Getting rid of cellulite is a battle for most women. Cellulite affects 95 percent of women. Often it seems cellulite is a constant battle. We fight it, deny it, and cover it up. But we get cellulite anyway and it stinks.

Cellulite is fat that appears as dimpled skin on the thighs, hips and buttocks. Cellulite develops in the subcutaneous fat layers and occurs when fat cells push against the skin while the tough fibrous connective cords are pulling downward. This creates uneven puckering or dimpling of the skin. However, there are natural remedies to help reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Cellulite Symptoms

Some signs and symptoms of cellulite include:
• Appearance of dimpled or bumpy skin—on thighs, buttocks, breasts, lower and upper arms
• Skin has cottage cheese or orange-peel texture
• Feeling tenderness or tightness in the affected area
• Feels the dimpling while standing
• In mild cases, dimpling appears when skin is pinched
• In severe cases, skin an bumpy and has peaks and valleys

You can check to see if you have cellulite by pinching the skin around your upper thigh or buttock. If the skin appears lumpy, you probably have cellulite.

Cellulite Risk Factors

Cellulite affects more women than men because women’s fat is usually distributed around the thighs, hips and buttocks (where we normally find cellulite).

Some factors that play in role in developing cellulite:
• Genetics—cellulite tends to run in families
• Hormones—progesterone and estrogen can led to the formation of cellulite
• Stress—causes more adrenaline to be produced in the body, which is a major cause of cellulite
• Weight gain—makes cellulite more noticeable, but cellulite can be found in lean people
• Inactive lifestyle—this can cause cellulite to form due to poor circulation
• Pregnancy—hormones and fluid retention rapidly increase and lead to cellulite

Cellulite Home Remedies and Tips

Try the following tips to reduce cellulite:

• Drink an adequate amount of water to keep your body hydrated.
• Try a detox diet that is low in fat and high in fiber to help combat your cellulite woes. Eat lots of healthy fruits and vegetables while reducing your intake of alcohol, coffee, pop and cigarette smoke. A high-fiber diet will help to improve your digestive process. Make sure your diet is low in fat, high in fiber and incorporates fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
• Exercise regularly to improve blood circulation while firming your body tissue. Maintain a healthy weight. Those who are carrying around excess weight are more likely to develop cellulite.
• Reduce salt consumption to avoid water retention.
• Relax by taking hot bubble baths or meditating.
• Avoid stress or aggravation in your life.
• Yoga teaches you how to breathe deeply and gives your muscles a good stretch. It helps to calm down your muscles and relax you. Cellulite accumulates when your muscles become tense, which can happen when you’re stressed, so it’s important to stay calm.
• Those who are constipated on a regular basis normally have cellulite. Eat plenty of high-fiber foods like green vegetables and grains to help your meals move quickly through your digestive tract.
• Put your feet up and keep your legs elevated when resting.

To reduce cellulite, you may follow the below listed home and natural remedies:
• Drink several cups of green tea a day.
• Take a bath with 2 cups of sea salt in warm water for about 20 minutes. This will like your skin feeling silky smooth.
• Dry-brush your skin with a soft body brush on damp or dry skin to help improve circulation. Rotate the brush in a circular motion from head to toe or on cellulite-ridden areas. Use long sweeping motions over the affected area and work in the direction of the heart.
• Drink 3 glasses of freshly squeezed lemons in 1 cup water and a pinch of cayenne pepper day. This will also melt away the cellulite.
• Mix rosemary and fennel oils and rub on the cellulite-afflicted area daily.
• Some essential oils such as cedarwood, juniper and patchouli are effective in treating cellulite.
• Grind caffeinated coffee into a powder and mix it with cheap hand lotion. Rub this into those dimpled areas for 60 seconds a day and then rinse off.

—Nolan

Do you have any home remedies for cellulite? Comment and tell us!

I always thought that cracked heels (or heel fissures) meant that I was in desperate need of moisturizer. However, cracked heels are more of a foot care maintenance problem. Heel fissures can also appear due to a deficiency in vitamins, minerals, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids.

Cracked heels occur when the thickened skin becomes very dry and splits due to the pressure of standing or walking. Some people, like me, have dry skin (xerosis) which makes them more likely to develop cracks. Cracks in the skin can occur around the rim of the heel and the web of your toes. Cracked heels can occur on one or both feet, but usually affect both feet.

It’s important to pay attention to the condition of your feet and not to neglect them. If the cracks in your heels start to bleed, you could develop an infection.

