Pregnancy is the one time in your life where you will see your body changing unexpectedly and you will not mind it just one bit. The hormonal changes in the body cause the woman’s skin and hair to shine and glow like never before. However there are rare occasions when this might not be the case and dry skin and pigmentation occur but do not worry as all this can be easily taken care of. Applying oils and moisturizers during pregnancy is mandatory to ensure you have soft and supple skin during these tender days. Use products that have a high content of almond oil, wheat germ oil, olive oil, avocado oil and cocoa butter. These help to do away with marks and stretches. Jojoba oil and coconut oil are good for this purpose as well. Essential oils are highly popularized but remember using those during your second and third trimesters of pregnancy increases the chances of your child’s abortion. If you have oily skin, you might experience some good trouble with acne during your first trimester. In this case use, products high on glycolic acid, alpha hydroxyl acid or witch hazel.

Skin during pregnancy needs to begin with gently cleansing your skin. Keep yourself from washing your face too many times a day if you have dry skin. Use creams to moisten your skin and hydrate it. Women with oily skin should use moisturizers that have high water content and those having dry skin should obviously opt for oil based moisturizers. Sunscreens which have a SPF of 15 are a good way to keep your skin from getting discoloured. Water helps to add glow to your luster so drink a lot of water. At the same time you will be keeping healthy. Remember to sleep well and stay happy as all this eventually manifests in reflecting good skin.

Also avoid using soap and try to keep to liquid washes so that the natural oil on your skin stays intact. Prolonged baths in cold water will make your skin dull, try to bathe in warm water hence. Your skin has chances of getting tanned more during pregnancy, so make sure you always use a sunscreen. Massage your tummy often with oils and products that will help to do away with the stretch marks. Your feet feel tired while you are pregnant, take care of them in warm water and get frequent pedicures done. Massage yourself and drink a lot of water to stay healthy and feel fresh. If you get acnes and pimples, avoid medicines to cure them. Instead try to use the right kind of face wash. Calamine lotions are very good options to help your body from itching when your skin feels too dry and stretched.

Have you heard of any home remedy for pregnancy complications? How about a home remedy for stretch marks or morning sickness? Most doctors will tell you that there is no foolproof treatment for some pregnancy problems, like stretch marks. What does one do in such a situation? One can certainly try some inexpensive, time tested home remedy for pregnancy complications. Have you ever thought of that?

What Are These Home Remedies?

As the name suggests, these are made from ingredients available in average American homes. These should be best viewed as preventive measures for certain complications. Sometimes, they are also effective in possible damage control. One should not be led to believe that all the problems could be cured or prevented by house medicine. Some of the problems that can be minimized are nausea during pregnancy, and the stretch marks.

Home Remedies For Stretch Marks

The best time for using a preventive home remedy is when stretch marks first show themselves. This is the time, when the elasticity of the skin begins to loosen its grip. Applying a home made moisturizing agent, such as cocoa butter or almond oil, can restore the lost elasticity of the skin to some extent. You may also try lavender oil or vitamin K lotions.

Drinking a liberal quantity of water also keeps your skin moist and supple. Eating skin-friendly foods that contain a good quantity of vitamins A, C, E, and K help as well.

Home Remedies For Morning Sickness

Why is nausea during pregnancy called morning sickness? Usually, it is an all day phenomenon. Dealing with this queasy, nauseous feeling is the worst part of a pregnancy. Thanks to the home remedies, one can overcome this inconvenience quite easily. Following are some of the remedies that worked wonderfully for me:-

Eat small meals spread throughout the day. This ensures that your stomach is never really empty, and helps in preventing build up of stomach acid.
Drink lots of water. Keep sipping on a water bottle through out the day. Water is not called the elixir of life in vain. It also dilutes the stomach acid, thus preventing nausea.
Nibble on ginger or peppermint. Both these things help abate nausea. Peppermint tea helps in bad cases of morning sickness.
A simple pressure exerted by your thumb on a specific point on your wrist (acupressure) proves to be invaluable in reducing nausea. You may read more about acupressure as a home remedy for pregnancy complications in various books available in the market.
Sniffing at the peel of a lemon or sucking on a piece of lemon can also stop morning sickness.
Taking 2 oranges in the morning and two in the evening, minimizes the pregnancy risk of nausea.

