A medicated cleanser contains anti-bacterial or anti-fungal agents.
SKIN TONIC	The skin tonic is mild lotion that is applied after cleansing and before moisturising.  It refreshes and stimulates the skin by removing residue left by the cleanser and temporarily plumps.
Astringent Lotion	A skin tonic suited to oily skin and helps excess grease.
Freshener	The mildest tonic and suitable for dry skin.
MOISTURISER	The moisturiser is a cream with low oil content to slow down the rate of moisture evaporation from the skin.  It should be applied in the morning and at night if your skin has a tendency to become dry.  Apply moisturiser using gentle upward movements, massaging with quick and light strokes.  Start at the chin and work up across the cheeks to the ears, then down and around the nose, and up from the nose to the temples, and across the forehead.  Be gentle around the eye area.  Use long strokes to moisturise from the collarbone to the jaw.

HAIR


General Care

• 
  
  Avoid excessive exposure to the sun, chlorine and saltwater. The sun can make the hair brittle. Protect your hair if going out into the sun. Wear a hat. Apply conditioner with sunscreen. Reapply after going into the water.
• 
  
  Don't pun strain on hair strands by brushing too much or too vigorously.
• 
  
  Use wide-toothed comb to untangle hair, starting from the ends. Metal combs could damage delicate hair shafts.
• A balanced diet is essential for healthy hair. Consume fresh fruits and vegetables and ensure you get enough Vitamins A, E and B complex, proteins, iron and iodine.

Cleansing Tips

• Choose a shampoo for your hair type. It should leave hair shiny and feeling clean, not dull and sticky.
• Change your shampoo from time to time as hair develops a resistance to the shampoo's ingredients.
• Always wet hair under a gentle shower. Never in bath as soap and other chemicals may get into the water.
• Check the temperature. Water that is too hot can burn the scalp and damage hair.
• Wet hair before shampooing. Massage shampoo gently and evenly into hair. Do not scratch the scalp with fingernails or use plastic brushes on hair as this can cause soreness and redness as well as damage hair.
• After shampooing, rinse until water is clear. Shampoo that hasn't been rinsed off properly can cause a flakey scalp that is often mistaken for dandruff.
• To prevent tangling, use a conditioner on clean hair. Do not rub scalp. Rinse out completely unless it's the leave-in-type.
• Wet hair is extra-vulnerable. To dry, pat hair gently with towel, wrap and let soak up for a minute or two. Never rub hair vigorously or brush or comb more than necessary.
• If using a hair dryer, do not dry fully. Let hair dry naturally if possible.

Care For Oily Hair

• Wash hair as often as necessary with a mild shampoo and conditioner meant for oily hair.
• Do not over-brush or over-touch hair, as it over-stimulates the sebaceous glands. Use a comb instead of a brush.

Care For Dry Or Damages Hair

• Avoid harsh chemical treatments like perms and colourings until the hair has recovered.
• Choose a shampoo and conditioner that is moisturising. Massage gently into scalp.
• Protect hair from the elements.
• Let hair dry naturally if possible rather than use a hair dryer.
• Eat lots of fish, poultry and other foods high in protein.

Care For Combination Hair

An oily scalp with dry ends could be caused by harsh chemical treatments.

• Switch to a comb instead of brush.
• Apply shampoo only to the scalp, and conditioners to the ends.
• Get hair trimmed every six weeks.

Preventing Hair Loss

• The ageing process, hereditary, hormonal changes (e.g. post-pregnancy) and some drugs may cause hair loss. If you are unsure about the cause, it is best to consult a doctor.
• Be gentle when combing and washing hair.
• Avoid tying or braiding hair tightly.
• Try not to worry and avoid stress.

Anti-Dandruff Strategies

• Use an anti-dandruff shampoo, more often at first and then decrease use as the dandruff clears.
• Consult a doctor if dandruff does not clear within two weeks, or if scalp is extremely painful, itchy or inflamed. See the doctor right away if inflammation appears on other body parts as well.
• Resist scratching the scalp to prevent infection.
• Keep hair clean by shampooing at least twice a week.

