Eczema Free Forever™ Eczema Free Forever™

Tag Archives: tips

Top-Ten Email Management Tips

Posted on by

With all the buzz surrounding social media, RSS, video and every other online content outlet, one standby that gets taken for granted is good old email. We all use it (and some of us love it), but it also can be a source of enormous frustration that can eat up a lot of the workday. However, much inbox-related angst is easily avoided with a few simple changes in what you use for email and how you process it. In no particular order, here’s my top ten email management tips:

1. Use a professional email service. Making a change here can make all the difference in how useful email is to you. The good news is that the best email services are either free or very low-cost. Are you using free services such as MSN or maybe AOL? They are not terribly professional and actually place text ads in outbound messages. Who needs that, when you can use GMail or Google Apps for free (and get a much larger mailbox)? Other excellent email choices: FastMail.fm, Rackspace Mail or Runbox.com.

2. Discover IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol). Most standard emailboxes you get from your web host or Internet service provider are POP3 (Post Office Protocol) mailboxes. POP3 allows you to download your messages to one place at a time but doesn’t synchronize both incoming and sent messages among all your devices (computers and/or smartphones). So what’s the advantage of IMAP? All your email and sorting folders are synchronized on the server so what you have on your primary computer matches your other computers and your smartphone. Email service providers that offer IMAP support include (you guessed it) GMail, Google Apps, Rackspace mail and Fastmail.fm, among others.

3. Take your time! Everyone is usually rushed when they write emails, but it still counts as writing, and it’s worth a few extra minutes to be sure you are being understood clearly. Better to spend a few extra minutes now than endure a three-day volley of misunderstandings and clarifications.

4. If you get an important message, acknowledge it. If you don’t have the time to write a full response, just take a second and let the sender know you will get back to them later. Saves them from wondering if you ever received the message.

5. Use an email signature. This seems obvious, but many people still (even in a business setting) don’t include their contact information in each email. Include a marketing message if you want, but definitely include contact info. This makes responding or adding your details to an address book more convenient for your recipient, all while providing an opportunity to promote your business.

6. Use your mail service’s spam-fighting system. No need to depend on anti-spam applications when your mail system does it all for you on the server. I have several domains that funnel mail to my main mailbox, which means I get a great deal of spam. However, almost every one is caught by my Google Apps hosted email.

7. Consider using a secondary mailbox for non-critical messages. I subscribe to a lot of email newsletters and blog updates, and all of them go to an address I set up expressly for that purpose. I do read them daily, but they don’t distract me from important client and project-related email.

8. Check out alternatives to Microsoft Outlook. Many web-based email systems are great, and you can get to them no matter where you are. Another option is Mozilla Thunderbird. It’s free and has everything you need to manage your mail without clogging your system memory. There are also hundreds of plugins available for added features, too.

9. Check email only two to three times per day, and never first thing in the morning. Many swear by this method, as it improves efficiency and minimizes distractions. If you find that managing your email is disrupting your workflow and productivity, this is an option to consider.

10. Use emoticons. Yes, they can be annoying and maybe a bit juvenile. However, they can be very helpful in conveying the correct emotional tone in an email. A simple smiley-face can mean the difference between your message being perceived as sarcastic or sincere.

Mary Motz
ProVirtual Solutions – Web-Focused Consulting and Assistance
http://www.provirtualsolutions.com

10 Tips For Smooth Cake Covering

Posted on by

A clean, smooth finish could turn your next cake into a professional looking celebration cake and it is easy to achieve if you follow a few guidelines. Here are my top ten tips (could I get any more T words in there) for creating a lovely smooth cake.

1. Find fondant that works for you.
There are several brands to choose from and they all handle differently. I have found that some brands dry out quickly, some crack more than others and some are really sticky. You have to do a bit of a Goldilocks thing and find the one that is just right for you. You can usually buy small quantities of fondant just to get a feel for it. If you belong to a sugar craft guild talk to other members to get their tips and advice. Most members are itching to give their opinion – as we all like to, hence this article.

2. Start with a clean working area.
If you are anything like me you will create the sugar version of a volcano eruption when working. Fondant attracts dust and bits very easily. You don’t want to find that when your rolled out fondant is nicely stuck to your marzipan there is a little lump which you will need to cut out.

