Dealing With Dandruff

CAUSES OF DANDRUFF

Although the cause of dandruff is not completely understood, it is currently theorized that one of the main causes is a breakdown of the scalps natural lipid barrier, leaving it more exposed to infection by the microscopic yeast that is commonly found in the scalp. When the yeast overgrows, it leads to an inflammatory response that kills off scalp cells at a high rate, which in turn slough off in sticky patches and flakes.



The condition is identified by:

- White or clear flakes on the scalp, through the hair, and on clothing.

- Itchy scalp which may be red and inflamed.

Some young teens find they develop dandruff when they hit puberty because their hygiene habits haven’t changed to meet the challenges of newly accelerated sebum production.

Stress, poor hygiene and poor diet can make the scalp more susceptible to dandruff. High sugar foods in particular are known to exacerbate yeast infections.

The hair should be brushed regularly to loosen flakes and stimulate blood supply to the scalp, which will accelerate the natural immune response to infection.

TREATING DANDRUFF

There are few habits you can develop and natural treatments you can use to treat dandruff. 



Nutrition: An excess of sugar in the diet can exacerbate any yeast infection. Try reducing your intake of all sugars and refined starches while treating for dandruff.



Cleansing: Massage your scalp thoroughly with your fingertips when shampooing. This will help loosen and remove any dead skin flakes and help prevent the infection from continuing. Wash your hair daily until the infection is cleared up.

Conditioning: Use a protective hair condition on the ends of hair only. Avoid getting conditioner on your scalp where it can clog pores and interfere with healing of the skin.

Other Treatments:

- Massage: Massaging your scalp several times a day with the pads of the fingers only will stimulate blood supply to the hair follicles and help loosen the dead skin flakes.

- Brushing: Brushing your hair thoroughly on a daily basis will help loosen and remove dead skin flakes, increase the smooth flow of sebum along the hair shaft, and increase blood supply to the hair follicles. 

- Wash Hands After Brushing and Grooming Hair: Fungal infections of the skin are highly contagious, and it is easy to reinfect and spread to other areas of the body.This is why it’s important to wash your hair daily and to brush out any loose dandruff flakes – so that healthy areas of the scalp will not be infected. Washing your hands after brushing, massaging and grooming your hair will also help prevent reinfection or cross infection.

The following herbs and nutrients have been shown to reduce dandruff infections:

Natural Internal Treatments for Dandruff

Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Vanadyl Sulfate, Gynema Sylvestre and Chromium are all natural regulators of blood sugar levels. The can help prevent feeding the infection by keeping blood sugar levels normalized.

Olive Leaf and Oregano Leaf are both natural systemic antifungal agents.

Natural External Treatments for Dandruff

The following herbs can be used as a tonic for reducing fungal infections on a topical basis. Extracts of these herbs or a several drops of their essential oils dissolved in aloe vera gel or witch hazel can greatly relieve the symptoms of itching and flaking in dandruff. Tea tree oil is particularly effective against fungal and bacterial infections. 

Clary Sage

Desert Sage 

Eucalyptus

Fumitory

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginsen

Grapefruit Seed Extract

Grapefruit Essential Oil

Grapeseed Extract

Juniper Berry Essential Oil

Lavender Essential Oil

Lemongrass

Myrtle

Oregano

Poike Root

Seven Steps For Keeping Teeth Healthy For A Lifetime

A smile can last a lifetime-if you take care of it. For that reason, it’s important for parents to instill good oral health habits in children as early as possible.

According to U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona’s “National Call to Action to Promote Oral Health” report, children lose more than 51 million school hours and adults lose more than 164 million work hours each year due to dental disease or dental visits. The nation’s total bill for dental services was estimated to be more than $70.1 billion in 2002.

“Oral health disease is making disturbing inroads into communities across the country,” Dr. Marsha Butler, Colgate-Palmolive’s Vice President, Global Oral Health and Professional Relations, explains. “For children between the ages of 5 and 17 here in the U.S., tooth decay is more common than asthma, more common than hay fever, and it poses a significant threat to our children’s overall health and well-being.”

