Bathing soap vs. Body wash: what's better when you take a shower?

The most important part of skincare is keeping your skin cleansed and fresh. But before that, it is imperative to find the right product for the same. Skin type varies from person to person, and hence finding skincare goods most suited to your skin makes all the difference.

Bathing habits directly affect the quality of your skin, which involves picking the appropriate cleanse; i. E. Choosing between a body soap and body wash. Each has a different set of characteristics and comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Let's find out which one is better for your skin.

Why you should choose bathing soap bar:

 it is more effective in removing dirt through deep cleansing

 it is suited to skin that is excessively oily in nature as it contains ingredients that are highly effective in stripping off excess oil from the skin

Why you should not choose bathing soap bar:

 it tends to strip the skin of its natural oils and moisture, making it dry and flaky

 it is unhygienic in case of sharing between individuals as soaps tend to accumulate the dirt from your skin due to direct body contact

Reasons to pick a body wash:

 it has a very mild and gentle effect on the skin in comparison to soaps

 it keeps the skin moisturized by preserving natural oils

 it is more hygienic than bar soaps in case of interpersonal sharing

 it is the most suitable option for dry skin

Reasons to ditch a body wash:

 it contains a large amount of artificial additives and preservatives that can do more harm to your skin than good, giving rise to allergic reactions in some cases

So, who's the winner of the two?

You must certainly base the choice on what's best for your skin type. Body soap is more compatible with oily skin while dry skin is better suited for body wash. A body wash, however, is much more gentle on your skin. 

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Related Tip: Soap Vs Hand Wash - What Should You Wash Your Hands with?

Bathing Soap vs. Body Wash: What's Better When You Take a Shower?

5 simple ways to prevent dandruff in winter

Dandruff is becoming increasingly common. This scalp condition can exacerbate in winter since the humidity of the air around you decreases, which results in dry skin and an itchy scalp. But there are certain ways in which you can prevent the onset of dandruff during winters. Read on to find out.

1. Wash your hair with lukewarm water
You may find a shower with hot water a great way to start your day, but unfortunately, it has a negative effect on your scalp. Hot water baths are responsible for scalp irritation and effectively increase inflammation, which ultimately leads to the occurrence of dandruff. So, always opt for lukewarm water to wash your hair in order to maintain the natural moisture level of your scalp.

2. Give your scalp a coconut oil massage
Make it a habit to massage your scalp with 3-5 tablespoons of coconut oil before sleeping at night. Rinse away the oil the following morning using a gentle shampoo. Regularly following this remedy proves to be beneficial in keeping dandruff away from your scalp.

3. Watch your diet
You can ensure that your scalp remains healthy during winters by including moderate amounts of vitamin b, omega 3 fatty acids and zinc in your diet. To get these nutrients eat foods like walnuts, leafy vegetable, and eggs etc. These foods can help in keeping your scalp hydrated, thus preventing the occurrence of dandruff.

4. Stay away from hair styling products
Winter robs away the moisture from your scalp, which makes it highly vulnerable to damage on exposure to harsh chemicals. Most hair styling products (such as hair colours) contain strong chemicals, and if you use them frequently during the winters, you may end up having an itchy scalp resulting in dandruff later.

5. Use conditioners and shampoos containing tea tree oil
Hair care products like shampoos and conditioners made of tea tree oil help in restoring moisture to your scalp, which in turn stops dandruff from occurring. Alternatively, giving your scalp a tea tree oil massage two times every week works wonders for your hair and keeps dandruff at bay.

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Seeing a Sudden Rise in DANDRUFF? Here?s What You Need To Do!

Contact Dermatitis and Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis may be caused due to a variety of reasons. While contact dermatitis is a less severe condition that is caused when irritants escape from dirt and pollution to settle on the skin, Eczema refers to the inflammation of the skin due to allergic reactions or a family history of a similar condition. Contact dermatitis is usually characterised by sores and redness, while contact dermatitis will show up in the form of boil like eruptions. Homeopathy is one of the best, long term methods for treatment of this condition. 

Let us see how this medicinal field can be used.

- Graphites: This medication helps in soothing the oozing that may happen from the boils found in eczema. This is also ideal for eczema patients who are obese or suffering from constipation. It is best suited for skin that has become hard and rough. It can cure the sticky discharge that may come from the pus filled boils. It can also be used for dermatitis, which can be seen in the folds of the skin and the abdomen. 

- Mezereum: This medicine helps when there is a crust like formation due to dermatitis. The substance can also soothe the acute itching sensation, which takes place when there is pus filled below the dark layer of the crust. This itching usually gets worse at night.

- Hepar Sulphur: This medicine is best for severe cases when there is too much pus involved and about to burst out. It can also treat the deep cracks that may be found on the surface of the skin as well as the acute and intense itching sensation. Also, such severe cases leave the skin feeling sensitive to the slightest breeze or wind, in which case Hepar Sulphur can work well. 

- Dulcamara: This medicine is best suited for patients, who live in places where it rains often and heavily. Dermatitis usually increases and becomes even more painful during monsoons and this medicine can help in bringing down the itching which may also cause bleeding on the yellow black crusts. 

- Sulphur: When a burning sensation is one of the symptoms of dermatitis, Sulphur can be used. This is also prescribed for other skin ailments and for those who have a hereditary skin condition. This can also be used by patients who have had a relapse in their condition due to damp or cool weather, especially like monsoons, springtime or autumn. It also helps in soothing the symptoms of contact dermatitis which may occur due to contact with new detergent and clothing as well as pollution.

