Healing burn wounds is a painful process and poses many difficulties for the recovery of a burned patient. Inflammation, lack of moisture, and wound sensitivity are often cited as impediments to daily activities and therapy. Current emollients vary in their ability to penetrate the skin and decrease sensitivity and associated pain. Adequate lubrication aids the healing process by providing moisture in areas where sebaceous glands are depleted or currently dysfunctional.

Inflammation is the normal response to healing of a burn wound. This inflammation also causes scar tissue to form. Approximately 2.5 million people seek medical attention to burn injuries each year. Virtually all require some type of lubricant application during their recovery.

Emu Oil is processed from the fat of emus, farm-raised for their meat. It is used in cosmetics for its moisturizing effects and ability to penetrate the skin. It is an anti-inflammatory and cell restorative, and it helps fade scars and ease muscle pains.

Emu Oil is a natural emollient. It helps combat the effects of the aging process. Research has shown that Emu oil can thicken the skin, which reduces the appearance of aging.

Therapeutic And Cosmetic Properties Of Emu Oil

• EMU oil contains the following beneficial substances:
• Vitamin E, an anti-oxidant and healing agent
• Vitamin A, a known skin repairer
• Terpines, an antiseptic
• Sapogens skin softener
• Omega 3 & 6 Fatty Acids
• Linolenic Acid
• Oleic Acid

All About Skin Care

Hydration. Hydration of the skin from the inside out is a must. It is very important to drink four ounces of water every hour to maintain proper hydration. The only way to keep skin moisture optimal is to prevent evaporation and thereby prevent loss of skin's internal water. In addition, misting of the skin with hydrosols throughout the day to replenish moisture is an excellent way to slow down evaporation.

Cleansing. The first step in your herbal beauty skin care regimen is cleansing, which can be done with any mild surfactant. Enough soap should be used to remove grime, oil, and dead skin cells. There are several types of cleansers that have been developed to cleanse different skin types. Lotion cleansers are great for dry skin, using oils to dissolve make-up, dirt, and other pore-clogging irritants, while at the same time leaving behind a minute amount of oil to prevent excessive drying. Alternatively, skin that is prone to oily acne would be better treated with antibacterial soap. Dry skin cleansing is best achieved by using cleansing creams. These creams use oils to dissolve makeup and dirt present on the skin. Dry skin that is cleansed too harshly can cause damage to essential lipids called ceramides. It is very important to clean your skin with a cleanser best suited to your skin type. In fact, the use of a poorly formulated cleanser may induce skin dryness or damage and increase the risk of skin reactions from cosmetic products that are used following cleansing.

Moisturizing. A must for good skin care is the use of a moisturizer. All cells in the body are dependent upon water to maintain a healthy state. Our skin loses water by evaporation and dehydration. A moisturizer functions to keep water content within the skin at a high level. Moisturizers contain molecules called "humectants", which hold more than their own weight of water within their molecular structure. Therefore, when applied to the skin, humectants concentrate water and minimize evaporation. Dry skin, although cosmetic and not a medical condition, is very uncomfortable. Its characteristics include flaking, scaling, cracking, tightness, and sometimes bleeding. Causes of dryness are a lack of water in the stratum coneum, over active cell turnover, and barrier damage. As the superficial pallets of skin dry out, a tight cracked surface results where the cells are lifted up at the edges. The resulting skin is ashen, flaky, and very uncomfortable. Chronic low-level irritation from either chemicals or ultraviolet light can further intensify cellular turnover. Once this occurs, the epidermal cells do not regenerate properly and sebum (the skin's oil) is not produced. The result is a defective barrier that cannot hold water. With barrier damage, the rate at which water evaporates increases. The presence of water on the skin's surface serves to plasticize and smooth the epidermal walls, thus retaining moisture.

Exfoliating. Exfoliation is the process in which the superficial dead skin layers are extracted. This skin debris, known as keratin, can clog pores if not removed. To be most effective, exfoliation must be done by reaction (such as chemical peels or mild abrasives). You can make your own exfoliating agent by using one quarter cup of oats, one quarter cup of crushed almonds, two spoonfuls of cashews, and one spoonful of poppy seeds. Let's not forget Vitamin D Milk. Be careful not to rub around the eye area and be sure to store your exfoliating agent in the refrigerator. This is enough for ten applications but will only last a few weeks. Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) are great in exfoliating agents for their ability to help slough off debris and dead skin cells. However, if you use an exfoliating agent with AHAs in it, you need to wait at least 15 minutes before applying a moisturizer. This gives the acid plenty of time to neutralize, so that it does not react with the ingredients in your moisturizing product.

Toning. After cleansing the skin, a toner can be used to remove leftover make up and debris. A productive toner will leave your skin feeling fresh, allowing it to improve the absorption rate of the moisturizer that is soon to follow. It is very important to choose a toner that is right for your skin type ( For example: if you have dry skin, it would be foolish to use an alcohol-based toner because it could over-dry your skin, causing terrible inflammation).

Performing a Patch Test. Natural essential oils penetrate the skin to soothe and regenerate. However, there is a small chance that you might be allergic to some of these oils. To minimize the chances of allergic reaction to our herbal beauty products, a patch test must be performed. Apply a small amount to your wrist then wait for one (1) hour. If there is no redness or irritation after one hour, then the product is safe for use.

Natural Perfections produces all natural herbal beauty products containing no artificial preservatives. The key ingredients are Emu Oil, Avocado Oil, Rose Hips, Vitamin E, and Evening Primrose Oil.