FitSugar

Home Remedy For Poison Ivy

FitSugar — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:00:30 PDT

Try as you might to avoid its shiny and oily leaves, the blistery rash caused by contact with poison ivy, oak, or sumac can linger. One of the most common rashes for outdoorsy adults and children can be treated with a common ingredient found in your kitchen cabinet. Baking soda baths and pastes are home remedies endorsed by the American Academy of Dermatology to reduce the itch factor created by these plants.

After rinsing, not scrubbing, your skin with hot water to rinse off the oil do the following to relieve the itch. Draw a bath and add 1/2 cup of fresh baking soda (not the box that has been deodorizing your fridge) and soak for a 30 minutes. Once out of the bath, using a three to one ratio of baking soda to water, make a paste to apply to the affected area. Let the paste dry on your skin - it is believed that the baking soda pulls the caustic urushiol away from the skin, decreasing the itchiness.

If you experience a severe reaction after contact with one of these rash-producing plants, seek medical treatment. Prescription medication might be needed to reduce the swelling and itch.

Common Skin Problem: Pityriasis Rosea

FitSugar — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:00:00 PST

Skin rashes are no fun. They're itchy, irritating, and can be embarrassing. They can appear out of the blue, and you haven't the slightest clue what caused it. One such rash is known as pityriasis rosea. It occurs mostly in the Spring and Fall, so many people may be noticing it on their bodies now. This rash usually lasts for only couple of weeks, but for the unlucky few, it can last as long as three months. You'll usually see one large patch known as the herald or mother patch on the chest or back. Then within a week, smaller pink patches begin to appear on the arms, belly, legs, and neck. The patches are oval shaped, and have a distinct border.

This rash is believed to be caused by some kind of virus, but isn't contagious (phew). If you go to the doctor or dermatologist, she can diagnosis pityriasis rosea just by looking at your rash, but she may take a skin biopsy just to be sure.

An unorthodox remedy can help clear up this skin rash. To find out what it is

read more. Gentle bathing, taking antihistamines, and applying a topical hydrocortisone cream can help deal with the itchiness, but they won't make the rash go away. I would never support UV sun exposure, but apparently moderate time in the sun or indoor tanning can make the lesions disappear more quickly. Though DrSugar warns that while sun exposure can be helpful, watch out for sunburns: they can make the situation worse and most cases will resolve spontaneously without treatment. The good news is that once you get pityriasis rosea, recurrence is unusual. Have any of you ever had this rash before? Source

Cell Phones Linked to Skin Rash?

FitSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:30:00 PDT

As if worrying about cell phones causing brain cancer weren't enough, here's another thing to stress about: mobile phone dermatitis. It's basically an allergic reaction to the nickel in your cell phone. A flaky, itchy red rash can appear on your cheek or ear, but it may also show up on your fingertips if you're big into texting on metal buttons or surfing the web. Dermatologists think this condition is on the rise since people rely so heavily on cell phones now.

When 22 phones were tested from eight different manufacturers, nickel was found in 10 of them. So while not every phone is made with nickel, many are. Woman who wear metal jewelry that contains nickel, such as watches, are most likely to develop this kind of reaction, so if you're feeling a little itchy after using your cell phone, you may have a nickel allergy. If you've developed a rash, you're advised to stop using your phone and seek medical attention. Other ways to work around this issue are to place a case on your phone and/or use an ear bud. You'll be happy to know that many manufacturers are phasing out the use of nickel in their phones, so hopefully we won't have to deal with this problem for much longer.

Source

Defeat Poison Ivy With Tea Tree Oil

FitSugar — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 02:30:00 PDT

If you've ever had the misfortune of developing poison ivy rash after a hiking or camping trip, you know how positively awful that rash can be. As soon as you wash the oil from your skin, clothes and gear, you can stop worrying about the rash spreading over your body or giving it to anyone else. Just so you know, even the liquid that oozes out of the blisters isn't contagious.

So what can you do to deal with the itchy, bubbling rash that you do have? There are many topical creams like Calamine lotion that can keep the itchiness at bay, but when it comes to poison ivy, the quicker it heals, the better.

I found that pure tea tree oil works really well. It's all natural, not that expensive, and easy to find at most health food stores.

