To avoid the skin appearing darker after waxing, be careful not to expose the treated area to the sun for 48 hours after treatment.

Alternatively use a good sun blocker cream on newly treated areas.

Be sure to test a small area of skin first to make sure there is no acute sensitivity or allergic reaction to the process.

Hair should be at least 1/8 inch long. If it isn’t wait until it reaches this length.

Be sure to wash the skin thoroughly and dry it well beforehand to remove any lotions or oils which may prevent the wax from adhering closely to the skin.

Heat the wax carefully so as not to overheat and thus burn the skin when applying. Test on a small area first.

The consistency should be soft rather than runny.

If pain and discomfort is a main concern use a pain reducing gel or cream available from pharmacists. These solutions should be applied 30 to 60 minutes before waxing so the skin is numbed beforehand.

Apply a thin layer of wax in the direction of the hair growth, preferably holding the spatula or tongue depresser at a 45 degree angle as you spread the wax.

When applying the cotton strip over the wax, rub in the same direction as the hair growth leaving about 1/3 of the strip free to allow for a firm grip for a fast back pulling action.

Pull the skin taut before pulling the cotton strip away.

Pull back with a rapid movement close to the skin. Do not pull up or out, rather pull back. One fast, smooth, pull back is much more effective than a series of light pulls which only increase the pain and leave patchy areas.

Clean the skin with a warm moist towel afterwards to remove excess wax.

Avoid showering and making the hair wet prior to hair waxing. Hair absorbs the water making it soft and less likely to adhere well to the wax. Tough hair is easier to pull off.

Avoid wearing tight clothing over freshly waxed areas to minimize the risk of irritation and ingrown hairs.

After 24-48 hours exfoliate the skin (with a Loofa sponge for example) to prevent the dead skin from accumulating in areas that can become ingrown such as the bikini line, upper thighs, underarms and calves.

If acne is a problem, wait until the skin has healed before hair waxing to avoid further irritating this sensitive condition.

***Extra Tips For Facial Hair***

For facial hair use wax at a lower temperature than the rest of the body.

Use one hand to hold the skin taught.

Spread the wax very thinly.

Only treat small areas at a time.

Attempting to determine the cause for severely chapped lips is never simple. There are various causes you will need to research, rule out and note the results. Fortunately, we compiled a list of the ten most common causes of chronic chapped lips in order to give you a starting point for identification of the culprit.

1. Excess vitamin A may be the cause behind your peeling lips. Regardless of whether the source of your vitamin A comes from whole foods or supplements, taking in more than 25,000 I.U. per day might make you want to examine this further.

2. In addition to excessive vitamin A, you may be ingesting excessive Vitamin B12. The result of this is that you develop a cobalt allergy from taking your B12 supplements and develop crusty, swollen lips.

3. Often overlooked, toothpaste is a very common cause of chapped lips. Most toothpastes contain the ingredient guaiazuline, that commonly results in a contact allergy.

4. Red dye is an ingredient in numerous common products. Items like gum, candy, mouthwash, and lozenges all contain red dye that may cause an allergic reaction.

5. Metal objects like paper clips and pocket change is a very likely culprit for causing chronic chapped lips. An allergic reaction to metal may present itself on your lips.

6. Orange juice as well as any other citrus juice can irritate your lips. Citrus can cause photo-toxic reaction that appears to be chapped lips.

7. Cinnamon flavoring can produce lip chapping. This flavoring is commonly used in gum, candy, and mouthwash.

8. Lipstick containing the ingredient propyl gallate can also cause a contact allergy.

9. Various other lip care products are worth noting when it comes to narrowing in on allergic reactions. Many contain Phenylsalicylate or salol, which is commonly the cause.

10. Excessive fig consumption can also cause an allergic reaction due to photo-toxicity.

It’s rare that you hear of someone dying from food allergies, but when it happens, it usually reaches national news. Why? Because food is something we eat every day - several times a day - and everyone should be aware of the dangers of food allergies. Some foods such as peanuts contain very strong allergens that are in the food and released into the air as well. That’s why someone with severe food allergies must be extremely careful where and how they dine out.

Food Allergy Deaths

There are approximately 150 deaths related to food allergies in the United States each year. Food allergies are responsible for more deaths than insect bites as well as reactions to medicines.

Some food allergy deaths could have been prevented if proper medical attention was given when the allergic reaction occurred. Unfortunately, someone who is dining out or eating at home alone can have an allergic reaction without anyone around who knows the cause. With severe reactions, the person may not be able to speak or move at all. When the paramedics arrive, they do not know how to treat the patient.