NAILS

• 
  
  Brittle peeling nails are caused by dryness. Massage moisturisers onto hand and don't skip the cuticles and base of your nails.
• 
  
  Wear gloves when doing household chores that involve soapy water or chemicals.
• 
  
  If you have soft, weak nails, apply a nail strengthener once or twice a week.
• 
  
  Cut toenails straight across. Nails, which are too short and have rounded edges, can encourage ingrown toenails.
• 
  
  Dry feet and hands thoroughly after bathing. Wear footwear in public showers, swimming pools and changing rooms to prevent fungal infections.

TEETH

Around age six, we start losing our twenty primary teeth for a permanent set of twenty-eight (or thirty-two, if your wisdom teeth have appeared) this process continues into the mid-teens. Swollen, red gums that bleed when you brush or floss way indicate gum disease, which is an infection mainly caused by plaque, a bacterial film that coats the teeth. Unhealthy gums can cause teeth to loosen and fall out. The key to having terrific teeth is in prevention.

Early tooth decay and gum disease are silent diseases. They draw attention only when there is pain, which often appears late. By then, complicated and costly treatment may be required. So 6-monthly dental checkups are recommended as a preventive measure.

• 
  
  Take about 30cm of floss, wind each end around your middle fingers. Using thumb and forefinger and a slow sawing motion, slip floss between your teeth. Direct the floss against the tooth, rubbing gently in the direction from the gum line to the edge of the tooth. Repeat the same for the other tooth contact points.
• 
  
  It is important to floss at least once a day.
• 
  
  Floss before brushing teeth to get rid of food particles and plaque in areas a toothbrush may not reach.
• 
  
  Floss gently so that you do not damage the delicate gums. Never force floss between teeth where contact is too tight.

• Choose a toothpaste that has a head small enough to reach all your teeth and gum margins. A good toothbrush will have medium, nylon bristles with rounded ends. Replace your toothbrush every three months or when the brush is frayed.
• Choose toothpaste that contains fluoride. This helps to prevent decay.
• Try brush after every meal. Be sure to brush your teeth before going to bed for the night.
• Brush in a systematic manner so that nor area is neglected. Brush the gums and on the inner, outer and chewing surfaces of the teeth with a small circular motion.

Check-Ups

• Don't wait for a problem to arise before you see your dentist. Go for a dental check up and professional cleaning to remove hardened plaque know as tartar at least every six months.
• Inform your dentist of any medical conditions or allergies you may have or if you are taking medications such as aspirin, warfarin or ticlopidine. This is especially important if you are pregnant or have heart disease, rheumatic fever, high blood pressure, diabetes or AIDS.

Dental Do's

• Eat a balanced meal. Calcium rich-food (like dairy products and green-leafy vegetables) are essential for building strong teeth.
• Cut down on foods high in sugar.
• End a meal with a glass of water or something raw and chewy (like an apple) to encourage saliva flow, your body's cleansing agent.
• If you can't brush after meals, at least swish some water around your mouth to get rid of the particles between your teeth.
• Avoid biting into hard buts, bones, shells or ice as these could cause accidental fractures.

EYES

Our eyes are our sense of sight and also our most expressive features. they are well protected by the skull bone and are self-cleaning when batched by their own tears. However, they are also extremely delicate and deterioration in eyesight is gradual. The utmost care should be taken no to strain them.

