Health

The responsibility for health care is devolved to the constituent countries of the United Kingdom: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In all countries, health care is predominantly funded through national taxation. Within each county, the responsibility for purchasing health services is being devolved to local bodies (Primary Care Trusts in England, Health Boards in Scotland, local health groups in Wales and Primary Care Partnerships in Northern Ireland). Primary care services are mainly provided by GPs and multi-professional teams in health centres (under a capitated budget). Hospitals are mainly publicly owned with independent trust status. Private hospitals mainly provide services to privately insured patients or those who are willing to pay directly.

All legal residents of the United Kingdom and British Nationals are entitled to cover under the UK National Health Service (NHS). In addition residents of the European Economic Area (EEA) are entitled to care, as are residents and citizens of other countries with which the UK has reciprocal agreements Overseas Visitors. In the UK, 11.5% of the population have supplementary private medical insurance. Those most likely to have private medical insurance are in the higher income groups (40% of adults with private medical insurance are in the highest income decile compared to less than 5% in the lowest). According to data from the General Household Survey 1995 12% of those between 45-64 years old had private medical insurance compared to only 5% of those over 65 years old. Private medical insurance policy holders are concentrated in London and the South East of England. In Scotland and the North the figure is as low as 5% of the population.

More recently with the establishment of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommendations are being made to the Secretary of State as to whether the NHS should cover certain services for all of the population or for certain indications or defined subgroups of the population. NICE is a special health authority and is accountable to the Secretary of State for Health in England and to the National Assembly for Wales. Its decisions are based on analysis of the costs and benefits of a particular technology by the Appraisal Committee NICE. NICE’s guidance is not yet mandatory though recent government announcements suggest this is likely to change. 

Having lustrous and healthy hair is the dream of every woman. In today's world, hair increasingly plays a central role in how we present ourselves to the outside world. A healthy head of full and shining hair with no flakes or other visible damage is easy to spot.
Whatever healthy hair means to you, one universal fact is that a girl’s hair is her crowning glory. But what about when your crowning glory isn't quite so glorious? Your hair is one of the biggest first impressions people will get when they see you, as it complements all of your other features. Hence, it is essential to make sure that your hair is always at its best.

We provide you with hair care tips for maintaining and managing your hair. Through our range of articles on hair health, we give you tips on maintaining and managing your hair, how to choose the right shampoo and other hair care products and common hair problems. 

 True beauty is a reflection of true health, and true health begins deep inside each and every cell in your body. Looking good can make you feel good and your looks can often depict your personality and attitude. Nourishing and nurturing yourself properly can bring immense and immeasurable rewards of confidence, vitality, energy, optimism and good health. Your skin is an indicator of your general health. Acne, wrinkles, dry or oily skin and inflammation are all signs of poor internal health, often brought on by consuming unhealthy foods and avoiding skin-healthy nutrients.

Know your skin
Skin acts as a barrier between the outside world and the controlled environment within your body. It protects your body from dirt, bacteria, foreign objects, Ultraviolet Rays and plays a vital role in regulating body temperature and body fluids and helps in the synthesis of vitamin D. It has millions of nerve endings that help in sensing hot, cold, hard, sharp or dull sensations

Skin structure

Basically your skin is made up of three layers namely

• Epidermis: This is the protective upper layer of your skin, which is tough. It provides your skin with resistance to physical wear and tear and also makes skin water proof.
• Dermis: This layer of skin lies just below the epidermis and contain numerous supporting tissues, blood vessels, nerves, hair roots and sweat glands. The dermis has two types of proteins called the Collagen and elastin, which give your skin its strength and flexibility

Subcutaneous tissue: This is theinnermost layer of the skin, also made up of connective tissue, sweatglands, blood vessels and Cells that store fat. This layer

Know your skin type
It is important to know your skin type, as it can help you maintain your skin health by taking the right measures to promote optimum skin care.

There are five major types of skin:

Normal skin: This type of skin looks healthy as there is a right balance between oil and moisture content. The normal skin appears smooth, clear and toned, without spots or blemishes and reflects good health.

Oily skin: This type of skin appears greasy. Dirt and dust gets attracted by the excessive oil on the skin leading to black heads, white heads, pimples and spots.

Dry skin: This type of skin appears parched and flaky due to a lack of moisture caused by inadequate secretions of the Sebaceous Glands.

Combination skin: This type of skin appears dry at the cheeks and areas around the mouth and eyes and appears oily at the central panel (forehead, nose and chin). Hence, it is known as combination skin.