Trying out a home remedy for pregnancy problems makes a lot of sense. These remedies save you a trip to the doctor and treat you naturally. So, are you ready to try out a home remedy for pregnancy complications?

Being pregnant is the most exciting time of your life. Your very own child, still unknown to you, and yet a precious part of you is developing inside your body. And yet we all know that being pregnant does come with concerns and worries. You want to achieve health during pregnancy and give your baby the very best start in life you can.

You may be worried about ensuring you provide your baby with all the nutrients it needs to develop properly. There may be thoughts of ensuring you do not gain too much weight, or worries as to how you will lose it once the baby is born.

There might even be other, possibly smaller concerns, such as whether you will get stretch marks or sagging breasts that might never go away. After all, having a baby often changes a woman’s figure forever. Here is a list of just a few health concerns expectant mothers may have and some tips that I found handy in prevention or cure of them.

1. Stretch Marks.

This was a big worry for me, as I figured if you got stretch marks they would be there forever. I am led to believe that stretch marks will fade. However, I figured prevention on this one was better than cure. For this it was recommended to daily massage with Shea butter or Cocoa butter or Vitamin E. They can also occur because of nutritional deficiencies, such as not enough vitamin E, C or Zinc. So ensure you eat healthy nutritious meals.

2. Cellulite.

This is very much about toxin and waste buildup. Make sure that you drink a lot of water to cleanse the digestive system as well as rub the problem area for a few minutes each day to help clear out the toxins. Relax and breathe – if you are stressed your tight muscles can also be preventing the waste being eliminated from your system.

3. Pregnancy Acne.

Again drinking plenty of water and eating a healthy diet will help to fight this. Endeavour to wash your face morning and night with a gentle cleansing product, but do avoid products that contain chemical exfoliates. And a very important thing is to clean off your makeup before going to bed – no matter how tired you are.

4. Constipation.

Sometimes this occurs if you need to take iron supplements. Make an effort to drink plenty of water and to eat foods that are rich in fibre.

5. Swollen feet and Legs.

Take a break and put your legs up as often as you can. Try to avoid standing up for long periods of time and don’t wear tight clothing or elastic around your legs.

There are numerous other things that could be listed as concerns to the health of an expectant mum. But we don’t only want to look at the bad things. For this is a very beautiful time and should be enjoyed! Just don’t think you have to struggle with any ailment for the full 9 months – for generally there is always something you can do to reduce or even eliminate the problem. For example, did you know that drinking 8 – 10 glasses of water a day will aid in the prevention of all 5 of these ailments? Drinking plenty of water and eating a well balanced, nutritious diet will definitely put you on the right track to receiving great health during pregnancy.

What does a hemorrhoid pregnancy even mean? As odd of a term as that is, it is known all too well amongst many women who have been pregnant. As if all that your body has to go through in order to give birth is not enough.  It would seem that the stretch marks and hunger pains would be enough. But unfortunately, what many are not aware of until they go through it themselves is what in fact it means to have a hemorrhoid pregnancy.

Indeed, a hemorrhoid pregnancy is not something to get excited about. Hemorrhoids, also known as piles, are usually formed as a result of excess strain on the anal area, particularly to the veins. Your veins in your anal region go through quite a bit during a hemorrhoid pregnancy.

With all of the sitting, walking, running and other strenuous activities, the anal veins endure quite a bit of pressure. Constipation and sitting for long periods of time only aggravate that pressure. When a woman is with child, however, the amount of pressure put on her anal region is exponential. This develops into a hemorrhoid pregnancy.

The definition of a hemorrhoid pregnancy, like it sounds, is when a woman becomes pregnant and develops piles as a result of the added pressure of growing a small child within her. It is not a happy experience, needless to say. Most experts on how to get rid of piles would recommend to get rid of the pressure that caused them such as sitting for long periods of time or constipation. When it comes to hemorrhoid pregnancy, there is not much you can do other than to wait it out for nine months. At least, not much you can do about the pressure anyway.

There are certain techniques you can use for a hemorrhoid pregnancy that may reduce some of the extra pressure. While you cannot really separate the baby from your stomach, you can train yourself to bend and lift with your legs so that there is less pressure as you bend and lift. Also, keeping in mind to not sit for long periods of time will also help you with the pressure of a hemorrhoid pregnancy.