Recently, during the celebration of National Children’s Dental Health Month, Colgate and Dr. Carmona unveiled “The U.S. Surgeon General’s Seven Steps to a Bright Smile,” tips that were developed, with a grant from Colgate-Palmolive, to help keep teeth and gums strong and healthy:

1. Brush teeth and gums with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day, especially after eating breakfast and before bedtime.

2. Visit the dentist regularly.

3. Floss your teeth daily.

4. Use fluoride rinse for strong, healthy teeth and gums.

5. Limit the number of times you eat snacks each day-and remember to practice healthy eating and get plenty of calcium.

6. Wear a mouthguard when playing sports.

7. Ask your dental professional about dental sealants.

Through its Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program, Colgate has reached more than 50 million children with free dental screenings, treatment referrals and oral health education. The company is more than halfway to meeting a public commitment it made to reach 100 million children with these services by the year 2010. Bright Smiles, Bright Futures empowers children to take control of their oral health and helps to generate greater awareness about the importance of maintaining good dental hygiene.

Swallow To Glow A Holistic Approach To Skin Health

The skin is the largest organ in the body. It defends against disease and infection, regulates temperature and even aids in vitamin production. Keeping skin healthy is crucial for beauty and general health, even if most of us are interested in knowing how to keep skin looking healthy, rather than really keeping it healthy.

The best way to keep skin looking healthy – young, fair, radiant, supple, soft and wrinkle free – is to keep out of the sun.

Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun bring about a healthy-looking tan, but do much damage to the skin in terms of pigmentation, sunburn and loss of elasticity. These can lead to premature aging in the form of wrinkles, fine lines, sagging, dark skin, uneven skin tone, loss of translucency, enlarged pores and dryness. Even the best of genetics, topical skin lightening treatments and oral skin supplements would be of little use if one tans mercilessly and regularly.

Keeping out of the sun helps, but if you cannot avoid it, you will have to ensure that you use a sunscreen. This is especially crucial if sun exposure is for an extended period of time.

Assuming that one is already sensible about sun exposure, how can we then further improve our skin condition? We know that certain oral supplements are effective for good skin health, but which are these supplements and how effective are they?

Supplement From Within

The first group would be vitamins and minerals, essential for proper functioning of every organ.

The vitamins and minerals that can affect skin health include the B-complex, especially B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin) and B12 (cyancobalamine). Overt deficiencies of vitamins B1 and B2 are known to cause special forms of dermatitis (a kind of skin inflammation). B12 deficiency is particularly detrimental to neurons and rapidly dividing cells, including skin cells.

Besides the B vitamins, deficiency of vitamin C, iron and copper also affect skin health. All three are important for the synthesis of collagen, a key structural protein in the skin, which fills the skin and gives it tone.

Vitamin A is critical for the normal life cycle of skin cells. Vitamin A deficiency causes skin to become dry, fragile and prone to wrinkles. On the other hand, excessive Vitamin A intake may cause serious toxicity and should be avoided.

Vitamins C and E, and beta-carotene have been touted as anti-oxidants that reduce free radicals. (Free radicals result in skin degeneration and aging.) However, while free radicals and the role of anti-oxidants are beyond doubt, clinical results have not conclusively proved if supplementary vitamins and other micronutrients improve the skin quality and defy the aging process.

Excessive doses can be just as harmful as deficiencies, so it is best to abide by the recommended daily allowance (RDA).

Topical Help

Oral supplements should go hand-in-hand with topical applications – sunscreen of at least SPF 30, creams (preferably with skin whitening agents) and moisturizer (preferably with skin lightening agents). Compared with topical applications, the effects of oral supplements are slower and more subtle. Consumers have to be realistic about their expectations because results certainly will not be seen in 7 days or 2 weeks.

We recommend a holistic approach to skin health, comprising:

* A healthy balanced diet comprising all food groups as well as vitamins, minerals and micronutrients.