Sensitive skin: This type of skin has a fine texture and is sensitive to climatic changes and chemical ingredients present in perfumes, dyes and other cosmetic products

How to determine your skin type?
As you wake up in the morning check for the grease/oil on your face. Wipe your face with a tissue. If you observe oil on the tissue then your skin is the greasy type.

If you observe grease or oil only on the center panel or the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin), then it would be combination skin. If you do not observe any grease/oil on the tissue, then it is either normal or dry skin. Dry skin feels too tight, parched and stretched whereas a normal skin feels smooth, elastic and supple.

Common skin problems
There are numerous skin disorders and these may be categorized into nine common types.

• Rashes: A rash appears red with inflammation. Rashes can occur due to allergy, infections, irritation, disease and other conditions like blocked pores or improper functioning of the oil glands in your skin. The examples are dermatitis, acne, eczema, psoriasis, etc.
• Bacterial infections: These infections are caused when bacteria infect the upper layer of your skin, follicles and the inner most layer of your skin. The examples of bacterial skin infection include folliculitis, cellulites, etc.
• Fungal infections: There are various fungi that are present on the surface of your
  skin that are generally harmless. But skin infections can occur when these fungi gain entry into your body. These infections can affect your skin, hair and nails and sometimes
  may lead to serious health conditions.
  The examples include ringworm, athlete’s foot, etc.
• Viral infections: This is caused when a virus infects the inner layer of your skin. Examples include measles, chicken pox, herpes, warts, etc.
• Trauma: A trauma may be due to a cut, burn or a blow and the body becomes more prone to infections during these conditions.
• Parasitic infections: These infections are caused by parasites like scabies and lice

Other conditions: There are various other skin conditions like wrinkles, Spider Veins and Rosacea caused due to enlargement of veins and/or breakdown of Collagen and Elastin.

Preventing skin problems
The natural process of aging and skin problems can be avoided by washing your skin gently, moisturizing skin regularly and avoiding overexposure to the sun. A few simple skin care habits (see box) can help keep your skin healthy and glowing for years to come.

Treatment for skin problems
There aremany different drugs, creams, and therapies for skin problems.Medications used to treat skin conditions usually include topical andoral medications. It is recommended that you seek your doctor’s adviceregarding treatment options. Your doctor knows what is best for you.

 Good habits for healthy skin

Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats.

Apply sunscreen 20 min before going outdoors.

Try avoiding outdoors during 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, since the sun rays are most damaging during these hours.

Adequate hydration is also important; drink at least 8–10 glasses of water.

Eat a healthy and balanced diet. Avoid fried and greasy foods.

Smoking can accelerate the normal aging process of the skin and also contribute to wrinkles.

Having long, hot showers can remove essential oils from skin.

Generally avoid soaps labeled "antibacterial" or "antimicrobial." These tend to reduce the skin's acidity, which acts as a protection from infection. Choose mild soaps with oils and fats.

People with sensitive skin should avoid dyes and perfume containing products.

After a bath, pat your skin dry gently with a towel so that some moisture remains.

Select a moisturizer with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 to help protect your skin from damaging Ultraviolet Rays.

Getting sufficient exercise gets the blood flow going and sends oxygen to the skin Cells.

Always consult your doctor to treat skin problems. Always clean your make-up before you sleep

Eye cosmetics

A simplest touch of a right eye makeup can make you smashingly beautiful and transformyou instantly. Eyes are considered to be the windows of the soul. They are the firstfeature to be noticed on your face. Eye cosmetics are widely used to enhance thebeauty of the eyes.

Eye shadows, eye liner and mascara are the most popular eye cosmetics and considered the basics for any makeup application. However, eye cosmetics can develop harmful effects on the eyes as well

Many instances of allergic reaction, infection or injury to the eye are a result of improper use of cosmetics rather then due to any of its ingredients. So it is important to follow some basic hygiene and cleanliness when using eye cosmetics

Eyeliners
Eyeliners are the most extensively used form of eye makeup. They are used to outlinethe eyes so that your eyes look more prominent and create an illusion of thickereyelashes. Eyeliners come in liquid or pencil forms. Liquid liners can be of twotypes—water-based and alcohol-based (water proof) eyeliners

 Application of eyeliner

• Liquid eyeliners usually come with a brush attachedto the cap. To apply, Stroke the eyeliner evenly across the lid as close to thebase of your eyelashes as possible. Look down and stay like that for a few secondsto give it time to dry and prevent smudging.
• Forpencil eyeliners, carefully draw a soft line, keeping close to your upper eyelashes.You can repeat the same under your lower lashes too.