Want to know how to use it? Then

read more. Wash the area thoroughly with mild soap and water first. Let the area dry completely and then sprinkle a few drops of the tea tree oil directly on the infected areas. Use a Q-tip to spread it around. Apply twice a day, and you should see the blisters disappearing and the rash clearing up. Tea tree oil has drying properties, that's why it's also used to treat acne. It also has antifungal properties, so it's also used to heal minor cuts and scrapes, athlete's foot, and yeast infections. Fit's Tips: If you can't find tea tree oil at a store near you, order 1 oz of tea tree oil from webvitamins.com for $5.25. It's got a distinctive lemon/cedar scent and so many uses. Source and www.poison-ivy.org

Announcing the 2012 Critics' Choice Nominations

Becky Kirsch — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:05:11 PST

Award season is officially around the corner, which means the nominations are coming in droves now. The Critics' Choice nominees feature some of the same contenders we've been expecting, like The Descendants and The Artist, but also has a few surprises. Namely, Martin Scorsese's Hugo has emerged as a force to be reckoned with, leading the pack with 11 nods.

Brad Pitt's got not one but two movies up for best picture, with Moneyball and The Tree of Life, not to mention a best actor nod for himself. The Help also cleaned up with eight nominations. On a personal note, we're excited to see some of our favorite 2012 comedies getting some recognition, like The Muppets, Horrible Bosses, and of course, Bridesmaids.

The show doesn't air until 2012, but check out the full list of nominees when you

read more. BEST PICTURE The Artist The Descendants Drive Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close The Help Hugo Midnight in Paris Moneyball The Tree of Life War Horse BEST ACTOR George Clooney, The Descendants Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar Jean Dujardin, The Artist Michael Fassbender, Shame Ryan Gosling, Drive Brad Pitt, Moneyball BEST ACTRESS Viola Davis, The Help Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin Charlize Theron, Young Adult Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn See the rest of the list when you read more. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn Albert Brooks, Drive Nick Nolte, Warrior Patton Oswalt, Young Adult Christopher Plummer, Beginners Andy Serkis, Rise of the Planet of the Apes BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Bérénice Bejo, The Artist Jessica Chastain, The Help Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids Carey Mulligan, Shame Octavia Spencer, The Help Shailene Woodley, The Descendants BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS Asa Butterfield, Hugo Elle Fanning, Super 8 Thomas Horn, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Ezra Miller, We Need to Talk About Kevin Saoirse Ronan, Hanna Shailene Woodley, The Descendants BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE The Artist Bridesmaids The Descendants The Help The Ides of March BEST DIRECTOR Stephen Daldry, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist Alexander Payne, The Descendants Nicolas Winding Refn, Drive Martin Scorsese, Hugo Steven Spielberg, War Horse BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY The Artist – Michel Hazanavicius 50/50 – Will Reiser Midnight in Paris – Woody Allen Win Win – Tom McCarthy, Story by Tom McCarthy and Joe Tiboni Young Adult – Diablo Cody BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY The Descendants – Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close – Eric Roth The Help – Tate Taylor Hugo – John Logan Moneyball – Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, Story by Stan Chervin BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY The Artist – Guillaume Schiffman Drive – Newton Thomas Sigel Hugo – Robert Richardson The Tree of Life – Emmanuel Lubezki War Horse – Janusz Kaminski BEST ART DIRECTION The Artist – Production Designer: Laurence Bennett, Art Director: Gregory S. Hooper Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 – Production Designer: Stuart Craig, Set Decorator: Stephenie McMillan Hugo – Production Designer: Dante Ferretti, Set Decorator: Francesca Lo Schiavo The Tree of Life – Production Designer: Jack Fisk, Art Director: David Crank War Horse – Production Designer: Rick Carter, Set Decorator: Lee Sandales BEST EDITING The Artist – Michel Hazanavicius and Anne-Sophie Bion Drive – Matthew Newman The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo – Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall Hugo – Thelma Schoonmaker War Horse – Michael Kahn BEST COSTUME DESIGN The Artist – Mark Bridges The Help – Sharen Davis Hugo – Sandy Powell Jane Eyre – Michael O’Connor My Week With Marilyn – Jill Taylor BEST MAKEUP Albert Nobbs Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 The Iron Lady J. Edgar My Week With Marilyn BEST VISUAL EFFECTS Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Hugo Rise of the Planet of the Apes Super 8 The Tree of Life BEST SOUND Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Hugo Super 8 The Tree of Life War Horse BEST ANIMATED FEATURE The Adventures of Tintin Arthur Christmas Kung Fu Panda 2 Puss in Boots Rango BEST ACTION MOVIE Drive Fast Five Hanna Rise of the Planet of the Apes Super 8 BEST COMEDY Bridesmaids Crazy, Stupid, Love Horrible Bosses Midnight in Paris The Muppets BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM In Darkness Le Havre A Separation The Skin I Live In Where Do We Go Now? BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Buck Cave of Forgotten Dreams George Harrison: Living in the Material World Page One: Inside the New York Times Project Nim Undefeated BEST SONG “Hello, Hello” – performed by Elton John and Lady Gaga/written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin – Gnomeo & Juliet “Life’s a Happy Song” – performed by Jason Segel, Amy Adams, and Walter/written by Bret McKenzie – The Muppets “The Living Proof” – performed by Mary J. Blige/written by Mary J. Blige, Thomas Newman, and Harvey Mason, Jr. – The Help “Man or Muppet” – performed by Jason Segel and Walter/written by Bret McKenzie – The Muppets “Pictures in My Head” – performed by Kermit and the Muppets/written by Jeannie Lurie, Aris Archontis, and Chen Neeman – The Muppets BEST SCORE The Artist – Ludovic Bource Drive – Cliff Martinez The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo – Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Hugo – Howard Shore War Horse – John Williams

