Skin Care...
Articles, tips and reviews on treatments, products and the general
care for acne, rosacea, eczema and more. We also
have information for anti aging, natural and men's
care. Please also be sure to check out our forums to discuss any and
all aspects of the care for you skin including what works best for
you.
Skin Care Tips
Wear a sunblock every day... The primary cause of premature
aging is exposure to the sun without adequate care and protection.
Don't wash your skin too often... Washing strips oil and moisture.
Besides, tap water contains chlorine which causes oxidative damage.
Washing your face twice a day is sufficient. Do not smoke...
Smoking can cause the skin to age prematurely, as well as take on an
unflattering sallow tone. Nicotine will reverse your anti aging
routine quicker than anything else. Wear sunglasses... This
will protect the eyes as well as the delicate skin around them. Take
care in checking the products label and make sure they provide UVA and
UVB protection. Warm water over hot... When bathing choose warm
water over hot. It is not as drying and is more natural. Get ample
sleep... Most of the body's repair and rejuvenation occurs while
you sleep. Follow a nightly regimen... Apply products 1 hour
before bedtime to allow ample time to penetrate the skin. Exercise
regularly... It increases the flow of nutrients and oxygen to the
skin, which will give skin a natural, healthy glow. Choose products
carefully... Everyone's skin is different, so try several to see
which products work best for you and which produce an anti effect.
Never sleep with makeup... Sleeping with makeup is not natural for
your skin. It may also have an adverse effect with your anti aging
routine.
Adult Acne
Acne that is contracted during adulthood, specifically after eighteen years
old is considered adult acne. It commonly appears during the early twenties to
even late forties and fifties. Women are the ones frequently affected by adult
acne, also known as post-adolescent acne. Hormones are the obvious cause of
adult acne since there is no definite pattern to its occurrence as compared to
the teenage variety of acne vulgaris. Adolescent girls are often conscious of
the growth of this skin condition, especially during their menstrual cycle,
although the acne that forms during adulthood comes and goes more easily than
the ones contracted during the teenage years.
The appearance of post-adolescent acne differs from that of teenage
acne:
Blackheads and whiteheads (comedones) are less commonly
seen.
Breakouts are usually mild to moderate.
Significant scarring is
unusual.
Lesions more often appear on the lower cheek, the chin, and along and below
the jaw line. Although some women may have breakouts on the chest and back, most
have blemishes exclusively on the face.
Papules, also known as pimples, zits, bumps, pustules, and small nodules are
the most common composition of breakouts. Papules are skin inflammatory
elevations that are not suppurative while the pustules are also inflammatory
elevations, but are filled with pus. The pustules and papules can be classified
as deep or superficial. Superficial papules are those located on the skin
surface. The deep papules are described to be palpable, and come from under the
skin, since these are probably inflammations that are trapped underneath the
skin's surface.
Nodules are described as large papules or cysts. They are firm tender lumps
that stay on for several weeks or even months. The largest growth that they can
be is about an inch and when healed can leave a noticeable scar. Luckily,
nodules are rarely develop in women with adult acne.
There is no exact diagnosis for adult-onset acne since it can be easily
confused by a health care provider with other acne-like disorders like rosacea,
pseudofolliculitis barbae, keratosis pilaris, and
endocrinopathy:
Rosacea: Symptoms of rosacea include facial lesions
that consist of acnelike red papules and pustules. Moreover, both rosacea and
acne can appear together.
Endocrinopathy: Sometimes what appears to be
a simple case of acne vulgaris or adult-onset acne can be due to an underlying
hormonal abnormality, called endocrinopathy. At times like this, acne may be
difficult to get under control, and other measures such as blood tests to look
for higher or lower than normal hormone levels should be evaluated by your
doctor.
Women with adult acne do not have levels of androgen that are elevated but
may have a amplified response to androgen in its normal levels and to
progesterone, a female hormone, although to a much lower degree. On the other
hand, estrogen, another main hormone of females, produces an opposite effect on
acne production by depressing its release.
Other than the major hormones of women, adult acne may be caused and enhanced
by the intake of pills containing hormones and drugs that have hormonal effects
like those seen in oral contraceptive medications, food products, steroids and
allergy medications.
