Natural Home Treatments For large Pores

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Enlarged pores can cause your complexion to be very unattractive and unsightly. The two main causes of larger pores are your age and unfortunately genetics. Large pores are likely to run in your family, so if you have an immediate family member who suffered with large pores when they were young, the chances are you will too.

Pores are imperative to skin to provide it with natural oil keeping your skin’s moisture up so it remains soft, supple and youthful looking. Pores become a problem once they become inflamed or blocked with dirt and bacteria making them expand more than normal and resulting in noticeable pores. If you were born very oily thick skin, your pores will be more conspicuous.

Pores can never really be shrunk per sé, but they can be made a lot less prominent. Age, exposure to too much sunlight and a decrease in the skin’s elasticity can cause the pores to dilate. When your skin thickens, tiny cells collect around the edge of the pores which gives them an enlarged appearance. Blackheads promote large pores as when the pores become blocked with dirt and bacteria; oil within the pore starts to collect which makes the width of the pore expand.

There are no permanent methods of shrinking large pores but cleansing the pores of all the excess dirt, debris and bacteria will reduce their visibility greatly. Listed below are some excellent, natural home treatments for pores that anyone can implement to reduce the appearance of open pores.

  • Apply tomato juice onto the skin regularly with a cotton wool ball for about 20 minutes. This effectively helps to reduce the size of the pores by shrinking them. Tomato juice mixed with calamine powder or sandalwood powder helps to tone up the skin helping reducing the size of the pores. It will also help to reduce the production of sebum resulting in smaller pores.
  • Whipped egg white mixed with a little lemon juice when applied as a face pack is excellent for improving skin tone, complexion and helps to reduce pore size.
  • Mashed papaya applied on the skin helps in toning the pores. You can directly apply a mashes papaya on your skin or can put it on cotton wool and gently cleanse the skin. When you are ready to remove the papaya simply rinse your face with luke- warm water.
  • Honey is very medicinal and has many health giving properties and is excellent for the skin. Honey reduces oiliness in the skin and helps to tone up the pores. It can either be used as part of a facemask with a little lemon and sugar added to it or applied straight to the skin and massaged gently before rinsing off after a few minutes.
  • A quick an fuss free way to minimise pores, especially If you are going out and do not have much time is to rub an ice cube wrapped in a cloth over the offending area. This quickly shrinks the pore and reduces the production of oil temporarily for a few hours.

Most Common Type of Eczema

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Eczema (From Greek ἔκζεμα ēkzema, 'to boil over') is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin).

The term eczema refers to a set of clinical characteristics that prevents the skin to function to its fullest. Through the years, classification of this skin diseases has been haphazard and unsystematic, with many synonyms used to describe the same skin health condition. A type of eczema may be described by location (e.g., hand eczema), by specific appearance (eczema craquele or discoid), or by possible cause (varicose eczema).

The Most Common Type of Eczema Ordered by Frequency of Occurence.