Running With a Bun in the Oven

Jenny Sugar — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 18:30:06 PST

When I became pregnant with my first, it was important to keep up with my healthy lifestyle. Running was always a big part of my exercise routine, so if you were an avid runner who now has a baby on the way, here are some tips for keeping up with your running routine.

As soon as you find out you're expecting, talk to your OB about continuing with running. Chances are your doc will encourage you to stick with it, but it's always good to be cautious when it comes to your growing baby.
Don't expect to do what you used to do pre-pregnancy. You'll probably need to slow down your pace, take it easy on hills, stick to even terrain to prevent falling, take breaks often, and decrease your distance.
Along the same lines, don't push yourself too hard physically. This is a time to maintain your fitness level, so signing up for your first full marathon isn't the best idea.
Listen to your body from day to day. Throughout your pregnancy, there may be days (or weeks) when you may not be feeling well or energetic enough for a four-mile run, so wogging - doing a combination of jogging and walking - may be a better option. Run (or wog) on days you feel like it, and walk on days you don't.
Your body is going through many changes physically with all the growing and expanding it's doing, so while running, stop if you feel a pull, twinge, pain, or cramp.

For more tips on running while pregnant, keep reading.

Cell Phone Rashes Give Reason to Drop a Call

Michele Foley — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 03:00:24 PST

If using a cell phone leaves you with a rash along your jaw, cheek, or ear, chances are that you're probably allergic to nickel. While nickel allergies are nothing new, doctors are just beginning to see a trend that they're calling "cell phone rash." And thanks to unlimited data plans and less use of landlines, both the rash and cell phone usage are on the rise.

Symptoms of "cell phone rash" include red, bumpy, irritated areas of the skin where it has come in contact with the nickel parts of a cell phone. And because nickel allergies are higher in women, it's a good idea for all of us to be aware of the rash in case symptoms start to develop.

Try an OTC corticosteroid, protective case on your phone, and use a hands-free set. And if you can, keep cell phone calls to a minimum and check with your doctor if the rash persists.

