BODY ODOR

BODY ODOR: CAUSE, PREVENTION AND REMEDIES

Aromatic appeal is, to some extent, subjective. The sense of smell is primal, mysterious, and deeply personal. In fact, body odors provide subconscious information about a potential mate’s genetic compatibility, social status, and reproductive vigor. Fluctuations in female hormones temper a woman’s olfactory sensitivity.

What creates a person’s signature aroma? A lot of things: diet, overall state of health, age, emotional state, levels of certain hormones, hygiene, and some medications. Some diseases create characteristic chemicals detectable on skin and in breath. The armpits are the usual source. Armpit sweat, which is richer in proteins and fats than secretions from the sweat glands covering most of your skin, doesn’t stink until bacteria that normally colonize your skin break down chemicals in sweat into acids. What can you do?

•         Bathe regularly, paying special attention to your armpits and bottom. Use a mild soap with a natural (plant-derived) fragrance in place of harsh antibacterial soaps.

•         Wear natural fabrics. These allow your sweat to evaporate freely. In winter, you can’t beat wool for warm and wicking action.

•         Eat more fruits and vegetables.

•         Harness the antibacterial and aromatic properties of plant essential oils.

RECIPES TO REDUCE BODY ODOR

TAKE A POWDER

Using just two pantry ingredients, this recipe is quick, easy, and effective. Essential oils add sweetness to this natural remedy.

¼ cup (55 g) baking soda

¼ cup (32 g) corn starch

Preparation and use: Mix the baking soda and corn starch together in a small glass dish. Apply to underarms with a clean makeup pad. Apply to feet and the insides of shoes to sop up foot odors. Recipe Variation: Add 10 to 12 drops of lavender or another favourite essential oil per ½ cup (87 g) of the mixture. Drop the oil into a bowl, pour the powder mixture into a sieve, and shake it into the oil, gradually mixing the two to blend. Baking soda is a natural odor eliminator. Corn starch absorbs excess moisture. Warning: Be careful not to inhale the particles.

COCONUT TEA TREE DEODORIZER

2 tablespoons (28 g) virgin coconut oil

1 tablespoon (14 g) grated beeswax

8 drops tea tree essential oil

2 tablespoons (28 g) baking soda

2 tablespoons (16 g) corn starch

Preparation and use: In a saucepan over low heat, melt the coconut oil and beeswax. Once melted, remove from the heat. Immediately add the essential oil, baking soda, and corn starch and stir to combine. Pour the mixture into a clean, dry, empty push-style deodorant container (recycle a used one). Use a spatula or butter knife to pack in the mixture and smooth over the top. Virgin coconut oil is antibacterial and an emollient. Tea tree oil is antimicrobial. Beeswax holds the mixture together, smells pleasant, and soothes irritated skin.

LAVENDER-APPLE CIDER VINEGAR WASH

A refreshing spray of this underarm elixir has post shower power.

¼ cup (60 ml) apple cider vinegar

6 drops lavender essential oil

Preparation and use: Place the ingredients in a small, clean spray bottle, cap, and shake. Spritz on underarms after a shower or bath. Apple cider vinegar lowers the pH level of the skin (that is, makes the skin more acidic), discouraging bacteria that turn body sweat into body odor. Lavender discourages bacterial growth and adds a scent-ual lift.

SAGE THERAPY

2 tablespoons (5 g) crushed or chopped fresh sage

¼ cup (60 ml) apple cider vinegar

Preparation and use: Combine the sage and vinegar in the small, clean jar. Cap and shake the mixture until the sage is thoroughly soaked. Place the mixture in the pantry or cabinet for about a week. (This allows the vinegar to extract the essence of the sage.) When the vinegar smells strongly of sage, the potion is ready. Strain the mixture through cheesecloth and pour it into a small, clean spray bottle. Spritz your underarms, feet, or other body parts prone to odor. Sage has a drying effect and is antimicrobial. Combined with the pH reducing apple cider vinegar, it makes a perfect elixir for reducing perspiration and body odor.