* Keep a happy positive mood. It is well documented that some skin conditions – such as acne and eczema – are more prevalent among the stressed.

* If you smoke, quit smoking. Smoke causes free radicals, damages the microcirculation of skin and also causes staining of teeth and other discoloration.

* Minimize sun exposure and use a good sunscreen on a daily basis.

Tips on buying shoes

You went to a shop, tried on a pair of shoes and you bought them. The next day you wore them and you got blisters. What detail did you miss when purchasing them?

Here are simple rules for finding your perfect fit.

1. The later, the better. 
Your feet swell to their largest size as blood pools in them by the end of the day, which makes this the best time to shop. Go too early, and you risk getting a pair that will be too tight.

2. Get measured every time.
Pregnancy, weight gain, and age can cause your feet to lengthen and broaden; your arches can change, too. Also, if one of your feet is bigger than the other (as is the case for lots of people), buy shoes in the size of the larger foot.

For sports shoes, leave a finger's width of space between the end of your longest toe and the end of the shoe for toe movement and thicker socks.

3. Try them on.
Sizes differ by brand (and even within the same brand). Ask the salesperson to bring your normal size as well as a half-size larger and smaller.

4. Dress for success.
Bring or wear the socks or hose you plan to pair with the shoes.

5. Go with your gut. 
You will know within minutes if a shoe is right for you. If it is even a bit uncomfortable now, it will feel exponentially worse as time goes on.

Seem Ram-Charitar, DPM, is a New York City-based podiatrist and the spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association. She is a former model, too and she really loves her shoes.

Inexpensive beauty tricks only stylists know

cat eye

Save a little money on your beauty regimen with these inexpensive secrets from the pros.

1. Baby your brushes
Good makeup brushes should last a lifetime. If yours looks destroyed, here is how to keep your next brush in tiptop shape. First, never let your brushes sit with product on them for too long; it can permanently damage the bristles.

Wash them regularly with shampoo or a mild dish detergent. To dry, lay brushes flat on a paper towel, if you put them upright in a cup, water can seep into the base and rot the brush.

2. Don't redo makeuprefresh it
There is no need to remove and re-apply makeup after a mid-day meltdown. To sop up oil and refresh makeup, lightly mist your face with toner, and then pat with a tissue. Then dust with loose powder for a smooth, velvety finish.

3. Skip the expensive body scrubs
Is a spa body treatment beyond your budget? You can easily get silky, smooth skin at home with a homemade body scrub from: mix one part olive oil with two parts sugar or salt, then add a few drops of an essential oil (try lavender or grapefruit). Gently massage over your arms and legs before your next shower, and then rinse off with warm water.

4. Prepare before you pucker up
Smooth, flake-free lips are an essential first step when applying lip color, but you do not need to buy a lip scrub, personal stylist Fawn Cheng tells her recipe:

Mix equal parts brown sugar, olive oil, and vanilla extract. Gently massage the mixture over lips and remove with a facial tissue. Then proceed as normal with your lipstick routine.

5. Don't over-powder
When you are getting ready on a hot day, do not continuously powder your face as you do your makeup, says makeup artist Lisa O'Connor; you will risk ending up with a caked-on effect. 'Wait until just before you're ready to go out, then blot excess moisture and set your makeup with powder,'

6. Make any lipstick long-lasting
To reduce your need for touch-ups, dust a little powder on a folded facial tissue, and then press it gently between your lips to blot your lipstick.

Bonus: This trick also helps keep color off your teeth.

7. Perfect the cat eye
For an expertly drawn look you can create at home, all you need is a sticky note, business card, or paper towel. Close the eye you are going to work on, and line up the note, card, or towel at a slight upward angle. Use it as a guide for creating the signature swooped-up line using your favorite eyeliner.

8. Get tinted lashes-for less
Salon-tinted eyelashes provide a natural-looking, eye-enhancing effect. However, you can create a similarly glossy, non-clumpy look without an appointment. Simply use volumizing mascara and a facial tissue. Take your mascara wand, dip it in the tube, wipe it on a tissue several times to remove excess product, and then apply it.