Chemical Peel
Skin is a dynamic, growing organ. Every day cells divide at the basal layer
of the epidermis and begin their journey upward to the uppermost layer, the
stratum cornea. As new cells continue to grow, old cells from the stratum cornea
slough off. This exfoliation
of cells from the stratum cornea is a normal daily event.
Chemical peeling is basically an accelerated form of exfoliation induced by
the use of a chemical agent. Very light peeling agents induce a faster sloughing
of the cells in the stratum cornea, whereas deeper peeling agents create
necrosis and inflammation in the epidermis, papillary dermis, or reticular
dermis.
Chemical peeling creates changes in the skin through three
mechanisms:
Stimulation of the epidermal growth through removal of the
stratum cornea. Even very light peels that do not create necrosis of the "living
epidermis" can induce the epidermis to thicken.
Destruction of specific
layers of damaged skin. By destroying the layers and replacing them with more
"normalized" tissue, a better cosmetic result is achieved. This is especially
true in the treatment of pigmentation abnormalities and actinic
keratoses.
Introduction of inflammatory reaction deeper in the tissue than
the necrosis induced by the peeling agent. Activation of the mediators of
inflammation is able to induce production of new collagen and ground substance
in the dermis. Epidermal wounds are capable of inducing deposition of collagen
and glycosaminoglycans in the dermis.
Because deeper peels involve a greater risk of complication and a longer
period of recovery, or downtime, the goal is to create as little necrosis as
possible while inducing as much new tissue formation as possible. This is the
concept behind repetitive superficial and medium depth peels. They have low
risk, but they create cumulative benefits that far exceed the results of on
lighter peel.
Very superficial (exfoliation): These peels thin or remove the stratum
corneum and do not create a wound below the stratum granulosum.
Superficial (epidermal): These peels create necrosis of part of all of
the epidermis, anywhere from the stratum granulosum to the basal cell layer.
Medium (papillary dermal): These peels create necrosis of the
epidermis and part or all of the papillary dermis.
Deep (reticular dermal): These peels create necrosis of the epidermis
and papillary dermis, which extends into the reticular
dermis.
Very Superficial: Glycolic acid 30% to 50% applied briefly (1 to 2
minutes)
Jessner's solution applied in 1 to 3 coats
Low-concentration
resorcinol 20% to 30% applied briefly (5 to 10 minutes)
Superficial: Glycolic acid 50% to 70% applied for a variable time (2
to 20 minutes)
Jessner's solution applied in 4 to 10 coats
Resorcinol 40%
to 50% applied for 30 to 60 minutes.
TCA 10% to 30%
Medium Depth: Glycolic acid 70% applied for a variable time (3 to 30
minutes)
TCA 35% to 50%
Augmented TCA (Jessner's solution plus TCA 35%,
glycolic acid 70% plus TCA 35%)
Deep: Phenol 88%
Baker Gordon Phenol Formula
Complications of a Chemical Peel
Some of the reported complications from getting a chemical peel
are:
Premature Peeling
Infection
Postinflammatory
Infection
Hypopigmentation
Allergic
Reactions
Scabbing
Scarring
Ecchymoses
Acneform Eruptions
Tears
Dripping Onto the Neck
The cost of a chemical peel is determined by depth, location, and type.
Dry Skin Care
Dehydration is the loss of water in the body, sometimes severe enough to
cause shock since the human body is composed of seventy five percent water. To
address this problem you first need to know its main cause. Several factors like
the environment, weather, health situation, or lifestyle is making the skin dry.
Some of them are easily remedied and others will take more time and effort.
To avoid dehydration, you should drink at least eight glasses of water a day,
approximately 64 ounces of water, more in really hot weather. If you do not get
enough water in the body, dehydration may set in. The eight glasses do not
include other beverages you drink during the day, such as tea, coffee, milk,
soda or juice. These beverages should be limited in intake since some of them
may further dehydrate your skin and contribute to other skin conditions, such as
acne.
Unnatural air conditioning from home or office heating and cooling systems
keeps the air dry by removes moisture from your skin. Room humidifiers can be
employed to keep air moist. Humidifiers can also be installed on the home
furnace to help retain moisture in the atmosphere of the home. Installing such
can be a bit expensive but helpful in avoiding dry skin especially in
places with dry climate such as the Midwest states. A helpful tip in keeping the
house humid is to fill several pots with water and place it in strategic places
in the house. They need to be refilled when the level of water becomes low.