VINEGAR SPRITZ

¼ cup (60 ml) white vinegar

12 drops favourite essential oil (eucalyptus, rosemary, lemon, lavender, or tea tree)

Preparation and use: Mix the vinegar and essential oil(s) of your choice. Pour the mixture into a clean spray bottle, cap it tightly, and shake. Spritz your underarms and all over your body. Vinegar is acidic, which inhibits bacterial growth. Essential oils (such as rosemary, eucalyptus, tea tree oil, lemon, and lavender) are antibacterial.

ESSENTIALLY YOURS

Essential oils not only fight bacteria and microbes, keeping you at your freshest, but they infuse your home with soothing scent.

¼ cup (60 ml) witch hazel

1 tablespoon (15 ml) vodka

10 drops tea tree oil

10 drops lavender essential oil

5 drops eucalyptus essential oil

5 drops sage essential oil

Preparation and use: In a clean spray bottle, mix the witch hazel and vodka. Add all the essential oils. Cap and shake the bottle until the ingredients are completely blended. Spritz away at those odiferous body parts. Witch hazel is astringent and antiseptic; vodka is antibacterial. Lavender, eucalyptus, and sage essential oils are antibacterial, while tea tree oil is antimicrobial. Sage also has drying properties.

ALOE ZEST

¼ cup (115 g) Aloe vera gel

6 drops eucalyptus essential oil

6 drops lavender essential oil

Preparation and use: In a small, clean jar, mix the aloe gel with the essential oils, and then shake the jar vigorously until the ingredients are fully blended. With a clean pad or cloth, dab the mixture onto your armpits after showering for a zesty feel and deodorizing action. Aloe Vera is antiseptic and soothing. The essential oils are antibacterial.

HYDRO SOLUTION

1 cup (235 ml) water

1 teaspoon (5 ml) hydrogen peroxide (3 percent solution)

Preparation and use: Mix the water and hydrogen peroxide. Using a clean washcloth or pad, wipe the solution on your underarms, feet, or groin and feel refreshed. Hydrogen peroxide is antibacterial.

REFRESHING BATH FIZZIE

This recipe comes from one of the staff at a Denver herb store called Apothecary Tinctura. It leaves you smelling clean and feeling refreshed.

¼ to ½ cup (60 to 120 ml) witch hazel

½ cup (115 g) citric acid

1 cup (220 g) baking soda

15 drops eucalyptus essential oil

10 drops bay laurel essential oil

Preparation and use: Pour the witch hazel into a small, clean spray bottle. In a small bowl, combine the citric acid and baking soda. Add the essential oils to the powder one drop at a time, stirring constantly to distribute evenly. Pick up the mixture in your hands and spritz two times with witch hazel. Keep shaping and spritzing the material with your hands until you have a ball that’s moist but not soggy. Press into muffin tins, filling halfway. Once dry, pop out the fizzies and store in a tightly capped jar. Add one fizzie to a warm bath. The citric acid and baking soda are delivery systems for the refreshing aromatic essential oils. Eucalyptus and bay laurel essential oils are antibacterial agents that help counter odor-causing skin bacteria.

WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR

•         If you are staying clean, practicing good hygiene, eating well, and still experiencing body odor, make an appointment with your doctor. Some medical conditions and medications alter body smells. Also, a condition called hyperhidrosis leads to excessive sweating.

•         Also see your doctor if you notice unusual vaginal odors or discharge. Refrain from using commercially sold vaginal sprays and douches. These products can upset the acid-base balance and kill resident microbes that defend against infection-causing microbes. Plus, if you do have an infection, the pressure of douching can cause the “bad” microbes to ascend into your pelvic organs.

Bad Breath: Remedies

Bad Breath: Causes, Treatments, and Prevention

The majority of the time, the origin is in the mouth. Examples include gum disease, dental cavities, coated tongue (sometimes a white or yellow layer blankets the tongue, usually due to inflammation), and poor oral hygiene. Smokers have bad breath. Food and drink, such as onions, garlic, coffee, and alcohol, can temporarily taint breath.

Advanced age, stress, depression, mouth breathing, alcohol abuse, certain medications, diabetes, and Sjögren syndrome (an autoimmune disease wherein white blood cells attack glands that make saliva and tears) diminish saliva. In addition, malnutrition contributes to overall ill health and bad breath. Uncontrolled diabetes also creates disturbances in oral health. Such infections as sore throat and sinusitis cause halitosis. So do stomach and intestinal disorders, such as heartburn, stomach inflammation and ulcers, and lactose intolerance. Treatment involves correcting the underlying disorder.