  •     Atopic eczema (aka infantile e., flexural e., atopic dermatitis) is an allergic disease believed to have a hereditary component and often runs in families whose members also have asthma. Itchy rash is particularly noticeable on head and scalp, neck, inside of elbows, behind knees, and buttocks. Experts are urging doctors to be more vigilant in weeding out cases that are, in actuality, irritant contact dermatitis. It is very common in developed countries, and rising.
  •     Contact dermatitis is of two types: allergic (resulting from a delayed reaction to some allergen, such as poison ivy or nickel), and irritant (resulting from direct reaction to a detergent, such as sodium lauryl sulfate, for example). Some substances act both as allergen and irritant (wet cement, for example). Other substances cause a problem after sunlight exposure, bringing on phototoxic dermatitis. About three quarters of cases of contact eczema are of the irritant type, which is the most common occupational skin disease. Contact eczema is curable, provided the offending substance can be avoided and its traces removed from one’s environment.
  •     Xerotic eczema (aka asteatotic e., e. craquele or craquelatum, winter itch, pruritus hiemalis) is dry skin that becomes so serious it turns into eczema. It worsens in dry winter weather, and limbs and trunk are most often affected. The itchy, tender skin resembles a dry, cracked, river bed. This disorder is very common among the older population. Ichthyosis is a related disorder.
  •     Seborrhoeic dermatitis or Seborrheic dermatitis (“cradle cap” in infants) is a condition sometimes classified as a form of eczema that is closely related to dandruff. It causes dry or greasy peeling of the scalp, eyebrows, and face, and sometimes trunk. The condition is harmless except in severe cases of cradle cap. In newborns it causes a thick, yellow crusty scalp rash called cradle cap, which seems related to lack of biotin and is often curable.
  •     Dyshidrosis (aka dyshidrotic e., pompholyx, vesicular palmoplantar dermatitis, housewife’s eczema) only occurs on palms, soles, and sides of fingers and toes. Tiny opaque bumps called vesicles, thickening, and cracks are accompanied by itching, which gets worse at night. A common type of hand eczema, it worsens in warm weather.
  •     Discoid eczema (aka nummular e., exudative e., microbial e.) is characterized by round spots of oozing or dry rash, with clear boundaries, often on lower legs. It is usually worse in winter. Cause is unknown, and the condition tends to come and go.
  •     Venous eczema (aka gravitational e., stasis dermatitis, varicose e.) occurs in people with impaired circulation, varicose veins and edema, and is particularly common in the ankle area of people over 50. There is redness, scaling, darkening of the skin and itching. The disorder predisposes to leg ulcers.
  •     Dermatitis herpetiformis (aka Duhring’s Disease) causes intensely itchy and typically symmetrical rash on arms, thighs, knees, and back. It is directly related to celiac disease, can often be put into remission with appropriate diet, and tends to get worse at night.
  •     Neurodermatitis (aka lichen simplex chronicus, localized scratch dermatitis) is an itchy area of thickened, pigmented eczema patch that results from habitual rubbing and scratching. Usually there is only one spot. Often curable through behavior modification and anti-inflammatory medication. Prurigo nodularis is a related disorder showing multiple lumps.
  •     Autoeczematization (aka id reaction, autosensitization) is an eczematous reaction to an infection with parasites, fungi, bacteria or viruses. It is completely curable with the clearance of the original infection that caused it. The appearance varies depending on the cause. It always occurs some distance away from the original infection.
  •     There are also eczemas overlaid by viral infections (e. herpeticum, e. vaccinatum), and eczemas resulting from underlying disease (e.g. lymphoma). Eczemas originating from ingestion of medications, foods, and chemicals, have not yet been clearly systematized. Other rare eczematous disorders exist in addition to those listed here.

 

Special Role of Tea Tree Oil in Almost All Skin Diseases

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Tea Tree Plantation

Botanically known as Melaleuca alternifolia, Cheel or tea tree (Family: Myrtaceae) is a small tree native to Australia. The leaves of the plant used medicinally are the source of valuable therapeutic oil. The essential oil is obtained by steam distillation of leaves. The main constituent in tea tree essential oil is terpin-4-ol, present in concentrations of 40% or more. Tea tree oil is effective against a wide range of organisms including twenty seven of the 32 strains of P. acnes. It has good penetration and is non-irritating to the skin.

Use of the oil itself, as opposed to the unextracted plant material, did not become common practice until researcher Arthur Penfold published the first reports of its antimicrobial activity in a series of papers in the 1920s and 1930s. In evaluating the antimicrobial activity of M. alternifolia, tea tree oil was rated as 11 times more active than phenol.

What Tea Tree Oil Is Used For

• Tea tree oil is often used externally as an antibacterial or antifungal treatment.
• Tea tree oil is used for a number of conditions including acne, athlete’s foot, nail fungus, wounds, and infections.
• Other applications for tea tree oil include use for lice, oral candidiasis (thrush), cold sores, dandruff, and skin lesions.

Special role of tea tree oil in almost all skin disorders

Tea Tree Oil is considered a universal remedy for acne, eczema, skin infections like herpes, wounds, warts, burns, insect bites and nail mycosis.

According to a recent review on the use of plants in cosmetics, Tea Tree Oil is widely employed in skin care for the treatment of sores, blisters, spots, rashes, warts, burns and acne.