General Care

• Wear sunglasses with photosensitive lenses during the day, especially around water and snow, as the glare is reflected. Sunglasses help reduce narrowing of the eyes and also help slow down sign of ageing in the sensitive skin area around the eyes.
• Obtain lenses that block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays, which can cause cataracts and other problems.
• Wearing sunglasses is especially important among older adults and people with sensitive eyes and allergies. Sunglasses help prevent eyes burning, itching or watering due to the sun and air pollution.
• If you have to tan, protect your eyelids with sunshades on sunny days, as well as bright cloudy days. Never look directly into the sun.
• If dirt gets into your eyes, do not rub as this may further irritate the eye. Pull the upper eyelid over the lower one and let tears wash the grit out.
• To reduce puffy eye, soak cotton wool in ice water and place over eye for 15 minutes.
• Eat a balanced diet. Vitamin A is often in yellow and orange vegetables such as carrots and pumpkin and is required for good eyesight.
• Avoid factors and conditions that can expose the eyes to allergies and smoky atmosphere
• When you read, sit upright and hold reading material 30 to 40 centimeters away and slightly below eye level.
• 
  
  Bad lighting can make eyes tired and uncomfortable. Ensure you have sufficient lighting. It is better to have light coming over your shoulder than from the front, which can cause shadows glare. Halogen lamps cause less strain than glaring fluorescent lamps.
• Glare from the television can also cause eye strain, ensure that you do not sit too close.
• Go for periodic check-ups if you have any reading difficulties. Consult your eye practitioner once a year from the age of 40 or if the eye show any symptom of pain or redness.
• As we age, the lenses in our eyes become less elastic, therefore the nearest point at which we can focus moves further away. Beyond a certain point you will need reading glasses.
• Diabetic patients of more than five years of with visual problems should have their eyes checked by an eye specialist.
• Eye baths and drops can soothe eyes but may mask the root of the problem. Consult your doctor if you use eye drops that reduce redness every day. If you suspect you have conjunctivitis (an infection of the eye), obtain antibiotic drops or ointment from your doctor.

Contact Lens Care

• A good contact lens practitioner should recommend a lens type suitable for your eyes and your lifestyle.
• Your lens practitioner should demonstrate the cleaning routine to you.
• Start wearing contact lens in stages. Start with two hours on the first day and slowly build up to 12 hours.
• Stick to the lens replacement schedule and don't wear your lenses longer than necessary.
• Most contact lens problem result from lack of attention to hygiene. Be very particular about the cleanliness of your hands and lenses or you could risk an eye infection. Makeup and grease on hands can get into eyes and cloud the lenses.
• Wash the lens container thoroughly with soap and water after each use and allow to dry.
• Women should avoid greasy eye makeup products as they can cloud the lenses. Particles from mascara can get into the eye and scratch the cornea. At the end of the day, remove contact lenses before removing makeup.
• Remove the lenses immediately if they hurt your eyes. A piece of dirt or an eyelash could be trapped under the lens.
• Remove lenses if you see a halo when you look at lights. This could indicate that the cornea is short of oxygen and is swelling up.
• Consult your eye practitioner if you suddenly develop intolerance to your lenses.
• Don't mix cleaning and storing solutions as this could damage the lens or irritate your eyes.
• Wash hand properly before removing contact lenses.
• Wash the lens container thoroughly before storing the lenses.
• Take out the contact lenses one at a time to clean.
• Place lens on the palm of the hand and place a few drops of cleaning solution over the lens.
• Rinse the contact lens.
• Store in the lens container by immersing in disinfecting solution.

Take care to clean & disinfect contact lenses properly to avoid eye infections and allergic reactions.

Preventing Eyestrain From Prolonged Use Of Computers

Long periods of computer usage can stress and dry the eyes, cause blurred vision, tiredness and headaches. It can also aggravate existing ocular problems. Playing computer games for long periods may cause nearsightedness (short sightedness) in children.

• Take a 5-minute rest every 30 minutes or so to relax your eyes: go for a walk, look out the window or close your eyes.
• Place reference material next to the screen to reduce head and eye movements and focal changes.
• Minimise glare form the computer screen as this can sap the energy and lower productivity. Draw the curtains or blinds. Use glare-reducing filter on the screen.