The golden age

When it comes to ageing, there is more than one weapon to employ in your battle against time. Good skin cares habit can help to prevent and elay the signs of ageing. Wrinkle is the most obvious ageing signs that can shows on your face and neck. Here are few anti-ageing weapons that do the job:

• BOTOX (botulinum toxin) - a neurotoxin that temporarily paralyses the muscles in the area where it is injected.It can lessen the appereance of expression lines caused by frowning and furrowing the brows. There will be a slight discomfort and takes few weeks for the full effect to be seen. It is not a long term solution.
• Face fillers - Made from a variety of materials like hyaluronic acid, collagen, fat taken from other parts of the body and polymer-based agents, fillets help plump up deeper, more pronounced wrinkles as well as depressions in hard to treat area like the nasolabial folds. However, the result isn't permenant and last for about 6 months to few years.
• Retinoids - A collective naame for substances capable of activating retinoid receptors, the most popular like Renova and Retin-A.These substances trigger molecular switches, which in turn affect intracellular processes such as the breakdown of collagen and the lifespan of cell.It is clinically proven to treat age spot and wrinkles. However, over apply can cause thinning, drying and irritation of skin, making skin more susceptible to UV damage.
• Peels - Ideal for sloughing off dead skin cells. It come in wide variety, such as PCA peels (a solution of alpha hydroxy acids, kojic acids, salicylic acid and hydroquinone) that lighten and evens out the overall skin tone to a more invasive TCA (trichloro acetic acid) peel that can even remove fine wrinkle and age spots. Result can be seen immediately, but there is a down time involved and skin is initially red and a tell-tale "glistering" rawness.
• Radiofrequency and laser devices - these machine penetrate deep into the dermis to re-generate skin. The newest devices on the market is Thermage and Fraxel lasers. Thermage uses radio frequencies to heat the skin's under-layer to boost collagen production, thighten skin laxity and improve skin texture and tone. Fraxel lasers sends tiny microscopic laser spots and wrinkles without affecting the surrounding tissue. These new devices have the added bonus of being able to be used on all skin types and colours. For some people, it gives good result. However, it is expensive and result vary for different patient. In some cases, it might cause burns and can be extremely painful.

Using neem to treat acne, psoriasis and eczema

THE ancients, as well as modern science, acknowledge neem, also known as nimba or margosa, as a powerful healing herb with diverse applications. Described in Ayurvedic texts as sarva roga nivarini – that which keeps all diseases at bay, or arishtha – reliever of disease – neem has been used in the Ayurvedic tradition for thousands of years to maintain health. The roots, bark, gum, leaves, fruit, seed kernels and seed oil are all used in therapeutic preparations for both internal and topical use.

Neem and skin diseases

This remarkable tree has over 135 biological compounds – making it effective for a wide range of ailments. It works as an antifungal, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory.
A neem sapling ... The roots, bark, gum, leaves, fruit, seed kernels and seed oil of neem are all used in therapeutic preparations for both internal and topical use.

Like the leaves, the oil (obtained by crushing neem seeds) is used for skin problems.
Neem preparations are reportedly efficacious against a variety of skin diseases, septic sores, and infected burns. Neem is toxic to several fungi that attack humans, including the causes of athlete’s foot and ringworm. It ca be used against candida, which cause yeast infections and thrush.

According to a report from the National Research Council’s Ad Hoc Panel of the Board on Science and Technology for International Development, neem preparations from the leaves or oils can be used as general antiseptics. Because neem contains antibacterial properties, it is highly effective in treating epidermal conditions such as acne, psoriasis and eczema and other persistent skin problems.

It is also used for treating septic sores, infected burns, scrofula, indolent ulcers and ringworm - usually rubbed directly on the infected skin.
Stubborn warts can be cleared up when a high-quality neem product is used.

Indians historically bathed in neem leaves steeped in hot water. This is still a common procedure for curing skin ailments or allergic reactions.

Neem oil can help with the symptoms of psoriasis. The oil moisturises and protects the skin while healing the lesions, scaling and irritation.

Experiments have shown that patients with psoriasis who have taken neem leaf orally, combined with trpical treatment with neem extracts and neem seed oil, achieve results at least as positive as those who use coal tar and cortisone, the more traditional treatments.
Coal tar products are messy and smelly and cortisone can thin the skin when used repeatedly. Neem has neither side effect.

It can be used for extended periods of time without any side effects, is easy to apply and is relatively inexpensive.