Non-deadly allergies can still cause unpleasant symptoms such as cramps, light-headedness, itching and rash, hives, headaches, swelling lips, tingling mouth, shortness of breath and wheezing. Even these symptoms can seem urgent when they’re really not, so emergency personnel might attend to someone with these symptoms as well.

Keeping in Touch with Your Food Allergies

Prevention is always best with food allergies, especially dangerous ones. When dining out, ask the waiter if the food you’re about to order contains the ingredients that might cause an allergic reaction. Also, check food labels and labels on drinks and condiments while grocery shopping to be sure it’s safe before eating. Keep a list of the foods you’re allergic to with you in your wallet or purse as a reminder when dining out.

If you’ve already experienced a severe food allergy attack, ask your physician about a self-injecting epinephrine to keep with you for emergencies. This could save your life!

Help Medical Emergency Workers do their Jobs

Another way to be prepared is to have all your medical emergency information with you in one place along with your identification. Keep this information in your purse or wallet so emergency workers will know how to diagnose and treat you when they arrive.

Special wallets are now available called Medical Alert Wallets that have all your medical information and allergy details inside. Emergency workers easily recognize these because each Medical Alert Wallet has a “Medic Alert” symbol and a free Medical Information Card with each wallet. They come in nylon, vinyl, and leather. Several styles are available such as bi-fold, tri-fold and neck wallets. Families can use these for every member of the family so everyone will be protected if a food allergy reaction or any other medical emergency occurs.

With a little preparation and a Medic Alert Wallet, you’ll have peace of mind when dining out or eating at a friend’s house. Food allergies do not have to control your life!

What To Do When Your Baby Is Congested?

Although nasal congestion is just an annoyance for most older children and adults, it can be serious in infants. Babies who are congested in the first months of life have trouble nursing and can experience breathing problems. If your child is younger than 3 months, call your doctor at the first sign of illness.Here are a few methods:1. Just turn on the shower to hot and let the steam build up and sit in the bathroom for ten minutes if you need you could stay longer. It works just like a humidifier just like times ten it helps loosen the mucus to where your baby can breathe easier.2. Use saline drops in the nose. Most of the saline nose sprays are safe for any age. Just make sure to read on the label.3. Humidifier, I can stress enough it is healthy for everyone in the house it cleanses the air you breath. The dust in the air could allergic reaction with the baby and try to wash as much fabric in you house as possible to remove dust, dander, and etc (bedding, throw blankets, stuffed animals, curtains, etc)4. Herbs eucalyptus and lemon scents help decongest the baby you can buy it to put in a warm bath it helps relax the baby and calms their nerves.5. Get some baby Vicks rub. Put it on the bottom of the baby’s feet and on its back and chest. Be sure to put socks and warm clothes on. The Vicks will open up the baby’s pores so be sure to wash it off before going outside.Visit our Blog

Anti Aging Natural Skin Care Products Really Work
by Robert Melkonyan

Have you ever wondered if anti aging natural skin care products are better than their counterparts with artificial and synthetic ingredients? This article will cover a few pointers as to why natural products are better for your skin, and should help you to be able to find the best anti aging skin care regimen.

One reason that separates natural ingredients from their counterparts is that there is a higher probability you will know exactly what is going into your body. When you go into the uncharted territory of synthetic and artificial ingredients that make up skin care products, it is hard to determine the exact effect these ingredients will have on your skin. When looking at anti aging natural skin care products it is much easier to know how the ingredients will interact with your body, because they are natural ingredients and you have familiarity with them and how they were harvested and used to enhance the anti aging cream.

Another positive attribute to natural ingredients and products is that there is less likelihood of having an allergic reaction or irritation to your skin. When you begin putting chemicals and ingredients you cannot even pronounce on your skin, you are increasing your chances of reacting to something in the product. Anti aging natural skin care products help to prevent this by using ingredients meant to nourish the skin and help it to look younger and more radiant.

Using natural ingredients also means minimal levels of physical processing. This means that there is less chemical interactions and additions to the actual natural ingredients. This is important for several reasons in your anti aging natural skin care products, which tie into the reasons that are listed above. It all boils down to knowing what you are putting in your body and making sure that the ingredients are effective and are not going to produce adverse effects such as allergic reactions or puffiness.

As we live in a society that is producing more and more waste and pollution, many people are trying to find ways to help reduce their consumption. Many people do this by recycling in their community, and working to reduce the amount of waste that they have. Another important way to play your part for the environment is to use natural products. As well as using less resources to produce, natural ingredients will not cause undue pollution once you are finished using the product, and it moves on back into the ecosystem.