FRESHEN UP

You’re on a big date and have had a dinner rich in garlic. Pop a sprig of parsley or other garnish in your mouth and pucker up.

FRESH SPRIG OF PARSLEY, BASIL, MINT, OR CILANTRO

Preparation and use: Place a sprig of any of these leaves in your mouth, chew, and swallow. All green plants contain chlorophyll, which neutralizes odors. Also, aromatic herbs contain essential oils that freshen breath.

LEMON BREATH LIFT

Lemon and pomegranate taste and smell fresh.

1 cup (235 ml) water

2 tablespoons (28 ml) fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon (15 ml) pomegranate juice

1 packet (1 g) stevia, or to taste

Preparation and use: Pour the water and pomegranate juice into a glass and stir in the lemon juice. Add the stevia. Drink in the morning (after your daily cuppa joe). Lemon contains essential oils that create the characteristic zesty (or citrus) scent. It’s long been used to reduce unpleasant odors. Both lemon and pomegranate contain flavonoids that help strengthen connective tissues, such as those in the gums. Pomegranate also has a mild antibacterial effect.

CITRUS FRESH BREATH

The rind tastes bitter at first bite, but chewing it gives your mouth a natural, refreshing zing.

1 organic lemon or orange

Preparation and use: Wash the rind thoroughly and tear off a piece. Chew for a flavorful, mouth-freshening burst. Citric acid will stimulate the salivary glands to create saliva, which is a natural breath freshener.

MINTY MOUTH-FRESHENING TEA

2 tablespoons (12 g) loose green tea, or

2 tea bags

1 teaspoon (2 g) crushed fresh mint leaves

1 cinnamon stick

2 cups (475 ml) boiled water

Preparation and use: Add the tea, mint leaves, and cinnamon to the boiled water. Steep for 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags, if using, and strain out the herbs. Sip and enjoy! Green tea has antibacterial compounds. Cinnamon is antimicrobial and aromatic. The oils in mint fight mouth bacteria that cause halitosis.

CRUNCH IT

1 cup (150 g) apple chunks

1 cup (110 g) grated carrot

1 cup (120 g) diced celery

½ cup (60 g) dried cranberries

½ cup (60 g) crushed walnuts

3 to 5 tablespoons (45 to 75 g) plain non-fat yogurt

Ground cinnamon

Preparation and use: Mix the apple, carrot, celery, cranberries, and walnuts together in a large bowl. Add the yogurt by the tablespoon (15 g) to moisten the mixture and hold it together slightly. Divide between two plates, sprinkle with cinnamon, and serve. Raw, crunchy foods clean the teeth. Apples contain pectin, which helps control food odors. It also promotes saliva, which cleanses breath. Cinnamon is antimicrobial. Yogurt contains the type of bacteria you want in your intestinal tract. Studies show that the active bacteria and cultures in yogurt help reduce odor-causing bacteria in the mouth.

TONGUE SCRAPE

A coated tongue is a prominent factor behind bad breath. Although you can use a toothbrush, a tongue scraper works better. You can buy one at most pharmacies. In a pinch, use a spoon. The coating on the tongue contains some mixture of dead tongue cells, bacteria, and fungi that become trapped between the small projections (papillae) on the tongue’s surface. Daily tongue scraping and brushing decreases this material carpeting the tongue and improves mouth odor.

PEROXIDE SWISH

Hydrogen peroxide is a versatile cleansing agent, in the right doses. Be sure to cut it with water before using.

2 tablespoons (30 ml) hydrogen peroxide

2 tablespoons (30 ml) water

Preparation and Use: Mix the hydrogen peroxide and water in a clean glass. Swish in your mouth for 30 seconds and then spit out. Rinse twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Hydrogen peroxide’s oxygen content kills the bacteria in your mouth that cause bad breath.

MOUTHWASH IN A MINUTE

We love the fresh and natural taste of this mouthwash—and it’s alcohol-free, unlike so many off-the shelf products. Do not swallow it!