9. At the end of the day, Vaseline is the best makeup remover

Makeup artistand owner of an eponymous cosmetics lineLaura Geller says she uses Vaseline to take off her eye makeup. It is a ritual she picked up from her mother, who also used basic petroleum jelly to moisturize her hands. "Just dip a tissue into a jar and wipe your face with downward strokesall your makeup will come right off,"

Women you should avoid on Facebook

Once upon a time, a man would meet a woman, they'd exchange phone numbers, make a date and learn about each other by sharing experiences together. In today's hyper-connected world of tweets and Instagram photos, we start learning about our potential mates the second they 'friend' us online often before we've even met them in person.

One benefit of digital courtship is that it gives you a chance to spot any red flags before you've invested any real time or effort with a new woman. For instance, if your new love interest has a mean streak, it'll probably come out somewhere on her Facebook profile.

The same applies if she's hung up on her ex or hits the bottle a little too often. Once you know how to spot the clues, you can decide if the woman you found online is really the type you're looking for.

Here are some of the women you have to avoid on Facebook.

The overly dramatic girl: Cryptic, attention-seeking messages should tell you that the woman you're interested in is likely passive-aggressive and high maintenance.

The insecure girl: A woman who posts about how ugly she feels either has serious self-esteem issues or is so desperate for praise that she'll regularly fish for compliments on Facebook.

The heavy drinker: Sure, she sounds like a good time -- the kind of girl who'll lead a drunken singalong at a packed bar. But she won't be nearly as cute when you're cleaning vomit out of her hair or trying to win an argument with her while she's drunk.

The spiritual catchphrase girl: We respect a woman who makes a concerted effort to improve herself. Peddling spiritual mumbo-jumbo in a status update doesn't qualify in the same way that putting on a policeman's uniform doesn't make you a cop.

The ex stalker: Any mention of an ex-boyfriend should immediately freeze your intentions with a new girl. If she's bashing her ex all over her profile, she hasn't gotten over him. Move on.

The serial complainer: If the woman you're wooing is so offended over a traffic jam that she needs to vent rage all over her Facebook, then she's probably a serial complainer who gets off on being miserable.

The super-religious girl: Statuses that praise God tend to come from a woman who'll never allow you to take the top spot in her heart. That spot belongs to God, and you definitely can't compete with God.

The ultimatum giver: For some people, offering an opinion just isn't enough. They need to follow it up with an ultimatum like, 'If you agree with same-sex marriage, then go ahead and unfriend me right now!' Do yourself a favour. Take the bait. Unfriend her.

The confrontational girl: Similar to the Ultimatum Giver, the Confrontational Girl seems to seek out and thrive on conflict. Any arguments with her will eventually boil down to who can scream louder and longer. You've been warned.

The Manic Pixie: Yup, she's sweet and genuine. But, really, how long until her ridiculous level of excitement about every little thing starts to drive you insane? I mean, come on, seeing a purple butterfly is really not that random!

Skin bleaching, beauty option?

The melanocytes cell produced the black pigment melanin which gives the skin the colour, absorbs and protects the harmful ultraviolet rays which are produced naturally.

Persons with black skin, in a tropical area such as Ghana, need an amount of pigment melanin to absorb and protect the skin from the sun rays because the sun rays are not filtered.

The use of all sorts of creams, soaps and other products that have high concentration of steroid, hydroquinone, mercury and other chemicals fights and prevents the pigment melanin from multiplying and performing its task of absorbing and protecting the skin from harmful ultraviolet rays.

The pigment melanin begins to deteriorate gradually and the skin begins to look pale and gives way to the light and white skin. That is how bleaching takes place on the skin.

Benefits of the black skin
The article 'Skin bleaching - is it pleasing in the eyes of the Lord?' written by Professor Badu Akosa, a pathologist, explained that there were six skin types ranging from the very sensitive, which burns easily and never tans, to the insensitive, which never burns and is deeply pigmented.