3. Apply your fondant onto a layer of marzipan.
If you or your recipient hates marzipan (some people do you know) substitute the marzipan with fondant. The reason for this marzipan layer is to provide a sugar undercoat which will enhance your final covering. Ideally leave your marzipan layer for at least 12 hours for it to harden and provide a good base for your final fondant covering. If you leave out this under coat you will end up with something like one of the economy supermarket kids cakes. These are fine for kids who just want to get stuck into cake but not for your beautiful celebration cake.

4. Prepare your fondant.
You should knead your fondant prior to covering your cake. The amount of kneading will depend on things like temperature – in the middle of summer the fondant will probably be fairly soft and may not need to be kneaded much. If you do not knead your fondant sufficiently you will get a mini work out when you are rolling it. Once your fondant is soft store it in an air tight bag until required.

5. Brush your marzipaned cake with sherry (the cake, not the inside of your mouth.)
Your marzipaned cake should be on the cake board at this point. Please bear with me while I digress a little. One bug bear I have is when people work very hard to create a cake they are really proud of and then display it on an uncovered silver cake board. It takes 15 minutes to cover a cake board with fondant and can be done well in advance to give it time to harden in readiness for the cake to go on. You can colour co ordinate it with your cake and it will add to the overall professional look. Ok rant over.

Use a no loss dark paint brush for coating your cake. This way if any of the hairs do happen to come out you will see them easily on your cake and can remove them. I must say I have never had one of these brushes lose any hairs. When brushing the sherry onto the marzipan do it sparingly but thoroughly. If you drench the brush it will drip down onto the fondant on the board and stain it. It will also pool at the base of the cake and bubble out when the fondant goes on. If you do not coat the cake thoroughly you will end up with air bubbles between your marzipan and fondant. For an alternative to booze you could use rose water or boiled water.

6. Roll out your fondant.
The surface for this should be clean and dry. I use a non stick cutting craft mat for this. You can buy these from art & craft shops and haberdashery shops. Alternatively you can roll out straight onto your clean work top. If your fondant sticks use a little white fat (note the word little – if you use too much you and your fondant will be sliding around the work top.) To determine how big your rolled piece of fondant needs to be use your rolling pin as a guide.

Measure the sides and top of the cake with the rolling pin using your thumb as a marker. once you have the overall length marked out on the pin you will know how wide and deep to roll your fondant. eg if the total length of the sides and top of the cake is half the length of the rolling pin you need to make sure that your rolled fondant encompasses this size. Phew! I hope that makes sense. Your rolled fondant should be app. 0.5 cm thick. You can buy spacers which you place around your fondant to ensure even thickness. Alternatively you could trust your own judgement on this and get an even coating without spending your hard earned cash.

7. Use the rolling pin to lift the fondant onto the cake.
Place the rolling pin on the edge of the fondant farthest away from you. Roll it back towards you so that the fondant rolls over the top. Bear in mind that if you have a really large piece of fondant you will need to roll the pin back so that there is a lot of fondant overlapping. When you pick up your fondant you will know if you have enough overlapping. If you don’t it will drop off the rolling pin in big heap. If your lucky you can rescue it before it sticks to itself. If not you might swear a bit and then start again.

8. Apply the fondant to the cake.
Before lifting your fondant onto your cake make sure the cake is near the rolled fondant so that you don’t have far to transfer it. Holding each end of the rolling pin lift the fondant and line up the bottom edge with the side of the cake. Allow some extra fondant at the base of the cake. Lower the fondant over the top of the cake working away from you. As you lower the fondant onto the marzipan use your fingers to smooth it down and expel any air bubbles between the two layers. Smooth the fondant on the side of the cake. Once the fondant is smooth on the top of the cake use the palms of your hands to press the fondant onto the marzipan on the side of the cake. Smooth the fondant in a downward movement, again expelling air bubbles as you work down the side of the cake.

9. Trim the excess fondant from the base of the cake.
Put your hands palm down on the side of the cake with your little fingers at the base of the cake. Run your hands firmly around the cake pressing slightly with your little fingers to ensure that the fondant is well adhered at the base of the cake. To remove the excess fondant place a palette knife flush with the side of the cake and run it around the base of the cake. Do not press the palette knife down too hard as you do not want a big line around the fondant on the board. Being able to trim off the fondant without leaving rough edges comes down to practice but don’t worry if you have a few ‘mouse holes’ around the bottom of your fondant. These can be covered with ribbon or piping.