1 cup (235 ml) water

1 teaspoon (5 g) baking soda

3 drops peppermint essential oil

Preparation and use: Mix together all the ingredients. Pour into a clean glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, cap, and shake. Use a small amount to rinse your mouth for about 30 seconds. Spit out—do not swallow. Peppermint is antimicrobial. Baking soda changes the pH (acid) levels in the mouth, creating an anti-odor environment.

YOGURT BREATH BLASTER

1 cup (230 g) vanilla yogurt

1 cup (170 g) sliced strawberries

¼ cup (30 g) chopped walnuts

Sprigs of mint

Preparation and use: Combine the yogurt, strawberries, and walnuts in a small bowl. Top with mint sprigs and serve. Studies say that yogurt’s active bacteria may help control the mouth bacteria that release malodorous chemicals, such as hydrogen sulphide.

FRESH CHEW

Handful of fennel seeds, cloves, or anise seeds

Preparation and use: Pop your spice of choice into your mouth. Chew the seeds, savoring the release of their fresh and spicy, odor-fighting tastes. These spices all have antiseptic qualities that help fight halitosis-causing bacteria and sweeten your breath.

LIFESTYLE TIP

·         If you wear dentures, remove them at night and clean them before returning them to your mouth. Removing daily bacterial build-up day from food and drink helps keep your breath fresh.

·         Quit smoking to reduce bad breath, which is the least of your problems if you are a smoker. It’s a tough habit to kick, but worth the effort.

·         When nothing else is available, swish fresh, cool water around in your mouth. Water freshens breath and makes you feel better in general.

·         Practice good oral health regularly:

1.              Brush your teeth after every meal.

2.              Be gentle on your gums.

3.              Floss at least once a day, preferably twice, before you brush.

4.              If you can’t brush after a meal, drink water, swish, and spit to remove residual food particles.

5.              Replace your toothbrush every two to three months.

6.              Keep up with regular dental check-ups, including cleanings.

WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR

•         Halitosis persists despite improved oral hygiene.

•         You notice your tongue often looks coated.

•         Your mouth is often dry.

•         You have sores in your mouth, painful gums, or tooth pain (for example, when drinking cold liquids or chewing).

•         You have diabetes or another chronic condition and notice a change in your breath.

•         You feel ill. (Infection of the tongue, throat, and gums, oral cancer, and many other illnesses affect the breath.)

ATHLETE’S FOOT

ATHLETE’S FOOT: PREVENTION AND REMEDIES

Athlete’s foot, or tinea pedis is a fungal infection of the top layers of the skin. The species of fungi infecting the skin go by the collective name of dermatophytes. Like most fungi, these thrive in damp, warm places. Other vulnerable areas are the groin (jock itch, or tinea cruris), and the head (ringworm, or tinea capitis).

The fungi that cause athlete’s foot can also infect the nails. Usually trauma (a nick in the nail or crush injury) occurs, giving the fungi an entry point. The nail yellows and thickens. Diagnosis is usually made by inspection, plus or minus microscopic examination of scrapings from under the nail. These infections are contagious.

The sign of athlete’s foot is red, flaky, itchy skin on the soles and heels. The toe webs may be involved. The skin may also blister and crack. The main treatment for fungal skin infections is application of an over-the-counter antifungal cream, such as miconazole or clotrimazole. It can take up to a month for skin to heal. Fungal nail infections, however, are more difficult to clear.

HISTORY: Australian Aborigines had long knowledge of Tea tree oil as good for treating a number of ills, including athlete’s foot and other fungal and skin infections. It is found that a relatively strong solution of tea tree oil inhibits the fungi that cause athlete’s foot.

TEA FOR TWO FEET

1 tablespoon (15 ml) unscented body lotion

1 teaspoon (5 ml) tea tree oil

Preparation and Use: Blend the lotion and tea tree oil in a small, clean jar or bowl. Apply to affected areas on the feet. Wash your hands afterward. Tea tree oil can be powerful stuff, so take care in mixing and applying this remedy as noted below. It is found that creams containing between 10 and 50 percent tea tree oil help resolve athlete’s foot.

Warning: Keep your bottle of tea tree oil out of the reach of children. Internal use can be toxic. If you are allergic to Tea tree oil, stop using it.