The most important thing you can do to relieve the upsetting situation of having a hemorrhoid pregnancy is to search out a natural remedy that reaches all of the causes of the piles you are suffering with. Other than pressure, a hemorrhoid pregnancy develops out of poor blood circulation and cleansing, inflammation, weakened blood vessels and lack of nutrition. Finding a natural remedy that you can take during a hemorrhoid pregnancy is priceless.

Not every woman will look like that gorgeous model in that magazine. Similarly, not every pregnant woman will still look beautiful and svelte than before. Fact.

The ugly truth is nine out of ten pregnant women suffer from some kind of physical discomfort, not to mention their fatigued and ungainly appearance – sluggish movement, flabby tummy, arms and legs, thicker waist, excess flab and more.

New mothers are already stressed by what they saw in mirrors. It could get worse if they are unable to regain pre-pregnancy looks and yet have to look after a crying baby. New mothers are prone to post-natal depression, especially if they are deprived of family support and they are still recovering from childbirth.

Luckily, doctors observe that through proper education and preparation, new mothers are able to accept and cope with these body changes as expected.

Sometimes, medication and counseling are necessary if doctors detect symptoms of disturbances for some mothers. Neglect is never the solution as it may lead to or aggravate post-natal depression.

Obstetricians and gynaecologists advise the following changes may occur during pregnancy. It definitely helps you to learn to accept these changes if you understand more about them.

“I’m tired all the time”

Giving birth saps a lot of your energy, so it is natural after childbirth you will feel weakness or dizziness. The recovery usually takes from two weeks to two months, depending on your physique. That’s why in some countries like Singapore, mothers are allowed maternity leave up to 3 months, to recuperate.

The Chinese view this as loss of “qi”, therefore you can replenish “qi” by consuming tonics and keeping warm with clothes and socks. Actually the preventive measure is to build up your blood store before and during pregnancy by consuming adequate iron, folic acid and multivitamins.

You may also feel aches in the back and lower pubic bone areas due to the strain on the ligaments and muscles. However, these are only temporary discomfort.

“My breasts become bigger”

If you find your breasts grow from B cup to C cup, don’t be alarmed – your breasts are getting ready for breastfeeding. Furthermore, hormonal changes during the pregnancy cause more melanin to deposit into the skin cells at the nipples and areola, leading to darkening of nipple or areola skin tone.

Breastfeeding can cause your breasts to lose their sizes permanently, or become saggy and loose. If you are a heavy-breasted woman, you have to be mentally prepared for this.

“What are these marks on my body? “

They are called stretch marks which are formed as result of a split in your skin’s supportive tissue to accommodate a growing baby. They are initially red and will turn darker. However, after pregnancy, they may turn silvery or blue.

The bad news is they are also permanent, though they may fade in intensity. So far, no medication or creams are effective in removing them, but some do help to speed up the fading effect.

“What is incontinence ?”

Incontinence means that you lose control of your bladder or bowel which can be embarrassing. This could be due to physical injury or trauma to the pelvic floor muscles.

The likely causes of injury are a difficult forceps delivery, prolonged labour, or vaginal delivery of a large baby. In the case of difficult delivery, use of Caesarean could help to reduce pelvic floor trauma.

It is a symptom but not a disease itself, therefore it can be treated. Don’t be afraid to seek medical help. If you refuse treatment now, you’ll face higher risk of contracting rashes, sores, skin and urinary tract infections.

Your social life will also be affected as you will try to avoid your family and friends for fear of embarrassment.

You should follow a well-balanced diet, and avoid food or drinks that may irritate their bladders, such as caffeine, alcohol, carbonated drinks and spicy foods.

Citrus fruits and juices must be cut down too. For diabetes patients, sugar intake must be reduced in your diet so as to control the glucose level.

Exercising and strengthening the muscles of the pelvic floor, widely known as Kegel’s exercise named after Arnold Kegel, M.D, helps to cure incontinence.

“Why are my veins so obvious now?”

You may notice more veins become more prominent in your legs during pregnancy. These veins, called varicose and spider veins, appear because the weight of your womb exerts more pressure on the major vein (inferior vena cava) on the right side of the body. This in turn increases the pressure in the leg veins.

Pregnancy also cause blood vessels walls to relax due to higher progesterone levels, thus magnifying the problem.

