Diabetes is a metabolic disorder, chiefly caused by insulin fluctuation in the body. A study shows that, 1 out of 3 people suffering from diabetes are likely to develop a skin condition sooner or later; and in some cases, these skin problems serve as symptoms of diabetes. Although these skin problems can be cured easily if treated early, proper care must be administered at all times. Here are 7 skin conditions that affect diabetics:

1. Bacterial infection

Although anyone can get a bacterial infection, people suffering from diabetes are likelier to contract them. Usual bacterial skin problems that tend to trouble diabetics are boils, lumps near the eyelids, nail infections and carbuncles. Diabetics are also prone to infections deep in the skin and of the underlying tissues. The affected area is usually warm, red and swollen.

2. Fungal infections

People who have diabetes have an increased risk of contracting the fungal infection, especially the one known as candida Albicans. The fungus tends to create a red, itchy rash, which is surrounded by blisters and scales. These are usually found in warm places of the body like the armpits, or between the fingers of the hand or perhaps even the toes. Common fungal infections in diabetic people include athlete's foot, jock itch and ringworm.

3. Tingling and itching

Among the many causes of itching, diabetes is one. Yeast infection, dry skin and poor circulation are the primary causes of itching among patients of diabetes. Usually, the lower part of the leg tends to itch the most, if poor circulation is to be blamed.

4. Skin problems related to neuropathy

Diabetes can be the cause of nerve damage in some cases; and neuropathy is a common symptom of diabetes. This type of damage can cause a loss of sensation in a part of the body. On event of an injury, one may not be able to feel it. As a result, an open sore or wound, if left unattended, can develop into an infection.

5. Digital sclerosis

Digital sclerosis, a condition marked by tight, waxy, thick skin that develops on the back of the hand, is common among people who have type 1 diabetes. In this condition, the joints of the fingers get stiff and, thus, lose their mobility and elasticity. Skin of the toes, forehead and knees may also get affected.

6) Xerosis

Xerosis is another common skin condition that accompanies diabetes. In this condition, the skin becomes very dry and itchy.

7) Acanthosis nigricans

Acanthosis nigricans is the condition where diabetics get darkening of skin leading to skin tags around neck and armpits.

What would it be without milk; a nourishing elixir that has innumerable benefits to offer. It is not only enriched with calcium and vitamin D, but also essential nutrients that promote health. According to the book Healing Foods by DK Publishing, evidence show that milk can be termed as a healthy food. Its calcium content helps the body burn calories more efficiently and maintains a steady weight, while its healthy fats help lower blood pressure. In India, we generally consume hot milk considering various condiments are mixed in it. While hot milk makes for a healthy drink, cold milk is equally good for health and beauty. If you haven't known already, here are some amazing benefits a glass of cold milk has to offer.

1. Reduces Acidity

One of the best remedies for acidity and discomfort is to sip on a glass of cold milk. Gradual sipping on milk can help alleviate pain from peptic ulcers too.

2. Keeps Your Body Hydrated

Cold milk is a great beverage to keep your body hydrated. Dehydrating beverages like alcohol, coffee and sugary foods signal the kidneys to get rid of the extra water by producing more urine making you feel more dehydrated. However, when beverages contain nutrients and electrolytes like potassium and sodium, as milk does, the stomach empties slowly with less significant effect on the kidneys.

3. Controls Hunger Pangs

Cold milk makes for a nutritious way to control hunger pangs. You can easily make cold coffee or flavoured milk out of it and enjoy it in the evening. A glass of it will not only kill your cravings but also keep you fuller for longer.

4. Acts As An Excellent Skin Toner

Milk has nourishing effects on your skin. It makes for an amazing toner that you can use every day to get a glowing skin. Take cotton and soak in some cold milk in it and dab it on your face leaving it hydrated and smooth. It is a rich source of vitamin A and other antioxidants that help give you a glow, further reducing dark spots, pigmentation and freckles.

5. Acts As A Moisturizer

If you have a dry skin, look no further. Cold milk can surely come to your rescue as it helps maintain the pH levels of the skin. All you need to do is to add a few drops of lemon juice and rose water to cold milk and soak cotton with this solution. Apply it to your face and leave it for 10 minutes. Wash it off with cold water.

You can enjoy cold milk along with cereals, shakes and smoothies too. Milk lovers, this health drink is surely your go-to elixir.