Studies & research that prove effectiveness of tea tree oil in acne treatment

One study performed at the Prince Alfred Hospital in Australia (published in The Medical Journal of Australia) revealed tea tree oil`s ability to perform just as well as a common over-the-counter acne treatment, without the side effects.
This clinical trial was done on 124 patients to evaluate the efficacy and skin tolerance of 5% tea-tree oil gel in the treatment of mild to moderate acne when compared with 5% benzoyl peroxide lotion.

The results of this study showed that both 5% tea-tree oil and 5% benzoyl peroxide had a significant effect in ameliorating the patients` acne by reducing the number of inflamed and non-inflamed lesions (open and closed comedones), although the onset of action in the case of tea-tree oil was slower. Encouragingly, fewer side effects were experienced by patients treated with tea-tree oil.

Skin Health ‘Red Flags’ Conditions

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Nurses working in any clinical setting require the skills to identify which skin conditions require immediate emergency referral or a response by other practitioners with appropriate advance practice skills and the relevant scope of practice. Some of the key ‘red flag’ conditions, which require prompt medical referral, are listed below:

  • Viral rashes if systemically unwell
  • Any rash that is purpuric in nature
  • Any rash associated with either temperature, multi-lymphadenitis headaches or stiffness of neck
  • Insect bites or stings that have a significant area of cellulitis or signs of vascular tracking
  • If the swelling from insect bites or stings compromises the patient’s airway (to the face or neck)
  • Any sign of pharyngeal/facial swelling, difficulty in breathing or anaphylactic reaction
  • Shingles: herpes zoster
  • Raised skin lesions that show signs of infection

Acute dermatological situations which require a rapid treatment response include adverse drug reactions (e.g. toxic epidermal necrosis), herpes simplex affecting the eye, erythrodermic psoriasis – which is a very severe skin condition where there is a risk of shock and death and blistering disorders (e.g. epidermolysis bullosa) and where there is a significant disruption to the skin barrier

Skin Diagnostic Aids Used in Clinical Pratice

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A range of technological and other diagnostic aids are available. Those listed below are typically used in clinical practice.

Dermatoscopy

A Polarized light dermatoscope used iin dermatoscopy

It is also known as dermoscopy. This technique refers to the examination of the skin using skin surface microscopy. A dermatoscope (or dermoscope) is a device used for the examination of cutaneous lesions. It has a hand-held device with a magnifier with either cross-polarized or non-polarized light or a liquid medium of oil between the instrument and the skin to illuminate a lesion without glare from reflected light. The device is useful for examining pigmented lesions such as naevi and potential malignant lesions such as melanomas. There are specific dermoscopic patterns that aid in the diagnosis of the following pigmented skin lesions such as melanomas, moles (benign melanocytic naevi), freckles (lentigos), atypical naevi, seborrhoeic keratosis and pigmented basal cell carcinomas. Evidence suggests that while dermatoscopy improves the diagnostic accuracy for melanoma compared to the unaided eye, it requires sufficient training and is not recommended for untrained users.

Wood’s light

Wood’s light is a lamp emitting long-wave UVA used to examine pigmentary changes in the skin and fluorescent infections. This ultraviolet light source is used to screen for the fungal infection, tinea capitis; however, only certain species fluoresce (green) (Microsporum canis and Μ. audouinii). Other uses include highlighting patches of pityriasis versicolor caused by Pityrosorum yeast which fluoresces yellow; erythrasma, a bacterial infection affecting the skin folds, caused by Corynebacterium fluoresces green and vitiligo which delineates patches which can be otherwise missed.

Mycology

Mycology can be used to identify superficial fungal infections including yeasts (candidiasis and pityriasis versicolor), dermatophytes (ringworm/ tinea – tinea unguium) or moulds (e.g. Scopulariopsis) using scales scraped from the edge of a scaly lesion, nails using a blunt instrument such as blunt scalpel blade or blunt edge of a stitch cutter. Scrapings of scale should be taken from the leading edge of the rash (as this is where active spores are most likely to be found) after the skin has been cleaned with alcohol, such as surgical spirit or 70% alcohol. This minimises contamination and is an aid to microscopy if greasy ointments or powders have been applied. Samples can be collected on kits providing black paper envelopes (e.g. Dermapak), which can be easily transferred to the lab. It is essential to have an adequate sample and provide full clinical details if the test is to be successful; whilst the precise quantity is difficult to quantify, as a general rule it is worth including as much material as possible so that full laboratory investigations can be carried out. It is always useful to have enough skin or nail to repeat the culture if necessary. Sample the discoloured, dystrophic or brittle parts of the nail only, gently digging as far back as possible from the distal part of the nail. For dermatophyte infections, samples should be taken from the distal nail and from debris under the nail (subungual debris). For superficial onychomycosis, the scraping should be from the nail surface and for Candida infections (e.g. a chronic paronychia) a swab should be taken from the proximal nail fold.