Living in a dry climate, such as Colorado, Alaska, Utah, Arizona, and
elsewhere. You can't make the air outside more humid, but you can use
humidifiers indoors. Fill a pottery crock with water and place several around
your house. Refill when the water has evaporated.
Excessive use of exfoliants can also dry out the skin, making it reddish and
rough. Treatment is just to decrease the frequency of use of the exfoliant. Use
scrub exfoliants with polyurethane beads or cornmeal since this does not dry out
the skin. Also, the excessive use of topical medications prescribed for the skin
like Retin-A and
hydroquinone can also cause inflammation of the skin. Use should be cut down to
every three days until the skin becomes normal.
Overuse of topical prescription medications for skin, such as Retin-A,
benzoyl peroxide, or hydroquinone. They can make the skin dry, red, and
inflamed. Cut back on use to every other day or every third day until your skin
normalizes and redness is healed.
Before using any skin care product on yourself, you should try to consult a
skin expert or a certified skin technician. Since there are a lot of skin care
products in the market today, you should always test what will work best on
your skin. If it feels too dry or flaking occurs, then it probably isn't the
best product for you. Foundations used either powder or fluid, should nourish
the skin, and not cause it to dry up. It will help to know the type of facial
skin you have, if either oily or dry, to be able to choose the right foundation
for your skin type.
Using foundation or powder that is too drying for your skin. If your skin
feels tight at midday, consider switching your foundation or powder to one with
more moisture and less oil absorption.
Salon treatments are a delight to indulge in. But too much of a good thing
can lead to its destruction. Treatments at a salon should be done every six
weeks, at the least, especially for skin peels. Consult your aesthetician for
suggestions on the proper skin regimen for you.
There are several medications that can lead to dehydration. If these
medications are not really necessary for your body, like if it is just a
supplement and not for the cure of an underlying illness, then stop using it. If
this is not possible, then just try to avoid other causes of skin
dehydration.
Some illnesses can also lead to skin dehydration like flu, and cancer. Flu
discourages water retention thus leading to dehydration. Cancer treatments, like
chemotherapy and radiation treatments can also dehydrate the skin. The best
thing to do is to keep your skin hydrated even when sick by drinking lots of
fluids.
Travel by plane can also cause your skin to get dehydrated. Since the cabin
air is drier, especially at a height of thirty thousand feet, moisturizer should
be applied before the plane takes off. Spritzing your face with a toner solution
that contains humectant or much simpler, purified water, can help moisturize
your skin during flights.
Pollution also plays a role in skin dehydration. You can either opt to stop
pollution or just take care of your own skin by following the proper and
prescribed skin regimen for you regularly.
Drinking alcohol also leads to dehydration since alcohol is a diuretic.
Diuretics draw water from the body, and lower the water level in the body. A
hang over is usually the result of dehydration of the body. If you are prone to
dry skin, alcoholic drinks should be avoided. Smoking also produces the same
effect on the body. Even if you are just the recipient of second hand smoke, it
can still cause dehydration. Therefore to avoid dehydration, stop smoking.
Smoking. Smoking dries out the body both internally and externally. This
affects both smokers and people subject to second hand smoke. The only solution
is to stop smoking.
Drinking sodas, either the regular kind or the diet ones can result in
dehydration. These types of drinks have sodium as their ingredient which causes
acidity. Avoid sodas and increase your intake of purified water. Carbonated
water has dissolved carbon dioxide in its composition, which is also highly
acidic, so avoid other bubbly drinks as well.
A good sleep during the night helps greatly in maintaining moisture in the
skin. At least six to eight hours of sleep is needed for the body to function at
its peak. Avoid eating starches, white sugar, junk food, french fries, and
potato chips since this may also lead to skin dehydration.
There are still several causes that may lead to skin dehydration, all of them
seen in our daily routine. If only people are aware of this, then complaints of
dry skin can be avoided. Our modern and carefree lifestyle contributes to this
skin condition. It is only by changing our regular habits that we can avoid
having dry skin. After changing our lifestyle and environment, here are several
tips on how to take care of your skin.
Dry Skin Treatment
After you go to work on the lifestyle and environmental changes suggested,
it's time to go to work on your skin. Follow these suggestions:
Correcting dehydrated skin begins with faithfully completing your daily skin
care ritual. Be sure to cleanse, tone, and moisturize twice a day- morning and
evening.
