Beautify your Back and Neck

Parent Category: News and Stories
Posted in: Beauty n Fitness on Friday, 05 September 2008 00:00

Caring for the body is essential for looking and feeling good. In fact, it is the basis of good grooming and beauty because beauty is a total impact. Signs of negligence can really mar the entire personality. And your body has every right to look as good as your face. The two most neglected areas are the ‘back’ and the ‘neck’. We remember to wash our face everyday but most often than not, forget the neck or the back. Here are some useful tips to help you improve the skin on these areas.

Back

The back is very rich in oil glands. That is why one rarely gets wrinkles on the back! But it makes the skin prone to blackheads, spots and pimples. Sun-exposure can also result in tanning or pigmented patches, making the area look blotchy.

Pay extra attention to the back while bathing. Use a long-handled brush, loofah, or a rough washcloth to scrub the area gently, while bathing. This keeps the pores clean and free of clogged pores. If there are dry patches massage sesame seed (til) oil before your bath. A lemon-turmeric cream also helps to lighten dark areas, since both have mild skin lightening action. Lemon is a natural cleanser, whereas turmeric is a powerful natural antiseptic and germicidal that helps to prevent skin problems.

Like facial scrubs, a body scrub also works wonders on the back. Make one at home by mixing rice flour with curd. Apply the mixture and rub gently on the skin. You may have to get someone to do this for you. Or apply it on the long handled brush and use the brush on the back. Then wash it off with water. This helps to remove dead cells, making the skin clearer and brighter. Scrubs actually help to dislodge and discourage blackheads. Almond meal (ground almonds) mixed with rose water can also be used as a scrub, but for oily and pimple-prone skin, curd and rice powder works better. You can also apply the ready-to-use scrubs which are available.

To remove tan, mix three teaspoons oatmeal with two teaspoons curd and one teaspoon egg white. Apply it on the back and wash off when it dries. Or, mix besan (gram flour) with curd and add a little turmeric. The paste should be thick and should not drip. Apply it half an hour before your bath. On pigmented (dark) patches, first use a scrub, rubbing gently while using circular movements. Then apply one part of honey mixed with two parts lemon juice on the dark patches. Wash it off after twenty minutes.

For pimples and spots, mix cinnamon powder with lemon juice and apply directly on the eruptions. Sandalwood paste can also be used.

Sometimes an acne condition can spread to the shoulders and back. In such cases, it is better to use medicated and specialized products to control the condition. We advise the use of a medicated cleanser called, Shazema, which contains ingredients like eucalyptus and clove. At night, an anti-acne lotion called, Shaclear should be applied and left on. If there are dark marks left by acne and pimples, an anti-blemish ointment called, Shablem should be rubbed into the area and left on. As a home remedy, apply curd everyday on the back and wash it off after twenty minutes. Curd has a healing effect on acne and also restores the normal acid-alkaline balance.

However a long term remedy, by way of natural, nutritional supplements like ‘Glow,’ ‘Pynocare’ and ‘Acnacare’ are also available in the market now and dermatologists worldwide recommend these capsules for a ‘complete beauty solution from within.’

If there is acne and you wish to wear an outfit with a low back, you can cover up the eruptions and marks with the help of make-up. A concealer or foundation may be used. A water-based or cake type foundation is better. Avoid creamy concealer or foundation on acne. Use a cotton bud or fine brush and apply cake-type concealer into the pits or on the scars. You can also use a foundation the same way to conceal blemishes. It should be one shade lighter than your normal skin colour. Foundation can only be used to cover-up pimples. The best way to do this is to take a little bit of foundation and apply it directly on the pimple or pimple scars. Avoid rubbing or smearing. Instead, pat it into the skin and then apply loose powder on top, blending the powder with the rest of the skin. What you must bear in mind is that the concealer or foundation, which you use to conceal pits or acne scars, can be two or three shades lighter than your skin colour. Then apply your normal foundation over the entire back, setting it with powder. Of course, help is needed for back make-up.

Neck

This is a portion of the body that is often sadly neglected. The skin of the neck is thinner than most other parts of the body and is vulnerable to early ageing. Lines and folds can form on the neck prematurely. Remember to hold your head high up, as this helps the general posture and the neck. Practise walking with a book on the head. It is said to prevent double chins. Sleeping without a pillow also helps.

Include the neck in your daily skin care routine. Even if you have an oily skin and do not use creams on the face, you can use them on the neck. Cleanse the neck with a cleansing gel, using moist cotton wool. Every night, take some nourishing cream and massage it on the neck with a few drops of water. Using both hands, start from the chin and go downwards, one hand following the other. If the neck is darker than the face, apply a lemon turmeric pre-bath cream daily. Or mix besan with curd and a pinch of turmeric and apply on the neck daily for about twenty minutes before your bath. The back of the neck can easily become tanned through sun-exposure. Apply the lemon-turmeric cream or besan and curd mixture on the back of the neck too. Salon facials usually include the neck area. Therefore, regular facials at a salon would help to keep the neck in good condition. At a salon, the neck is massaged and packs are applied.

When you apply foundation on the face, remember to apply it on the neck. Otherwise, there will be a difference between the skin colour of the face and the neck. Blend well, so that there is no line of demarcation.

Back and Neck Exercises

Back Ache

The muscles of the back support it like a tent pole supported by ropes. Any slackening in the ropes and the pole tilts. Here are a few tips to keep back aches away:

Neck

It is so common to find muscular tension building up, especially if you work at a desk job or at the computer. Tension tends to build up at the back, just below the nape of the neck and between the shoulders. While sitting at your desk, try these simple exercises to banish your tension blues.