Showing posts with label skin diseases. Show all posts
Showing posts with label skin diseases. Show all posts

 


Aloe vera is an incredible medicinal plant full of nutritional benefits. The healing properties of this plant have been understood and used since the beginning of the 1th Century A.D., and today aloe vera is commonly used for cosmetics and alternative medicine.


The plant consists of basically two parts: latex and gel.  Latex is the yellowish substance that is present just below the skin of the plant, and the Pulp / Gel present inside the leaves contains vitamins A, B12, C, E, as well as folic acid, enzymes, minerals, and salicylic and amino acids. Aloe vera has gained acclaim as one of the foremost natural herbal treatments for skin conditions.


 


Important Aloe Vera Benefits for our Bodies


Aloe vera is a natural cure to many external and internal ailments and health conditions.  Some of the benefits of the plant are as follows:


  • Aloe is highly recommended for skin protection. It stimulates the healing process of wounds, repairs damaged skin and protects skin from sun and radiation exposure.

  • The plant helps control hair loss and it dramatically improves the growth of hair. It also treats dandruff and dry scalp, enhancing the shine and strength of hair.

  • The plant is also a very effective detox agent. Ingesting aloe vera juice improves the digestion process, curing ailments like constipation, stomach ulcers, heartburn and arthritis. It also improves blood circulation in the body and controls sugar levels in our blood.

  • The plant can be used as a cleansing agent for the skin. It controls skin pigmentation and protects the skin from acne, dark spots and scars. It is also a remedy for rashes, sunburns, itching and inflammation.

 


How Does Aloe Vera Gel Help Acne and Scars?


Acne is a serious skin condition that occurs when the skin follicles are blocked by dead skin cells, where bacteria then starts growing, which results in pain, irritation, inflammation and itching.


Aloe vera is one of the best herbal solutions for curing acne. Aloe can be used in various different ways. We can ingest it or apply it externally on the affected area of the body.


 


Different ways to use Aloe Vera:


Aloe vera gel is a perfect moisturizer for dry skin. You can apply the fresh and soft gel present inside the leaves directly onto your face, or by using other moisturizing creams, honeys or oils that contain aloe vera. Applying aloe vera topically is also an effective way to cleanse and remove impurities from your skin, and it acts as an anti-bacterial and antiseptic agent.


To treat your acne, you can also use aloe vera as a shaving gel. It soothes your skin and gives you instant relief from itching and irritation. Aloe shaving gel can work perfectly, especially for people with highly sensitive skin. Before using the gel, it is important to rub the aloe a bit between your hands to make it softer and smoother, making it easier to apply along shaving areas.


Another perfect use for fresh aloe vera gel is as a complete mask treatment. To do that, you must combine the gel with one of your favorite essential oils or with lemon juice, cucumber or honey. After washing your face with hot water, apply the mixture as a facemask. Leave the mask at least for 20 minutes and then rinse it off. Using this combination twice a week can drastically reduce your acne.


Drinking fresh aloe vera as a juice is also a very healthy way to improve the condition of your skin. You can make it refreshing by adding mint.  The drink also improves your body’s immune system and makes your body and skin resist against any viral or bacterial attacks.


If you dislike the taste of aloe vera juice, you can always add a squeezed lemon or one spoon of honey. An alternate method is to take aloe vera supplements as hard or soft-gel capsules. Supplements are certainly the fastest and easiest way to add aloe vera into your daily diet.


 


Acne is a serious skin disease with psychological and social effects as well, especially among adolescents. Therefore, finding adequate remedies for treating acne becomes imperative, and for this reason using aloe vera as natural home remedy can be very helpful. Be sure to always consult a doctor first, as aloe vera can have some side effects such as decreased blood sugar levels and may influence hypoglycemic levels of insulin.


 


Sources


Naturalnews.com


SimpleDailyHealth.com


FacingAcne.com


Livestrong.com

If your wellness is affected by eczema or other allergies, it may be due to a type of immune cell in your skin. This is according to a new study published this week in the journal Nature Immunology, which has come about thanks to a collaboration among researchers from the University of Sydney’s affiliated Centenary Institute and colleagues in New Zealand, the UK, and the US.


Years ago, a family of cells, known as group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2), was discovered ago in the laboratory of Professor Wolfgang Weninger, and this new cell type is part of this group. Professor Weninger’s lab has been responsible for developing techniques in marking different cells of your immune system, and tracking them live under the microscope. However, until now the identity of the immune cells has remained a mystery.


According to Dr Ben Roediger, first author on the paper and a research officer in the Centenary’s Immune Imaging Laboratory, this is the first time such cells had been found in the skin, and they are relatively more numerous there. He noted, ‘Our data show that these skin ILC2 cells can likely suppress or stimulate inflammation under different conditions. They also suggest a potential link to allergic skin diseases.’


The researchers contacted Professor Graham Le Gros at the Malaghan Institute in New Zealand, one of the world’s foremost researchers into type 2 immunity (the part of your immune system that deals with infection by parasitic organisms), as they suspected that the cells may be associated with this system. The Professor not only confirmed this suspicion, but also provided a new strain of mouse developed in the United States that provided insight into the function of ILC2 cells.


Roediger explained, ‘Using these mice, we found that ILC2 cells were the major population in the skin that produced interleukin 13, a molecule that has been linked to a number of allergic diseases, including eczema.’ He added, ‘We now have experiments underway in which we are actively looking for the direct involvement of these cells in the sort of skin diseases you would predict based on these findings.’



New Cell Discovery Linked to Eczema and Allergies