Hair can be plucked from the affected area with forceps; the infected hairs come out easily. The scalp may then be scraped with a blunt scalpel. Preferably, the sample should include hair stubs, the contents of plugged follicles and skin scales. Hair cut with a scissors is unsatisfactory as the focus of infection is usually below or near the surface of the scalp.

Biopsy

Where diagnosis is unclear but there is a differential diagnosis, an ellipse of skin can be taken through the edge of a lesion. There is a need to ensure that normal and abnormal skin (epidermis, dermis and fat) are included in the sample. Incisional, excisional and punch biopsies may be taken. Punch biopsies provide only limited sample, which may be inadequate for histological examination. Typically, the punch biopsy includes the full thickness skin and subcutaneous fat in the diagnosis of skin diseases.  A round-shaped knife ranging in size from 1–8 mm is taken. The smaller size punch (1 mm) helps to minimise bleeding and assists in the vhealing of the wound without stitching. To diagnose many inflammatory skin conditions, the common punch size used is the 3.5- or 4-mm punch.

Bacteriology

The source of bacteria can be determined by swabbing a fluid sample pustules, vesicles, erosions and ulcers.

Patch testing

It is a technique used to diagnose contact allergic dermatitis based on the principle of delayed hypersensitivity (an immune response). Evidence of contact allergy is derived from a patient history (such as occupation), clinical examination and patch testing. The aim of the patch test is to ascertain allergic contact dermatitis by aiming to reproduce a rash on a small controlled area of skin using standardised batches or trays of allergens (termed batteries) or those commonly used at work or home. Standard batteries of substances (now often pre-prepared) are comprised of patches made up of Finn chambers and hypoallergenic tape that are applied to the patient’s upper back; they should incorporate probable (standard battery) and possible substances (e.g. occupational specific) based on their history. The results are read at two stages, 48 hours and 72 hours; this timing sequence is related to the type IV hypersensitivity reaction, which is a delayed immune response. Care is needed to avoid misleading results from contact irritants that are distinct from hypersensitivity reactions. Differentiation is not always easy, however, the use of standard allergens and rigorous technique are required.

Skin Health Surface Features and Skin Lesions

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Types of Skin Lesion

Normal -  Smooth, the absence of other surface features
Scaly -  Excess dead epidermal scales produced by shedding from the stratum corneum or abnormal keratinisation (e.g. erythrodermic psoriasis)
Hyperkeratotic -  Increased keratinisation (cornification) of the epidermis, which appears clinically as thickened and rough skin or mucous membrane (e.g. foot psoriasis)
Warty -  A wart-like lesion consisting of finger-like projections (e.g. filiform wart) Crust Dried exudate (comprised of dried serum, bacteria and possibly blood, mixed with epidermal debris – e.g. impetigo)
Excoriated -  A superficial linear erosion caused by excessive scratching (e.g. atopic eczema)
Exudate -  A leakage of fluid from blood vessels into nearby tissue (e.g. acute eczema)
Flat: macule – A flat lesion circumscribed area of altered skin color 1 cm in diameter (e.g. vitiligo, solar lentigo)
Flat: patch -  A flat lesion 1 cm in diameter (e.g. port wine stain)
Raised: papule -  A raised lesion 1 cm in diameter (e.g. compound naevus)
Raised: plaque -  A slightly raised flat-topped lesion 1 cm in diameter of surface skin (e.g. plaque psoriasis, pityriasis rosea)
Raised: nodule – A solid palpable mass that is larger than 1 cm whose greater part lies beneath the skin (e.g. erythema nodosum, basal cell carcinoma)
Fluid-filled: vesicle -  A small lesion 5 mm in diameter, fluid-containing elevation (e.g. herpes simplex, eczema herpeticum)
Fluid-filled: bullae -  A lesion 5 mm in diameter, fluid-containing elevation (e.g. bullous pemphigoid)
Fluid-filled: pustule -  A lesion 1 cm filled with pus (e.g. acne vulgaris)
Due to broken surface: ulcer – Loss of epidermis and dermis (e.g. ducibitus [pressure] ulcer)
Due to broken surface: erosion -  Loss of epidermis only (e.g. intertrigo – a rash in body folds)
Due to broken surface: fissure -  Linear split in skin: foot psoriasis (e.g. a heel fissure)
Colour: due to blood  – Petechia (pin head size) (e.g. Meningococcal disease – that do not disappear when pressure if applied) – they are purpuric lesions up to 2 mm across; Purpura (2.5 mm): red, purple or orange/brown colour due to blood leaking from blood vessels (does not blanche under pressure) (e.g. drug eruption, allergic vasculitis); Haematoma (bruise); Telangiectasia: spider-like capillaries (e.g. due to chronic treatment with topical corticosteroids)
Colour: due to pigment -  May be due to increase in melanin pigment following epidermal inflammation (e.g. lichen planus)
Colour: due to lack of blood/pigment – Depigmentation: complete loss of melanin (e.g. vitiligo) Hypopigmentation: partial melanin loss due to epidermal inflammation (e.g. eczema)
Colour: other  – Yellow (e.g. xanthelasma)

