Are you going to the bathhouse? Do you want to carry out this procedure with benefits not only for the body, but also for the face? Then make a mask and take it with you so that your skin receives not only deep cleansing, but also hydration and nutrition! Don’t know the recipes for preparing such compositions, as well as the rules for their use? We will tell you all the information on this hot topic!
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What is vitamin A
Vitamins are regulators of biological processes, without which the biochemistry of the body and the functioning of organs are disrupted. Most of them come from food, and some are synthesized by the body or intestinal flora. Vitamins are divided into water-soluble and fat-soluble. The former do not stay in the body for a long time and are excreted with metabolic products, while the latter accumulate in the liver. We wrote about vitamin D - the only one that affects the body's immune defense. But C turned out to be not as useful as dietary supplement manufacturers write about it.
Vitamin A is fat soluble. A person receives it from food in the form of precursors - retinoids and carotenoids. They are contained in the fatty depot of the liver, and when needed they are converted into retinol and sent to the tissues. Vitamin A regulates embryogenesis, the functioning of reproductive organs, skin glands, inflammation, the creation of new cells and their death. A retinol derivative is one of the components of rhodopsin. This is an eye pigment responsible for color perception.
External retinoids are used in dermatology: they treat acne and are prescribed to prevent age-related skin changes. It has been proven that isotretionine prevents the enzymatic degradation of collagen, the main structural component of the skin. Vitamin A derivatives are added to sunscreens for antioxidant protection.
“Vitamin A is used externally for many dermatoses, especially those associated with impaired keratinization, sebum secretion and healing,” says Nina Sergeeva, a dermatologist at the Fantasy children’s clinic. “It accelerates the restoration of skin integrity, reduces sebum production and regulates keratinization.”
Systemic retinoids are treatments for severe acne, psoriasis, rosacea, precancerous lesions, and nonmelanoma skin cancer. They normalize the formation of cells in the upper layer of the epidermis, reduce sebum secretion and inflammation, providing long-term remission. They are prescribed in cases where external therapy is ineffective or gives temporary results.
Natural masks for body, face and hair
Masks promote gentle cleansing, hydration and nutrition. Useful compositions can be prepared from kefir, honey, salt, oatmeal and clay, the benefits of which can be noticeable after the first procedure.
- Face mask made of colored cosmetic clay. Amazing anti-aging clay compositions help relieve inflammation, reduce rashes and accelerate skin regeneration. The clay is diluted with water to a paste-like state, applied to the face with smooth movements and left until dry. The mask is carefully washed off with water, and the skin is moisturized with a light protective cream.
- Body and face mask made of oatmeal, yolk and milk. To do this, pour 200 g of flakes with milk and mix until a thick mass is obtained. After complete cooling, add egg yolk and ½ tbsp to the base. l. oils (from pumpkin seeds or olives), mix. The finished mask is evenly distributed over problem areas and left for half an hour.
- A mask of honey and fine salt to warm up and increase blood circulation. The ingredients are mixed in equal proportions. The resulting paste is applied to problem areas and left for a quarter of an hour. It can be used before starting the main bath procedures.
- A mask based on salt, soda and water with an anti-cellulite effect. Take 3 tbsp. l. salt and soda, add water in the required volume to obtain a thick mixture. The finished mass is evenly distributed on the body and kept for half an hour. Particular attention should be paid to treating problem areas affected by cellulite. This effective remedy helps fight excess weight, orange peel and sagging skin.
- Kefir mask for moisturizing and nourishing the face, body and hair follicles. Kefir (store-bought or homemade) is heated to a temperature of 25 degrees, applied to the skin, and washed off after 25 minutes.
- A mask of honey and burdock oil to strengthen all hair types. To obtain the composition, take burdock oil and liquid honey (3 tablespoons each) in equal proportions. The product is evenly rubbed into the scalp and distributed throughout the hair. To create a thermal effect, the head is covered with a shower cap. The mixture is kept for 35 minutes, thoroughly washed off with softened water and shampoo, and the hair is rinsed with herbal tincture.
- Mask with henna on a colorless basis and nettle to strengthen hair. The ingredients are taken in the following proportions: per 100 g of dry nettle 3 tsp. colorless henna. To obtain a thick paste, each component is individually steamed with water and combined into a homogeneous mass. The mask is applied to the hair and left for 20 minutes.