Exfoliate
gently and regularly using mild alpha hydroxyl acids to dissolve dead skin cells
that buildup in the skin because of its dryness and keratinization. Improvement
of the skin's natural moisturizing factor can be achieved by the use of lactic
acid, squalene, glycerine, and urea treatments. For special treatment for your
skin, a hydrating mask can be applied to make the skin remain moist but make
sure that it will not unintentionally dry the skin.
For a special skin treatment, apply a hydrating mask that stays moist on the
skin. Be sure your mask isn't intended to actually dry while on the skin.
Use sunscreen with
the right sun protection factor and moisturizer
when going outdoors. Select a foundation that keeps moisture in place like those
that contain glyconucleopeptides, silicone, or silica. Drink fish oil capsules
that contain essential fatty acids, or flax seed oil, every day. They will make
your skin soft and supple. A dosage of 10 capsules or 2 tablespoons can suffice.
Eating five to ten servings of vegetables and fruits daily with each meal also
helps in hydrating the skin.
Choose a foundation that seals in moisture, such as one that contains
silicone, silica, or glyconucleopeptides.
Take essential fatty acids, those found in fish oil capsules or flax seed
oil, every day. Take about 10 capsules or 2 tablespoons. They will make your
skin soft and supple. Eat 5 to 10 servings of vegetables and fruits dailt, or at
least 2 with each meal.
Electrolytes should also be balanced to help regulate the hydration levels of
the body. These can be found in fruits like bananas and oranges instead of so
called energy drinks like Gatorade since it is composed of a lot of sugar and
artificial ingredients.
Skin Care Treatments
Thank goodness, most skin conditions are only temporary. But that doesn't
mean you don't want to correct them as quickly as possible. We hope the
following articles will help you with treating, and caring for your skin. And
also help with making decisions on what treatments may be right and which may be
wrong for your skin.
Dermabrasion
Going through puberty
with severe acne can be very traumatic. Acne is bad, but one of the worst things
about cystic acne is the scars it leaves behind. Why live with scars and the
emotional trauma they bring?...
Scabies Treatment
Scabies is a
common itchy skin condition caused by a microscopic mite known as Sarcoptes
scabei. No matter what you call it, the resulting rash, pimple-like irritations,
and intense itching can leave you miserable...
Rosacea Treatment
Rosacea
seems like a mysterious condition, especially if you have it. The very
treatments that a person would normally use for breakouts or acne won't work for
rosacea. In fact, they can aggravate the condition and make it worse...
Psoriasis Treatment
Psoriasis
affects 80 million people worldwide. At least two per cent of people have the
skin condition to a degree, whether it's in one toe nail or over most of the
surface of the skin. It's caused by acceleration in the skin's replacement
process...
Accutane
Accutane or Isotretinoin is
very effective because of it has the ability to target specific areas at the
root of acne. Normally accutane is prescribed after all other treatments have
failed. Accutane is prescription only and can only be prescribed by a doctor or
dermatologist...
Thermage
Thermage also know as a thermal
lift will give you many of the same benefits of a surgical face lift. It will
also renew the texture of your skin by creating new and denser collagen,
creating an increase in the thickness of your skin...
Eczema Treatment
Eczema is a
broad term for a number of inflammatory skin diseases with the most prominent
being Atopic Dermatitis. Eczema is not curable per se so treatments are designed
to bring relief or to put the disease into temporary remission...
Electrolysis
Electrolysis is a very
popular option for people looking to permanently remove unwanted body hair. The
process works by using electricity to destroy the hair's growth center,
preventing it from growing again. Invented over 100 years ago to remove ingrown
eyelash hairs, electrolysis has endured the test of time and continues to be one
of the most effective methods for removing unwanted hair...
Laser Hair Removal
You are
most likely to be successful with laser hair removal if you have light skin and
dark hair. If you have light skin and light hair, ask for a laser removal
treatment that combines radio frequency waves with pulsed light. If you have
darker skin and dark hair, laser hair removal is more likely to cause skin
discoloration and dark pigmentation...
Chemical Peel
Skin is a dynamic,
growing organ. Every day cells divide at the basal layer of the epidermis and
begin their journey upward to the uppermost layer, the stratum cornea. As new
cells continue to grow, old cells from the stratum cornea slough off. This
exfoliation of cells from the stratum cornea is a normal daily event...
