• A very humid atmosphere
• Certain medicines
• Insufficient sleep
• Pre-menstrual hormonal fluctuation
• Stress and emotional upsets
• The contraceptive pill
• The link with diet has not been proven, although and unbalanced diet and zinc deficiency may contribute to it.
• Certain ingredients, in cosmetics, may be a factor if you have developed black heads or acne, follow these precautions:
• Don't use harsh cleansing products or abrasive scrubs, as this may increase the skin's oil production and also dry the surface of the skin.
• Never pick at or squeeze spots – this pushes inflammations deeper into the skin and causes permanent damage.
• Salon facials and professional removal of blackheads are beneficial.
• Using clay masks at home absorbs excess oils.
• Contact your doctor if the problem is sever. One form of acne can pit and scar near the skin, which can be avoided with specialist treatment. But, if you just have the odd spot, the best advice is to leave it well alone and don't worry!

How can I avoid stretch-marks and are there any ways to remove them at all?
Stretch-marks are caused by rapid fluctuations in weight through dieting or as a result of weight gain during pregnancy, for example.

There is almost nothing you can do to avoid them in pregnancy, as much depends on your hormones, although controlling your weight gain will help. Keeping your skin firm and elastic with body lotions can also be helpful. In addition, vitamins and minerals, in your – diet, have been shown to maintain strong connective tissues.

Unfortunately, once the stretch-marks have formed, no treatment or cosmetic device will remove the scars. However, they will fade, even if they do not disappear completely, with time.

How can I prevent occurrence of cold sores?
Cold sores are the result of a virus known as herpes simple, virus 1. Once your have the virus it stays with your for lifetime, although some people never have more than one outbreak. It can be activated by strong sunlight, colds, and menstruation. Wear a high protection sun screen to help prevent cold sores. Apply medication as soon as you feel the telltale tingling sensation. Cold sores are extremely contagious and you must keep them clean and dry. Don't touch them or pass them to others thorough contact, such as kissing.

How can I conceal dark patches around my eyes?
Dark circles are a very common complaint and can worsen with times as the surface skin thins. Try to get adequate sleep and, on waking, tap the skin lightly with finger tips, using refreshing gel-which will improve circulation. Use a fine film of a circular, blending carefully.

Could the flaking, red patches that have developed on my skin be psoriasis?
It sounds very likely. Psoriasis, unlike eczema, doesn't itch. It affects most commonly scalp, elbows, shoulders, lower back and knees. The rough red patches flare up at random and may be triggered by shock, fatigue, depression and certain drugs, and get aggravated be stress. The complaint sometimes occurs two or three weeks, after a throat infection. Studies are being carried out to determine the precise cause of psoriasis, which occurs when the precise cause of psoriasis, which occurs when skin cells turn over too quickly the condition is often hereditary, your doctor can prescribe tar products or treatment by a form of ultra violate, depending on the extent of the problem. Some doctors may suggest conticosteriod products. Alternative therapies such as acupuncture, using herb and plant oils and homeopathy can, sometimes prove useful, as also bathing in mineral salts.

Eczema can also be helped by acupuncture and homeopathy. There are several forms of eczema, some of which are triggered by allergic reaction to particular chemicals. Your doctors can arrange tests to identify the cause.

Is eczema the same condition as dermatitis and what are the best treatments?
Eczema and dermatitis are now used as interchangeable description, and there are many types with different causes. It is important to consult your doctor or as specialist for a precise diagnosis. The inflammations of skin causes dryness, flaking and, sometimes, blisters.

In its mildest form eczema is simply a tendency to dry skin but, in severe cases, it can affect the whole body, causing itching, inflammations and discomfort.

Eczema causes the skin to become itch and hot and areas of hardened skin may develop from continual scratching. Infection may also result.

The most common type of eczema is atopic eczema, which usually first appears in infancy and is strongly linked with asthma and hay fever.

You should use pure cotton bedding and clothing, as wool and synthetic fibbers can aggravate the condition. Washing powders that contain harmful substances can cause skin problems. Allergies to nickel, rubber, dyes, medications, plants and the house dust, mite can trigger eczema and stress can also aggravate it.

Treatments include the application of especial emulsifying oils to your bath water and emollient creams after bathing, when the skin is still damp. Topical steroids may be prescribed by your doctor. Anti-histamine can also be prescribed to relieve itching and antibiotics to treat infections.

Treatment with Chinese herbs has proved successful for patients whose eczema did not respond to tropical steroids. It is advisable to seek the advice of your doctor before embarking on this treatment.

How does acupuncture treatment help in curing the skin-related disorders?
Before answering this question let us tell you basics of this style of treatment. The Chinese view of the cosmos encompasses the idea that all things have a YIN aspect and a YANG aspect, and that without these two opposite (but complementary in parts), nothing could exist. So, without cold there would be no heat, without day any light.

Chinese philosophy also believes that all living matter is permeated by a life force or energy called CHI. It is claimed that in the human body this energy flows along channels called meridians. If the body is in a state of ill-health, this is because the YIN-YANG balance of the CHI energy is upset, so that CHI is unable to flow freely. So, the basis of acupuncture theory is that the root cause of all diseases is a problem in the energy equilibrium of the body. The treatment is concentrated on restoring its this lost balance. One of the ways of entering into the body's energy network is via the acupuncture points, of which there are about 800 in the entire body.

Acupuncturists believe that the skin disorders are caused mainly by this energy equilibrium getting disturbed through the external factors like heat, damp and wind.

Acupuncture is very effective in curing skin disorders provided the cause is diagnosed correctly and the right point of the body is punctured. At themes this style of treatment deems, like homeopathy, that the internal body disorders of lungs, intestine, liver etc. manifest their effect also on the skin. But this treatment should be resorted to under the expert's supervision only.

What is the basis of Anthrosophical treatment. How does it view skin disorders?
If the metabolic organizations (as against the anabolic organization) predominates, as it does in the inflammatory stage of skin disorders like eczema, the formative never sense system needs reinforcing. Skin infection occurs when the host boundaries are weakened. The vitality (etheric forces) of the body as a whole needs addressing and strengthening. Local treatment, for instance calendula lotion or ointment, can be used. Anthroposophical medicine views the skin as a vital part of the immune system, effective against bacteria and viruses, only breached when the skin is damaged or weakened. The skin has many qualities associated with the nerve-sense system as it is sensitive to temperature and pain. Skin disorders occur when the breaking down quality (catabolic) of the nerve-sense system is out of balance with life force (anabolic) quality of the metabolic system.