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Winter skincare tips We have been conditioned for so many years to look after our skin in summer, and to cover up to prevent aging sunrays from damaging our skin. Very few of us have however been warned about the dangers faced regarding skincare in winter. Winter is the time when we can lose a large amount of moisture through our skin and this, coupled with the cold environment, can be detrimental. Although frostbite is a severe form of cold exposure, daily exposure without adequate protection and moisture during the cold winter months can also cause our skin to age more and lose its healthy glow and vitality. When you have been out in the cold, skiing, ice-skating, or simply walking around, and your skin starts to go patchy white in places surrounded by a bright red area, be aware that you are nearing the pre-frostbite stage. Even inside your house and office your skin might be having a rough time - climate controlled environments might be comfortable, but may be lacking in moisture and humidity. If you are in a dry, moisture-robbing environment, make sure to feed your skin with high moisture content products.

Sleepless in South Africa Is your sleep deep and delightful � or do sweet dreams elude you? Here�s everything you need to know about sleep and sleeplessness. BY ELISE-MARIE RANCRED AND THE HEALTH24 TEAM for You Pulse magazine Whether you live in New York or Nieu Bethesda you could be sharing a nightmare with many people around the world � sleep! Or rather the lack of it. According to experts we�re sleeping less than ever before. In fact, chronic sleep deprivation has been called ��the disease of our times��. Consider the following: 100 years ago people slept for an average of nine hours a night; today it�s closer to seven hours. With the exception of the Margaret Thatchers and Helen Zilles of this world, who claim to flourish on fewer than four hours, we simply haven�t been getting enough shut-eye since electricity was invented. Why do we have to sleep? Survival is the simple answer. Scientists today know sleep is a complicated but necessary rest time for the body. Glucose reserves are replenished, brain networks that would otherwise decline are given a workout and essential cycles, such as the secretion of growth hormones, take place. Sleep also helps organise the memory, refresh the mind and improve learning abilities, says Peet Vermaak, neurophysiologist at The Pretoria Sleep Lab. To understand just how important sleep is for survival think about what happens when you don�t get enough: you�re grumpy, irritable and forgetful, your moods swing, you can�t concentrate, your memory fails and even your speech is affected. Sleep deprivation has a serious, negative impact on your brain. Breaking the sleepless record This impact can be felt after just 17 sleepless hours: at that point your judgment and skills are the same as someone who has had two glasses of wine and has a blood alcohol level of 0,05 per cent � enough to land you behind bars. American Randy Gardner holds the record for going without sleep. He stayed awake for 11 full da