'The sun rays may be beneficial in producing Vitamin D, which is very necessary in the body's use of calcium and ensures the strength of our bones but more importantly, the rays are dangerous,' he said

He explained that the ultraviolet rays on a sensitive skin type caused premature ageing evident by wrinkling caused by the destruction of the elastic fibres, which maintain the integrity of the skin, thinning of the skin and white patches from increased keratin.

'Ghana's geographical position as the country closest to the real centre of the world, means the sun rays are almost perpendicular to the earth surface, unlike other countries beyond latitude 30oN or S where the rays are oblique,' he said.

Reasons for bleaching
Discrimination against the black skin, especially during the era of apartheid and colonialism, still persists, making some black skinned people feel inferior. Consequently, black people all over the world currently, including West Indians, Latinos, Asians and African American, have all turned to bleaching.

This has led to the definition of the beauty of a woman in Africa as the one who is fair, making most African men to prefer the light skinned to the black skinned woman.

A sociological study by Evelyn Nakano Glenn, a professor of gender and women's studies at the University of California, Berkeley, said in a NYTimes.com post on skin whitening, points out that 'It is not as if dark-skinned women are imagining a bias. Among African-Americans and also Latinos, there was a clear connection between skin colour and socioeconomic status. It's not some fantasy. There is prejudice against dark-skinned people, especially women in the so-called marriage market,' she said.

When asked why she would want to be fair,  26-year -old Nanayaa said 'I want to look attractive and also get the opportunities other fair ladies are getting'.

This is what 18-year-old Belinda Anane also had to say when asked the same question:

'People who tone their skin look prettier and their skin alone attracts great opportunities for them.'

Is bleaching reversible?Skin burnt by bleaching cream

Many would ask if the journey to the fair world could be reversed. The answer is yes and no.

According to Madam Boa- Amponsem, 'one can only reverse a bleached skin depending on how deep the damage is to the skin.'

'When the skin is badly damaged then it would be very difficult to reverse', she stated.

'However, it could be reversed but would take a very long time and it is also not likely for the person to get the natural skin as it used be,' she said.

She added that bleaching could damage some places on the body permanently and could not be changed.

When asked if there were any effects of bleaching on pregnant women, Madam Boa-Amponsam stressed that bleaching during pregnancy could have serious implications on the foetus leading to deformity of the baby.

She said bleaching was not recommended and was no way good for the skin.

FOODS THAT INCREASE BREAST SIZE

Estrogen female hormone helps females to get right body curves it also plays an important role breasts. Estrogen found fruits, herbs, spices, grains seeds. Some food items apples, plums, peppers, cucumber, beets, rice, barley, wheat, sunflower parsley, clover flax seeds.

There surprising facts related breast women. On average, around 9 bras. In America, out every 10 women, 8 them wear bra wrong size. US, there 5 million women who using implants. A pair on average produces 1 litre milk day. An weight 0.5 kilograms.

When comes size American measurement 45.9 inches with cup being 34B.

How to increase breast size using home remedies?

Our body is god’s gift to us. While there are some parts that we can grow like the hair or our nails, there are some others that we cannot grow, like the breasts and the penis. This is not to discourage you, but to make you aware that creams, lotions and other products available on the market are meant to make money from gullible people.

The only solution to increase breast size is surgical, which is expensive and could lead to complications.

There are some natural methods, but these do not per se increase the size of the breast. These help to firm up the muscles in the breast. The breast is made up of fat and muscle, and toning up these muscles lends firmness to the breasts.

* Massaging the breasts helps. If you are single, breast massage with oils tones up the breasts and give a feeling of firmness. If you are married, having sex, releases hormones, which make the breasts feel firmer.    

* Wear clothes that help you accentuate your assets. Use bras that are of the right fit. Wearing padded bras is also a great way to make your breasts look bigger. Using a bra with an under-wire, can push your breasts up creating an illusion of having bigger breasts.