Understanding and Describing Skin Lesions and Rashes

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Dyshidrotic Dermatitis On Hands

With the very high number of skin health and skin disease conditions, it is particularly useful to be able to understand and systematically describe the different features and observable patterns of the underlying skin lesion or rash. Documenting the appearance of a lesion or rash can be challenging given their pattern of distribution and the sublety of their surface features. As such, it is necessary to gain familiarity with the typical types of lesions seen and rash patterns; these are introduced below.
What are Rashes

A rash is a change in the colour or texture of the skin and as such reflects the nature and pattern of a collection of individual lesions.

Owing to the wide-ranging nature of lesions, it is helpful to understand their different types.  A useful distinction is also made of primary and secondary lesions. Primary lesions are caused directly by the skin disease process; this includes macules, papules, nodules, plaques, wheals, vesicles, bulla, pustules and cysts. Secondary lesions refer to the consequences of the skin disease process; these include scale, crust, fissures, lichenification, erosion, ulcers, excoriation, scar and atrophy.

Guidance on describing skin lesions.
1. Look first to identify:
a. Sites involved: specify body area
b. Number of lesions: single, multiple
c. Distribution: includes symmetrical or not, localisedor generalised
d. Arrangement: includes discrete, coalescing,disseminated, linear, annular
2. Feel the lesions by:
a. Surface palpation: with finger tips – smooth,uneven, rough
b. Deep palpation: by squeezing between finger and thumb – soft, firm, hard
3. Describe a typical lesion using the following headings:

a. Type of lesion
b. Surface features
c. Colour, including erythematous or non-erythematous
d. Border of rash/lesion: well/poorly defined or an accentuated edge
e. Size and shape of individual lesion: includes round, irregular, serpiginous

Typical Skin Types And Its Influence On Your Skin Health

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An assessment of a range of typical skin types is made by examining the person’s tendency to burn and tan, using the guide below. This is useful in assessing and appraising your sun/ultraviolet (UV) damage, risk prior to phototherapy, or when  engaging in health education related to UV exposure risk awareness. Key considerations in a person’s skin typing include a person’s pigmentation and erythema history and their genetic history. Those with fair skin, which includes types 1 and 2, are more likely to develop skin cancer.

 Normal skin – skin typing.
Skin type  Characteristics
I Always burns, never tans
II Sometimes burn, rarely tan
III Rarely burns, easily tans
IV Never burns, always tans
V Asian people
VI Afro-Caribbean/Black African
people

Racial variations in skin have a strong implications for assessment normal skin health, such as determining lesion color and in the estimation of UV protection related to the presence of melanin. The most lightly pigmented (European, Chinese and Mexican) skin types have approximately half as much epidermal melanin as the most darkly pigmented (African and Indian) skin types. A Research revealed a significant and progressive variation in size with ethnicity: African skin having the largest melanosomes followed in turn by Indian, Mexican, Chinese and European. Based on these findings, they propose that variation in skin pigmentation is strongly influenced by both the amount and the composition (or color) of the melanin in the epidermis. Variation in melanosome size may also play a significant role and influences skin disease.