Treat Dermatitis With Homeopathy

Nail fungus is a fungal infection that develops under the tip of the toenail or the fingernail. It has a whitish or yellowish appearance and as the condition progresses, it causes the affected area of the nail to thicken, discolor and crumble at the edges. Usually this condition does not require any treatment, but if it turns severe, then you may require treatment to limit it from spreading.

The symptoms of this disorder are:
1. The affected nail thickens
2. There can be distortion in the shape of the nail
3. The nail can become crumbly and ragged
4. Discolored nails that lose its natural shine
5. Accumulation of debris on the nail
The infected nail may also be separated from the nail bed, causing pain and a foul odor.

Causes
The condition is usually caused by the dermatophyte fungus. In some cases, molds and yeasts can also cause fungal infections. Fungi are microscopic organisms that have certain characteristics such as:
1. They can cause complications if your nails are often exposed to moist and warm conditions
2. They usually thrive in moist and warm conditions such as showers and swimming pools

3. These fungi get into the skin through small cuts on your skin

The fungus usually affects toenails because, when you wear shoes, a warm and moist environment is created which is the perfect breeding spot for the fungus. The factors that can increase your chances of getting affected by this fungal infection are

1. Heavy perspiration
2. Athlete s foot (a condition which is characterized by rashes between the toenails)
3. Older people are affected more as blood circulation is reduced
4. Wearing socks for extended periods of time creates warm and a humid condition for the fungi to grow
5. Certain medical conditions such as diabetes

Treatments
There are certain medications that are used to treat fungal infections:

Oral anti fungal drugs: These medications help in getting rid of fungal infections.
Nail creams: There are certain anti fungal nail creams available that you can apply on your nails to get rid of this condition.

Nail Fungus - Understanding the Causes and Symptoms

Allergies in simple terms can be explained as increased sensitivity towards certain food items, objects and weather. Allergies can be caused in an individual due to various reasons. The primary sources of allergens are pollen, dusts and dirt, which can cause breathing troubles, asthma and headaches.

Allergies in any form are of two distinct types. First, they are seasonal. It has been noticed that in most cases, one gets an allergy when there is a season change. This is a type of seasonal allergy. Second is the perennial form of allergy wherein an individual gets an allergy from a particular allergy-causing substance all year around. Such allergies include food allergies, dust allergies, skin allergies and the like.

Symptoms

There are certain common symptoms whenever a person catches allergies. These would include itching on several parts of the body including hands, eyes, neck and legs. It would also cause the area to flare up. The skin becomes reddish in colour, owing to the allergy itself and due to the constant itching because of the irritation. Apart from these, water can flow from the eyes or one may experience short of breath quite often. Also, certain allergies are accompanied by asthma.

Diagnosis

The most basic test which is carried out, even while treating allergies through homeopathy, is a blood test. A blood test has the ability to determine whether you are suffering from an allergy or not. It would also help you to figure out the substance that is causing the allergy and at what stage it currently is. This helps in administering the correct medicines so that the allergy is cured fast.

If eczema is suspected, then the doctor advises for a skin patch test to be conducted to know more in detail about the skin condition.

Skin prick test is also carried out at times when needed. Here, a needle pricks the skin with a known allergen. If the skin does not react, then it is a negative test; but if it reacts, then it is a positive test, indicating allergy.

Treatment

There are several homeopathic medicines, which help in curing common and uncommon allergic reactions. Some of the popularly prescribed ones include the following:

Histamine for those allergic to dust and string perfumes

Sepia for those who are completely or partially lactose intolerant

Nux Vom for those who are allergic to coffee

Nitri-spiritus dulcis for those who are allergic to cheese

Sulphur for those allergic to antibiotics or drugs of any form

Thus, these are some of the common treatments homeopathy prescribes in order to get quick relief from allergies.

Homeopathic Treatment For Allergies

Itchy skin is a very common skin condition, which is a potential source of discomfort by forcing you to scratch your skin and cause irritation. Itchy skin is a very common condition, which happens very often among individuals. But, it can also be one of the symptoms of a larger disease. Itchiness of the skin may vary in intensity from mild to severe and it is mostly treated by anti-irritant measures that can be done by anybody at home.

Key identifiers
Itchy skin condition is mostly limited to certain areas on the skin, but it may also affect all body parts with an uncontrollable urge to scratch. Some of the additional key identifiers of the medical condition are listed below: 

- Skin redness
- Bumps or patches on the skin
- Swelling or inflammation of the skin
- Cracking of the skin
- Leathery or scaly texture of the skin

Causes
Skin itching can happen due to a variety of reasons, some of the most common ones being:

Common skin conditions: The most common kinds of skin disorders like acne, eczema, etc. often lead to skin itching. Itching is mostly accompanied by other skin conditions like redness, breakouts, inflammation, and such others.

Internal diseases: Diseases related to the kidney and liver often lead to skin related disorders among which the most common one is skin itching. Additionally, itching may also happen due to serious diseases like cancer.

Nerve related disorders: Diseases that affect the nervous system, either directly or indirectly also act as a catalyst to the skin itching process. Examples of such diseases would be diabetes mellitus, pinched nerves, sclerosis and shingles.

Pregnancy: Pregnant women often experience itching on body parts like abdomen, thighs, breasts and arms.

Drugs: If you are regularly taking antibiotics or antifungal medicines, then these might have some unwanted effects of the skin among which skin itching is the most common one.

What Causes Itchy Skin? + How To Trace The Causes?

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