* Weight gain can also help you increase your breast size. Food that contains sugar is known to have breast enhancement effects, as also soya products.

* Exercising regularly also helps. Doing chest exercises will prevent your breasts from sagging. It also helps it look fuller and appear rounder. Exercising will also prevent unwanted weight gain especially if you are taking in food with a lot of sugar.

Increase Breast Size Naturally With The Following Methods

If you hate your small breasts and are looking for ways to increase the size without the breast augmentation procedure, there are ways that you can use to increase breast size naturally. There are natural methods that you can use to go up a cup size or two.

Methods To Increase Breast Size Naturally

1. Phytoestrogens

There are various hormones present in the female body. The one most responsible for breast growth is the female hormone estrogen which is triggered to enlarge breasts when you hit puberty. By 18 or 19, your breasts will be fully grown whatever their size and estrogen no longer increases breast size. Your breast size is determined by various factors beyond your control such as your genes.

If you are unhappy with your final breast size after puberty, one of the ways you will be able to change the size naturally is with phytoestrogens which are produced by plants and are similar to the estrogen produced by the body.

Phytoestrogens are probably the best way to increase breast size naturally as they act in much the same way as estrogen and can trigger breast growth.

The best foods to increase breast size naturally are those that are rich in phytoestrogens and include soybeans and plants and herbs such as wild yam, saw palmetto, fenugreek, dong quai, or this herb which is the number one breast growing herb.

2. Exercises to Increase Breast Size

Certain exercises can be used to increase breast size naturally. In order to have a larger bust, the exercises to increase breast size should target the pectoral muscles which are the muscles beneath the breasts.

When muscles are exercised, they grow larger which will happen to the pectoral muscles if you implement workouts that target these muscles. When they are larger, they will create the illusion of larger breasts.

3. Increase Breast Size Naturally Massage

The massage used to naturally increase breast size has its roots in a certain ancient Taoist exercise. The breast massage that has been used for hundreds if not thousands of years helps to improve circulation which in turn helps the breasts absorbs estrogen or phytoestrogens from the bloodstream which may be used to increase breast size naturally.

Six Natural Ways to Enlarge or Improve Your Breasts

1. Breast Massage

If you have small or medium sized breasts, you can increase the size or improve the shape and firmness of your breasts through various natural breast enlargement methods such as breast massage. It works magic just like body massage!

Breast massage helps by boosting healthy breast growth and facilitating breast tone, besides making the breasts flexible and firm.

It is one way that helps in the creation of a fantastic bust. This, breast massage does, by shaping, toning and encouraging the growth of the breast and also the area around the breast. Breast massage does actually help to make your breasts more attractive and even bigger, and is also a beautiful method of being aware of the healthy or unhealthy condition of your breasts. This is because by regularly massaging your breasts, you may become aware of any lumps or areas that indicate breast cancer. Breast massage is also said to help prevent breast cancer.

Beauty parlors and massage parlors, particularly in Asia, have used breast massage as a healthy form of lymphatic drainage, breast growth. It has also been used as a post operative therapy for women who have experienced breast surgery, mastectomies, or distress to the area around the breasts. That is because breast massage helps melt scar tissues and stimulate tissue regeneration and healing besides giving women back their femininity, confidence and peace of mind, just like other forms of body massage.

2. Herbal Breast Enlargement

A significant proportion of women who engage in breast massage to increase the fullness and attractiveness of their breasts do also use special herbal creams to help expand, firm and tone their breasts. In this way, herbal breast enlargement combined with breast massage repairs sagging breasts or breasts that are out of shape.

One popular herbal ingredient is saw palmetto. Fennel seed is also said to boost a woman's estrogen content. Fenugreek, wild yam, soy, ginseng, dandelion, and blessed thistle are also said to be useful in breast enlargement and improvement.

Onions are also said to be useful in enlarging or improving the breasts. Fresh onion juice mixed with honey and turmeric in powder form is said to do the trick. The mixture is used in massaging the breasts in order to firm up drooping breasts and prevent breasts from sagging. After the breasts have been massaged with this mixture, the woman may be advised to wear a bra throughout the day and overnight before bathing the following day.

