Can Skin Stop Aging?

As the urge to look good and young increases, the number of cosmetic treatments available are also shooting up. Numerous advertisements appear that promise the moon but often end up misleading the public

Cosmetic skin problems and aging skin changes are only beauty problems and can be treated by beauticians and other paramedical health providers

The role of beauticians is important in providing general skin care and beautification, but not for treatment of specific skin problems. Another much misunderstood term is the so-called ‘Trichologist ‘ for hair-related problems.

Trichological society and Institute of Trichology have been established in the UK to provide basic training and certificates to any person interested in learning about basics of hair science, which is however not a medical degree. Hence Trichologists are not necessarily medically qualified and therefore cannot issue prescription drugs. As per the International Trichology association, trichologists can perform counselling, provide advice and refer to dermatologists/ physicians for further treatment. Management of aging skin and hair problems often needs detailed investigations such as biopsy, blood investigations etc. Further, use of lasers, treatments such as fillers and botox, surgeries such as hair transplantation all need specific training. Hence dermatologists with necessary training in cosmetic dermatology should be consulted for treatment of such problems.

Cosmetic treatments are complicated and need healing time

The present trend is to complete all treatments in the clinic itself and send the patient home. In fact most cosmetic and anti-aging treatments such as treatment of wrinkles( Botox, peels and fillers), lifting of loose, sagging skin (thermal lift, threadlift), baldness (follicular unit hair transplantation), fat extraction (tumescent liposuction) can all be treated under local anaesthesia — thus minimising cost of hospitalisation and avoiding the side effects of general anaesthesia. Often the patient can return to work the same day (lunch time cosmetology) or after the weekend (weekend cosmetology).

Surgery is needed to correct cosmetic defects and wrinkles.

No. With the current technologies available, surgery is not needed for many of the treatments for facial rejuvenation. Wrinkles can be treated with Botox; defects and depressions can be treated by filler injections; sagging of face, neck, eyebrow can be treated by thread lift; pigmentation changes can be treated by chemical peels; lasers can be used for scars, wrinkles and pigmentation. With these new techniques, even treatments like facelifts, eyebrow lift, changing the shape of nose, lips, chins, cheeks etc can all be treated in a simple out-patient procedure.

Surgery is needed only for certain types of scars and very advanced aging changes. Hence early treatments will minimise the need for surgery.

Cosmetic treatments can provide permanent improvement for aging skin problems

No. Except in some cases, aging changes need repetitive treatments. Aging changes are dynamic and occur due to effect of intrinsic aging, sunlight etc. These are not corrected by drugs and hence there is need for continuous care of skin.

Avoiding ultraviolet light by use of sunscreens, proper diet, avoiding stress are all helpful. Use of certain creams containing vitamin C, vitamin E and tablet containing antioxidants may help in prevention of aging changes, but conclusive proof is lacking. Hence any antiaging treatment, with the current techniques, is likely to be temporary.

However, the scenario is changing fast and new technologies such as Fillers which can last up to 5- 8 years are now available. The threads used in threadlift for loose sagging skin also can last for several years.

Expensive creams are more effective in preventing aging

No. Basic preventive measures for prevention of aging skin include regular use of sunscreens, moisturizers, and preparations containing vitamin A, C, and E. Expensive medications with unproven medications have not been shown to be superior to these simple preparations. A typical example is that of a sunscreen; the higher the SPF (sun protection factor), the more expensive the sunscreen. However SPF 15 is adequate for Indian skin as the Indian skin has melanin — a natural sunscreen.

Laser can cure everything

Laser is a type of light with single wavelength and specific effect. It is highly effective for different skin treatments but is not a solution for every problem. There are different lasers for rejuvenation, hair removal, tattoo removal etc. One laser cannot take care of all problems. Recent techniques such as fractional photothermolysis, non-ablative rejuvenation have minimised the risk of side effects and enhanced the efficiency and safety of these machines. New technologies such as intense pulse light and radiofrequency waves have also emerged.