When researching anti aging natural skin care products, these concepts are important to keep in mind. By taking into account these ideas, you will be able to be confident that you have chosen the best anti aging skin care product. Not only will you have chosen an effective anti aging natural skin care product, but you can also feel content with the knowledge that it will be better for your skin overall, and be better to our environment.

Avoid showering and making the hair wet prior to waxing. Hair absorbs the water making it soft and less likely to adhere well to the wax. Tough hair is easier to pull off.

Be sure to test a small area of skin first to make sure there is no acute sensitivity or allergic reaction to pubic hair removal using waxing.

Hair should be at least 1/8 inch long. If it isn’t wait until it reaches this length.

Be sure to wash the skin thoroughly and dry it well beforehand to remove any lotions or oils which may prevent the wax from adhering closely to the skin.

Heat the wax carefully so as not to overheat and thus burn the skin when applying. Test on a small area first.

The consistency should be soft rather than runny.

If pain and discomfort is a main concern use a pain reducing gel or cream available from pharmacists. These solutions should be applied 30 to 60 minutes before waxing so the skin is numbed beforehand.

Apply a thin layer of wax in the direction of the hair growth and peel back with a rapid movement close to the skin.

Do not pull up or out, rather pull back.

Clean the skin with a warm moist towel afterwards to remove excess wax.

Avoid wearing tight clothing over freshly waxed areas to minimize the risk of irritation and ingrown hairs. 24-48 hours after pubic hair removal waxing, exfoliate the skin (with a Loofa sponge for example) to prevent the dead skin from accumulating and causing hair to become ingrown.

Best Positions

Option 1. Sit in a chair with your feet up above your waist and legs spread apart.

Option 2. Sit with one leg propped above your waist and the other leg resting on the floor.

Option 3. Lie on your back with legs wide apart and raised in the air so that all the waxable areas are spread taut.

Option 4. Lie on your side with the bottom leg straight out and the top leg bent at the knee and tucked behind the straight leg.

Option 5. Bend the knees and keep the legs wide apart so the genital areas are easy to work on. Put a mirror on the ground if necessary for better control.

Attempting to determine the cause for severely chapped lips is never simple. There are various causes you will need to research, rule out and note the results. Fortunately, we compiled a list of the ten most common causes of chronic chapped lips in order to give you a starting point for identification of the culprit.

1. Excess vitamin A may be the cause behind your peeling lips. Regardless of whether the source of your vitamin A comes from whole foods or supplements, taking in more than 25,000 I.U. per day might make you want to examine this further.

2. In addition to excessive vitamin A, you may be ingesting excessive Vitamin B12. The result of this is that you develop a cobalt allergy from taking your B12 supplements and develop crusty, swollen lips.

3. Often overlooked, toothpaste is a very common cause of chapped lips. Most toothpastes contain the ingredient guaiazuline, that commonly results in a contact allergy.

4. Red dye is an ingredient in numerous common products. Items like gum, candy, mouthwash, and lozenges all contain red dye that may cause an allergic reaction.

5. Metal objects like paper clips and pocket change is a very likely culprit for causing chronic chapped lips. An allergic reaction to metal may present itself on your lips.

6. Orange juice as well as any other citrus juice can irritate your lips. Citrus can cause photo-toxic reaction that appears to be chapped lips.

7. Cinnamon flavoring can produce lip chapping. This flavoring is commonly used in gum, candy, and mouthwash.

8. Lipstick containing the ingredient propyl gallate can also cause a contact allergy.

9. Various other lip care products are worth noting when it comes to narrowing in on allergic reactions. Many contain Phenylsalicylate or salol, which is commonly the cause.

