Skin is one of the most vulnerable organs of the body. Skin is the largest organ of the integumentary system. Skin also helps maintain a constant body temperature. Skin is composed of three primary layers: the epidermis, which provides waterproofing and serves as a barrier to infection; the dermis, which serves as a location for the appendages of skin; and the hypodermis (subcutaneous adipose layer), which is called the basement membrane. Skin has pigmentation, or melanin, provided by melanocytes, which absorb some of the potentially dangerous ultraviolet radiation in sunlight. It also contains DNA repair enzymes which help to reverse UV damage, and people who lack the genes for these enzymes suffer high rates of skin cancer.

One form predominantly produced by UV light, malignant melanoma, is particularly invasive, causing it to spread quickly, and can often be deadly. Human skin pigmentation varies among populations in a striking manner. This has sometimes led to the classification of people on the basis of skin color. Epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin. It forms the waterproof, protective wrap over the body's surface and is made up of stratified squamous epithelium with an underlying basal lamina.

The epidermis contains no blood vessels, and is nourished by diffusion from the dermis. The main type of cells which make up the epidermis are keratinocytes, melanocytes, Langerhans cells and Merkels cells. The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain.

The skin provides a remarkably good barrier against bacterial infections. Skin disorders cover a wide range of conditions, some benign, some very serious, and some even a sign of another underlying illness. Skin disorders can be uncomfortable and may cause chronic disabilities.

In addition, because the skin is so visible, skin disorders can lead to psychological stress. Many types of bacteria can infect the skin. The most common are Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. Skin infections caused by less common bacteria may develop in hospitals or nursing homes or while gardening or swimming in a pond, lake, or ocean.

Some people are at particular risk of contracting skin infections?for example, people with diabetes because they are likely to have poor blood flow, especially to the hands and feet, and because high levels of sugar in the blood decrease the ability of white blood cells to fight infections. There are more than 2,000 known skin disorders. There are many disorders of the skin ,such as acne, Acrochordons ,Albinism , Alopecia (Baldness) ,Athlete's Foot ,Behcet Disease ,Blisters ,Dry Skin (Xerosis) ,Ectodermal Dysplasia ,Eczma (Atopic Dermatitis) ,Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Itching. People with AIDS or other immune disorders and those undergoing chemotherapy are at higher risk as well, because they have a weakened immune system.

Skin that is inflamed or damaged by sunburn, scratching, or other trauma is more likely to be infected. In fact, any break in the skin predisposes a person to infection. Prevention involves keeping the skin undamaged and clean. Home Remedies of Skin Disorders 1.

Mix 1 tsp of milk powder, 1 tsp of honey, 1 tsp of lemon juice, and ½ tsp of almond oil. Apply on face and wash off after 10-15 minutes. This pack helps bring shine to the skin and also removes tan. 2.Mix oatmeal with curd and tomato juice and apply on the face. Keep it on for 20 minutes and then wash it off with cold water.

It helps remove the tan and lightens the skin. 3.Place sliced raw potato on the face. It helps reduce blemishes and other marks. 4.

Dried orange peels mixed with curd also help reduce blemishes and scars. Wash off this mixture with cold water after 15 minutes. 5.Soak 4 almonds overnight. Grind into a fine paste using milk.

Apply on face and neck and leave it overnight. Wash with cold water in the morning. Do this daily for 15 days, followed by twice a week. 6.A tbsp of gram flour mixed with 2 tsp of raw milk and 2-3 drops of lime juice works well for lightening dark skin.

Apply this mixture and leave it for 15 minutes before washing off. Repeat for 4 weeks and follow up with once a week. 7.Apply a paste of fresh ground mint leaves and leave it for about 20 minutes.

Wash with cold water, continue for 15 days. 8.Apply a mixture of grated tomato with 2-3 drops of lime juice on the face.

Leave it for 20 minutes before washing off. Do this twice a day for 15-20 days for best results. 9.Grated cucumber applied over the affected areas for 15-20 minutes has been found to be effective especially for the skin on the face. 10.Applying the juice of fresh mint every night on affected areas of the skin can help prevent dryness.

It is also a suggested remedy for eczema and dermatitis. 11.Honey, olive oil and a mixture of turmeric and sandalwood paste are very effective in rejuvenating dry, parched skin.

12.Make a paste by mixing gram flour, curd, turmeric and lemon juice. Apply this on your scars to get rid of it.

13.Mix one egg with a few drops of limejuice and witch hazel. Apply it on the face and let it dry. Wash it first with warm water and then by cold water. 14.Mix oatmeal with hot water and make a paste out of it.