Laser can be harmful and can cause cancer

No, laser cannot cause cancer. This fear emanates from the fact that people have a fear of radiation; while certain radiations such as X rays and certain type of ultraviolet ( such as UV-C) can lead to skin cancer, many other radiations such as radiowaves, laser and ultraviolet B rays can be highly useful.

Melanin

Sun damage: The true price of tanning

Sort Desciption: The warm golden cast of the sun is very alluring. And many people cant resist spending hours beneath its glow. But not all of the suns rays are pleasing. Ultraviolet (UV) light, the invisible but intense rays of the sun, damages your skin. ...

Content Inside:
The warm golden cast of the sun is very alluring. And many people cant resist spending hours beneath its glow. But not all of the suns rays are pleasing. Ultraviolet (UV) light, the invisible but intense rays of the sun, damages your skin. Some of those harmful effects such as suntan or sunburn are visible right away. But other skin changes, including liver spots or deep wrinkles, appear and worsen over time. With repeated sun exposure, the skin damage can even progress into cancerous tumors. From the first clue that your skin has undergone a change to the development of cancer, heres how the sun damages your skin and what you can do about it. The first signs of skin damage Youre likely familiar with two of the more common sun-induced changes to your skin: suntan and sunburn. But you may not know that the darkening and reddening of your skin are the first signs of skin damage. Suntan A suntan is the result of injury to the epidermis, the top layer of your skin. A tan develops when UV light accelerates the production of melanin. Melanin is the dark pigment in the epidermis that gives your skin its normal color. The extra melanin produced to protect the deeper layers of your skin creates the darker color of a tan.

Tips and Pointers to Diminish Freckle Presence on Your Skin

On some people, a few freckles look attractive. However, you may be like some other women and men who find the freckle something to be diminished. In the end, when it comes to dealing with a situation on your skin, it really does end up being a matter of personal choice and taste as to whether or not you seek assistance in the form of a treatment or procedure to diminish the extent of the unwanted presence on your skin.

With this in mind, there are some tips and pointers to diminish freckle presence on your skin. In this regard, you might want to take a step by step approach. Your first step may be trying to determine whether some sort of over the counter product might be able to provide you with some assistance in diminishing them. What you very well may find out in this regard is that even the most highly rated over the counter products likely will be of only limited effect.

After at least attempting to determine whether or no some sort of over the counter product will work for you at least to some degree, the time will come when you want to focus your attention on seeking professional assistance in regard to freckle diminishing or even potential elimination. The number of treatments and procedures you actually will have a number of options made available to you when you seek professional assistance.

A qualified professional will be able to lay out for you in detail everything you need to know about your different options when it comes to reducing the appearance of freckles on your skin. Of course, you will want to make sure that you connect with a professional that has direct and significant experience in dealing with this type of skin care issue. Towards this end, you will want to utilize a resource than can provide you with information and reference to qualified professionals.

DermaNetwork.org is a leading provider of freckle information and resources. Find a local skin care professional today.

Specific Signs of Systemic Disease - Skin Disorders
The diseases discussed in this chapter are, for the most part, uncommon diseases. They are listed here because the cutaneous manifestations are distin...

3 Tips to Help You Choose the Best Skin Care Products
There are many skin care products offered in both the department store and the drugstore. They all promise to do one thing. Make you look better. Whet...

Men Skin Care
Proper care of skin for a man is a continuing issue which is often ignored. Men are aware about appearance of their skin and health because of men has...

Miscellaneous Pustular Diseases - Skin Disorders Cure
Acne necrotica miliaris is a pustular disease of the scalp that occurs predominantly in men. It is characterized by the presence of pruritic or painfu...

Shea Butter Soap - What are the Hidden Benefits?
Shea butter soap is an amazing all natural skin care product that will truly transform your skin. In fact, out of all the nutrients around today, I wo...

Dealing With Age Spots In Your Skin
Dark blemishes that commonly appear on the back of the hands, forearms, neck, chest and face are known as age spots. These arise from excessive exposu...