THYME AND OREGANO FOOTBATH

1 quart (946 ml) water

2 tablespoons (5 g) dried thyme leaves

2 tablespoons (6 g) dried oregano leaves

¼ cup (72 g) salt

Preparation and use: Boil the water in a saucepan. Turn off the heat, add the herbs, cover, and steep for 20 minutes. Stir in the salt. Reheat over low heat until the water feels warm but not scalding. Strain into a basin big enough for your feet. Soak your feet for 15 to 20 minutes until the water is no longer warm. Dry your feet, including between your toes, with a clean towel. Then put the towel in the laundry to wash (do not reuse without laundering). While it fights athlete’s foot, this footbath delivers delicious relaxation. In order from highest to lowest fungicidal activity were oregano, thyme, cinnamon, lemongrass, clove, palmarosa, peppermint, lavender, geranium, and tea tree. Adding salt and heat to the essential oil solution amplified the fungicidal power.

Note: Alternatively, you can put hot-to-tolerance water and salt in the foot basin. Stir in 5 drops of essential oil of oregano. You can use thyme essential oil instead, but only if you select the linalool type. The others are irritating to skin and mucous membranes. Other alternatives include peppermint and lavender oil.

FOOT-FRIENDLY VINEGAR TINCTURE

¼ cup (60 ml) white, distilled, or apple cider vinegar

5 drops tea tree essential oil

5 drops peppermint essential oil

2 to 3 drops eucalyptus essential oil

Preparation and use: Combine all the ingredients in a jar and shake. Soak cotton balls in the mixture and apply, covering the affected area. If you have any solution left over, cap the jar tightly to prevent the evaporation of the plant essential oils. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which discourages fungal growth. Consistent application has often been met with success in clearing up fungal infection. It may take several weeks, even months, but many people swear by it. Adding the plant essential oils, all of which have direct antifungal activity, may accelerate the process.

Recipe Variations:

•         Pour enough vinegar into a small tub to immerse your toes or feet. Mix in the essential oils above. Soak for 2 minutes. Then rinse your toes and dry thoroughly with a clean towel. (Do not reuse the towel without laundering it.) Apply twice daily until the itch disappears. Then continue application for one additional week.

•         Because vinegar is acidic, it may irritate the skin. In that case, dilute the vinegar, using one part vinegar to three parts water. Mix in the essential oils. Soak for 15 minutes three times a week. When finished, rinse and dry as above.

•         Some people are also sensitive to plant essential oils. If you have sensitive skin, try the vinegar or diluted vinegar solution alone. If you have no reaction, try one essential oil at a time. Don’t combine the three until you know your skin can tolerate it.

GARLIC FUNGAL CHASER

1 garlic clove

1 to 2 teaspoons (5 to 10 ml) olive oil

Preparation and Use: Mash the garlic and olive oil together into a paste. Apply to the infected area. Remove after 1 hour. Garlic is a microbe-slayer. Its action includes antifungal power. Two studies have shown that ajoene, a compound found in garlic, heals athlete’s foot.

Warning: Don’t use the garlic alone, as this strong herb can irritate the skin. The olive oil creates a protective coating. Most people can tolerate 1 hour. Remove sooner if you have sensitive skin or the application causes discomfort. Be sure to test this strong antidote on a patch of skin before covering your feet with it.

Note: The antimicrobial chemicals in garlic contain sulphur. Some of them absorb across your skin, into the bloodstream, and across the air sacs in your lungs. If you dislike that smell (or others do), chew parsley leaves or fennel seeds.

PROBIOTIC FOOT FIX

2 to 3 tablespoons (30 to 45 g) plain yogurt (Make sure it has live cultures of acidophilus.)

Preparation and Use: Apply to the infected areas—toe webs, heels, and so on—for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse off and dry feet thoroughly before putting on socks and shoes. Yogurt’s live ingredient, acidophilus, makes lactic acid, which helps fight fungus. Daily application can soothe and help heal the infected area.