Risk Factors

Some common risk factors for cracked heels include:

• Standing for prolonged periods of time, especially on hard floors
• Skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis
• Being overweight which increases the pressure on the fat tissue under your heel
• Wearing open back shoes which causes the fat beneath your heel to expand sideways and increases the pressure to crack
• Certain medical conditions that cause dry skin—psoriasis, athlete’s foot, thyroid disease, diabetes

Cracked Heels Symptoms

The most common symptoms include:

• Peeling and flaking of skin
• Skin feels tight and painful
• Skin appears yellow or brown and may become inflamed due to itching and scratching
• Dry skin becomes thick and hard, usually around the edges of the heels
• Feet become painful when walking
• Discomfort is increased when walking barefoot, in thin sole shoes or open back shoes
• Bleeding may occur if the cracks are deep
• Dry and cracked skin is prone to bacteria and fungal infections which can cause serious problems

Home remedies for Cracked Heels

• Try an oil-based moisturizer 2 times a day. You can even use shortening or hydrogenated vegetable oil after you wash your feet. After applying cream or shortening, put on some thick socks and leave them on overnight. You will see results in a few days.
• Use a pumice stone to reduce the thickness of the hardened skin.
• Apply banana pulp to the cracked skin, leave on for 10 minutes and wash it clean.
• Melt paraffin wax and mix it with some mustard oil. Put this mixture on the dry or cracked area of your heels and rinse it off in the morning. Using this method for 15 days can provide you with desirable results.
• Cracked heels can occur due to a deficiency of vitamins, minerals, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are not produced naturally by the body and need to be ingested from either food or supplements. You can find omega-3 fatty acids in flax seeds, cold water fish and purslane herb.

Warning:
Do not try to cut off the hard skin with a razor blade or scissors—you will increase your risk of infection.

Foot Care Tips

• Always keep your feet clean and free of dirt
• Exercise your feet on a daily basis
• Wash, moisturize and exfoliate your feet regularly
• Check your feet for any changes in condition
• Try not to walk barefoot

—Nolan

Do you have any home remedies for cracked heels? Comment and tell us!

Paper cuts are quite frustrating. As a writing tutor, I’ve handled several papers and experienced many paper cuts over the years. Often it’s the minor injuries that hurt the most. Whether thumbing through a stack of papers or a book, paper cuts are inevitable.

A paper cut doesn’t necessarily need to be caused by paper. Other thin, stiff materials can slice your skin similarly—blades of grass, aluminum foil and so on.

Although similar to a cut from a razor blade, paper cuts leave behind chemical material (the substance that coats the paper) such as bleach that can sting. This material as well as bacteria and other particles stay in the wound and stimulate the skin’s pain receptors. The cut is normally shallow and doesn’t bleed much, but that means the pain receptors are exposed to air which only adds to the pain.

Paper Cut Symptoms

A paper cut can easily become red, infected, swollen and may throb if not properly treated.

Home remedies for Paper Cuts

Here’s the initial course of action for paper cuts:

1. Wash the area thoroughly with water and antibacterial soap
2. Apply antibiotic ointment—reapply 3 times daily
3. Bandage

Use iodine to cut down the pain and help heal the wound.

Try a slice of raw potatoe—hold it on the cut for a while to draw out the inflammation and reduce your discomfort.

Some dermatologists think that Krazy Glue is safe to use for small cuts (and in small quantities) for a limited amount of time. There is however, the obvious downfall to this method—don’t get yourself stuck to something!

Despite my strange addiction to Chapstick, I’ve only recently heard of people rubbing Chapstick on their paper cuts to heal them right away. Seem like it might work, but I probably wouldn’t use one with a lot of chemicals or fragrances.

—Nolan

Do you have any home remedies for a paper cuts? Comment and tell us!

Dark underarms have you down?

Now that the weather is getting nicer, don’t be afraid to go sleeveless, even if you have fair skin. There are some very simple things you can do right at home to lighten your underarms, and it won’t break the bank to do it either.

Word of caution.  If you know for a fact that any of the ingredients in these home remedies irritate your skin, do not try it or consult your physician before trying.

What causes dark underarms?

The most typical causes of dark underarms include:
• Excessive sweating
• Regular shaving
• Improper skin washing
• Dead skin cell buildup
• Friction from adjacent skin or tight clothing
• Daily use of antiperspirants

Home remedies for dark underarms

The best and most frequently used home remedy for dark underarms is lemon. Simply cut large circles of lemon and rub them against your armpits for a couple minutes. Citrus acts as a natural skin bleaching chemical to lighten your skin.

Make a paste from a pinch of turmeric, lime juice and cucumber juice. Apply the paste to the skin of your armpit and rinse after 15 minutes.

Also try using alum powder, cornstarch or baking soda in lieu of an antiperspirant. It’s the aluminum in antiperspirants that can turn your underarms dark.

Apply a paste of rose water and sandalwood powder under your arm. Let dry and then rinse off. Continue to wash your armpits with coconut oil afterward.