Skin Care Product Benefits
Everyone, regardless of who they are, what they do, or where they stay, wishes to have beautiful skin. Good skin earns accolades from everyone around ...

Facial Skin Care - Keeping Your Facial Skin Healthy by Understanding What Type of Skin You Have
The first step in maintaining good facial skin care is understanding your specific skin type.There are three types of skin: oily, dry, and combination...

Are You Using The Best Skin Care Product For Your Skin Type?
Simply put, there is no such thing as the best product for skin care. Due to the fact that skin care products work in a unique way for each skin type...

Healthy and Shining Skin
Nutrition plays a vital role in skin health too. Specific foods such as those acidic foods. Water has long been considered as the most efficient natur...

Tips To Prevent Wrinkles - Great Advice To Help Slow Down Aging Skin
When it comes to anti-aging and skin care, we are always looking for help. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you look for ways to keep your skin h...

Want To Look Younger And More Attractive? Here’s How!
The skin around your eyes is among the first areas of your body that become weak and susceptible to breakdown of tissues. But it is ironic that most p...

Skin Care of All Ages
Skin care changes as you age. Skin Care is different for different age groups. Your skin will change due to variances like environment, lifestyle and ...

Skin Care Tips
1. An overlooked Skin Care tip is to protect yourself from the sun! Skin Care begins first by not exposing your skin to the most dangerous element -...

Ringworm Symptoms and Causes - Are You Sure It Is Ringworm
Ringworm is often mistakenly caused by a worm. However, contrary to its name, ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin. It is contagious and could a...

Melanin: Aging of the Skin and Skin Cancer

“Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is responsible for 90% of the visible signs of aging on the skin of whites,” says Dr. Michael J. Martin, former Assistant Clinical Professor in the Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at University of California, San Francisco.

Blacks’ skin, however, ages much slower.

Why are most dark-skinned blacks protected from harmful UV rays? Because compared to whites, blacks possess more melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color.

Melanin

Melanin offers protection against UV rays for blacks and other dark-skinned people. Conversely, fair-skinned people are much less protected and more susceptible to skin cancer. Furthermore, albinos’ skin offers no protection.

Although blacks’ skin produces more melanin than whites’, all skin has the same number of melanocytes, the cells that manufacture the melanin.

Melanocytes manufacture melanin from an amino acid, tyrosin, with the help of an enzyme, tyrosinase. In the bottom layer of the epidermis above the dermis, UV light stimulates the production of melanin in the form of insoluble melanosomes. These surround the epidermal cells, which move up to the surface of the skin. The result is a tan.

Blacks’ skin produce more melanin, even in the absence of sunlight, and their type of melanin, eumelanin, is more effective at blocking solar rays. However, white skin produces melanin only in the presence of sunlight and after the UV rays have penetrated the lower portion of the epidermis and have caused skin damage.

“Melanin also functions as an excellent free radical scavenger. It affects the delicately designed lipids that hold moisture in the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the epidermis). If the skin loses its moisture, it becomes rigid and cracks,” says Sergio Nacht, PhD., Senior Vice-President of Enhanced Derm Technologies, Inc. in Redwood City.

UV Radiation and Skin

UV-A has the longest wavelength, is not filtered by the ozone and passes through glass. It reaches the earth all year long and the amount is comparatively stable. It can penetrate the skin down to the dermis, beneath the four layers of epidermis. It is responsible for most of the visible signs of aging, due to damage to collagen and elastic fibers of the connective tissue of the dermis.

UV-A radiation also plays a role in the development of sunburns and skin cancer. Tanning salon lamps emit a large amount of UV-A rays to generate tans, so the American Academy of Dermatology does not recommend their use.

UV-B radiation, which is partially filtered by the ozone, penetrates the skin to the bottom layer of the epidermis where the basal cells are produced. UV-B can break the molecular bonds, disturbing the dividing cells and altering their structure. Compared with UV-A, UV-B is responsible for most of DNAs damage. It also causes most sunburns. During a sunburn the reddening of the skin, erythema, is caused by dilation of capillaries.