How to understand that vitamin A is low
Every year, 500 thousand children around the world die from a lack of vitamin A, and 250 thousand go blind due to corneal opacity. Residents of Asia and Africa are mainly affected - this is due to early weaning and lack of vitamin A in the diet. At risk are people who have impaired absorption of zinc and fats, as well as those who abuse alcohol.
Vitamin A deficiency is visible externally. A person’s eyes and mucous membranes “dry,” he has difficulty finding his way in the dark and often gets sick. The skin becomes “toad-like” - strewn with small tubercles due to follicular hyperkeratosis - an accumulation of horny scales at the mouths of the hair follicles. If you do not replenish the vitamin A balance in time, you can go blind: the cornea will “dry out” and become opaque.
“Since vitamin A and carotenoids play a large role in the growth of cells and tissues, insufficient intake of the substances can lead to weakening of the skin,” says GMS Clinic dermatologist Nadezhda Nabatnikova. “Dryness, irritation and acne occur, after which the skin heals worse or slowly, and scars appear.”
Cause of cellulite
The cells that are found in the deepest layer of the skin (hypodermis) are called adipocytes. They form adipose tissue and connect the skin to the deep tissues of the body. Such fat cells, when they increase in size, form tubercles and bulges on the body.
An increase in fat cells, weakening of connective tissue, disruption of microcirculation in the subcutaneous layers of the body - all this leads to the appearance of gynoid lipodystrophy.
The causes of cellulite formation are:
· hormonal disorders (puberty, pregnancy)
· genetic factors (hereditary predisposition)
· changes in metabolism
Weight changes (obesity or weight loss, sudden weight changes)
· age (post-puberty)
· lifestyle, disruption of sleep and rest patterns, wearing tight clothes and high-heeled shoes
poor diet, insufficient water intake
· bad habits (drinking alcohol, smoking)
psychological disorders associated with stress, nervous overload
Lack of regular physical activity (low mobility, lack of gymnastics and daily walking)
Also, various diseases can contribute to the appearance of cellulite, such as varicose veins, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, thyroid dysfunction, pancreatic dysfunction, diseases associated with renal failure, and others.
What to do
If you are concerned about the quality of your skin, order vitamins early. First you need to go to the doctor and find out what the reason is. Maybe the body does not have enough iron, or the person has hypothyroidism - only an examination will determine this. If the indicators are normal, the doctor will prescribe a test for vitamin levels in the blood. When there are few of them, the diet is first changed. Supplements are prescribed only to those who have digestive problems.
“Most vitamin A comes from foods rich in beta-carotene and provitamin A carotenoids. These are powerful antioxidants. They neutralize the effect of free radicals, which break down collagen and contribute to the appearance of wrinkles, explains Nadezhda Nabatnikova. “The substances also reduce skin sensitivity to ultraviolet rays, providing natural protection against redness and pigmentation caused by the sun.”
The norm for a person from the age of four is 5000 international units of vitamin A. He should receive it from food of animal and plant origin. The best source is cod liver. One teaspoon of its oil contains 150% of the daily requirement. A lot also contains beef liver, salmon fillet and tuna. The plant richest in vitamin A is sweet potato, one hundred grams of which covers the daily requirement. Kale, winter squash and turnips contain it in abundance, with carrots only coming in sixth. Important: heat-treated root vegetables are taken into account, not raw ones.
Some people, tired of acne, buy systemic retinoids and take dosages from the Internet. This is dangerous - if the dosage is exceeded, these drugs cause fetal malformations - auricular atresia, underdevelopment of the limbs, atrial septal defect and displacement of large vessels. Therefore, a dermatologist prescribes systemic retinoids after a pregnancy test and the patient’s commitment to use double contraception - hormonal pills plus a condom.
“When using systemic retinoids and other vitamin A preparations, a teratogenic effect on the fetus is possible. Therefore, even before taking dietary supplements, and even more so medications, it is worth consulting with your doctor,” says Nina Alexandrova. “The unfavorable effect of high doses of vitamin A persists even after stopping its use, depending on the drug - from 1 month to 2 years.”
Recommendations from cosmetologists
The main condition for achieving effective results when using face masks in a bathhouse is their regular application. It is necessary to visit the bathhouse and perform cosmetic procedures in it at least once, and preferably twice a week.
Basic tips from cosmetologists that you should follow when applying anti-aging face masks in a bath or sauna:
- The composition must be prepared immediately before visiting the bathhouse, and then placed in a clean container.