CLOVE AND CINNAMON SOOTHER

¼ teaspoon cinnamon or clove essential oil

2½ teaspoons (13 ml) olive oil

Preparation and use: Mix together the essential oil and olive oil. Test a little on a patch of skin before doing full-blown foot therapy. The essential oil versions of these holiday spices are helpful healers when diluted in a soothing olive oil mixture and applied to your feet.

TEA BAGS FOR HAPPY TOES

1 quart (946 ml) water

6 black tea bags

Preparation and Use: Boil the water and steep the tea bags in it. Pour the water and tea bags into a small tub. When tea has cooled enough to be comfortable, immerse your feet. Soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse your feet after soaking and dry thoroughly before putting on your socks. Black tea contains tannic acid, which is antifungal. Use this quick and easy treatment to soothe athlete’s foot burn and boost the healing process.

CORN-STARCH ~ DRY FEET

½ cup (64 g) corn-starch

Preparation and Use: Preheat the oven to 325°F (170°C, or gas mark 3). Spread the corn-starch across the bottom of a clean glass baking dish. Bake for 3 to 5 minutes until just browned on top. Remove from the oven and let cool. Rub onto affected areas before putting on your socks and shoes. Corn-starch absorbs foot moisture that can help launch fungal infections. Corn-starch right from the box is a good start; but a quick browning in the oven removes its moisture, allowing it to take in more moisture from your feet. You’ll love the drying effect of this starchy flour made from corn. Note: Shake a teaspoon (3 g) of the toasted corn-starch into your shoes to coat the insides—another way to absorb moisture.

COCONUT FUNGAL FIGHTER

¼ cup (56 g) coconut oil

1 teaspoon (2 g) ground turmeric

Preparation and Use: Over low heat, melt the oil in a pan. It happens in a matter of seconds. Whisk in the turmeric. Turn off the heat. Pour the mixture into a clean dish. When cool, spread on the affected area. Allow to soak in for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse off and dry the area thoroughly. Virgin coconut oil is a African folk remedy for treating such fungal skin infections as athlete’s foot and ringworm, has antifungal properties. Likewise, turmeric is an antifungal agent.

VICKS-EN TOENAIL TREATMENT

Hydrogen peroxide

Vicks VapoRub

Preparation and Use: In the evening, shower and wash your toes carefully or soak and wash your toes in a small tub of warm water. Dry them thoroughly with a clean towel (launder the towel after each use). Wet a cotton ball with hydrogen peroxide and apply to each toenail, using a fresh cotton ball for each nail so as not to spread infection. Let your toes air dry or pat them dry after the peroxide foaming subsides. Make sure they are thoroughly dry, and then coat each toenail with Vicks. Cover your feet with cotton socks (which you must wash after wearing); this keeps the Vicks working on your toes and off your sheets. Hydrogen peroxide is antifungal. Vicks VapoRub contains essential oils from plants with antifungal activity, specifically thymol from thyme, menthol from peppermint, eucalyptol from eucalyptus, and camphor from a relative of cinnamon (Cinnamomum camphora).

LIFESTYLE TIP

To prevent athlete’s foot, practice good hygiene:

•         Keep your feet dry. If your feet sweat, change your socks. Put talcum powder or corn-starch in your shoes.

•         Wear socks that absorb and wick away moisture. Although many doctors recommend cotton, a good alternative is wool, which you can now find in all styles and thicknesses.

•         In hot weather, wear sandals or other shoes with good ventilation.

•         Air out shoes after each use.

•         Don’t share socks, shoes, towels, or nail clippers with someone with athlete’s foot or a fungal nail infection.

•         Sprinkle baking soda in your shoes to absorb moisture. Your feet will stay drier longer. Like corn-starch, baking soda will absorb sweat and hinder the fungi that thrive in damp conditions.

•         Eat garlic. To complement the garlic salve recipe for the outside of your feet, try this simple treatment to attack from the inside, too: Mince one to two garlic cloves and stir into your food, whether eggs, rice, soups, or mashed potatoes. Or pop a 500 to 600 milligram capsule of garlic each day.

WHEN SIMPLE DOESN’T WORK

•         A traditional Mexican treatment for athlete’s foot involves the topical use of a plant called Ageratina pichinchensis (commonly known as snakeroot and previous classified as Eupatorium pichinchense or E. aschenbornianum). Studies have shown that topical applications of a special extract from this plant worked as well as the antifungal drug ketoconazole. Extracts have also been shown to be therapeutic in fungal nail infections.