Apply it on the skin. Oatmeal acts as an exfoliation agent that will absorb all the oils form your skin. 15.

Tomatoes are also good to cure acne from oily skin. So mash a tomato and apply it on face directly. 16.Egg white is another tried and true home remedy for clear skin 17.Add 3 teaspoons of dried basil leaves to 1 cup boiling water and let steep for 10-20 minutes.

After it cools, apply to affected area with a cotton ball. 18.Drink a glass of water with two tablespoons of cider vinegar. 19.Smoking and heavy alcohol consumption should be avoided. 20.

Grind 1 tablespoon of poppy seeds with 1-teaspoon water and add 1-teaspoon limejuice. Apply to affected area for relief from itching and redness. Juliet Cohen writes articles on rare skin disorders and homemade recipes. She also writes articles on makeup tips. keywords - skin disorders home remedies, skin disorders treatment tips, skin care treatment, cure acne, skin conditions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Obesity Treatment and Complete Cure Obesity is one of the greatest health challenges of the 21st century. Obesity is defined simply as too much body fat.

It is different from being overweight, which means weighing too much. Obesity is increased to a point where it is associated with certain health conditions or increased mortality. Obesity is a serious problem that affects millions of people.

The most common measure of obesity is the body mass index or BMI. Obesity occurs over time when you eat more calories than you use. The balance between calories-in and calories-out differs for each person. Factors that might tip the balance include your genetic makeup, overeating, eating high-fat foods and not being physically active. Obesity, especially central obesity (male-type or waist-predominant obesity), is an important risk factor for the "metabolic syndrome" ("syndrome X"), the clustering of a number of diseases and risk factors that heavily predispose for cardiovascular disease.

These are diabetes mellitus type 2, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and triglyceride levels (combined hyperlipidemia). An inflammatory state is present, which ? together with the above ? has been implicated in the high prevalence of atherosclerosis (fatty lumps in the arterial wall), and a prothrombotic state may further worsen cardiovascular risk. Being obese increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis and some cancers. Obesity and its related diseases are more prevalent among groups with low socioeconomic status.

Obesity results from an excess of energy (caloric) intake over expenditure. Obesity can have a number of causes, including thyroid problems and lack of exercise. Obesity and overweight are chronic conditions. Overall there are a variety of factors that play a role in obesity. Obesity can run in families, but just how much is due to genes is hard to determine.

Many others factors have contributed to the increasing rates of overweight and obesity. Changes in society, work and leisure have affected activity and eating patterns, leading to a rise in overweight and obesity. Men have a higher resting metabolic rate (meaning they burn more energy at rest) than women, so men require more calories to maintain their body weight. Many families eat the same foods, have the same habits (like snacking in front of the TV), and tend to think alike when it comes to weight issues (like urging children to eat a lot at dinner so they can grow "big and strong"). All of these situations can contribute to weight gain, so it can be difficult to figure out if a person is born with a tendency to be obese or overweight or learns eating and exercise habits that lead to weight gain. The average American is inundated with fast food, processed food, and enriched food choices on a daily basis.

Advertisements for these food products boast their nutrition values and ease of preparation can make our lives easier. We lead busy lives, eat fast, and choose television or computer over exercise. Treatment of obesity depends primarily on how overweight a person is and his or her overall health. Certain medications can also be a cause of obesity.

Phen-fen" and Redux prescription drugs have been removed from the market in the United States and many other countries. Steroid medications are common culprits increasing the amount of fluid the body holds in the body. Some migraine medications are also known to cause weight gain. Antidepressants and other mood altering medications, sometimes used for the treatment of stress, anxiety and depression can also cause increased weight gain. Treatment for obesity is an energy-limited diet and increased exercise. Patients with morbid obesity, especially those with serious co-morbid conditions, may qualify for bariatric surgical treatments such as Lap Band or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Gastric reduction surgery is an important treatment option for obese patients with severe health problems. Initially, it leads to very significant weight loss in the 2 year period following their gastric bypass or banding operation, but it deals with symptoms (our excess weight) not causes (why we overeat). As a result, about 2-5 years after their operation, up to 40 percent of bariatric patients find it too arduous to follow the recommended dietary guidelines and end up regaining weight. Ephedra is essentially an herbal phen-fen. Ephedra is often combined with caffeine and aspirin ("the Stack"), which increases the thermogenic (fat-burning) effect of ephedra.

Eating less over the long term means learning to think about your eating habits and patterns.

Juliet Cohen writes articles on rare skin disorders and homemade recipes. She also writes articles on makeup tips.