8 womanly tips to a beautiful YOU!

8 womanly tips to a beautiful YOU!

Woman is one of the most beautiful creation of nature. Her life is a canvas full of shades of love in its vivid forms. A daughter, sister, wife and a mother. Bestowed with the highest honors of motherhood, a woman strongly anchors the household and family together. But in playing multiple roles, sometimes she forgets to feed her very own existence . On this day of celebrating womanhood, I want to encourage all womenfolk to take up charge of their own selves. Here are a few tips to a beautiful and a wonderful ‘You’      

Dandruff- are the flakes freaking you?

Dandruff is one of the most common complaints encountered daily in our clinical practice. People commonly misinterpret it as increased dryness of the scalp skin or increased flakiness which is not only a cause of social embarrassment but also leads to increased  hair loss.

Q What is Dandruff?

Ans  It is an inflammatory condition  of the skin which presents as erythema and greasy scaling in areas which are rich in Sebum( The ‘oil like ‘ thing appearing on face and hair if not washed. Its purpose is to prevent skin and hair from drying and making their surface waterproof)

Razor Bumps : Five facts you always wanted to know - Pseudofolliculitis Barbae

# 1: What are 'Razor Bumps'?
Ans- The rash consisting of red raised lesions and sometimes small pus filled papules or small bumpy lesions in the beard area of the face is known as Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB). It can also present in other shaved areas like pubic region and underarms.

How to prevent photoageing: premature ageing of skin on exposure to UV rays

Photoaging is premature aging of the skin caused by repeated exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) primarily from the sun, but also from artificial UV sources. Photo means light so photo ageing means ageing of skin caused by light.

How to keep your skin glowing during summers: Summer care tips for skin

Come summers and we all dread that sweaty and oily look on the face. With Bangalore brewing hot , it becomes all the more important for us to go a little extra in taking care of our skin and hair and how to keep the skin glowing during summers. I share some skin care tips which may be useful in daily care of our skin and hair during Bangalore summers.

Seven things you must know about Baby's skin care

A common worry that bothers all parents is the care of baby's skin. In my new post I try to capture the frequently asked questions on skin and hair care for babies. I will start by explaining the skin structure in very simple language and then explore how to take care of baby's skin and hair.
Q 1 – How is the skin of my child different? Does it require some extra effort and then so, Why?Ans -The skin of an infant is different from adults in many ways which is crucial for understanding the skin care regimen for the parents -a)           Higher skin surface area to weight ratio (skin surface area of infant is 700 cm2/kg as compared to adult skin which is 250 cm2/kg) .a) Increased absorption in the blood of topical preparations (applied products)on the skin.b)           Connection between the upper layers  of skin (epidermis and dermis) is not very strongc)           The skin barrier is not fully developed c)More susceptibility to infections and allergic reactionsAND Increased water loss from the skind)           Smaller  and inactive sweat glandsd)Decreased sweating , more possibility of heat rash or prickly heate)           Acidic pH of the skine) Any increase of pH can increase bacterial colonization of the skin.Q2-Doc, which soap should I use for my Baby?Ans- Most of the soaps contain surfactants ( Read More here) which can have harmful effects on the skin of the newborn-They deplete the lipid part of the skin barrier hence making it weakerIncrease the pH of the skin hence increasing the risk of skin infectionDenature( destroy) skin proteins further weakening the skin barrier.
Q3- What are the alternative for soap ?Ans-  Cocoyl isethionate,sodium lauryl sulphate, and betaines are examples of synthetic non soap detergents (syndets ) which retain the normal pH of the skin but can be drying. Such syndets with addd moisturisers like mineral oil , paraffin and glycerince are most suitable. Soap free cleansers should be preferred but in smaller quantities. Soaps which produce more foam are HARMFUL for your baby's skin.Q4 – When should I start applying soap to my baby?Ans- Minimal use in first few months.Immediately after birth, skin pH may be >6.0 which  falls to 4.95 after birth. This protective “acid” mantle protects against pathogens. Any  soap application will raise the skin pH from acid to neutral hence  increasing the total number of bacteria and increased moisture  loss. Regeneration of skin pH takes at least an hour after washing with alkaline soaps.  If at all needed, healthyterm newborns and infants can be washed MINIMALLY  using cleansers of neutral or slightly acidic pH, which have a gentle surfactant, be chemically and physically stable, and should contain an emollient. BOTTOMLINE is MINIMAL use of soaps in the first month of age.Q5 – How should I wash  my baby's hair?Ans -  Shampoos should have minimal time of contact with the scalp to avoid irritant dermatitis. The shampoo should be free from fragrance, anti-inflammatory agents and natural products. Most baby shampoos in the market contain anionic surfactant which ensures adequate cleaning. The pH of the shampoo should be close to the a that of tears and should be non-irritating to the baby’s eyes.Q6- What about the napkin area of my baby?Ans- The diaper area is probably the most frequently washed area of the baby.Cleaning the nappy area "Front to back"Regular nappy/diaper change is a must as baby’s stool and urine can macerate the skin of your baby if in prolonged contact.“Baby wipes”- they also should be alcohol and preservative free. Consult your Dermatologist for recommendations. Always clean the area from front to back with soft cotton cloth or towel.Apply a  Bland moisturiser and a barrier cream containig Zinc Oxide for skin protection if prolonged Diaper wear is required.( Use Dermatologist /Pediatrician recommended Diaper rash creams)
Q7- What precautions I should take while washing my Baby’s clothes?Ans-  You should use gentle detergents for washing your baby’s clothes.Avoid  adding antiseptic solutions or cleansers ( e.g Dettol etc.). They are VERY HARSH for your baby’s skin.The detergent should be fragrance freeRinse the detergent thoroughly. (MACHINE WASH IS BETTER THAN HAND WASH)Donot add Fabric Conditioners/BleachesPrefer cotton and linen waer for your babyWash any new dress before making your child wear that.

