I have recently noticed that i am developing some really nasty dark spots on my face and this is not a good sign. Many black spots or dark patches can easily be eliminated to restore a glowing facial complexion. So i decided to do some research on what are the causes and the remedies to this, and here is what i have learned so far.

Let us start with the causes:

Hormonal imbalance is one of them. Sometimes, dark spots are due to some blood vessel deformities under the skin where these dark spots appear on your skin. However, excessive sun exposure seems to be the biggest reason behind dark  spots on skin. Dark spots can also be caused by use of low grade cosmetic products or even excess secretion of melanin on the skin (Melanin is the root of what gives color to skin, hair, eyes, plants, oil, animals, volcano’s everything imaginable that is creative and colorful). Pregnancy can also be one of the causes, or even certain medications, vitamin deficiencies, lack of sleep and too much stress.

Now let us look at the possible remedies:

1. Cosmetic creams such as hydroquinone cream, tretinoin cream and azelaic acid cream as well as various skin treatments like chemical peels and intense pulsed light therapy.

2. Lemon juice; Citrus fruits contain abundant amounts of vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid which helps slough off the top layer of skin without causing damage. Put some fresh lemon juice on a cotton ball and rub it directly on the affected skin area, Leave it on for 30 minutes before rinsing it off with cold water. You should repeat this twice daily for about two months to notice positive results. If you have sensitive skin, dilute the lemon juice with water.

3. Blend a papaya into smooth paste, apply the mask to your face and neck. Leave it on for about 30 minutes, then rinse well. This is because Papaya fruit contains the enzyme papain. Papain helps exfoliate the skin, making way for new skin cells to emerge. Papaya also contains Vitamin C and Vitamin E, making it a dark spot remover.

4. Buttermilk can also be used as it is helps fade blemishes and black spots but without causing burning sensation. But if you do not have butter milk you can also use milk and soak a cotton ball in it, apply it on your face, leave it on for about 10 minutes and then wash it off. Repeat this procedure twice daily for four to five weeks. You can also prepare a solution by mixing milk and honey and apply the solution to your dark spots, leaving it on for 10 minutes.

5. Vinegar also has a number of recognized healing properties and you can use it also to get rid of the dark spots. Mix an equal amount of vinegar and water and rub on areas with dark spots. You should do that till the dark spots fade away. You can also mix it with honey and rub on the affected areas.

6. Aloe Vera is also another helping factor. Now when i say aloe Vera i mean the actual plant itself and not all the chemicals on the shelves nowadays (no harm intended on the manufacturers though). Aloe Vera is a species of plant that has been used for thousands of years to treat both skin conditions and other health issues. The pure gel from inside the stem can be used directly on the skin to instill its healing properties, it contains all kinds of anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and other natural properties that make it perfect for treating most skin problems. Extract the gel from the leaves and rub on the affected areas, you should get a positive result in few days.

They all have one uniting factor, which is they can be mixed with honey.

Now to be perfectly clear, these remedies are just my research opinion and to get professional advise you need to see a dermatologist. Do they work? you might ask me, well i do not know yet, i am still treating my face, so let’s see what the results will be.

Xoxo,

African Queen.

‘Sobering the nation’ that was the headline in yesterday’s news. The government of Kenya has decided to do a crack down on all the second generation alcohol in Kenya and even went a step further to revoke all licences for second generation drinks across the country.

The results were first of all great because we saw a lot of citizens especially the youth and women coming out to help root out this social evil. The women were happy to help because it meant that their husbands, sons and brothers were going to be home and not at their local joint consuming this illicit brew. The youth were happy because they got to assist in destroying this vice while some of them were just happy to loot the businesses.

The other part is the consumers who were not happy at all that their drinking dens were being destroyed and the drinks poured out. The bar owners were also not happy because their places of business were being raided and looted by angry government officials, police officers and the youth.

Another affected party was the legalized alcohol manufacturers who made massive loses in the midst of all the illicit brew crack down. An example is EABL which made a loss of up to 3.4 million in the midst of all this confusion of what is second generation alcohol and what is not (http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000167932/eabl-loses-sh3-4m-drinks-in-confusion-over-alcoholism-war/) .

Some of this illicit brews are very dangerous as they may cause blindness and sometimes even death. Scenes of young men and women drunk, staggering on the path ways and some even wetting their clothes will be a distant memory foe a while. Most of them drink excessively day and night and forget their responsibilities to their families.

But the good news for all alcohol manufactures and bar owners is that after the crack down an inter agency team will inspect the factories and recommend the reinstatement of licences for those that meet the standards while the Kenya Bureau of Standards will publish a list of all second generation brands that are not to be sold until they have been inspected and cleared.

So before you decide to manufacture any alcoholic drink, just know that inspectors will be on the lookout for drinks that are made with methanol, a form of alcohol that causes blindness when consumed.

and this is my opinion, just saying.

Xoxo,

African Queen.