Drop the razor and reach for the wax. Waxing your armpits removes not only unwanted hair, but dead skin cell buildup that can be turning your armpits dark.

Don’t wear clothes made from synthetic materials. Choosing shirts that are made of 100% cotton will keep your underarm skin from chafing and turning dark. It will also cut down on excessive sweating.

If your skin is rubbing and chafing in the area around your armpits, losing weight may help. Trimming fat will reduce the rubbing and in turn reduce the darkness under your arms.

–Magdalena

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Retained water has a name? I should have known. Edema I’ve heard of—dropsy, not so much. I think I associated edema with anemia, and thought it was a blood disorder. My uncle, while battling esophageal cancer, swelled up like a balloon. He was dehydrated from lack of food and water, it being too painful for him to eat. My cousin brought him some ice chips from his automatic ice maker, not realizing the amount of salt in the water due to the water softener. His feet swelled to the size of a football. I also didn’t know how painful it could be, and hopefully I’ll never have to experience it.

What is Edema?

Edema, formerly known as dropsy or hydropsy, is swelling due to an increase of fluid in the body tissues or organs, a non-inflammatory condition. It can occur in any part of the body, but is most common in the ankles, feet and legs (peripheral edema).

Swelling occurs when excess fluid accumulates under the skin in the spaces within the body tissues. All body tissues are made up of cells and connective tissues that hold the cells together. The interstitium is the connective tissue around the cells and blood vessels. There are two spaces outside of the cells where most of the body’s fluid is normally stored; the blood vessels (the serum part of the blood), and the interstitial spaces (not within the cells). A surplus of fluid can build up in either one or both of these sections. (Brief biology lesson is officially over!)

In addition to the ankles, feet and legs, edema can occur in organs of the body. The organs of the body also have interstitial spaces. An accrual in the alveoli (interstitial air spaces) in the lungs is a disorder called pulmonary edema. The so-called third space can also accumulate excess fluid, and includes the area in the abdomen (peritoneal cavity called “ascites”) or the chest (lung or pleural cavity called “pleural effusion”). Widespread accumulation of fluid in all the tissues and cavities of the body at the same time is called anasarca.

Symptoms of Edema

• Skin over the swollen area may be stretched and shiny

• Applying pressure may leave an indentation

• Swelling is worst at the end of the day or after sitting or standing for extended periods

• Increased size of abdomen (with ascites)

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (pulmonary edema)

Causes of Edema

There are two main types of edema: pitting edema and non-pitting edema, pitting edema being the most common form. The difference is as the titles sound. In pitting edema, an indentation will form and remain for some time when applying pressure with a finger to the swollen area. Sock band elastic can cause this type of pitting. Non-pitting edema doesn’t cause the same type of indentation when applying the same sort of pressure. It usually affects the legs or arms. Certain disorders of the lymphatic system such as lymphedema (a disturbance of the lymphatic circulation which may occur after a mastectomy, lymph node surgery, or congenitally) can cause non-pitting edema. Hyperthyroidism can cause swelling over the shins which is another cause of non-pitting edema of the legs.

The most common causes of edema include:

• Eating too much salt

• Sunburn

• Heart failure

• Kidney disease

• Liver problems from cirrhosis

• Pregnancy

• Problems with lymph nodes, especially after mastectomy

• Some medicines

• Standing or walking a lot, especially when the weather is hot

Home Remedies for Edema

Edema can’t be cured; the underlying condition needs to be treated. Consult with a physician to find the root cause of the swelling. However, there are some things you can do to help keep down the swelling and make yourself more comfortable.

• Place a pillow under your legs when you are lying down.

• Wear support stockings. These can be found at most drug stores. They work by putting pressure on your legs, and keep the water from collecting in your legs and ankles.

• Don’t sit or stand too long without moving around.

• Limit the amount of salt you eat.

• Eat brown rice daily for a couple of weeks while symptoms in legs and ankles persist.

• Eat only apple sauce and plain (whole grain) rice once a week. Drink only water or herbal tea while symptoms persist.

• For topical ointment: Soak 2 teaspoons of mustard seeds in warm water. Rub the solution on the affected area(s). Or you can buy mustard oil from your local health food store.

If you think you have edema, consult with your physician as soon as possible. This is especially true for pregnant women. Edema left untreated will continue to stretch your skin which will lead to more problems. In dealing with edema also:

• Protect any swollen areas from additional pressure, injury, and extreme temperatures. Injury to the skin over swollen areas takes longer to heal and is more likely to become infected.

• Call your doctor immediately if you experience any pain, redness, or heat in a swollen area; have an open sore; or experience shortness of breath or swelling of only one limb.

-Anne

Do you have any home remedies for Edema? Comment and share them with us!