More UV-B is present during summer months between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and at latitudes closer to the equator. Furthermore, at high altitudes the air is thinner and cleaner, so UV-B radiation is more abundant.

UV-C, which is generally filtered by the ozone, has the shortest wavelength and the most energy, or intensity. It can sterilize hospital equipment and kill bacteria.

In addition, UV light that reaches the earth is scattered in all directions, and up to 85% is reflected from surfaces.

The Theory of Melanin for Environmental Adaptation

Originally, people of a particular race resided in a particular area. As time went on, their skin adapted to the environment. For instance, people who lived geographically close to the equator had darker skin, and people who lived far from the equator had lighter skin.

In Scotland, which lies at a northern latitude, descendants of the Britons have white skin. When their skin is exposed to the meager sunlight, the scant amount of melanin their skin produces is unable to block the sunlight. Therefore, their bodies are able to make Vitamin D with the help of sunlight. Vitamin D, a vitamin found in fish oil, is necessary to prevent rickets, a bone disease caused by too little calcium.

In contrast, in Africa, which is near the equator, blacks require intense sunlight to penetrate their dark skin to make Vitamin D. This is all well and good. However, when blacks lived in England during the Industrial Revolution, they were the first to develop symptoms of rickets, such as retarded growth, bowed legs and fractures because not enough sunlight was available.

Fortunately, in 1930, Vitamin D was discovered and dispensed as a supplement to add to the diet.

On the other hand, the skin of whites in Australia are in complete opposition to their climate. Consequently, intense UV radiation has been the major cause of skin damage and skin cancer Down Under.

Freckle treatment

The major problems that skin can face, is the reaction and some type of the allergic problems that people need to cure as soon as possible. When you have rashes in your skin, you can use very simple process to treat the problems of the rashes.

If your skin is wet where the rashes display, dry it, if it is dry, wet it. In case of not removing that rashes in a week, you need to consult any skin care experts like Burlington smartlipo that can suggest you some remedial steps for the cure of the rashes problems easily.

Another major problem of the skin that usually appears on the face is freckles which can be in form of some bad brown signs on your cheeks and near the nose. Freckles are the curable and less painful skin disease. You can easily get rid of these freckles if you use some sort of the good freckles cream manufactured by any skin care expert or company.

In the market you confront with the name of the many products like Botox in Boston who are having good skin care results for the treatment of the different disease. These freckles are usually exposed in the period of the youth when people do not take care of the weather regarding their skin type.

It is not good to move in sunlight if you have signs of the freckles on your face. You can get smooth shapes face if you are intending to dive some proper care to your skin.

Home Remedies for Freckles

Freckles may be unsightly and a cause of cosmetic concern for many. Here are some natural remedies that will help you deal with freckles at home :
• Apply sour cream on your face. Do not rinse this mask off completely; gently wipe off with a soft tissue and top it up with a moisturizer.
• Lemon juice is a tried and tested remedy for treating freckles. Apply lemon juice with your fingers on the affected area; lemon juice bleaches the dark spots.
• Regular use of fruit and vegetable masks such as those made with apricots, strawberries, cucumbers and red currant will help lighten freckles.
• Wash your face with sour milk. Lactic acid promotes gentle peeling of skin minus the irritation or dryness.
• Heat honey slightly and apply to face, tap face gently with your fingers. Wash honey off with warm water then rinse with cool water. Stir in a little quantity of wheat germ into the honey before applying.
• Apply parsley juice mixed with equal amounts of lemon juice, orange juice, and red currant juice under your favorite cream will help you keep your freckles invisible.
• Apply odorless castor oil or vitamin E at night before going to bed.
• Dissolve some sugar in the juice of one lemon. Apply mixture to each freckle with a brush.
• Grind yellow mustard in milk and apply to the face during the night. Wash your face the next morning.
• Onions also can be used for removing freckles and age spots. Slice a red onion in half and rub on the spots twice daily. Continue until the spots fade.
• Applying buttermilk on freckles is thought to help in lightening them.
• Mix an equal quantity of turmeric and sesame seeds. Grind in water and apply to the face.
• Take a watermelon, make a hole in its rind and introduce some grains of rice in it. Take out the rice after a week. Grind into a paste and apply on the face.
• To lighten freckles, mash 1/4 cup of unripe currants and mix with 1 tbsp. of unpasteurized honey. Put on freckles and leave on for half an hour. Rinse off with warm water and dab on diluted fresh lemon juice.
• Mix 1 tsp of yogurt, 1 tsp honey and 1tsp of red lentil paste. Keep on your face for 15 minutes and rinse with warm water. Make sure you use it once in every single day for a month. After one month you will be proud of yourself!