Eyeliner should be applied after eye shadow and before mascara

 Eyeshadows
Eyeshadows give a soft smoky effect and are very effective in highlighting and definingyour eyes. To bring out the beauty of your eyes, you need to consider your skinand eye colors while choosing the color of an eyeshadow. The color should blendwell with your skin tone, dress and makeup. Eyeshadows come in a variety of forms—pressedpowders, cream, stick and liquid eyeshadows. Available in pearly and matt textures,pressed powders are the most popular form of eyeshadows

 Application of eyeshadows

• Using a small brush, apply base color to the entire lid from the outside to theinside corner and from the base of the lashes to the eyelid crease.
• After that a deeper shade is blended into the crease line.
• Apply a lighter shade under the brow bone area to highlight the eyes.
• A light or bright shade on the lid will make your eyes appear larger, while a darktone will make your eyes appear smaller.
• Avoid dark tones if you have very light skin.

Mascara
Mascara creates a flattering fringe to your eyes. It thickens and darkens the eyelashesand gives the eye makeup, the finishing touch. There are three forms of mascara:

 Water-based mascara: Water-based mascaras won’t stay for a long time, as it tendsto smudge easily when it comes into contact with water or perspiration. They aregentle to your lashes and can be removed easily.Water-proof mascara: Water-proofmascaras are generally water- and smudge-proof. It takes long time to dry and difficultto remove it. You may have to use a cosmetic cleaner to remove them from your lashes.

Mixed-variety mascara: Mixed-variety mascaras are combination of water-based andwater-proof mascaras. They dry quickly, are easy to remove and produce little orno smudging

 Application of mascara

 Most of the mascaras are applied with spiral wands that are quick and easy to use.Start by applying mascara to your upper lashes from their base to the tips, curling them up upward with the brush.Next, use the tip of the mascara wand to brush your lower lashes, using a gentle side-to-side technique.Make sure that you keep and steady while you are applying the mascara and do not blink while the mascara is still wet. You can apply mascara again for a more defined effect.

Finally brush through your lashes with an eyelash comb to remove any excess, and to prevent your lashes from clumping.

 Under eye concealers
Concealers are intended to disguise blemishes, dark circles and red veins. They are concentrated foundation with high pigment content and usually come in stick, cream and liquid forms. Choose for a concealer that looks nearest to your own skin tone.

Adverse effects of eye cosmetics

• Dangerous bacteria or fungi can grow in some cosmetic products leading to certain eye infections.
• A mascara wand or other applicators may cause injury to your eye by scratching the cornea. Corneal injury needs prompt medical attention.
• Bacteria from the skin can grow in the cosmetic after use. Contamination of cosmetics can cause conjunctivitis, which is the infection of the outer part of the eyeball.
• Preservatives in eye cosmetics can irritate the eye and skin in some people who has sensitive skin.
• Permanent eyelash and eyebrow tints and dyes have been known to cause serious eye injuries.
• Some people develop allergic reactions to fragrances or other ingredients in eye cosmetics. Tearing, itching, redness of the eyes, or swelling of the eyelids are some common symptoms of allergy.
• Testers in retail stores and at cosmetics counters can spread germs from one person to another when eye makeups are shared.
• Contact lens wearers and people with sensitive skins are more prone to eye infections and allergy.

Safety tips for using eye cosmetics

• When you try out ‘testers’ at cosmetic shops, make sure the demonstrator uses only fresh applicators.
• Avoid adding saliva or water to moisten eye cosmetics as it may introduce bacteria. Your saliva contains bacteria from your mouth.
• Use only cosmetics intended for the eyes on the eyes. For example, never use a lip liner as eyeliner.
• Never dye eyelashes and eyebrows, as they may cause serious eye injuries.
• Never use an old applicator to a fresh cosmetic, as it may introduce bacteria to the new cosmetic.
• Avoid using eye cosmetics if you have an infection. Discard any eye cosmetics you were using when you got the infection.
• Never share eye cosmetics with others. Each person has different skin bacteria. Another person’s bacteria may contaminate your cosmetics and you may get an infection.
• Never apply eye cosmetics in a moving vehicle.
• Stop using cosmetics immediately if it causes any irritation.
• Avoid using old eye cosmetics. Never use dried up mascara. Replace eye cosmetics for every 6 months or more often if you use contact lenses.

Consult your doctor if you think you have any cosmetic eye-related problem.