10. Excessive fig consumption can also cause an allergic reaction due to photo-toxicity.

Today we’re going to talk about hidden food allergies. The first thing that it is important to understand is that there are different types of reactions to foods that we are allergic to. The most commonly understood and easily detected reaction is called a type 1 reaction or IgE reaction. With this type of reaction it is very easy to detect an allergy to a particular food. The symptoms of a Type 1 reaction are swelling of the throat, hives and an anaphylaxis type of reaction, a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic response. We are not focusing on that today because these allergies are very easily detected. The type of allergy I want to talk to you about would more likely fall into the category of food sensitivities which are the result of an entirely different immuno/ biological process altogether. One that instead of being an immediate reaction may take hours or even days to actually become apparent. This is one of the reasons that most people have trouble recognizing the relationship between the symptoms that they are experiencing with something that they ate days prior (type 3 or type 4 reactions), even though type 3 and type 4 reactions are much more common. In fact only 5 percent of the population is affected by the type 1 so that means that most are affected by the type 3 or 4 allergy which is the “hidden” type. How do you recognize whether or not you or someone you know could be experiencing a type 3 or 4 sensitivity or allergic reaction? The most common way of diagnosing such sensitivities is to undergo an elimination process where diet is severely restricted and then one by one foods are reintroduced into the diet (usually one food per week). This can take months or even years to complete!!! Until now this has been the “Gold Standard”! The news I am about to share with you is LIFE CHANGING!!! Say goodbye to the old gold standard because now there is a very simple in home test which will detect hidden food allergies! I know of a woman who suffered migraines for 18 years. She had been through test after test week after week and the doctors kept saying “there is nothing wrong” as they proceeded to prescribe another medication for her migraines. She spent thousands on these tests; in fact one of them cost her $1,200.00! After much arm twisting she took the in home test (for $99.00) and viola!!! The in home test revealed that she was allergic to foods in the mustard family. She is proceeding with the recommended protocol and I am happy to report NO MORE MIGRAINES! Another woman suffered from severe eczema for most of her life. There were times when she was house ridden for the better part of a week. After taking the in home test, she found out she was allergic to dairy. She is now on her way to living a normal life. Now I am not a doctor nor am I saying that we “cured them”. In fact that would be a felony (Thank you FDA). We simply detected the allergy and gave them the gastrointestinal support they needed to heal. Typically once the GI tract has healed itself; it has been found that the food can then be reintroduced with no further reactions! The strange thing is that this type of test has been used by physicians for years with amazing success but it isn’t promoted widely. This is because most doctors tend to focus on Type 1 allergies instead of the other 2. Let’s look at food allergies and sensitivities a little closer; shall we? In a typical type 1 the food antigens can trigger the mast cell mechanism at any point in their journey through the body. Lip, tongue, throat burning and swelling are most obvious symptoms of this. The antigen may not react in gastro intestinal tract but activate Type 1 responses in blood or target organs, especially lungs and connective tissue. The onset of “immediate reactions” may be delayed hours after eating offending foods. Major symptoms include: flushing, swelling, shortness of breath, fast heart rate, panic, pain, and confusion. What happens when dealing with a type 3 or 4 reaction (hidden sensitivity) is quite different. In this type of reaction the antibodies bind directly to the food particles themselves as they enter the blood stream. Then they form different sizes of circulating immune complex. This complex is comprised of the allergens and the antibodies that reacted to it becoming bound together and then circulating in the blood stream. It is important to understand that in this case there is a delayed reaction of symptoms not seen with the Type 1 reaction. Also unlike Type 1 reactions, type 3 and 4 are usually from a food that you eat OFTEN and even CRAVE. In fact cravings are common as are withdrawal symptoms. The numbers here are huge! It is thought that nearly 60 to 80 million Americans suffer from this type of reaction. What are the symptoms of type 3 %26 4 reactions? There are hundreds of them! (Hold on to your chair.) You know someone who is affected by this. Tinnitus, recurrent ear infections, asthma, dark circles under the eyes (allergic shiners also seen in children reacting to vaccines), chronic digestive problems (diarrhea, constipation and heartburn), spastic colon, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel, fluctuations in blood sugar, joint and muscle pain, fluid retention, brain fog and or mental confusion, irritability, eczema and many others. In fact studies have shown that even (temporary) changes in your voice or hoarseness can take place as the result of these reactions! The good news is that they are reversible but a skin test will not detect their presence. How do we end up with these reactions or sensitivities? Lack of breast feeding is one culprit. When breast feeding became unpopular asthma became epidemic. This is largely due to an immunoglobulin deficiency, as human immunoglobulin is not contained in cow’s milk. Food sensitivities of all types are far more prominent in babies who were not breast fed. Let’s think about that… When a baby is born it is meant for that baby to have mommy’s breast milk. The intestine is somewhat porous. All of the foods going through the intestine are being exposed to the blood stream in a way does not take place after weaning, when porous elements of the intestine gradually begin to close. The food that passes through the intestine from that point forward is not directly exposed to the blood as it would be in earlier years. In fact many people who have wheat allergies were fed wheat based formulas when they were infants!! It is also important to note that when genetically modified soy was introduced into the UK, soy allergies skyrocketed by 50 percent and I suspect that many other GMOs are causing allergic reactions among the unsuspecting populace at large. See the GMO Trilogy for more information on the devastating effects of genetically modified food. If you sit back and think or better yet, keep a mental note of this article, I am sure you will encounter someone you know who meets the criteria or has the symptoms mentioned above. I STRONGLY encourage you to let them see this information because it just might CHANGE THEIR LIFE! Stay tuned for next weeks’ “Custom Health 4 You News” Hidden Food Allergies Part 2. Until then… Yours in health and wellness! Tiffane If you want to learn more about hidden food sensitivities and The in home test; The Allertest visit http://www.customhealth4you.com/Allertest.html Tiffane Coe has been healing herself naturally for the past 5 years! She is a staunch opponent of CODEX ALIMENTARIUS and believes that supplements should remain legal without a prescription. Since switching to a mostly organic diet and supplementing she has not been on any form of medication including antibiotics. Her 9 year old daughter is also medication and antibiotic free for two and a half years. To learn more visit http://customhealth4you.com