Some useful tips are

1.Wear support or compression stockings

2.Don’t stand too long

3.Lift your legs on some cushions when resting

4.Lose some weight

5.Surgery such as sclerotherapy and vein stripping. However, be patient to see if the veins disappear after childbirth.

“My hair is falling out !”

It is actually normal due to hormonal changes and usually happen three months after delivery. During pregnancy, the hormone cause the hair follicles to delay the fallout of the hair.

After delivery, the hormone levels revert to normal and those hair that suppose to drop out previously, now happen all at the same time. And you thought you are losing out more hair than before.

If you are worried, you may just take some multivitamins.

Pregnancy is one of the most phenomenal rites of passage that a woman can go through, and will likely change your life forever, as you will bring a young, warm, and tender life into this world. As wonderful as pregnancy is, it comes with a variety of side effects that can make it unpleasant for those ill-prepared – this guide aims to help you deal with some of the most common problems during pregnancy and the simple ways they can be addressed, leaving you to focus on the inherent beauty of bringing life into the world.

Nausea and morning sickness are two of the most common issues experienced during pregnancy. It’s a shame to suffer these ills, and luckily they can be relatively easy to counteract. Nausea and morning sickness are the direct result of a vitamin b6 deficiency in your diet, which is caused by the extra nutrients that you need to nourish your developing child. Curing and preventing these symptoms are as simple as taking a vitamin b6 supplement, or augmenting your diet with foods rich in this vitamin, which include fish and certain meats. Other common home remedies include drinking soda water mixed with lemon juice or teas that are infused with ginger, though these are merely short term cures, as they settle the stomach.

While we are on the subject of foods, it is important to remember that you have a growing child in your womb during pregnancy, and that child needs all the same nutrients that you need, especially iron. It is perfectly natural to eat more during your pregnancy, and a craving for food is your body’s way of telling you that your child needs more nutrition. If you stick to nutritious foods and healthy sources of protein, such as lean meats and nuts, you will make sure that your child receives the nutrients that he or she needs, and you can help minimize any weight that you might put on during your pregnancy. Choosing nutritious foods will help you feel better and stay trim even though you may feel like you are eating too much. Just remember, you really are eating for two once you are pregnant, so do not feel guilty about it!

Mood swings and fatigue are almost certain to occur during your pregnancy because your hormones are in a state of flux. One of the most effective ways to combat both is a healthy exercise regimen. If you are focused on exercising, then you can channel angry mood swings into your workout, and you will have something to distract you from depressive mood swings. You will feel your fatigue melt away if you start exercising, as it is primarily the result of becoming lax in your daily activities. Once you begin leading a semi-active lifestyle again, your body will adjust to it, and you will have much more energy as a result.

The greatest fear of most pregnant women is the dread of stretch marks that occur after pregnancy. Again, a proper diet aimed at preventing weight gain but still providing you with proper nutrition is one of the best defences against this happening, as properly nourished skin is stronger and more flexible so it can handle more expansion without visible marks. Though coupling a proper diet with a good moisturizer will help. In fact, there are moisturizers produced specifically to prevent stretch marks by providing a method to deliver vitamins directly into the skin and keep it moist and strong.

One of the biggest worries women have while they are pregnant is the formation of stretchmarks while their tummies are expanding. Pregnancy stretch marks and weight gain are two of the most common problems you are going to experience while your new baby is growing. There are two proven solutions for getting rid of pregnancy stretchmarks and if you follow them carefully you will have a silky smooth skin after your pregnancy is over. Forget about the fallacies you will hear about using cocoa butter and bio oils for stretchmarks because these do not work, although they will help in moisturizing your skin. Also stay away from those so called miracle solutions in products that promise you for getting rid of stretchmarks. If you want a guaranteed solution to smooth silky skin read on.

The real answer to pregnancy stretchmarks

Firstly you will know by now if you have been reading other information on pregnancy stretchmarks that they form because your skin stretches beyond the limits of its elasticity. The dryer your skin is the worse they are going to be. Deep purplish lines that are quite tender to the touch will form on your tummy, buttocks and thighs. If you love wearing a bikini and enjoy swimming and outdoor activities you are going to be horrified at the sight of these blue purplish lines that are forming. Unfortunately during pregnancy there is not a lot you can really do about them forming, but here are ways to prevent them becoming permanent and noticeable and treating them for getting rid of pregnancy stretchmarks for good.