Spring Danger: First Exposure to Sun

FitSugar — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:30:01 PDT

I'm definitely feeling Spring fever now that the snow around me is melting and the temperatures are reaching in the 50s. It's inspiring me to exercise outdoors and take walks on my lunch break. If Spring is calling you outside as well, I need to act like a mom here for a sec and tell you to be careful of the sun's rays. In the Winter months, most of us have our skin covered by coats and mittens, and our face is probably the only thing exposed. Hopefully, you've already been wearing a daily moisturizer that contains SPF protection, but when you step out into the Spring sunshine for the first time in less clothing, your skin isn't used to the sun's strong rays. That can spell danger for anyone, especially those with pale or sensitive skin. Sunburn isn't the only thing you need to worry about, so keep reading

So You Didn't Shave . . . Ways to Still Work Out

Heather Dale — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:32:55 PDT

Two things that always manage to keep me from going to the gym: hairy legs and hairy armpits. Like most people who say that time (or lack thereof) is the primary reason they can't make it to the gym as often as they'd like, I too, will often use the "time" excuse. It's often used when I take one look at my hairy legs and say - "nope, not enough time to shave, which unfortunately means I won't be able to go to the gym today."

I know, this is a lame excuse on my part, which is why I've come up with ways to make sure my legs are prepped for the gym, and/or my armpits are hair-free for yoga, and b) get my butt to the gym even if I'm not smooth shaven. Without further ado, here are some tips for never having to use the "hair-removal time excuse" again.

Mark your calendar. Pick a day or two each week to devout precious shower time to shaving your legs. You already have to shower for work, so make it a priority to shave your legs as well. This way, your legs will always be smooth and ready for your gym shorts . . . no hair freak-outs required.

Keep reading for more tips.

Oversensitive Tots: 8 Products to Soothe Sensitive Skin

LilSugar — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:01:07 PDT

Stop scratching! Kids with sensitive skin - and their parents - know that dry, itchy, or painful skin is no joke. There's no one cause of sensitive skin. It can be hereditary, caused by harsh products, or simply from spending time outside in the cold Winter or the hot Summer. Oversensitive kiddos aren't doomed to a season full of scratching. These products will help soothe their irritated epidermis, leaving everyone (and everything) a lot calmer.

Clockwise from top left:

Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Chamomile & Argan Oil Baby Head-to-Toe Ointment ($10): A good rule of thumb when looking for a kids' moisturizer is the greasier the better. Ointments are better than creams, which are better than lotions. Part of SheaMoisture's Organic Raw Shea Butter Baby Collection, this ointment combines the hydrating properties of shea butter with argan oil, which is naturally high in skin-softening Vitamin E. This is an amazingly multitasking product; it works great on baby's chapped lips, cheeks, hands, arms, and legs.
Dr. Sears Baby Wipes ($3): Developed by everyone's favorite cosleeping enthusiast, Dr. Sears, these wipes are made with biodegradable, ultrasoft bamboo fabric, an incredibly gentle way to clean babies' delicate bum.
Gentle Naturals Eczema Baby Wash ($5): Eczema is an extremely common, and uncomfortable skin ailment, for which there's no known cure. It's essentially a really bad, itchy rash, which can be red, rough, scaly, and oozing. It can't be cured, but there are ways to treat and prevent eczema flareups. It's especially important to use a mild cleanser, like this baby wash by Gentle Naturals - made with aloe, calendula, jojoba, and vitamins A, D, and E to gently cleanse, moisturize, and soothe itchy skin.
C.O. Bigelow Lotio Mentholus No. 002 ($25): Seriously itchy kids will get real relief from this nonprescription medicated cream - not recommended for kids under 2 years old.
Dr. Smith's Premium Blend Diaper Ointment ($13): Diaper rash is the most common skin ailment suffered by infants, and it can get bad. Applying a generous layer of a good, thick diaper cream like Dr. Smith's will create a barrier between baby's tender bum and the offending, rash-causing moisture
Earth's Best TenderCare Chlorine Free Diapers: One of the first recommendations doctors make when a baby has diaper rash is to try switching to a different brand of diapers. Made with soft, cloth-like, chlorine-free materials, these Earth's Best diapers are free of any latex, dyes, and perfumes, which can all cause major irritation.
Madii & Dyl Luxe Cleansing Flannels ($15): Specifically formulated for tots with skin issues, these cleansing flannels are super soft. The air spun cloth is made from eco friendly materials.
Carter's Sensitive Skin Baby Shampoo + Body Wash Duo ($8): Classic kiddie brand Carters recently launched a line of baby bath and body products - all chemical free and hypoallergenic. This moisturizing cleanser is made without any dyes or fragrances, leaving babies clean, moisturized, and comfortable.