•         If home remedies aren’t working for you, you can try antifungal creams available over the counter at drugstores and supermarkets: terbinafine (Lamisil AT), tolnaftate (Tinactin), clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF), and miconazole (Micatin).

WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR

•         You can’t clear the infection after two weeks of using home remedies or over the counter antifungal creams. It may be time to try a prescription antifungal medication.

•         The fungal infection is spreading.

•         The soles of your feet begin to blister.

•         Your skin becomes cracked, reddened, swollen, and painful.

•         You see pus or red streaks extending from the infected area.

•         You develop a fever.

•         You have diabetes and have any sign of infection on your feet.

Treatment of Acne

HOME REMEDIES TO TREAT ACNE

                     About the time girls and boys enter puberty, acne may strike. Acne (acne vulgaris) goes by many names: zits, blackheads, pimples, bumps, blemishes, and more. Adolescence marks a time of hormonal surges, including an abundance of male hormones from the adrenal gland. Among other actions, these hormones increase the skin’s oil production. If the pores to the oils glands become clogged, localized inflammation and infection—redness, swelling, and pus—can result.

                      In ancient Greece and Egypt civilisations, sulphur was used to treat acne. Abundantly available, sulphur was prepared by early alchemists in the form of a cream to improve conditions such as acne and other skin ailments.

GREEN TEA WASH

1 green tea bag

Preparation and Use: Brew a cup or small bowl of green tea. Let cool to the touch. Apply to the affected area with a clean cloth. Tea is astringent, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial. It is found that a 2 percent green tea lotion reduced acne.

ESSENTIAL OIL LOTION

2 drops pure tea tree or lavender essential oil

1 teaspoon (5 g) Aloe Vera gel

Preparation and Use: Blend the tea tree essential oil with the aloe gel. Dot the mixture on blemishes using a cotton swab or clean finger. Tea tree and lavender are both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. Lavender smells nicer and can be applied without dilution. Aloe Vera is also anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. In addition, it reduces discomfort and speeds healing. Topical applications of 5 percent tea tree oil gel have been proven as effective as benzoyl peroxide (Oxy-5) and other commercially available products.

ESSENTIAL OIL FACE SPRITZER

½ cup (120 ml) Witch Hazel

½ cup (115 g) Aloe Vera gel

20 drops Lavender essential oil

Preparation and Use: Place the ingredients in a clean spray bottle and shake until combined. Mist over your face. This is a soothing and reviving elixir. Witch hazel extract, which you can find in most drugstores, is an astringent. It can be used alone to gently clean the skin. It also tones the skin and decreases inflammation. This mixture stays good for one week.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR WASH

½ cup (120 ml) water

2 tablespoons (28 ml) Apple Cider Vinegar

Preparation and Use: Pour the water and vinegar into a small, clean bowl. Stir to combine. With a cotton swab or cotton ball, dab the diluted vinegar on each blemish. (Use one swab or ball per blemish to keep infection from spreading.) The application may briefly sting, but that should soon stop. Apply in nights for best results. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which is an antiseptic and helps regulate skin acidity.

Warning: Because undiluted vinegar may irritate the skin, always start with a 1:8 dilution of vinegar to water (e.g., 2 tablespoons [28 ml] of vinegar to 1 cup [235 ml] of water) and build up to 1:4 and, if possible, to vinegar only.

YOGURT HONEY MASK

¼ cup (60 g) plain yogurt

1 tablespoon (20 g) honey

2 strawberries

Preparation and Use: In a small bowl, blend the yogurt and honey. Mash the strawberries and fold into the yogurt mixture. Pull back your hair and wash your face with warm water. Use a cotton ball to spread the mask onto your face. Recline for 10 minutes while the fruit and milk acids do their work. Wash with cool water and pat dry with a clean towel. Yogurt contains lactic acid and strawberries contain several fruit acids, primarily citric acid. These acids help remove dead skin cells and unclog pores. Honey is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant.

Note: Alternatively, dab on straight honey, allow it to dry, and then rinse.

