Posts Tagged ‘aromatherapy skin care’

Aromatherapy For Aging Skin Treatment

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Aging is the natural process of degeneration of the body. It encompasses physiological and physical changes over a period of time. The physiological aspect is marked by the reduced functionality of various biological systems of the body. While aging in itself cannot be stopped or prevented as such, physiological aging can be controlled by means of a healthy diet and lifestyle.

With regard to the physical aspect of aging, it is characterized by wrinkles, dark spots and patches on skin, weakness in muscles and bones, reduced body movement, etc. Similar to physiological aging, physical aging also cannot be cured or treated; however, the appearance of its signs can be delayed.

Essential Oils To Prevent aging of Skin

In this regard, aromatherapy can be used to prevent aging skin. Some of the essential oils that can be used to cure or delay the symptoms of aging are as follows.

  • Cranberry essential oil is one of the most effective against aging. It is a rich source of anti-oxidants, which serve to slow down the process of gradual degeneration of the skin and hence delay the formation of wrinkles and patches.
  • Another essential oil that be used to prevent or treat wrinkles is rose essential oil. It works by filling the crevices in skin that are caused by the wrinkles, resulting in smoother looking skin.
  • Lavender essential oil can also be used to inhibit the signs of aging, such as wrinkles and patches.
  • Patchouli essential oil is also an extremely effective anti-aging agent. It is most widely used to prevent wrinkles.
  • Lemon essential oil causes the regeneration of skin cells, which compensates for the loss of cells resulting from the degeneration process, thereby preventing aging.
  • Tea tree essential oil helps to eliminate the microorganisms that accumulate on the skin. Often, it is these microorganisms in the pores of the skin that act as catalyst when it comes to skin aging.
  • Germanium essential oil is effective against wrinkles, patches and dark spots.
  • Eucalyptus essential oil is considered to be highly beneficial in treating wrinkles.
  • Some of the other essential oils for aging skin treatment are lemongrass, juniper, mandarin, tangerine, sweet basil and neroli.

You can also use a blend of these essential oils to treat aging skin. However, keep in mind that you must dilute these essential oils before you apply them to your face and body. Essential oils are highly concentrated, and if used without dilution, they can have adverse effects such as skin irritation and rashes. Further, it is important that you consult an aromatherapy specialist in order to acquire a better understanding about the methods, proportions, and combinations in which these oils can be used.

Oily Skin Care Tips | Get Rid Of Oily Skin With Aromatherapy

Friday, June 18th, 2010

Everyone wants healthy and radiant looking skin. Some people are naturally blessed with good skin. However, for the rest of us, obtaining and retaining such a skin texture is not easy. You really have to care for your skin if you want a glowing and radiant complexion.

There are different skin types, including oily, dry and normal skin. Oily skin is prone to a number of microbial infections on account of the excessive secretion of oil by the sebaceous glands under the skin. Oil provides an appropriate medium for the growth of microbes on skin, causing skin problems like acne and pimples.

Aromatherapy is one of the most effective remedies to get rid of oily skin because it controls the secretion of oil by the sebaceous glands. Aromatherapy is a medicinal technique that employs concentrated plant extracts like essential oils, distillates, and hydrates to relieve various ailments and diseases. Aromatherapy is an excellent option to control oil secretion as this therapy has minimal side-effects and its beneficial effects are quite lasting.

Some of the essential oils that can be used to get rid of excessive oil from the skin are:

  • Ylang Ylang essential oil helps in regulating the oil secretion of the sebaceous glands, thereby maintaining the sebum balance of the skin. Ylang Ylang essential oil is helpful in toning excessively oily skin.
  • Tea tree essential oil is anti-microbial and antiseptic in action. It is extremely effective against acne and other microbial skin infections.
  • Clary sage essential oil reduces oil secretions on the skin and also reduces skin inflammation, thereby controlling the spread of acne.
  • Another effective essential oil to control excessive oil secretion on the skin is lavender essential oil. It is anti-microbial and regenerative in action.
  • Sandalwood essential oil also controls the excessive secretion of oil on the skin, thereby relieving acne and pimples. It also soothes the skin from inflammations caused by microbial infections of the skin due to the activity of the sebaceous glands.
  • Geranium essential oil also regulates the oil balance of skin. It controls the level of oil, thereby reducing the susceptibility of skin to microbial infections.
  • Cedarwood essential oil also helps treat acne and pimples by control the activity of sebaceous glands on the skin.

