Skin Health
Sunscreen, Protect Your Self From The Sun
Posted by
admin 30 October, 2008
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Most people know that sunscreen is important for shoulders, backs, legs, and arms when out in the sun but there are other parts of the body that are often overlooked. When enjoying the beautiful sun, be sure to use sunscreen on your ears, slips, and even the tops of your feet as well!
Categories : Skin Health, Skin and Hair, Tips and Advices
Dealing with dry skin
Posted by
admin 7 August, 2008
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If you have overly dry skin (known as xerosis in the medical world), it’s probably more of a problem for you when the weather is cold and the humidity is low. This occurs most often in the winter months in northern climates. In Western societies, our modern lifestyles also emphasize overbathing, which only serves to worsen the dryness. On top of that, we often live and work in overheated spaces.
If your skin is dry, keep it moist by using only mild soaps or soap substitutes. You could also consider moving to a more humid climate — think rain forest. If you’re already using a mild soap, apply moisturizers regularly, particularly when your skin is still damp. Finding the right moisturizer for your skin may involve trial and error. Look for those that are labeled as noncomedogenic. I happen to recommend Oil of Olay, but many other excellent products are available. Go ahead and use a moisturizer that contains a sunscreen if you think you need one. You can also use room humidifiers to help hydrate your skin.
If you have acne and dry skin, you probably know that acne treatments can make your dry skin worse. Using moisturizers over your topical acne medicine can make these symptoms more tolerable. If you wear makeup, you can apply it over the moisturizer.
Some common recommendations for dry skin are of questionable or no value, including the following:
- Ingesting copious amounts of water
- Taking lots of vitamins
These “remedies” won’t hurt you, but don’t look to them to cure your dry skin. Instead, treat your acne and dry skin with TLC and the gentlest of cleansing methods.
Categories : Skin Health
Relying on the experts
Posted by
admin 7 August, 2008
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For some folks, acne can be more serious. In fact, by their midteens, more than 40 percent of adolescents have acne severe enough to require some treatment by a physician or a dermatologist who is an authority when it comes to acne. And adult women who are having problems getting their acne to respond to treatment often need to make an appointment with a doctor.
But no matter who you are, you should definitely have your acne evaluated by a knowledgeable healthcare provider if:
- Your acne didn’t respond to home remedies, diets, herbal medications, facials, special soaps, or nonprescription OTC treatments.
- Your skin can’t tolerate the OTC preparations.
- Your acne is widespread and it involves your chest and back.
- Your acne is beginning to scar or has already scarred.
- Your acne has become more severe.
- You are a female who develops facial hair or has irregular periods.
- You’re not a “do-it-yourselfer” and you want the pros to handle your acne.
- You have dark skin, and patches that are darker than your normal skin appear after your acne lesions clear.
In addition, you may need help dealing with acne scars, both the physical and emotional:
- Preventing and repairing scars: Even very mild or occasional breakouts have the potential to leave permanent scars. There are now exciting innovations in dermatologic surgery using lights, lasers, and chemical peels to help improve the appearance of the skin before and after acne has left its marks.
- Healing the inner scars: The emotional effects of acne haven’t always been fully appreciated, but many studies have demonstrated its damaging psychological impact. Nowadays there is a much greater interest in preventing and healing the inner scars of acne.
Categories : Skin Health
Waking up to whiteheads, blackheads, and zits
Posted by
admin 7 August, 2008
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In most cases, acne starts between the ages of 10 and 13 and usually lasts for 5 to 10 years. The appearance of teenage acne is largely the result of your body’s increased production of hormones. The good news is that those embarrassing blemishes usually go away and are often gone for good by the time you reach your early 20s.
However, the not-so-good news is that for some unlucky folks, acne vulgaris can persist into their late 20s or 30s or even beyond. But back to the good news: There are many steps you can take to zap the zits and improve the appearance of your skin.
Taking it on the chin later in life
Although acne is typically thought of as a condition of youth, an ever-growing number of women (less often men) get acne for the first time as adults. Acne is no longer just a teenage affliction. There’s definitely been a rise in the number of adult women in their 20s and 30s with acne — even those who never had a pimple before!
Teenage and adult-onset acne have somewhat different characteristics. For one thing, the appearance is different: Adults have fewer blackheads and whiteheads; for another, adult acne tends to be more often located on the lower part of a woman’s face. Also, the appearance of female adult-onset acne is often closely linked to a woman’s menstrual cycle as well as increased sensitivity to hormones such as those brought about by pregnancy, starting or stopping birth control pills, and other hormonal abnormalities.
If you’re really unlucky, you have adult-onset acne and have also brought along some acne vulgaris from your teenage years.
Categories : Skin Health
Acne Explained
Posted by
admin 6 August, 2008
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Acne is the most common skin disorder in the world. Blemishes, bumps, papules, pustules, spots, whiteheads, zits, goobers, the plague, or whatever you call it, almost everyone is liable to get it. In the United States and Canada, acne affects 45 to 55 million individuals at some point in their lives, the vast majority of whom are teenagers. In fact, nearly 80 percent of all young people will face at least an occasional breakout of acne. Acne imposes itself on young men and young women about equally, but young men are likelier to have more severe forms of acne.