How to Get Rid of Freckles

The brightest freckles are found in young adults, usually having blonde and especially red hair. The skin tends to freckle in spring and summer, but as fall comes and winter approaches, they turn pale and disappear. The color and brightness of freckles, however, depend not only on the color of your hair and skin, but also on how long and intensely your skin is exposed to sunlight.
Anti-Freckles Diet
In spring, you should eat more foods rich in vitamin C such as fruit, green onion, red or black currant juice, sauerkraut and wild rose tea. Vitamin C makes the skin less sensitive to sunbeams.
Whitening Masks against Freckles
Skin care masks have a positive cosmetic effect, too. You can make them with handy ingredients (tomatoes, currant, strawberry, radish, apples), using one or several components. Whatever berry or vegetable you are going to use, you first need to remove their seeds and then mash or grate them. Grate the radish, add several drops of vegetable oil and mix everything well. Use the following application method. Fold a gauze napkin in half or in thirds, put the paste on it, apply and leave it on for 15 minutes. Then wash it off with warm water. Apply a cold pack to finish.
Cucumber Mask to Get Rid of Freckles
Cucumber facial masks are very popular. Grate cucumbers, apply a paste to face, cover with a gauze napkin and leave it on for 20 minutes (you can use thin slices or cucumber skin instead). Wipe leftover moisture off with paper napkins to finish. You can also make facial masks with milk, cottage cheese, kefir, sour cream, vegetable oil, eggs and berries, starch and vegetables.
How to Bleach the Freckled Skin
If you need to bleach, smooth or refresh you skin, try facial masks made with black currant leaves, sorrel, elder leaves and elder-berries or rowanberry, lemon or horseradish juice mixed with sour cream or sour milk (1 tablespoon per 1 tablespoon of paste or leaves juice). Parsley juice helps bleach the skin, too (finely chop parsley, pour boiling water in, strain and let cool; wash your face with the mixture 2-3 times a day).
Bleaching Masks Application Rules
You should apply facial masks regularly, 2-3 times a week and preferably in the evening (15-20 masks in total). Don’t forget, that you won’t get bleaching effect right away. You may additionally use bleaching creams daily in the evenings (15-20 applications in total).
Pigmented Spots on Skin
All mentioned skin care remedies also work for women whose skin shows brown pigment spots in spring. Be careful about overbleaching, though, as it leads to premature withering of the skin and makes your face look unnatural, as if powdered with chalk.

Melanin discovery key to skin whitening formulas

By Simon Pitman

A team of researchers working at the Hiroshima University's Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in Japan claims it has clarified the structure of melanin, a move which could enable cosmetic companies to develop more effective skin whitening products.

The university research team says it has managed to clarify the three-dimensional structure of the melanin enzyme tyrosinase, according to a report on the Daily Yomiuri Online.

In turn the discovery has allowed the research team to give tyrosinase a chemical formula that should help develop substances that are effective in preventing pigment formation that can lead to dark, blotchy, dull or freckled skin.

Researchers working within this field worldwide have long battled to unlock the secret code of tyrosinase in an effort to create a more effective formulation to tackle such skin imperfections.

Skin whitening products are becoming increasingly popular across the globe as individuals strive to achieve a brighter, healthier looking skin.