There is often a lot of confusion around which oil to use and why, especially as we are now in an era booming with products and options. The 3 basic traditional Indian oils that have been used over so many years and that too very effectively are sesame, coconut and mustard oil. The benefits of these oils are elaborated herewith and you can very easily pick and choose which one you would like to use-Sesame Oil

One of my all-time favourites, this rich oil extracted from the sesame seed is excellent for the skin. Rich in vitamin A,E and D, sesame oil is packed with anti-inflammatory properties which have the ability to repair tissue damage and also prevents rashes and lessens scars on the skin. Due to the high amount of viscosity, this oil is excellent for massage and can be used as a carrier oil with essential oils of your choice added to it. This oil penetrates effectively into the pores making it work from under the skin to improve blood circulation.Sesame oil also helps in fighting against early signs of ageing due to its antioxidant content of sesamol. The oil is rich in antioxidants, hence it is easily absorbed by the skin. This prevents lines and wrinkles and also slows down the ageing process. It also prevents bacterial infections and gives a glowing and healthy skin.

This skin oil makes for a super-moisturizer as it helps keep the skin soft and supple. It nourishes the skin from deep inside and promotes softness. It is rich in essential fatty acids like linoleic acid and palmitic acids. It is linoleic acid that gives both anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to this oil. Sesame oil is found to have vitamin E, B-complex(such as niacin) and D in very high amounts. Niacin is a variant of B-complex that is capable of reducing LDL- cholesterol levels in blood.Coconut Oil

Now that you have some inputs on sesame oil, let me throw some light on coconut oil, which is one of the favourite oils from the down South. Besides all the recent interest shown in the use of coconut oil from being a heart tonic to a great digestive that can help improve weight loss, this wonder oil is also known to help build up muscles and maintains muscle mass as well. However, the skin benefits are as follows-

Coconut oil helps reduce bags and dark under-eye circles. It can help lighten the skin tone and can also improve the appearance of this delicate and sensitive area in no time at all with just regular massage.

Besides this, coconut oil acts as a great balm for chapped lips and helps lighten the lips and hydrates them naturally. It is an excellent skin soother and can be used on burns and scalded skin. Many post-surgery scars can also be lightened with coconut oil. If you suffer from cracked cuticles, bring coconut oil to your rescue. It makes for an excellent skin soother and you can massage this oil around the cuticles and dip into warm water.

Mustard Oil

This underestimated strong smelling kitchen oil hasn't been tapped enough for beauty and skin care as it should have. This heavy oil is great to keep your skin looking beautiful and much as many would think that mustard oil makes you dark, on the contrary mustard oil massage helps lighten the skin tone and reduce dark spots as well! This oil also helps reduce pigmentation and can be massaged on to the skin regularly. It makes for an excellent skin moisturizer.

Mustard oil detans the skin and a gentle massage with this oil, especially on the arms and face will help lighten the area. This oil is loaded with Vitamin E and makes for an excellent sunscreen as well. It can also prevent the skin from damage caused due to environmental pollution. Most people avoid using this oil due to its strong smell but you can very easily embrace it by mixing it with essential oils and use it very safely on the skin.

Now that you have some inside information on the 3 amazing traditional Indian oils, use them safely and see the transformation naturally!

As summer arrives, it comes with various skin related problems. As heat of the sun becomes very harsh on our skin and results into many skin related issues like sunburn, sun tan, acne, pimples, spots and other skin infections. It becomes very difficult for us to protect our skin from these problems. So here we are with an ingredient that you can easily find in your kitchens, which can do wonders to your skin. Apple cider vinegar is an ingredient, which has many health as well as skin benefits. It is rich in acetic, citric, malic and amino acid and also contains vitamins, enzymes and mineral salts, which is beneficial for your skin.

Here is how you can use apple cider vinegar for flawless skin:

1. Prevents Acne And Pimples

If you are struggling from stubborn acnes and pimples, then keep an apple cider vinegar bottle handy. Due to its antibacterial and antifungal substance, apple cider vinegar helps in keeping your skin pores bacteria, oil and dust free. How To Use:

Mix raw and unfiltered apple cider vinegar with filtered water in a bowl.

Soak a cotton ball in the solution and apply it on the affected skin.

Leave it for 10 minutes and then wash it off with warm water.

Reapply a few times daily for few days to see the result.

2. Heals Sunburn

Apple cider vinegar is known to cure sunburns. It helps to soothe the pain and make the healing process fast.