- The cosmetic procedure should be started only after hygiene is completed.
- A cleansing mask can be applied in a steam room, while a nourishing or moisturizing mask is best done in a dressing room or relaxation room.
- Before returning to the steam room, you need to apply a sweat mask to enhance the natural process of sweating.
- On your third visit to the steam room, it is recommended to apply a scrub mask.
- You need to distribute the mask with light massaging movements, without pressing hard, but quite carefully.
- There is no need to keep the mask on the skin for a long time; 10 – 15 minutes will be enough.
- After completing all bath procedures, apply nourishing cream to your face.
What is vitamin E
This is a family of tocopherols and tocotrienols - eight antioxidants that protect body cells from free radicals. This is the name given to oxygen atoms that are missing one electron. They strive to take it away from everything they reach, damaging surrounding cells and causing their death. Vitamin E absorbs free radicals, reducing the harmful effects of solar radiation and improving antitumor protection.
Getting into skin cells, it reduces the synthesis of prostaglandins and nitrogen oxides - mediators of inflammation. Its wound healing properties are known. Therefore, vitamin E is used to treat inflammatory skin diseases - psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, ulcers and pustular dermatosis. The anti-inflammatory effectiveness of tocopherol for acne has been proven. A study on mice showed that tocopherol prevented skin cancer, but this did not work in humans.
The magical effects of vitamin E are the result of taking it orally. When used externally, it does not treat wounds, burns and scars - this is what the study showed. But in combination with retinol, phytonadione and vitamin C, it sometimes helps remove circles under the eyes. It is often added to anti-aging creams, but it is not yet clear whether it will help protect skin from aging. But it is known that in some people the external use of this vitamin causes an adverse reaction in the form of contact dermatitis.
Homemade body and face scrubs
Scrubs help deeply cleanse the skin and increase blood circulation in the cells. Most compositions for bath procedures are prepared from available ingredients - salt, honey and coffee.
Honey scrubs
The honey component in bath cosmetics gives an amazing effect: it cleanses and tightens pores, smooths out wrinkles and slows down skin aging.
- With honey and cinnamon. For the mixture, take two parts honey and part cinnamon. The ingredients are mixed and applied evenly to the skin. Leave for no more than 5 minutes, rinse with water.
- Made from honey and ground coffee beans. The ingredients are taken in the same proportions (2:1). The product is applied to problem areas and left for a quarter of an hour.
- From honey and salt (sea or table). Salt has a wound-healing and antiseptic effect, improves blood flow and cleanses pores well. The cleanser is prepared from ingredients taken in equal proportions. Duration of use – 15 minutes.
Coffee scrub
Coffee beans contain large amounts of linoleic acid, which promotes collagen production and slows down aging.
The most popular recipe is a scrub made from coffee beans with the addition of stone. An equal amount of ingredients is mixed to obtain a powder, then any nutritious oil is added - from olives, almonds or sunflowers. Apply the product evenly to the skin and leave for 10 minutes.
Should I take vitamin E supplements?
If a person eats more or less normally, he needs 4 years of extreme diet to use up all the vitamin E reserves in the liver. Therefore, tocopherol deficiency is rare. It usually appears if a person has impaired lipid absorption.
“Without fats, normal absorption of vitamin E is impossible, so it is important to include oils in your daily diet,” explains Nadezhda Nabatnikova. — Wheat germ oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil and soybean oil are rich in vitamin E. Nuts such as almonds and peanuts are also suitable sources.”
Only your doctor can decide whether you should take vitamin E supplements. If you self-medicate and drink “for health”, you can get hypervitaminosis. It is manifested by nausea, vomiting, weakness, headache and blurred vision. Particularly persistent ones lead themselves to disorders of the blood coagulation system.
Important to remember
- Vitamins A and E are fat soluble. They accumulate in the liver and enter the tissues that need them. Fats are needed not only for their preservation, but also for absorption
- Vitamin A is needed by humans for normal vision, skin condition, and even fetal development in a pregnant woman.
- A lack of vitamin A affects not only appearance, but also vision. If hypovitaminosis is not treated in time, you can go blind
- Systemic retinoids should not be taken during pregnancy - they cause serious fetal malformations
- Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects the skin from free radicals
- Most people are not at risk of vitamin E deficiency. But hypervitaminosis with a tendency to bleeding is easy.
