Saturday, October 18, 2008

Skin Care Creams: Free Offers and pressing needs

Skin care creams must be handy to everyone, as they are required every day. Pollution, hectic work schedules, ignorance of healthy food habits and stress are some of the mal-factors through which the skin health and shine evades. A walk in the dazzling sun can put sunburn spots on your skin or can cause deep sunburn if the face or the open skin areas not protected. While one seeks refuge in the shade, skin looses its suppleness due to the work stress and skin health needs a renovation. Skin creams do restore the skin moisture, texture, fluffy feels, smoothness and radiant glow. These are effectively carried out by the anti-wrinkle creams, sun block creams, moisturizers, Vitamin E and C supplemental creams and many more. Many online stores offer these skin care products of best quality. Skin care creams free offer are also available with many brands and vendors, and a little search can reveal some of the best deals.
The web service “Outside Health” has plethora of services and skin care creams to offer. Of whatever sort the skincare requirements are, one can find here a range of best natural skincare creams and lotions. Be it wrinkles, crow feet, acne, dark spots, excess melanin or simple skin rejuvenation, all these maladies can be removed through the excellent natural skincare formulations, available here. One can feel a lift in self esteem after the skin health is restored through these products. “Outside Health” has more to offer than skin care and that is earning through their website. It runs beauty and health affiliate program that is an excellent to recommend the product used by the referrer. It is worth to visit “Outside Health” to get complete skin health.

UV Protection for the family

We all love the sun, especially the kids. There's nothing better than a relaxing day on the beach, playing, swimming, snoozing, having a BBQ and so on, the list is endless!

The sun is essential to life and for lifting our spirits. Small amounts of UV rays are essential for the production of vitamin D. UV rays are even used to treat several diseases such as eczema, jaundice and rickets.

However, gone are the days of slapping on factor 2 and baking in the sun all day.

A tan is the result of the skin trying to prevent more skin damage. Although we often think that people look more healthy with a tan, the fact is, there's nothing whatsoever healthy about a tan.

Children have less of the skin's protective melanin pigment and so are at a higher risk of incurring skin damage from the sun. Just one sunburn in childhood is estimated to double the risk of getting melanoma later in life; however, “later in life” is not the only time to be concerned.

More teenagers and young adults are being diagnosed with skin cancer than ever before, and the number of people with skin cancer in Europe has more than doubled since the early 80s. Skin cancer is now the most common form of cancer in the UK. Each year there are more than 65,000 new cases, and over 2000 deaths due to skin cancer each year.

Sun cream, unfortunately, cannot be relied upon. Even a typical sunscreen with a 30 SPF allows a lot of harmful UVA radiation through to the skin. Medical studies have also shown that most people apply less than half the recommended amount of sunscreen needed. And many fail to regularly reapply sunscreen even though they continue to stay in the sun. Sunscreen is essential, but is a far from perfect defense against the sun .

Dermatologists and doctors are in agreement that the most effective way of protecting our skin from the sun is by wearing properly designed sun protective clothing.

For more information on skin cancer from the WHO and other organizations please see our links page, or contact your family doctor.

Freaking out here...is it possible to get freckles as you get older?

Freaking out here...is it possible to get freckles as you get older? Ok im 23 and ive always had clear skin- meaning i only have 1 brownish spot on my face and its very tiny so i guess you could call it a freckle im not sure....but now im starting to notice that i have 4 or 5 around the cheek area theyre pretty tiny and kinda spread apart..

My mother has freckles so could it be genetic?
Urgh im upset lol

Best Answer

Don't freak out, you just got cuter! Girls with freckles are HOT! The more freckles a girl has the HOTTER she looks! Freckles are the first asset I look for on a girl before asking her out on a date.

It is unusual to start getting freckles in your twenties, but it is very possible especially if one of your parents has them. You can also expect to get even more when you are pregnant, if you're prone to getting them.

The brown spot on your face is probably a small flat mole. Freckles will fade and darken with exposure to the sun. Take good care of your new Angel Kisses! I love them on girl's faces. Freckles RoCK!