10. Use a cake smoother and hands to finish.
At this point you may spot little cracks or blemishes on your fondant. You can use the heat of your hands to smooth out cracks. If you spot any air bubbles prick them with a small pin. You can then use your hands to smooth the fondant and reduce the size of the pin hole. Once you are happy that you have dealt with any cracks and air bubbles you can use a smoother to get a level and consistent finish. At this point don’t be afraid to apply pressure when smoothing. The fondant is still soft and malleable and will withstand pressure. Once you have a flat surface on the sides and top of the cake use the palms of your hands to create a curve around the top edge of the cake.

Finally, after all your efforts watch the party guests tuck in and demolish it in minutes.

Please have a look at my wedding cakes on my website.
Amanda Macleod – Cake Designer, Venus Cakes

Related Atopic Dermatitis Articles

7 tips for educating patients about Halloween skin irritants

Posted on by

What’s more frightful than Halloween? What the makeup and costumes can do to children’s and adult’s skin. Dermatologists weigh in with their top tips to help patients avoid post-Halloween skin horrors. Learn more
Modern medicine – Dermatology Times

Five simple tips to a beautiful skin in autumn

Posted on by

Hot summer days were over. It’s time to have a particular skincare regime in autumn. Otherwise, you complexion will become dull and rough because of the drier air. Although the sun is not as harsh as in summer, you had better use moisturizer and sunscreen. Thanks to correct treatment products, we can avoid dryness, age spots, dermatitis, sallow skin tone and other unexpected symptoms. However, you don’t have to spend too much on cosmetics in order to own a beautiful skin. Below are five simple and effective ways to a fabulous skin on autumn days which cost you nothing.

 

Drink enough water

Water plays a vital role in removal of harmful toxins from our body. It not only improves overall health but also helps to clear up your skin. Drinking enough water can have good effects on your skin. It is best to consume at least 8 glasses of water every day.

 

Drinking water is important for good health as well as fabulous skin

 

Keep your skin hygiene

Beside drinking enough water, you are advised to clean and maintain your skin hygiene, Therefore, you should wash your skin with mild natural cleanser after getting up and before going to bed. If you do not keep your skin hygiene regularly, you may suffer from pimples and acne.

 

After cleansing your skin, you can add a little rose oil or olive oil to stimulate the cleansing effects

 

Sleep well

Sleeping well is also important for a healthy skin. Doctors suggest we should spend 8 hours a day sleeping so that everyone has bright skin in the morning.

 

If you lack sleep, your skin will look dull with puffy eyes

 

Expose your skin to the sunlight

Vitamin D is an essential vitamin for absorption and utilization of calcium. In addition, it is good for your skin. You probably need between 5 and 30 minutes of exposure the skin without sunscreen to sunlight twice every week. Especially, getting enough vitamin D also helps to prevent high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis and several forms of cancer.

 

You need adequate amounts of vitamin D for a healthy skin

 

Exercise regularly

Last but not least, regular exercises are beneficial for the skin’s health. Hence, you should walk, swim, cycle or do aerobics to own the natural skin and remove toxins from your body, too. Besides, these exercises help to increase the blood flow and oxygen supply to the skin.

 

Regular exercises are good not only for the sake of physical fitness but also for the healthy skin

 

 

Related links:

Fruits – An Effective Method To Reduce Belly Fat

Scary Types of Massage of All Times

Useful foods for beautiful skin

I have been working as a doctor of a general hospital since February 1998. In addition, I am a full time writer and specialize in weight loss related issues. I also write for a number of different websites on the Internet.

Simple Tips To Treat Eczema Easily

Posted on by

Typically eczema means a variety of dermatitis, which is more or less inflammation of any epidermis. This term is usually broadly applied to a group of persistent skin complaints. How To treat eczema relies on the dryness and recurring skin rashes. The eczema treatment is usually identified with more than one indications like skin swelling, redness, itching and dryness, crusting, flaking, cracking, blistering, oozing, or bleeding.