TCA Chemical
Peel
Trichloroacetic (TCA) has become the gold standard of chemical
peeling agents. It has been well studied, it is versatile in its ability to
create peels of different depths, it is stable, inexpensive, and nontoxic. TCA
is a chemical cauterant, which coagulates proteins in the skin. This is
presumably the basis for the formation of the white frost seen when TCA is
applied to the skin. The deeper the peel performed with TCA, the faster and more
intensely white the frost...
Glycolic Acid Peel
Alpha
hydroxy acids (AHAs) are a group of organic acids, some of which are derived
from fruits, hence their name "fruit acids". Despite the fact that glycolic acid
can be found in sugar cane, the glycolic acid used in your practice is not
derived from processing sugar cane. It is created in a laboratory from chemical
reagents, that is, bubbling carbon monoxide through...
Facials for Skin
Conditions
A good time to schedule a facial is when you're
experiencing temporary skin conditions, such as congestion or breakout. In fact,
it's great to schedule facials every month for your skin, regardless of its
condition. Inform your skin care specialist of your needs, because the standard
facial for your skin type needs to be modified to help correct your condition...
Facial Skin Care
Reading
through a list of facial offerings at a salon or spa can be confusing. There are
literally thousands of different types of facials. You'll find rejuvenating,
purifying, balancing, oxygen, European, deep cleansing, alpha-beta peels, and
many more. To tell the truth, it's sometimes confusing to know what to ask
for...
Oxygen Facials
Your skin receives
benefits from oxygen every time you breathe. And since the air around you is
composed of 18 percent oxygen, you receive adequate oxygen to sustain life and
remain healthy. Your skin benefits from the very oxygen you breathe...
Light Therapy
Using light is
helpful for some people in correcting the skin conditions of psoriasis and acne.
You can purchase light therapy equipment for home use, or visit a salon or
dermatologist for light treatments. The lights used in light therapy, for
psoriasis stimulate natural sunlight, so it comes as sun exposure...
Facial Exercisers
The devices
give you a non-surgical face-lift by using light electrical currents to
passively contract the muscles of the face and neck. The contractions cause the
muscles to tighten, as if through exercise. Facial exercisers are widely
available for home use through the internet and infomercials...
Photorejuvenation
Systems
Also known as Foto-Facial Rejuvenation with Intense Pulsed
Light ( IPL ), this procedure is noninvasive and can correct skin concerns such
as pigmentation, age spots, very fine lines, sun damage, and can improve skin
texture. But that's not all...
Laser Resurfacing
Consider this
treatment only if you have severe wrinkling, significant abnormal pigmentation,
or deep acne scars. Laser resurfacing is a medical procedure that's invasive and
requires downtime for healing. As it resurfaces the skin, the laser burns away
outer layers. This triggers the fibroblasts that produce collagen to replace
what's been burned off...
Microdermabrasion
Think of
microdermabrasion as polish taken to the extreme. It's a deep skin scrub
performed using finely ground mineral crystals. You can have microdermabrasion
done at a salon and intense microdermabrasion performed at a doctor's office.
You can also purchase a home use microdermabrasion machine and perform this
treatment for yourself. The machine is far more gentle than those used by
professionals...
Botox
Botox injections are seemingly a
miracle for erasing furrows between the eyebrows and the nasal labial folds and
corners of the mouth. Botox is purified botulinum bacteria. This is the same
bacteria that causes severe and often fatal form of food poisoning. The
difference is that the bitulinum bacteria in Botox are a purified form that
won't cause illness...
A Facial Suited to Your
Skin Type
Receiving a facial means that the skin care technician
knows your skin type. Each skin type requires specifically tailored treatments.
The following recommendations are for skin that isn't affected by a more serious
skin condition...
Collagen Injections
Collagen injections
take mere moments to perform but can take years from your face. Collagen is a
natural protein that provides texture, resilience and shape to your skin and
face. The collagen used for facial injections comes from human tissue as well as
bovine (cow) tissue...
Restylane
The FDA recently approved
Restylane for injection to correct moderate to severe facial folds and wrinkles.
It's made from biodegradable, nonanimal, and stabilized hyaluronic acid, which
is found in human skin tissue. Hyaluronic acid naturally provides volume and
fullness to the skin. It can hold 1,000 times its weight in water, but its
presence decreases as a person ages...