Many of these herbal supplement products can be purchased in pill form which makes them not difficult to take into the body. You can also get them in form of capsules, creams, lotions, soaps, and aromatic candles.

However, most doctors say that breast size is genetically determined and can only be enhanced by exercises. So they discourage the use of herbal supplements due to the fact that such supplements interfere with the body's metabolism.

3. Breast Enlargement Pills

Many women claim that taking some kinds of pills makes their breasts grow bigger. However, it is arguable whether the increase in breast size is temporary or permanent. Some say the breasts return to their previous size when they stop using the pills. However, makers of breast enlargement pills claim that these pills increase the size of the breasts by one or two inches within three months of usage. These herbal tablets are said to contain ingredients that work by stimulating the estrogen receptors in breast tissue thus permanently enlarging the breasts.

Manufacturers of these pills claim the pills stimulate the production of estrogen in a woman's body, the same way estrogen is produced during pregnancy. Thus, the breasts would enlarge just like they would during pregnancy but without the production of milk.

There is a caveat, however. It is thought that some of these pills may be dangerous to health. Again, there is no guarantee that the pills are effective.

4. Breast Enlargement Creams

Breast enlargement creams are sometimes used in combination with breast enlargement pills or independently used to boost the size and firmness of the breast. Makers of breast enlargement creams claim that they shape up the breasts and improve the tone and texture of the skin around the breasts.

Ingredients used in making breast enlargement creams include acids like stearic and ascorbic acid, algae extracts, chamomile, lavender, sage, oils like avocado and jojoba, glycerin, metylparaben, propylparaben, phenoxyethanol, sabal, damiana, blessed thistle, kava kava, dandelion root, motherwort and a host of others.

Majority of the breast enlargement creams are said to contain the same ingredients as the pills and therefore, are mainly designed to sustain the changes achieved through the pills. Some women who have used breast enlargement creams claim they got fuller breasts with firmer tissue, which kindly saved them from undergoing surgeries for breast enlargement or improvement.

However, soreness in the breasts is said to be a side effect of the creams. For best results, it is advised that breast enlargement or improvement creams should only be used temporarily for not more than 45 to 90 days.

5. Constant sucking and caressing of the breasts.

This is really more of a myth especially in some African societies. It is traditionally believed that if a boyfriend constantly caresses or sucks the breasts of his girlfriend more often than not, or if a woman is very sexually active, her breasts may tend to grow bigger. In other words, if a man or lover can use his lips, tongue and hands to constantly work his woman's breasts, they just might grow bigger. However, this myth, which is similar to breast massage above, is yet to be scientifically proven.

6. Healthy Eating, Drinking and Living

Breasts are also said to be improved or enlarged through the improvement of a woman's diet, lifestyle, general health, and mental constitution. Since breasts are merely fatty tissue covered with skin, healthy living and eating would no doubt improve the quality of breast tissue and skin.

Foods that are rich in vitamins A, C, and E guarantee a healthy skin and thereby facilitate breast improvement. Drinking lots of water also helps to flush out toxins from a woman's body and improves the condition of her breast tissue. In addition, foods, such as fennel seeds and saw palmetto change the balance of hormones in a woman's system, which leads to the release of greater levels of estrogen. The increase in estrogen levels caused by these foods thus stimulates the growth of the breasts.

In conclusion, one has to be very careful in using any of the natural methods of breast enlargement or improvement because there is no guarantee that they will work. Besides, some may even be dangerous to health. Again, what works for one woman may not work for another woman because body constitutions differ from person to person. So you have to study your body very well first, before choosing any method. Also exercise caution with far-fetched, extreme or unconventional methods of breast enlargement like vacuum pumps and hypnosis. Though some say they work, their claims are not supported by medical science.