Skin Health and Changes During Old Age

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As humans get older, the skin becomes thinner, less elastic, drier and more finely wrinkled. The degree to which the skin becomes visibly aged is related largely to genetics and photo-ageing. In other words, wrinkle formation is determined by the traits inherited from parents and the extent to which someone has exposed themselves to sunshine over their lifetime which determines its skin health. Intrinsic ageing describes the natural biological processes which it is not possible to control and extrinsic ageing the impact that the environment and exposure to it has on the skin health. It is possible to get a sense of the impact of extrinsic factors by comparing the skin of a sun-exposed and non-sun-exposed site. In an elderly person, particularly, there is a marked difference between the texture and colouring, the former being much smoother and less wrinkled.

These changes mean that older skin is increasingly sensitive and less able to cope with external stresses on the skin. Thus the skin has less innate ability to cope with external agents such as perfumes in topical products, extremes of temperature, urine and faeces.

Overexposure to UV radiation is responsible not only for the effects of ageing but also more worryingly for skin cancers. Basal and squamous cell carcinomas are both closely associated with prolonged sun exposure and whilst they are rarely life threatening, they can be locally destructive and need to be properly diagnosed and treated. Malignant melanomas are also associated with sun exposure, although burning is generally thought to be a high risk factor. Skin malignancies will be discussed in future articles.

In retrospect, the skin provides humans with a flexible and dynamic outer layer. Its complex structure and function create a unique environment which protects the inner functionings of the body and provides an incredible interface with which to interact with the outside world. Understanding this biological structure helps an inquirer a great deal in knowing his/her skin health much better as it does its full funtion physically, psychologically and socially.

Hormonal Changes During Pregnancy Influences Skin health

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Hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle can influence the skin and hair for some women. It is during the second half of the menstrual cycle, following ovulation when the progesterone levels peak, that women notice changes in their skin and those with a skin condition can experience an exacerbation.

During pregnancy some specific skin health changes do occur, specifically a deepening of the normal pigmentation of the nipple, the areola, the genital area and the midline of the abdominal wall. Following delivery this pigmentation will fade, but seldom back to the usual colour. For a proportion of women (around 70%), the second half of pregnancy sees chloasmal pigmentation which is characterised by an irregular, sharply marginated area of pigmentation which develops in a symmetrical pattern over the cheeks and/or forehead. It is also common for women to see their moles darken whilst pregnant and it is also possible for new moles to appear. It is advisable for pregnant women to take additional precautions when going out into the sun; they should wear a hat and use a high factor sunscreen.

Vascular changes mean that women notice flushing of the palms of the hands and spider naevi appear on the face, upper trunk and arms. Oedema of the lower legs and increased appearance of varicose veins occur due to a rise in venous pressure caused by the increased pressure of the growing foetus impeding venous return. Dermal changes include stretch marks which occur due to weakened tensile strength of dermal fibres (caused by the increase corticosteroid output) and the stretching of the skin due to the growing foetus. A study carried out in Southern India showed that nearly 80% of women experienced stretch marks following pregnancy. Marks appear as raised reddish/purple lines during and just after pregnancy, which fade to more skin- coloured slightly depressed shiny lines. Avoiding stretch marks during pregnancy may be down to genetic good fortune; however, the following strategies may help decrease the likelihood of stretch marks or at least their severity:

1. Gradual and moderate weight gain during pregnancy (a woman with a normal body mass index should aim to gain between 25 and 35 lbs during pregnancy.);

2. Gentle exercise;

3. A Cochrane review considered studies that looked at topical products which might alleviate stretch marks. The review highlights one product containing Centella asiatica extract, alpha tocopherol and collagen–elastin hydrolysates, which when compared to a placebo was associated with women developing fewer stretch marks. A second study suggested that a product containing tocopherol, panthenol, hyaluronic acid, elastin and menthol was associated with women developing fewer stretch marks. But this study did not include a control and the improvements may have been associated with the massage.

-tshn