Throughout the Asia Pacific region certain interpretations of beauty dictate that women, and increasingly men, have an unblemished and light skin colour.

Equally, older individuals throughout the world suffering from liver spots and other age-related skin darkening conditions are increasingly turning to skin lightening formulations in an effort to maintain what is perceived to be a clearer and more youthful looking skin.

Professor Masanori Sugiyama said the discovery of the tyrosinase structure would help his research team to develop ingredients that could be used in a variety of skin whitening formulations.

According to the report the research team said they extracted the tyrosinase from the bacillus ray fungus. The extract was then examined under a microscope in 1,000 different solutions, before it was discovered it could be made into crystals using a polyethylene solution.

The resulting crystallized form then enabled the team to determine the exact structure of the tyrosine using a synchrotron radiation facility.

The rise and rise of the skin whitening segment has seen it turned in to a major skin care category worldwide, but major the biggest markets still remain in the Asia Pacific region, where countries such as Taiwan, Japan and South Korea continue to account for the majority of sales.

Major players in the market include Japanese players such as Kanebo and Shiseido, that offer full skin whitening lines including facial care creams, toners and even facial wipes.

But huge growth in the China market is also helping to boost the segment, which is currently dominated by a number of domestic brands.

Industry observers drew on Biersdorf's successful launch of a Nivea-branded skin whitening product for men in the Asian mark as one of the most significant launches of 2005. It not only marked the phenomenal growth of this category, but also highlighted the growth of male skin care in Asia, which until very recently has remained very small.

Cosmetic Plastic And Reconstructive Surgery To Enhance Your Beauty

More and more people are taking advantage of cosmetic plastic surgery in order to improve not only the actual image, but also their self image. Lifting self-esteem, cosmetic plastic surgery takes the normal structure of the body and modifies it in order to make the person look more appealing. Although cosmetic plastic surgery is now a simple procedure, it is very expensive and not covered by health insurance.

Sometimes cosmetic plastic surgery is performed for medical reasons. For example, a woman may need a breast reduction due to the large breasts causing severed back problems. Most of the time cosmetic plastic surgery is done to change physical features that the patient doesn't like about themselves.

Being that 11.9 million people underwent cosmetic plastic surgery in 2004, these procedures have become very routine. Since this is a surgery, you do need to be extremely careful about who performs the surgery. Be sure to verify credentials when choosing a surgeon.

Cosmetic plastic surgery has been defined as a surgery to "repair defects of form or function" by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Not only is it considered cosmetic, but it is also known as reconstructive in nature. Some of the types of cosmetic plastic surgery include tummy tuck, ab etching, eyelid surgery, breast enlargement, butt augmentation, chemical peel, breast lift, nose jobs, ear surgeries, face lifts, removing fat from the body, implants, cheek augmentation, collagen, and mesotherapy.

When is a Good Time to Have Reconstructive Surgery?

Unlike cosmetic plastic Surgery, reconstructive surgery is done for people who have physical abnormalities due to various reasons, such as congenital defects, developmental problems, trauma, infection, tumors, or disease. Many times the reconstructive surgery is done to help improve physical appearance, but it is also done for physical abnormalities that may present a problem to the patient.

Whereas cosmetic plastic surgery must be paid out of pocket, you can typically get your health insurance company to cover the cost of reconstructive surgery. The amount of coverage will depend on each insurance company, but at least you are paying less than you would for cosmetic plastic surgery. Some of the most typical reconstructive surgeries are breast reduction for mastectomy patients, a cleft lips, and palate surgery.

Sex reassignment surgery for transsexual patients is also considered reconstructive surgery. This type of surgery is also used for burn survivors to repair the skin and to close skin after tumors have been removed. Microsurgery has become a way to enhance reconstructive surgery. This process involves transferring tissue to a location that doesn't have enough tissue available for regular reconstructive surgery.