How to Naturally Increase Breast Size

If you want to enlarge your breasts without surgery or other harmful methods, you're not alone. Many women today are turning to natural methods to get bigger breasts without putting their body in harm's way. While the results will be more subtle than implants, there are things you can do to naturally enhance your breasts.

Part One: Diet and Exercise

1. 1
   Gain some weight. Breasts are comprised primarily of fatty connective tissue.[1] If you are very thin, then putting on a few extra pounds (i.e. fat) might help fill out your breasts. Note that all women carry their weight differently, so only use this method if you have a tendency to gain weight in your chest as opposed to your thighs, belly, or other body part.
   
   
   
   • It is important to follow a healthy diet even if you are trying to gain weight. Load up on lean proteins, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates and remember to stay active.
2. 2
   Build your pectoral muscles. Building the muscles underneath your breasts can help improve size, firmness, and perkiness.
   • Do chest presses. Lie down on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Hold one dumbbell in each hand with your elbows bent at a 90 degree angle. Use your chest muscles to lift the weights up toward the ceiling and touch them together. Do 3 sets of 15 reps 3-5 times per week.
     
     
     
   • Do push-ups. Start off in push-up position, and then bend your arms to lower your body toward the ground. Now use your arms and chest to return back to the original position. Be sure to keep your back straight and your hips elevated so that your body remains in a straight line. Do 3 sets of 15 reps 3-5 times per week.
     
     
     

Part Two: Natural Supplements

1. 1
   Take an herbal supplement. For centuries, herbs have been used for natural breast enhancement. Many of these herbs behave like estrogen, the natural hormone that contributes to breast growth.[2] Among the most popular include fenugreek, wild yam, and fennel; some supplements may contain a combination of these herbs.[3]
   
   
   
   • Check with your doctor to make sure that these herbs don't conflict with any medications that you are currently taking.

Part Three: Birth Control

1. 1
   Consider taking birth control. If you are old enough, are sexually active, and want to prevent an unplanned pregnancy, then birth control may just solve all of your problems; breast growth is a common side-effect of many hormone-based birth control pills.
   
   
   
   • Note that not all women notice bigger breasts while taking birth control, and that any growth may be very minor. The type of birth control you take will also determine whether or not your breasts get larger.
   • Beware of the potential side-effects of birth control, which include mood swings, nausea, headaches, decreased libido, weight gain, and unexpected bleeding (or spotting).[4] Only take birth control if the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks.

Part Four: Let Nature Take its Course

1. 1
   Be patient. Most womens' breasts don't stop growing until they are in their mid-twenties. If you are still in your teens, it's likely that your body hasn't finished fully developing, so give yourself time before trying to alter your breasts, natural or otherwise.
   
   
   
2. 2
   Wait for your next period. Most women report a larger bosom in the week or so before their period. While these results aren't permanent, many women find this temporary bust growth to be enough to crush their insecurities.
   
   
   
   • The next time your period rolls around, examine your breasts in the mirror to see whether they indeed seem bigger.
3. 3
   Get pregnant. While you certainly wouldn't want to get pregnant for this sole purpose, getting bigger breasts is a universal (though temporary) side-effect of pregnancy. It is caused by heightened levels of estrogen, progesterone, and fat storage in the body.[5][6]
   
   
   

Part Five: Use Visual Trickery

1. 1
   Make sure you are wearing the right bra size. Wearing a bra that is either too small or too large does nothing to accentuate the size or shape of your breasts. If you think you might be wearing the wrong bra size, ask for a fitting the next time you go lingerie shopping.
   
   
   
2. 2
   Find a quality padded bra. Padded bras can add some volume to your bust while also making them look perkier. If you are concerned with your breast size, avoid wearing thin, lacy bras or sports bras (unless of course, you're exercising) as they tend to flatten your chest rather than accentuating it.
   
   
   
   • Remember that even women with large breasts experience a "flattening" effect with the wrong bra.
3. 3
   Wear two bras at once. This is a popular trick among small-breasted women who want to create the illusion of larger breasts. You might need to go up one cup size for the bra that you wear on top.