The events that take place in the sebaceous glands and hair follicles trigger acne. The exact cause is unknown; however, regardless of a person’s age, acne is a condition of clogged hair follicles and the reaction of sebaceous glands, glands that are attached to hair follicles and produce an oily substance called sebum. Mix in some dead skin cells that become “sticky” and block the pores, add a bit of bacteria, and you have the makings of a breakout.
Doctors believe that these events, and acne itself, result from several related factors, including your hormones (which are responsible for increasing oil production) and heredity (the tendency to develop acne is often inherited from parents and other relatives).
Less commonly, acne can occur as a reaction to certain drugs and chemicals, and other physical factors may exacerbate the problem.
Pizza, French fries, and other greasy foods don’t cause acne or make it worse. Always remember to “Quit playing with your face.” Picking does make zits worse!
Categories : Skin Health
The Rainbow Connection
Posted by
admin 2 August, 2008
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While the visible light we receive from the sun is a mixture of all the different colors of the spectrum, it appears almost white in color. When the air bends the light, a rainbow is created, causing the various wavelengths of light to become visible. Researchers are now discovering that different wavelengths of light have therapeutic effects on the skin. For example, when blue light, which is characterized by a wavelength of 400 to 500 nanometers, is applied to the skin at certain frequencies, lengths of time, and intensity, clinical improvement is noted and the skin develops a much smoother appearance. This blue light also possesses anti-inflammatory capability.
Visible shortwavelength blue-violet light, which is of a wavelength that typically doesn’t penetrate skin well, can impart smoothness and radiance to exposed skin surfaces, resulting in a vibrant, healthy skin appearance. It can also resolve erythema (redness or inflammation of the skin due to capillary dilation), such as that produced by the UV effects of sunlight.
Scientific studies have shown that light irradiation on skin and other tissues may increase the growth and proliferation of cells, including the acceleration of wound healing and healing of skin grafts. This is important because the ultimate result of skin aging is that while individual cells enlarge, the total number of cells decreases by at least approximately 30%. This results in the loss of the regularity of tissue structure. Other benefits of this light treatment are the control of bacterial infection and the treatment of neoplastic (the conversion of normal cells into tumor cells) tissue, pigmentations (including tattoos), psoriasis, and, as mentioned, acne.
To capitalize on these positive effects, I created a thin, pliable mask comprised of LEDs (light-emitting diodes) for application directly to aging, damaged, or blemished skin on the face and neck. I have been very encouraged with the results and can see that visible light therapy for the treatment of aging skin (as well as acne) offers a technologically advanced, safe, and highly effective solution to a variety of skin problems. Prior to this technological advance, these conditions could be resolved only by costly, invasive therapies or powerful pharmaceuticals, both of which have potentially dangerous side effects. The outstanding anti-inflammatory effects offer short- and long-term anti-aging benefits, helping to reverse many signs of aging as well as the rapid healing of unsightly acne lesions. The many benefits
of this new light therapy will help ensure a significantly more youthful, radiant, clear, unblemished, and healthy skin on both face and body.
Categories : Skin Health
Light Therapy—Tomorrow’s Technology Today
Posted by
admin 2 August, 2008
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For many years dermatologists have used light to treat a wide variety of skin diseases. Psoriasis and various forms of eczema retreat when exposed to sunlight. Certain forms of cancer are also treated with a combination of UV light and psoralens, photosensitizing chemicals administered orally or topically to increase the skin’s reaction to light for a therapeutic effect. Now, light therapy, also known as phototherapy, is emerging as an important treatment for aging skin and inflammatory skin diseases such as acne.
A study reported in the British Journal of Dermatology evaluated the use of blue light and a mixed blue and red light in the treatment of acne vulgaris (the most common form of acne). One hundred and seven patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris were randomized into four treatment groups: blue light, mixed blue and red light, cool white light, and 5% benzoyl peroxide cream. After 12 weeks of active treatment, a mean improvement of 76% in inflammatory lesions was achieved by the combined blue–red light phototherapy; this was significantly superior to that achieved by blue light alone, by the benzoyl peroxide, or by the white light. The researchers concluded that phototherapy with mixed blue–red light, probably by combining antibacterial and anti-inflammatory action, is an effective means of treating acne vulgaris of mild to moderate severity, with no significant shortterm adverse effects. This is very exciting news because inflammation is at the root cause of both acne and the signs of aging.
To all acne sufferers, i would recommended you to try murad acne complex when treating your acne. Murad acne complex works for all ages and skin types, that is why i recommend this one. Acne is a big problem to us and may even ruin our confidence so try murad acne complex now and boost your confidence.
Categories : Skin Health
A Spicy Skin Rejuvenator
Posted by
admin 2 August, 2008
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You should know about an exciting new product—oil of oregano. According to Dr. Cass Ingram, a physician, researcher, and author of 20 books, including Natural Cures for Killer Germs and The Cure Is in the Cupboard, oil of oregano possesses vast microbe-destroying properties. It is, in other words, a natural antiseptic. It can be taken orally to kill a myriad of germs, fungi, bacteria, and parasites.