How To Use:

Mix half a cup apple cider vinegar with 4 cups of water.

Douse a wash cloth with the solution and apply to sunburned skin.

Massage it for a while.

Repeat this several times daily for few days until your condition improves.

3. Soothe And Exfoliate Skin

Apple cider vinegar will soothe your skin and will leave it soft and supple. Its alpha hydroxyl acid removes the dead skin cells and reveals healthy new skin cells.

How To Use:

Pour some apple cider vinegar in a bathtub of warm water.

Be in there for 15-20 minutes.

Allow the protective acid to soak into your skin.

Follow this routine to maintain the pH levels of your skin.

4. Skin Toner

Apple cider vinegar has astringent properties, which helps in increasing the blood flow to the skin and minimise the pores, a great remedy for the ones with oily skin. It also regulates the pH level of your skin.

How To Use:

Mix apple cider vinegar with filtered water. You may add few drops of essential oil also.

Apply the solution on your skin using cotton ball.

Leave it for few minutes, and then rinse it off with cool water.

You can use it once or twice a day as per your need.

5. Remove Age Spots And Fights Wrinkles

Apple cider vinegar has alpha hydroxyl acids, which helps in removing dead skin and reveals healthy and glowing skin. Not just that, apple cider vinegar also helps in removing the age spots and minimises fine lines and wrinkles.

How To Use:

Dab a little apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball and apply it directly on the age spot and wrinkles.

Leave it for 30 minutes and then wash it off with cool water.

Follow this routine twice daily for 6 weeks and you will see the difference.
So, now you know the benefits of apple cider vinegar. Don't wait and include this magical portion to your daily beauty regime.

The benefits of being at a healthy weight are indisputable; dropping just five to 10 percent of your body weight may help improve your overall health and reduce the risk of health conditions like heart diseases, obesity and diabetes. However, shedding extra pounds may also mean some unexpected challenges that show up when you lose a significant amount of weight in a short span of time, especially if you are following a fad diet. Fad diets are diets that promise to help you lose weight in less than a week's time. While there are many positives that may skyrocket like boost in your energy levels, better skin and hair, and healthy lifestyle, et al; the negatives that it may bring along may depend on a person to person and their journey of losing weight.Here are the side effects of losing a significant amount of weight that you must know.

1. You May Develop A Sagging Skin

Loose, sagging skin is one of the most common side effects of losing weight too fast. It usually happens because the skin is not able to shrink as quickly as the body, therefore, most health experts suggest focusing on slow, steady weight loss to give enough shrinking time to your skin. Moreover, it also depends on the exercises that you engage in; so always consult your fitness expert or gym instructor to make a workout plan accordingly.

2. May Affect Hair Health

Most fad diets suggest consuming fewer calories, which may mean they don't have enough essential nutrients to add to your body. This can lead you to being malnourished, further causing hair loss. Deficiencies of macro and micro nutrients in the body may lead to dull and weak hair. Make sure you load up on more protein in your diet and eat enough calories that include sufficient amount of vital nutrients to avoid such a condition.

3. May Also Affect Your Skin Health

Sure, your diet may keep your body slim, but it may impact your skin health, too. The foods you eat decide what will show up on your skin. Poor nourishment may lead to break-outs, acne, dull skin, fine lines, et al. The idea is to add foods that are rich in antioxidants that help block skin damage, especially from the sun.

4. May Cause Constipation

If you are following a certain diet, your constipation maybe related to the dietary changes you have made. So, it is always good to add up on more fibre-rich foods, including whole grains, salads, raw fruits and vegetables, et al, to get your bowels moving. Also, it is important to keep yourself hydrated all the time, which helps keep constipation at bay.

5. This May Also Affect Menstrual Cycle

Fluctuations in your weight may cause your menstrual cycle to fluctuate. It is always good to consult a dietitian to construct a healthy diet plan for you to lose weight in a proper way without having to affect your monthly cycles.

6. You May Have A Trouble Sleeping

What you eat on a daily basis has a direct effect on your sleeping patterns. The constant changes in your dietary plans may affect your sleep in more ways than one. To have a healthy sleep at night, make sure you are loading up on carbohydrates along with protein in order to make your tryptophan levels go up.

Please know that not all people go through negative physical and emotional side effects; however, it is important to be aware of them and talk to your doctor in case they do occur.