The first step for treating stretchmarks.

Prevention is better than cure so the first step to making certain your stretchmarks will not become permanent after the birth of your baby is keeping your skin moisturized with a special guaranteed formula for stretchmarks. Keep your skin well moisturized and nourished with a special natural herbal product which you will find by clicking on the link provided and follow the steps carefully and religiously. the collagen and elastin formula in this amazing product really works and  during your pregnancy your skin will stay healthy and firm. You will see that this is the only guaranteed product online and you can read further information on others which are also the best on the market to help you make the right choices. You will find that these are real solutions for getting rid of pregnancy stretchmarks and you can even enjoy the special free offer as advertised while the promotion is still running.

Vitamin E Alpha Tocopherol benefits for preganancy Stretc Marks

This guaranteed product for getting rid of pregnancy stretchmarks contains vitamin E that is extracted from a variety of different plants with some examples being nuts like almonds, kiwi fruits, and other herbs.  Numerous clinical studies have proved that vitamin E can help in the reduction of scarring and pregnancy stretch marks because of its assistance in skin regeneration. Use this formula after the birth to get rid of those stretchmarks and while your body is returning to normal your skin will as well with regular treatments. We know you will recommend this excellent solution for getting rid of pregnancy stretchmarks after you have seen that finally something really works like it said it would!

Prevent stretchmarks – get the cure for stretch marks celeb style here.

If you’ll find yourself amongst the 50% of women who get stretchmarks during a pregnancy then this article will show you some effective ways to help prevent them. For stretchmarks prevention is the best medicine! If you are wondering whether you will be a victim of them – just ask your mum – some of us  unfortunately are genetically predisposed to the them!

Most of the time they end up on your abdomen, thighs, hips or bum. Their exact colour depends on your skin tone. On women with light skin the marks are purple, red or pink whereas dark skinned women, the marks appear browner. The marks appear more and more visible later on in the pregnancy and for the majority of us finding a way to cure them is a must.

SO, Here are some popular home remedies that are effective for preventing stretchmarks:

An excellent way to help prevent them is by drinking plenty of water daily. Water helps the skin’s elasticity and in the process helps reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Pure Shea Butter - gently massage pure shea butter on the affected area. Massaging does two things, it improves blood circulation and help fade the appearance of strech marks. Do this twice daily.

Olive Oil – gently massaging olive oil is a very old remedy and can help lighten the marks and give you smooth skin. Do this as often as necessary.If you are considering investing in stretch mark creams go for natural-ingredients based creams as these are safer to use during a pregnancy and during breastfeeding.

Often these types of products work best in removing stretch marks. Other more expensive treatments such as laser treatments should be your last resort.

Get your stretch mark cure for FREE.

When you are pregnant, it seems that your body works at giving you grief.  As if it were trying to rebel for you allowing yourself to get pregnant.  However, one of the worst things about pregnancy can be heartburn, so finding heartburn relief during pregnancy can be a top priority.  Cocoa butter will take care of the possibility of stretch marks but heartburn can leave you flat miserable.  Mainly because there are only so many ways that you can sleep when you are pregnant and you are already uncomfortable enough.

Probably the simplest way to get rid of heartburn is to do what you can to avoid it in the first place.  There are of course certain foods and beverages that can result in a very upset stomach, many of them being the ones you will no doubt crave.  Foods such as chocolates, carbonated drinks, citrus fruits or juices, tomatoes, vinegar, mustard, mint products and processed meats.  Not to mention those spicy foods and the ones that are seasoned a bit too well, or even the fried and fatty foods.  I’ve probably just sank your ship if you crave any of the things on that list.  Sorry gals, if you want to try your best to avoid heartburn then these are the ones that you need to steer away from.

I remember when I first got pregnant I figured that was my ticket to being able to eat what I want when I wanted it.  Again, another dream went up in smoke.  When pregnant it is actually best to try and refrain from eating any heavy meals.  Instead, try to replace those big meals with a few small meals spread throughout the day.  So no pigging out and no overindulging yourself over a buffet.  Keep it simple girls. 

If you already have heartburn though and need some heartburn relief during pregnancy then some simple exercises such as bending at the knees instead of bending at the waist can bring you some relief.  Clothing is also something to consider.  Try to wear stuff that is loose and comfortable instead of ones that are tight around the waist and baby tummy area.