Allergies in Children

Allergies in Children: Pay attention to your child%26rsquo;s reactionsChildren are prone to allergies. Children encounter many substances and are in contact with all sorts of things, thus; it is hard to determine what the child may be allergic to. Many parents may brush off an allergic reaction to a cold the child has just picked up from his school or daycare. At times, the thought of an allergy in the child is beyond the parent%26rsquo;s comprehension. They would never suggest the child may be having an allergic reaction.If a child has multiple headaches around the same time everyday or is sneezing continuously, the problem may very well be the child is having an allergic reaction.Taking the child to a doctor specializing in allergies may make the child%26rsquo;s life easier. The doctor can look closely at the symptoms and determine the cause of the allergy.Getting Your Child Tested for AllergiesAfter you have been watching your child carefully and the culprit of the reaction still cannot be determined, you may have to take the child to the allergist. After the child has been through various testing, the physician can begin a regime that will help ease the child%26rsquo;s reactions and make them more relaxed. Only a specialist in this area will be the one to determine what exactly is wrong with your child. Children can have varied allergies. While some children are allergic to foods, such as dairy products, others may have allergies to their pets. When in contact with dairy products, many may experience headaches or stomachaches. When in contact with a family pet, the child may begin sneezing or have watery eyes.Children who often play outside in the grass may complain of sneezing and watery eyes because they are allergic to grass or the trees growing in the yard. Children may even receive a reaction to certain house plants.Allergies are a common malady for children. Elimination of the things that are producing these reactions is a step in the right direction. If the family pet makes the child sneeze, you may have to get rid of your pet in order for the child to have a more comfortable life. If a child suffers from stomach cramps after eating ice cream, then they may have an allergy to dairy foods, and may have to have a dairy alternative. By learning at an early age the sources of the reactions children grow up with knowledge of what they are able to be around and what bothers them. Thus, learning this early on will help them have a happier, healthier adulthood.

These Are Some Of The Symptoms Associated With A Spider Bite

Spider bite symptoms are often variable from one person to another depending on the sensitivity of the individual. Those people who have been the victims of a spider bite often need medical treatment in order to prevent a rapid deterioration of their health condition. Sometimes a spider bite can have very few local marks and it is only identified by the symptoms. The physical reactions to a spider bite are usually classified into local and systemic; the former can be treated at home right after the occurrence of the accident, whereas the latter often require professional medical treatment in order to reduce the reaction of the body to the venom.The local symptoms associated with a spider bite include pain, itching, redness and even swelling of the area; their intensity can be reduced if a tight bandage is applied above the wound. This precaution measure is only valid in case the spider bite is located at the level of the arms or legs. One other thing you can do is to put some ice or cold water on the bite in order to reduce the discomfort and alleviate the pain. You should be concerned when the symptoms do no improve within 24 hours and there is numbness or increase in pain.The greatest risk of a spider bite is anaphylaxis: the allergic reaction to spider venom that is sometimes encountered with very sensitive people. Hives, wheezing, shortness of breath and weakness are the general symptoms associated with anaphylaxis, therefore call 911 right away if you notice any such symptoms. Other systemic reactions to spider bites include leg cramps, leg numbness, headaches, pulse changes, exhaustion and more, they are all serious enough to determine one to call the doctor right away. Hence, do not hesitate to do so in case you experience any of the above symptoms!Many of the ointments prescribed for the alleviation of the pain caused by a spider bite are often ineffectual. Reactions to spider venom vary from one person to another, and the same rule stays valid for the treatment, which is why a remedy that has worked for a person is not necessarily going to be the perfect choice for another. The doctor’s advice is therefore crucial under such circumstances since the worst scenario of a spider bite is possibly death when the action of the venom is taken to the extreme, and help can only be found in a professional medical facility. Don’t wait until things get too complex!