It also comes in a cream version called Oreganol P73 Cream, a powerful rejuvenating formula containing propolis (a resinous substance bees use to construct and maintain their hives), wild essential oils, and wild honey. Made with the highest-ranked antioxidants in the world, Oreganol P73 Cream’s proven antiseptic powers cleanse the skin and are highly effective for skin disorders, bug bites, burns, cuts, abrasions, sunburn, warts, and skin lesions. For best results, use the cream daily on the affected area.
Categories : Skin Health
Neuropeptides: The Information Superhighway to Cellular Repair
Posted by
admin 2 August, 2008
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The skin has abundant nerve endings whose role is to provide information to the brain. It is also composed of many different types of cells, such as fibroblasts and keratinocytes, as well as messengers such as hormones, neuropeptides, and neurotransmitters. When the skin is challenged by an environmental stressor such as the sun or by physical or mental stress, its responsibility is to provide information to all of the other organ systems in our bodies. In other words, the skin can function very much like the brain or the endocrine system in providing important data to the body.
When we are in an embryonic state, the layers of cells that eventually develop into skin are also responsible for making brain cells. This means that the skin and brain are very closely connected. I refer to this as the brain–beauty connection, and as you will learn, it clearly indicates that the skin is much more than just a protective barrier. The skin also has receptor sites for all the different types of messengers mentioned above. This means that the skin can not only transmit messages throughout the body but also receive messages by way of neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, hormones, and nerve impulses. This information was revelatory for scientists, who knew that the brain communicated with other organ systems but did not realize that the rest of the body was responding! This information superhighway communication system opened doors to a much greater understanding of the entire mind–body connection and its role in physical and mental health. This discovery is extremely relevant when we look not only at diseases of the skin but also at mental diseases and disorders. By just stimulating the skin, you can actually change the chemistry in your brain. Conversely, your skin will show the result of anxiety attacks and depression.
This is of tremendous importance to dermatologists and their patients because historically many skin diseases have been categorized as having an unknown etiology (the cause or origin of disease). This has made many skin diseases notoriously difficult to treat. However, we know that these diseases have a significant inflammatory component and that diseases such as acne, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis are all deeply affected and even precipitated by mental stress. Any acne sufferer will tell you that new lesions always appear right before an important event—and that is no coincidence. This adds a new level of truth to the aphorism “You are what you eat” and proves that you are also what you think and feel.
If we are to age successfully, looking and feeling good into advanced decades, we must remember these two simple yet incontrovertible facts: The foods we eat not only affect our physical health but also profoundly affect our mental attitudes and our sense of wellbeing, especially where stress is concerned.
When we experience stress, a neuropeptide known as substance P (SP) is released into both the skin and the brain. SP is a strong, proinflammatory molecule. When released into the skin, it starts a flow of pro-inflammatory chemicals, resulting in the activation or exacerbation of skin disease. SP can also slow hair growth and cause hair loss because of its ability to affect hair follicles. SP also affects the sebaceous glands (glands in the skin that produce sebum, an oily substance) by making them more active and by affecting their growth and creating the inflammation that can clog pores. It is interesting to note that the skin of acne patients has a much greater number of these SP-containing nerves than the average person. Thus we can see the brain–skin connection is a powerful one, mediated by neuropeptides, with the final common pathway, as always, being inflammation.
Categories : Skin Health
Antioxidants + Anti-inflammatories = Anti-aging
Posted by
admin 2 August, 2008
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It is extremely important to understand the mechanisms of chronic, pervasive, subclinical (invisible to the naked eye) inflammation and its role in aging skin. This inflammation can be triggered by sun exposure, harsh environmental exposure (such as extreme cold or heat), psychic/mental stress, environmental pollutants, chemicals, soaps and detergents, and even exposure to computer screens. Perhaps most disheartening is the fact that a recent article suggests that gravity itself exerts a pulling effect on the skin, creating inflammation.
Whether it is exposure to the noonday sun on a summer day or extreme mental stress, the end result is the same. Free radicals generate pro-inflammatory chemicals, leading to a cascade of events that result in low-grade inflammation. The body has an endogenous (produced inside an organism or cell) antioxidant system consisting of enzymes and vitamins C and E that will scoop up these free radicals and help prevent further damage. However, in a few short minutes, the endogenous antioxidant system is quickly overwhelmed and the free radicals start their destruction. They begin by attacking the cell plasma membrane with the production of arachidonic acid, which then flows into the cell, creating inflammation, further free radicals, and eventual cellular breakdown. Like environmental stressors such as UV exposure, a pro-inflammatory diet will also result in free radical production because it creates a rise in blood sugar and insulin levels. The anti-inflammatory diet will prevent the production and activation of inflammatory chemicals, preventing skin wrinkling, as well as the loss of muscle and convexities in both the face and body.
Categories : Health, Skin Health