Something very simple that can help with heartburn relief during pregnancy is to chew some gum before you eat.  And your mom told you that bubble gum was bad for you.  Nevertheless, if you chew some before eating then that stimulates the saliva glands, which work to neutralize the acids that cause heartburn.  Sleeping with a couple of pillows propped under your head can also help to relieve heartburn, as it keeps any acid from making its way back up.

Trying to find heartburn relief during pregnancy isn’t always easy because you are always wanting to make sure that the baby is first on the list of priorities.  But all of these remedies that I’ve listed are truly safe for the baby.  No sense in you having to suffer with something if you don’t have to.

There are a number of personal issues that every pregnant woman will worry and stress about while waiting for the new arrival. The two most common ones are certainly the weight gain that comes from being pregnant, and the unsightly stretch marks that are caused from your tummy expanding with the new baby.

If you are a fan of the bikini brigade that loves the great outdoors and swimming, then you are going to be horrified at the blue purplish lines that are forming on your thighs, buttocks and abdomen.  Unfortunately there is not a lot you can really do about them happening, but there are ways to prevent them becoming permanent and noticeable after you have given birth to your baby.

There are a number of products on the market that promise magical solutions to make stretch marks disappear but these claims are certainly not true. There are creams and skin nourishing formulas that can work to make stretch marks almost un- noticeable but it is sensible having knowledge of what ingredients they contain that will help manage those ugly stretch marks.

Vitamin E Alpha Tocopherol benefits for Stretch Marks

Vitamin E is extracted from a variety of different plants with some examples being nuts like almonds, kiwi fruits, and mangos.  Numerous clinical studies have proved that vitamin E can help in the reduction of scarring and stretch marks because of its assistance in skin regeneration. It penetrates deep below the epidermis and stimulates new skin cell growth which replaces the scar tissue found beneath stretch marks. With Regular treatments of Vitamin E your stretch marks will become thinner and almost fade altogether. Using Vitamin E during your term of pregnancy will aid the skins elasticity which will also speed up the healing process.

The benefits of Aloe Vera Extract in Skin Healing  

It is already well known in medical circles the benefits Aloe Vera has in healing properties for wounds and for the skin. Using Aloe Vera for small wounds results in healing wounds without any scar being apparent afterwards.

As your abdomen expands during pregnancy your stretch marks start out as fine tears in the skin layers due to overstretching of the dermis. By using Aloe Vera you can help heal these fine tears and at the same time avoid scarring from stretch marks afterwards. Using skin care products with aloe Vera is a sensible choice considering that it has already been used by the Egyptians and Romans for thousands of years already. This extract is derived from the aloe leaf and is great for skin protection and healing.  

Heal Damaged Skin with DL-Penthenol

DL-Penthenol is the scientific name given to pro-vitamin B5. It has been proven to have exceptional properties in healing damaged skin as it works to improve the structure of both the lower and upper skin layers.  This excellent extract known as DL-Panthenol soothes your skin while at the sane time stimulating cell growth and differentiation.  This ingredient also helps in the in the regeneration of your skin, and will aid reducing the appearance of existing stretch marks by replacing the scar tissue with newly generated skin cells. In addition to this it is good to use while you are pregnant because it also acts to prevent stretch marks by promoting collagen and elastin production, which allows your skin to stretch without rupturing and causing stretch marks.

Vitamin D3 Excellent for Skin Cell Production

Vitamin D3 is vital for new skin cell production and works hand in hand with vitamins A and E in the regeneration process of your skin. In normal circumstances vitamin D3 is produced in the upper skin layers upon exposure to sunlight. Unfortunately many people lack enough of vitamin D3 with our modern fast paced live styles where we are working in closed buildings so getting skin care products with extra vitamin D3 is useful.  When applied onto your skin in high concentrations vitamin D3 also shows beneficial effects on cellular processes. This Vitamin increases the cellular activity around stretch marks and as a result will rejuvenate your skin.

When it comes to stretch marks like anything else prevention is better than cure and using the top quality skin care products on the market is a sensible choice. Making sure that they contain as many as the above mentioned ingredients will ensure you get the results you desire and avoid ugly stretch marks after pregnancy.

Stretch Mark Skin care