Skin Care Treatment Tips

We all want a better looking skin, it is a fact the most people and especially woman want better looking and nicer skin, this is a universal problem because of the modern life style and other factors. Whether you can afford a complete line of the most expensive skin care treatment products or would settle for the cheapest ones, your desire to keep your skin as healthy and as good-looking as possible is all the same.

This is exactly why so many cosmetic companies are working hard to develop new products that will answer your needs and will treat your skin better, this is a huge industry with connections to medical institutions and cosmetics experts around the world. We are constantly bombarded with ads and publicity for skin products, each promising a new thing that will take all of our skin problems away swiftly and easily, but we know that it is going to take much more than that, it is gradual and consistent use of the right product and treatment as well as a healthier and more stable life style that will give us the best conditions for better skin.

However, the question is, "Do you really need to spend a lot in order to maintain a good-looking skin that will eventually sag and wrinkle because of time?" "Do you really need to buy a $100 skin moisturizer just to keep your skin 'milky soft'?" The thing is, there are other means to keep your skin well-maintained without spending too much on different skin care products available.

Never sleep with your make up on - Make ups can add to your beauty during the day but if you keep them on overnight, it can work against its purpose.

Go easy with your beauty products - Do not try on several new cosmetics all at the same time. One cosmetic product contains at least 20 ingredients that can cause you skin irritation. If you try 2 or more cosmetic products at the same time, you may be multiplying the risk of allergies without even aware of it.

Do not smoke - Smoking impairs the blood vessels to carry enough supply of oxygen to your skin. This explains why smokers look pale and gray.

Exercise - A regular visit to the gym or a morning run can circulate your blood better. This equates to enough supply of oxygen in your skin which makes it healthy.

Don't forget to smile - The skin is healthy when the mind is happy. It may sound metaphysical but you need not need research to prove that a happy person looks better than the sad ones.

Whatever skin care products you use or are planning to use, these few tips can only help you develop a healthier routine and provided you with a path to a better looking and healthier skin.

Vitamin C in Skin Care

The integumentary system is the body's largest organ. It can also be a woman's biggest nightmare. The epidermis and its care is one of the most ubiquitous concerns of women as they age. Vitamin C is used in skin care to help prevent premature aging and damage from the suns rays. The antioxidant properties of Vitamin C allows it to bond with and remove damaging radicals in the skin from pollution, cigarette smoke and other sources. Vitamin C is also a necessary part of the body's production of collagen which is the fiber that makes tissues strong and elastic. Thus the use of Vitamin C in a daily skin care program is thought to help make your skin look full and firm.

Taking care of your skin should also be one of the biggest concerns of men since their incidence of melanoma is far greater than that of women and they are starting to spend more and more time in the tanning salons. Although men have the greatest statistical incidence of melanoma some dermatologists fear that the popularity of sun tanning beds in the female population may be bringing with it an increased development of melanoma in women. With the passage of time there may be an alarming tendency of young women to develop the sometimes fatal disease. One thing is certain though, UV rays whether from tanning beds or sun exposure is damaging in excessive amounts. Furthermore, when the sun is involved sun screen really is mandatory for prevention of its damaging effects both medical and cosmetic.

But even with the best preventative measures time does take its toll. Solar radiation, pollution and exposure to various toxins damage the cells prematurely aging the skin and the natural aging process leads to a reduced production of collagen. For some corrective measures may be required. Many approaches and strategies are used in the time reversal strategy known as skin care. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) are a popular ingredient in many over the counter skin care products. The theory being that the acids peel away the outermost layer of skin exposing the new softer tissues underneath and the skin appears to renew and rejuvenate.

Vitamins can be absorbed through the skin in creams and lotions, particularly Vitamins A and D. Vitamin C can be absorbed by the skin but the best form is one called L-ascorbic acid. This is a product that breaks down very easily especially in sunlight giving it a short shelf life. It is important to buy small amounts in dark colored or brown bottles and keep it in a dark storage place. This works by being absorbed into the epidermis and promoting the production of collagen. It also works as an antioxidant by neutralizing free radicals in the body. Because of its absorption this form of Vitamin C will not wash away but remain in the skin.