Retin A
Retin-A is the trade name for
retinoic acid. The topical form of this synthetic derivative of vitamin A is not
to be confused with vitamin A which is taken by mouth. Topical Retin-A was
developed in the late 1960's and is used for external application only...
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a scrub for the skin to penetrate the deep pores using
finely ground mineral crystals. It is usually done at a salon although an
intensive treatment should be done in the doctor's office. A microdermabrasion
machine is also available for use at home to allow you to do the treatment for
yourself. There are fewer risks involved since the machine is gentler than those
used by professionals. Some skin care treatments offer exfoliating scrubs that
also contain mineral crystals. They are called microdermabrasion scrubs, but in
reality are still scrubs for exfoliation since they cannot produce the same
results.
Your skin will improve temporarily with this treatment since it does not act
on removing deeply colored pigmentation. On the other hand, this procedure can
help minimize the appearance of fine lines and bring up the turnover rate of
skin cells. This procedure is not that labor extensive, needing only 20 to 30
minutes of your time to make you skin healthy and glowing. The recommended
number of treatments is five to ten times at two to three week intervals.
Results are noticeable usually after the fifth session.
A light glycolic peel
can also be done by your aesthetician without having the redness or
inflammation. It is frequently done during the lunch hour thus coining the term
"lunchtime peel".
Microdermabrasion, if prolonged, may lead to redness and irritation,
especially when done with a light glycolic peel. Mistakes can also occur when
the skin care technician gets too aggressive with the procedure. Open lesions
and scarring may occur. Microdermabrasion should not be used if you are prone to
cold sores. Herpes simplex complications can also be triggered by
microdermabrasion so it is contraindicated. It should also never be used on open
sores or blemishes. If you plan to do the procedure at home using your own
device, make sure that you are gentle with your skin and go slowly to get the
feel of the instrument as well as your skin. Knowing your skin type will aid you
in how you use the microdermabrasion device.
Its advantages include having a fresher and more radiant skin after several
sessions, being able to avail of the procedure either at the salon or at the
comfort of your home, and when it is done properly and with a gentle touch, it
is quite safe. On the other hand, when it is used by someone with a heavy hand,
scarring and lesions may occur. It may also trigger a herpes simplex outbreak
when the instruments get in contact with a patient's lesions. It is also
temporary and requires much maintenance to get results.
Microdermabrasion has a lot of benefits especially when used properly. It
should be avoided when the skin becomes red, flaky or dry after use. Following
the correct directions will help avoid any complication when doing the procedure
at home.
According to product claims, microdermabrasion:
Reduces sun
damage.
Brightens complexions.
Is safe.
Eliminates early signs of
aging.
Improves dull, oily, or leathery skin textures.
Contracts large
pores.
Reduces fine lines.
Smoothes mild pigmentation
irregularities.
Requires no downtime.
The Pros:
After four to five sessions, the skin will appear fresher and
more radiant.
The procedure can be done at home or at the salon.
It's safe
when used properly and gently.
The Cons:
Aggressive use can lead to scarring and open lesions.
The
procedure can trigger a herpes simplex outbreak.
It's temporary and requires
maintenance to sustain results.
Microdermabrasion can be beneficial when used
correctly. Stop using it if you skin gets red, flaky, or dry. For home use,
follow the directions carefully and keep in mind that with this type of
procedure, less if often more.
Acne Control
Often the result of hormonal changes in the body, acne is common condition
ranging in severity from occasional pimples to serious cystic acne that requires
the intervention of the dermatologist. If
you suffer from acne, you may experience pimples around your forehead, nose, and
chin, blackheads, whiteheads, and to a
lesser degree, occasional more serious infections.
Because the symptoms vary widely, there are a number of treatments for acne
ranging from topical over-the-counter ointments to more serious prescription
drugs and laser treatments.
The root cause of acne is a blockage in skin pores and hair follicles that
leads to infection. Hormonal imbalances that result in the overproduction of oil
by the sebaceous glands in the skin worsens the problem, as does the presence of
any bacteria on the skin's surface. The most effective acne treatments
work to reduce the amount of oil on the skin, keep pores and hair follicles open
and clear, and keep affected areas free of bacteria.