A common worry that bothers all parents is the care of baby's skin. In my new post I try to capture the frequently asked questions on skin and hair care for babies. 

I will start by explaining the skin structure in very simple language and then explore how to take care of baby's skin and hair.

Hair loss approach explained in This week Bangalore

Dr Divya talks about a scientific approach to dealing with hairloss in the city based tabloid- "This week Bangalore" Sharing a snippet of the interview on skin and hair solutions blog, you can read the entire article by clicking on the following link:

Dr Divya talks about a scientific approach to dealing with hairloss in the city based tabloid- "This week Bangalore" Sharing a snippet of the interview on skin and hair solutions blog, you can read the entire article by clicking on the following link:

http://www.thisweekbangalore.com/a-scientific-approach-to-dealing-with-hairloss-tackle-hairloss-the-smart-way/

Top 5 food nutrients for skin and hair: Part 2

Here is the second part of the post Top 5 Nutrients for Skin and Hair. Here we talk about Vitamin D and Flavinoids and the major food sources of these nutrients.Our skin has been endowed with the capacity to produce Vitamin D from sunlight. This not only delays ageing but also prevents skin cancer. Research has shown a link of this precious Vitamin with hair loss and sleep

Top 5 food nutrients for skin and hair: Part 1

Skin is the window to general health and well being of a person. It is the largest organ of our body and consequently undergoes not only the external assaults but also internal ageing. Our shelves are decorated with so many latest cosmetics but little do we realize that as the case with the rest of our body , it can be more helped ’inside out’ rather than ’outside in’. While we live a fast paced life in Bangalore let us try to make a few easy and natural changes in our diet to achieve a flawless complexion.I plan to take you across the healthier food ingredients which can do wonders along with the basic skin care regimens. I will put across this post in two parts

Yogurt & Honey DIY Anti-Aging Face Mask Recipe

Wouldn't it be great if you can whip up your own anti-wrinkle mask? Then you wouldn't have to worry about exposing your skin with ingredients that aren't all natural or proven effective and safe.You wouldn't have to worry, too, about paying unnecessarily for expensive packaging, endorsement costs.  Nothing wrong with saving a few dollars I say!  There are numerous recipes of anti-wrinkle masks out there in varying degrees of difficulty, but this one is easy and effective.  Yogurt-Honey Anti-Wrinkle Mask