You must keep in mind that essential oils are highly concentrated and must be diluted with a carrier oil like olive oil before direct application on the skin. You should also consult an aromatherapy specialist before you use aromatherapy to control the excessive secretion of oils by the sebaceous glands on the skin.

Aromatherapy Oils For Acne Vulgaris Treatment

Friday, May 28th, 2010

There are many types of acne, the most common type being acne vulgaris which usually occurs during the teenage years. During puberty, the hormonal changes in the body lead to the secretion of excessive oil, especially on the face and neck. This excessive oil gets mixed with dead skin cells and clogs the pores. The growth of bacteria in this mixture and contact with the nearby tissues results in swelling and redness with slight pain. These lumps of oil on the skin are commonly known as acne or pimples.

Other common causes of acne vulgaris include:

  • Family history of acne and pimples.
  • Use of certain cosmetics may cause acne if such products do not suit your skin.
  • The intake of certain drugs or medicines may also result in acne. However, when you stop taking that particular medicine, the acne will disappear gradually.
  • Tropical climatic conditions may also cause acne vulgaris.
  • Emotional stress and strain is one of the most common causes responsible for acne.
  • Indigestion and constipation are other causes of acne.

Essential Oils To Cure Acne Vulgaris

Nowadays, aromatherapy is considered as one of the most effective alternative treatment therapy for curing acne and pimples. The essential oils used for curing acne through aromatherapy are:

  • Lavender essential oil
  • Tea tree essential oil
  • Olive oil
  • Helichrysum essential oil

These essential oils must be diluted with a carrier oil like jojoba oil or olive oil. Jojoba oil is one of the best carrier oils for the treatment of acne as it is not viscous and does not clog the skin pores and only provides the required moisture to the skin. These essential oils stop the growth of bacteria and other micro organisms that cause acne due to their excellent antiseptic and anti bacterial properties.

If you happen to suffer from acne vulgaris, you may take following steps to cure acne and pimples:

  • Use any of the above mentioned essential oils, diluted with jojoba or olive oil. Apply the diluted oil on the affected area and massage gently without exerting pressure on the acne, at least twice a day.
  • Wash your face with fresh water frequently and do not rub the towel on your face. Water is amphoteric in nature which neutralizes oil and retains the normal pH level of your skin.
  • Maintain a healthy life style with good eating habits. You must drink a lot of water during the day.

Before starting the treatment, do consult your health care provider.

Essential Oils For Rosacea Natural Treatment

Friday, May 7th, 2010

Rosacea is a skin condition, which is chronic in nature. This condition mostly affects adults. It is characterized by small red colored bumps on the skin which can appear either scattered or in concentrated clusters. Their presence can be seen on the face, especially around the nose. The symptoms of rosacea may improve or worsen on their own with time. However, it can recur anytime and is therefore considered a cyclical condition.

The treatment of Rosacea is often costly and intrusive. Most of the times, the treatment is not very effective too. The causes of the disease have not yet been identified, because of which exact cures have also not been found. There are however, certain factors which may have some affect on the disease. Some of these factors include sensitivity of the skin, stress, heredity, exposure to extreme temperatures, chemical exposure, food allergies, and certain drugs.

If you are already suffering from the disease, it has been seen that spicy foods, corticosteroids and alcohol can worsen the symptoms. Though the doctors have not been able to find any permanent cure for this disease, there are plenty of alternative therapies that you can try. Though these alternative therapies do not promise any results, they are free of side effects and cannot worsen your symptoms any further.

Aromatherapy For Rosacea Cure

Essential oils and aromatherapy have been successfully used to treat patients of Rosacea. Since essential oils have been historically used for skin care, it is safe to presume that they may have a better effect on skin than over-the-counter drugs. For thousands of years, aromatherapy has been used to treat skin ailments in countries like China and India. Essential oils are even used in most of the cosmetic formulations that are sold commercially.

These essential oils are pure oils, extracted from various parts of plants. They are usually applied directly on the skin where there is appearance of the disease. However, if rosacea is spread all over the body, you can add a few drops of the therapeutic oil to your bath and soak your body in it.

Some of the most effective oils for this therapy are eucalyptus oil, vetiver oil, lavender oil, chamomile oil, clary sage, tea tree oil, sandalwood oil, frankincense oil, rosewood oil, cedarwood oil and helichrysum. Make sure that these oils are of the best quality. If you use oils which are not pure or are mixed with other low grade ingredients, you may end up aggravating the symptoms.