Complete Natural Skin Care.com was created out of a series of life experiences and a passion for all things natural.

If you would like to learn more about why I started this website, I invite you to read my story…

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Education and Work

My life-long love of plants and animals resulted in a B.S. Degree with a double major in Environmental Biology and Botany. After college I held three different career positions.

My first “real world” work experience began as a Horticulturist. Years later, I began work as an Environmental Educator for a County Conservation Organization. For five years, I enjoyed this occupation immensely. As an educator, I was constantly researching our natural world. As a result, I created new ways to excite children and adults about nature and the value of understanding our environment.

Despite my enthusiasm for my job, I needed to pay bills. Seeking more supervisory experience and more pay, I reluctantly began to look for a new job. It was then that I joined a large perennial plant growing business. Here, I gained managerial experience while continuing to hone my horticultural skills. Again, I loved my new job and the constant knowledge I was gaining about plants.

The Big Change…

Not long after the birth of our first child, I knew in my heart that I couldn’t go immediately back to work. Wanting to be home with my son and knowing that we wanted more children, I grudgingly resigned.

I have never regretted my decision to be home to raise my son. For me, it was the right decision. However, I’ve been used to working and making my own income. I began feeling “out of touch” while simultaneously realizing that my savings were dwindling.

I began to ponder the possibilities. What could I do from home that I loved, that utilized my expertise and could make a difference?

My thoughts went back to nature… Naturally!

Life Experience

Good health is something that I have been blessed with. I have tried not to take it for granted by eating right, getting enough exercise, practicing meditation or reading to relax – well, at least most of the time.

I have always been one to try a natural or herbal remedy whenever a sickness or ailment presents itself. That is not to say that traditional, modern medicine does not have its place and could not be helpful. My thinking is - if I can find remedies less toxic to my body than traditional medicine, wouldn’t that be better?

Through experimentation and my life experience, I have discovered that for me, it is!

Just about everyone gets thrown a curve ball once in a while. My biggest lesson in the power of nature and healing comes from a series of incidences that started years ago.

After taking a prescribed medication (not the norm for me) I noticed some profound changes. Some were emotional with feelings of sadness and lethargy. Others were physical, like weight gain.

The hardest was the hair loss. I don’t mean a few more hairs in the shower loss. I’m talking, shaking my head and seeing hundreds and hundreds of hairs form piles beneath my trembling chin.

Immediately, I stopped the meds. I then began making doctor appointments. By the time I was seen, my scalp was noticeably visible. I had probably lost about 40% of my hair and it was still coming out.

I was diagnosed with a fairly common type of excessive hair shedding called, Telogen Effluvium (TE). I was told the only healer for this was time. After, a few more months my hair began to fall less. Then, I saw hundreds of new hairs sticking their glorious little heads up through my scalp. “Ahh, all will be well.” I thought with great relief.

And for a few years it was…

The “Saga” Continues…

Hair grows in cycles. Much to my despair my hair cycles never got back to normal. Several years later it began to shed again - massively.

Seeking some sort of hope and advice, I made more doctor appointments. This time, I was told by one not-so-sensitive doctor that I still had a few hairs to spare, as he plucked them out to examine. After, starring blankly at them he informed me that I might be wearing a wig in a few years (mind you at this point, I was still rather young). He also told me about Minoxidil (the generic form of Rogaine) and added, “You can always pray.”

I did.

Now I know that there are far worse diagnoses than hair loss. Wearing a wig would not be the end of the world. But, at a young age it was devastating for me. I could think of nothing but trying to hide my problem from the world for the rest of my life. I became obsessed with counting fallen hairs and looking for new growth. Luckily, this bout of TE stopped again. And again, my hair came back.

This emotional roller coaster ride of periodic hair shedding went on for over a decade. The cycles became closer together and I became a master at hiding my problem. But in the pit of my stomach, I knew I would not get away with it forever. Eventually, I would have to take action.

My Plan to Fight Back

After many, many, years of this craziness my hair was starting to shed with greater frequency. Out of sheer desperation, I used a prescribed topical steroid that worked for a short while, before making my problem worse.

Finally after getting nowhere with countless dermatologists, I was referred to one of the leading hair experts in the USA (luckily he works in my area). I went to see him as soon as I could get in. Thankfully, he was very kind and seemingly empathetic. He prescribed for me a drug called, Spironolactone (Aldactone is the brand name).

As with any drug there are side effects. Above and beyond that, I would need to stop taking the drug if and when, I decided to become pregnant. So, I thought, “And then what?”