PINEAPPLE REFRESH

1 fresh pineapple

Preparation and Use: Slice away the sides of the pineapple, separating the fruit from the rind. Set the fruit aside in a bowl. Rub the inside of the rind on your face. Mash a single slice of pineapple and rub it onto your face. Let the pineapple juices work for about 15 minutes—while you enjoy eating the fruit. Wash your face and pat it dry with a clean towel. Repeat weekly as needed. Pineapple contains an anti-inflammatory enzyme called bromelain and fruit acids (mainly citric acid), which gently exfoliate the skin, unblock pores, and dry excess skin oil. (A number of over-the-counter anti-acne products contain a type of fruit acid called alpha-hydroxyl acid.)

Warning: Do not apply pineapple to your skin if you’re allergic to it. If you develop any redness or irritation, stop.

BITTER GREENS SALAD

½ cup (28 g) fresh dandelion greens

½ cup (10 g) arugula

½ cup (20 g) radicchio

½ cup (25 g) endive

½ cup (150 g) fresh or canned artichoke hearts

Preparation and Use: Tear the greens into bite-size pieces. Slice the artichoke hearts. Mix all the ingredients together in a salad. Add other favourite vegetables but avoid adding ingredients with sugars, which may cause skin flare-ups. Be creative with this natural cleanser by trying greens you’ve never used before. Bitter foods stimulate the liver, the organ that breaks down hormones and many other chemicals so they can more easily be cleared from the body.

HERBAL STEAM BAG

1 quart (946 ml) water

1 tablespoon (2 g) crushed dried calendula (also called pot marigold) flowers

1 tablespoon (2 g) dried elderflowers

3 drops lavender essential oil

Preparation and Use: Bring water to a boil in a kettle. Put the calendula flowers and elderflowers in a large, heatproof bowl and add the water, covering the flowers. Add the lavender oil and stir to combine. Lower your head over the bowl and cover it completely with a towel. Allow the steam to work for 15 minutes or until it abates. Rinse your face with cool water. Calendula and elderflower have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Note: You’ll find dried herbal flowers in bulk at most health food stores. Also, although calendula (Calendula officinalis) also goes by the common name of pot marigold, it is not the same as marigold (Tagetes erecta, T. patula, and other species). This herbal remedy can also be used as a soothing facial anytime you need it.

FACT OR MYTH?

Myth: Masturbation causes acne. It doesn’t. Neither does how much or how little sex you have. Another is that acne vanishes at the end of adolescence. Although that’s true for many people, blemishes continue for some people into middle age. Another myth is that poor hygiene causes acne. That belief can drive people to scrub their face repeatedly, which only further irritates the skin.

Popping a pimple will help it heal. Hands off! Pimple popping makes the blemish look worse and can leave a scar.

Fact: Exercise is good for your skin. Yes! It improves circulation, making your skin healthy and vibrant. Rinse your face immediately after strenuous exercise because the salt and bacterial build-up can cause an outbreak if not washed away.

LIFESTYLE TIP

Eat whole grains, whole fruits, vegetables, and legumes—all complex carbohydrates that create a relatively slow, steady rise in blood sugar. Studies show eating foods that quickly elevate blood sugar (white bread, pasta, white rice, juices, and sweetened foods and beverages) increases acne. It is found that a low-glycaemic diet, which better controlled blood sugar, improved acne.

WHEN SIMPLE DOESN’T WORK

1.     Check your stress level. Severe acne is associated with psychological stress, though it’s hard to distinguish chicken from egg because acne can generate distress. It is known, however, and that taking medicine derived from the stress hormone cortisol (e.g., cortisone and prednisone) can trigger acne.

2.     Most doctors say diet has little bearing on acne. A few studies and anecdotal reports, however, link pimples with drinking milk and eating fried foods, potato chips, and sweets. To that reason, we recommend you eliminate junk foods, minimize dairy, and emphasize vegetables, fruits, and fish. Stick to lean cuts of poultry and meat. Notice whether a more wholesome diet improves your complexion.

3.     If you’re a woman, you might like to know that some studies show that extracts of chaste tree berries reduce premenstrual acne. You can find herbal extracts at natural food stores.

If the above gentle treatments don’t work, see your doctor.