Some times these areas also end up with having temporary skin discolorations which are caused by reason of healed lesions but scarring is rare. Compared with psoriasis, it really has been seen that eczema is likely to be seen on the flexor area of joints. There are several varieties of this ailment also and there are some eczema forms, that are more widespread while others are really rare.

There are several varieties of symptoms regarding eczema but often the most frequent ones are often identified and help in eczema treatment. The indication of eczema include itchy skin, inflamed skin, redness in the skin and swelling of your skin, weeping, skin cracking, crusting, scaling, blisters, red cheek rash, crusty rash on your cheek, arm rashes and crusty arm blisters.

Usually there are some sorts of eczema, which lack known causes but many types of the ailment have been related to genetic diseases. Many experts have seen that eczema rises simply because of interplay of multiple genes, where external environmental causes have an important role. It has additionally been seen that atopic genes. On the other hand eczema treatment mainly includes the prevention of itching, inflammation, and worsening of the condition. Thus numerous treatments of eczema can include alterations in lifestyle and additionally usage of medications.

Most often, eczema treatment methods are always dependent on the individual’s age and their general health status as well as the kind and harshness of the problem. It’s important to maintain your skin well nourished and hydrated. The right way to treat eczema varies according to use of creams or ointments is important here. Several corticosteroid creams are prescribed to drop the inflammatory reaction of the ailment which are suggested as eczema treatment.

To cut down itching some sedative type antihistamine drugs are helpful. The short course of oral corticosteroids are often prescribed to stop a serious outbreak of eczema. Eczema treatment is possible via do-it-yourself solutions also. As a result, ways to treat eczema involves many different medical and homemade solutions.

Would you prefer to know a little more about how to treat eczema naturally? In case yes, grab access to the best eczema treatment whilst it’s out there.

Find More Atopic Dermatitis Articles

Dermatitis Tips Using Natural Ingredients

Posted on by

Eczema can be a major issue in your life; it can have severe effects and that can stop you from living your life to the fullest. Many people find that the treatments they receive will afford some relief but not be total. If this is the same for you, try out some of the following natural tips and to test if these age-old remedies can improve your skin condition. First check with your dermatologist to see if he sees any conflict with your current regiment.

Flaxseed oil not only will help reduce this skin disorder, it will also improve the overall health of your skin. Many say we get our omega six amounts in the foods we eat daily, but we skimp on the foods that provide omega three ingredients. The jury’s still out on the taste of flaxseed oil, but there can be little debate about the results it has on your skin. For those that don’t like the taste of the oil, there are capsules available. Some people enjoy the oil as part of a salad dressing.

Blueberry leaf extract has natural base ingredients that have excellent effects on your skin condition. They use a kind of acid called chlorogenic acid. This acid is a natural anti-inflammatory medication. That means that wherever you are feeling pain or inflammation, apply the extract in ointment or lotion form, and you should find the symptoms reduced. Your local health food store should supply blueberry extract in many forms. There are other anti-inflammatory agents such as tumeric which can be found in capsule form.

The more moisture you have in your skin, the less it will crack and tear; itch and peel. In an eczema sufferer, the further you can avoid these things the better. As a basic rule, the more you moisturize the better, but you should moisturize a minimum of two times a day. That should give you some real rewards. It’s best to moisturize right after bathing, pat yourself dry with a plush towel and apply the cream directly to damp skin. This can help you seal the moisturizer into the skin, and give you even wider benefits. Read the ingredients on any moisturizer you consider using to check for allergens.

Some people are sensitive to cosmetics and personal care items so this can be one of the triggers of flare-ups. Perfumes and fragrances are also important to avoid for dermatitis problems.

Learn more about Adult Eczema and Home Remedies for Eczema

Tips To Relieve Eczema: Home Remedies To Help You Ease The Symptoms Of Eczema

Posted on by

As all eczema sufferers know, they are stuck with the skin condition for life. Eczema is a chronic skin disorder that has no cure, but it can be managed to reduce the severity of symptoms and the frequency of eczema flare-ups or outbreaks.

The major symptoms that characterize the disease are rashes and itchiness. The affected skin area can appear red or brownish-gray, blistery, leathery, thick, scaly or cracked. At times, small, raised bumps may be seen on the skin. Out of these, fluid may seep out when scratched, and then the bumps crust and heal.