Natural Remedies:
Scrubs
Natural methods of treatment include mild scrubs with oatmeal or
other abrasives designed to open clogged pores. They are often combined with
cleansing creams that work to kill bacteria.
Antibacterial Agents
Many ointments, balms, and lotions sold to treat acne
are mild antibacterial agents designed to kill bacterial colonies and keep them
from reforming. Tea tree oil, salicylic acid, and sulfur have excellent
antibacterial properties and have been used effectively alone and in combination
with other acne treatments.
Skin Repair
Aloe Vera, vitamin A, and vitamin E are useful in healing
blemishes, repairing skin cells, and reducing inflammation. They are also used
in combination with antibacterial agents to heal skin after an acne
outbreak.
Treat Oily Skin
Preparations used to reduce the amount of oil on the skin
often contain benzoyl peroxide, an antibacterial and drying agent. There are
also non-prescription masks and peels designed to remove excess oil from the
skin.
Mild scrubs, antibacterials, drying agents, and skin conditioners work
together to open clogged pores and keep skin healthy and clear of infection. For
minor skin problems they are very effective, and regular treatment using these
products will reduce acne flare-ups.
Resistant Acne:
Cosmetic Procedures
More resistant acne often responds to chemical peels and
abrasive techniques like micro-dermabrasion.
These techniques are administered by a dermatologist in his office and can also
be effective in reducing the acne
scarring that may result from prolonged acne conditions.
Vitamin A Derivatives (Retin-A)
Therapies using concentrated vitamin A
derivatives like Retin-A have had success
in treating whiteheads, blackheads, and cystic acne. Used topically over a
period of weeks, vitamin A derivatives increase skin production and help in
keeping skin pores clear.
Oral Contraceptives
For women, often oral contraceptives have the side
benefit of having a positive impact on problem skin.
Laser Treatment
Light therapy is a
very effective treatment for acne. Reaching deep into the skin, lasers kill
bacteria, help improve the skin's texture, and are effective at helping to
reduce oil production.
Isotretinoin
Isotretinoin(Accutane) is reserved for
the most serious skin conditions. Usually administered in pill form, it works
internally to help reduce the skin's oil production and combat infection.
Available only through prescription, it can have serious side effects, so
discuss any treatment plan carefully with your doctor.
Acne can be a complicated condition, and it may require some trial and error
to determine what type of treatment is going to work best for you. Even the most
severe forms of acne respond to treatment, and with some experimentation you
will discover a method that will provide the results that you are looking for.
In the meantime, keep your skin as clean as you can, and never be tempted to
squeeze blemishes. Although satisfying, damaging your skin invariably prolongs
the healing process and can lead to deep and permanent scars.
Dry Skin
Dehydration is the loss of water in the body, sometimes severe enough to
cause shock since the human body is composed of seventy five percent water. To
address this problem you first need to know its main cause. Several factors like
the environment, weather, health situation, or lifestyle is making the skin dry.
Some of them are easily remedied and others will take more time and effort.
Nowadays, you see millions of Americans that have dry skin. There are also
numerous products being invented to address this situation concerning the skin.
Genetically speaking, there is no such thing as dry skin. You may either have
dehydrated skin or an oil skin type which is also hydrated or dehydrated.
Mostly everyone is afflicted by dehydrated skin. When you feel your skin and
it is dry and tight, and your skin tone is ashen and dull, you most probably are
dehydrated.
Unfortunately, the moisturizers and treatments claiming to alleviate dry skin
do nothing to cure it. To be able to correct dehydrated skin, a drastic change
in lifestyle and environment is required.
What does a dehydrated skin feel like? It is usually dry to the touch, itchy,
with flaky patches and rough spots, and blotchy patches when you look in the
mirror. Your skin tone is dull and pale. The skin loses its elasticity wherein
when you apply a bit of pressure on the skin, it does not revert back to its
original state.
When you leave your skin dehydrated for a long period of time, keratinization
occurs. Take for example the feet. The skin on the bottom of your feet is
subjected to much heat, friction and dirt. The dead skin cells that build up on
the surface of your skin forms a coat covering it, making it nearly impossible
for moisturizer to reach your skin. Your skin will further get dehydrated. Then
keratinization occurs with breakouts since your skin is badly in need of
water.
Fortunately, dehydration is easily treated and is very temporary. The skin
just needs to rehydrate and vitamins given to be able to have healthy skin.
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Dry Skin Care
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