I had a big decision to make…

To Take, or Not to Take… That Was the Question…

At this point I had joined an online support group for women suffering with all types of hair loss. I can’t begin to express the comfort and relief, I got from this site. There were women and girls like me feeling the same way. We shared experiences. We shared knowledge. Best of all we shared what works.

Hair growth and loss is complicated. At first, I was overwhelmed with all of the information from the site. But before starting any kind of prescribed medication, I wanted to do my due diligence and research. After all, prescribed meds were what got me into this in the first place!

Knowing that I wanted to have children one day, (yes, I’m having them later in life!) I especially wanted to find something natural. I spent most of my time researching the natural remedies and asking questions. I found that that there were indeed things that were working for some women. They had solutions that none of the doctors even mentioned or probably knew about.

Greatest of all, I had hope…

The Light! I See It!

After about 6 months and countless hours of investigation, I started to order some hair loss remedies. Some were oral supplements; others were topical and helped to combat shedding. Still, others were used to promote new growth. After about 1 year, I found the magic combination that worked for me. Greatest of all… it’s all natural!

I can happily say that my hair loss slowed to a normal amount. It slowly but surely, began to fill in. It is not the same, but I do not see a trip to the wig store in my near future!

My Lesson

What I learned from this experience can be summed up in this way…
• There are usually answers to your questions. Hold on to your hope, even when no one gives you any.
• Listen to your instincts.
• Patience is key.
• This one I learned after having my son – Hair is really not THAT important. My energy would have been better spent on more productive things than worrying so much about it.
• If it is important to you – it is important enough.

Because hair is related to skin, I feel it fitting to dedicate a page on Complete Natural Skin Care.com to hair loss. I will discuss in more detail my personal experience and the all natural remedies that have helped me.

Please see the links at the bottom of the page if you would like to visit the two sites I found most helpful during my ordeal.

My Second Big Lesson in Natural Remedies

When my son was about 9 months old we started noticing some rough, red patches on his cheeks, feet and legs. I was fairly certain it was eczema and it was later confirmed by the doctor.

The pediatrician prescribed Hydrocortisone cream to relieve the itching. He also mentioned that if I didn’t want to use the Hydrocortisone cream all the time, I could also use petroleum jelly.

Now, I’m no doctor, but I know that the cream is a steroid. I also knew that petroleum jelly is made from petroleum and can be considered unsafe for the skin. I was not very comforted by this remedy.

From my years of experience working with plants, I knew that there were plenty of anti inflammatory, moisturizing species. My instincts told me there must be a healthier way.

After doing some research, I found a great skin balm made mostly from Olive Oil. All of the other ingredients are natural as well. This is especially important with eczema. (See my eczema page for more info)

Today, with sound mind, I can relieve my son’s eczema. I am not worrying about what chemicals may be entering his body. And best of all – it works and he loves it!

The Conclusion

These may be the two biggest examples of how I found great relief with natural remedies. However, I have had numerous examples throughout my lifetime.

While I was pondering career choices, it became clearer and clearer to me. If I could share some of my good experiences and help others, wouldn’t that be great. If I could use my botany background and expand upon it, to help people and the planet, wouldn’t that be fantastic!

So that is what I’ve set off to do. I hope that this push toward natural skin care is more than just a passing trend. As you learn about why it is so important, you will understand why we must switch to organic and natural remedies whenever possible and never look back.

My All Natural Skin Care Philosophy

The reason I choose to use natural skin care is simple. I believe it to be better for my health and general well being. After having my son, I amplified my desire and dedication to natural skin care ten fold.

People can of course be allergic to or experience adverse reactions to natural products. There is some potent stuff out there. That’s partly why it can be so effective in treating conditions and maintaining healthy skin.

What I love about it, is that natural and organic skin care products don’t or shouldn’t come with all the extra baggage. We are deluged with pollution, sun, wind and synthetic chemicals on a daily basis. Smearing on more man-made chemicals that can be absorbed through my skin seems like the last thing, I or anyone needs.

I also believe that people need to make their own personal choices about their health. This website is not intended to give any medical advice. Hopefully, it will be used as a useful reference to organic skin care. Helping you to make informed decisions, to do what’s right for you.

Here’s to Your Health and Glowing Skin, Naturally!

Return from About C.N.S.C.com to Home page

Here is the link to the site I found most helpful during my hair ordeal (this one is for women only). You will find all kinds of support, including natural remedies for hair loss here Her Alopecia.com

Both men and women can find support and help at another great site called Hair Loss Talk.com