The common locations of these rashes and bumps are the elbows, knees, arms, hands and feet. They can also appear on the face, especially the eyelids, around the eyes, and on the cheeks. They can be very unsightly, and the person will normally want to stay at home until the facial rashes disappear.

Some tips to relieve eczema during a flare-up are:

Apply creams and ointments to relieve the itching. Most over-the-counter anti-itch topical medications will bring relief.

Avoid harsh soaps and chemicals which can further irritate the skin. Scented commercial skin products are potential irritants.

Also avoid long baths (especially warm baths) to prevent aggravating the skin outbreak.

Avoid triggers that may induce an eczema flare-up or worsen one when it is already underway. Triggers can include strong perfumes, rough clothing, heat, sweating, stress, low humidity, drastic temperature changes, and exposure to cats and dogs.

Also avoid food triggers such as eggs, fish, milk, and soy products.

Meanwhile, these are tips to relieve eczema that are specifically aimed at breaking the itch-scratch cycle:

Use cold or wet compresses to relieve the itching.

Wear soft mittens at night.

Keep the fingernails short.

Take over-the-counter antihistamines like Benadryl.

Wrap the skin with loose gauze wraps to protect it from scratches.

Apply moisturizers.

The itchiness may increase at night, and scratching can occur during sleep, so be prepared beforehand by using these tips to relieve eczema. It is important to avoid scratching because this can lead to scars and infection. When the skin becomes infected, it may be necessary to take antibiotics under medical supervision.

It is also important to use natural and organic items as much as possible when treating eczema. Many commercial soaps, shampoos and skin products contain sodium hydroxide, propylene glycol and sodium lauryl sulfate. These substances aggravate eczema for many people. Likewise, dyes and perfumes in laundry products, and most fabric softeners, are unsafe for eczema sufferers. It is recommended that vinegar be used instead as a natural fabric softener.

Instead of OTC anti-itch creams, one can also opt to use natural, herbal mixtures instead. A variety of natural ingredients can be used in the making of homemade anti-itch pastes and lotions. These ingredients include blueberry leaves, dandelion leaves, camphor, sandalwood, nutmeg, spearmint leaves, turmeric powder, papaya seeds, neem leaves, and virgin coconut oil. Most of these can be pounded or crushed, and then mixed with a few drops of oil to form a paste or lotion. It then should be placed on the affected area, and left on for ten to thirty minutes.

Out of these many tips to relieve eczema, anyone who has the skin condition is sure to find at least a few remedies that he can use.

Do you want to discover wonderful techniques you can use to naturally get rid of your ugly eczema? If yes, then you might want to download a copy of the Beat Eczema Program!

Click here ==> Beat Eczema Review, to find out more about this natural eczema treatment system and see how its been helping thousands of eczema-sufferers round the world, to naturally treat their skin condition.

Similar Articles: how to get rid of eczema, home remedies for eczema, best eczema treatments

Find More Chronic Eczema Articles

Tips for exercising safely in the sun

Posted on by

Don’t use the sun as an excuse not to exercise but use these handy tips to ensure you stay healthy.

1)      Keep hydrated – make sure you have a water bottle with you and take sips during your session and drink a tall glass when you have finished your workout.

2)      If you are outside then think about wearing a light, breathable running cap. Also sunscreen is a must (don’t forget the ears!), we’re working on our health, not a tan!

3)      Wear light, loose fitting clothing in a breathable clothing–like cotton or specialty exercise clothing which will allow your body to sweat and for that sweat to be evaporated in the air.  Try to find should also be light-colored clPhoto of sunny beachothing because the lighter the clothing, the less the sun will beat down and trap the heat, adding unnecessary warmth to your already hot workout.

4)      Try and avoid exercising between 10am and 3pm, if you are a lunchtime exerciser then try and find shaded paths and parks to keep out of the sun.

5)      Perform your workout at a lower intensity than usually, It takes time for your body to adjust to changes in temperature, specifically to heat–it needs to lower your heart rate and body temperature when outside, and it takes a week or two to do so (not that we get a week or two of this weather in a row in the UK! )

6)      Most importantly, listen to your body. Stop immediately if you’re feeling dizzy, faint or nauseous.  Think about finding an exercise buddy so you can keep an eye on each other.

The post Tips for exercising safely in the sun appeared first on Whole Life Fitness.

talkhealth Blog