Friday, October 17, 2008

Dealing With Common Types of Skin Pigmentation Marks

Nowadays, people are very much concerned about the way they look. In fact, many are all too willing to go under the knife or go through various procedures that can put their lives and finances at risk just to attain good looks.
One of the things that many individuals spend a lot of money on is for the reduction of skin pigmentations marks, such as brown spots, freckles, melasma and other blemishes. If you are suffering from some type of skin pigmentation marks, then read on to have an idea on how to minimize, if not totally eradicate, such problems.
Do Not Over Scrub
The most common mistake people do when they see age spots and other blemishes is to scrub them very hard. They think that by scrubbing such marks with all their might, they would be able to magically make the marks disappear. The first thing you need to understand is that your skin is very sensitive. You ought to deal with your dermis gently and with utmost care. If not, scrubbing and rubbing could make your blemishes flare up even more, cause your skin to breakout, and your marks to be wounded or scratched.
The best thing to do if you have brown spots, other skin pigmentation marks and even pimples is to use a mild cleanser and wash your face once or twice a day. You may also want to look for a product that is right for your skin type.
Prevention Is Key
If you do not want to have ephelides — more commonly known as freckles — or liver spots and other unattractive skin pigmentation marks, you need to understand that preventing the development of such marks should be your number one priority. It would be best to start protecting your skin early on so that you do not have to deal with these problems in the first place.
What you need to do is to find a good sunscreen that will protect your face, ears, hands and body from both the UVA and UVB rays of the sun. There are many sun blocks available in the market but not all of them are useful against both types of ultraviolet rays so you need to be very careful in choosing protection.
Cover With Makeup
You must admit that it is not very easy to cover skin woes and blemishes. It usually takes weeks or months before a cream or a product will be able to drastically reduce the appearance of brown and age spots. Thus, what you can do in the meantime is to use makeup to cover your problematic areas.
Make sure that you use a foundation that is not too light or too dark. It is also better if you use a concealer to cover up very dark or visible marks. However, you must make sure that you do not overdo your makeup; you do not want to look like a Japanese doll. If you are not sure what foundation or concealer shade is perfect for you, do not be afraid to ask sales representatives of your makeup brand of choice.
Moisturize
Another important tip you need to remember is to moisturize. If you have liver spots on your hands, be sure to find a lotion or hand cream that will help make your skin lighter and softer. For your face, it is best to find a moisturizer that is made from all natural ingredients. One product that you might want to consider for your face and neck is Dermaxin, which also helps reduce wrinkles and fine lines.
For more information about Dermaxin, just visit http://www.dermaxin.com/
Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.thearticleinsiders.com

Freckle Fader

Lots of exposure to bright South Florida sun can mean a lot of freckles..

Recently, a main ingredient in a presciption lotion that is used as a skin lightener came under close scrutiny after there was a suggestion that hydroquinone may be linked to cancer in rats.

Now. A new product: Vivite Vibrance Therapy.

Local dermatologist Dr. Layne Nisenbaum says it's better when it comes to fading dark spots..

Dr. Layne Nisenbaum/Dermatologist: "It goes one step further which is interesting it inhibits the enzyme or chemical reaction in skin that causes pigmentation where as the prescription product 4% hydroquinone, actually just fades..so there is an advantage."

Vibrance is so promising that it's been named the breakthrough product of the year in Allure magazine's October issue.

Check with your dermatologist to see if Vibrance is right for you.

Beautiful Skin Care Starts With An Accurate Diagnosis

One of the problems with skincare is that it is often too late to repair the damage done when it appears on our face or body. Or at the very least, the cost is greater, the road to recovery longer, and more invasive or stronger repair methods are needed.

Fortunately, scientists have developed an imaging system that analyses skin and predicts how it will age. It's called Visia Complexion Analysis, and not only can it predict how our skin will age, but the rate at which it will. It provides a snapshot of what damage has already occurred, and can thus provide a realistic assessment of our skin. The system looks at the major issues in skin aging - brown spots; pores; the bacteria underneath the skin that causes acne, redness, and uneven skin tone; as well as wrinkles, and UV damage. It's a great way to quantify the effects of our environment and our current skin care regime.

Beauticians and store consultants are then able to really tailor a preventative program to address problems before they appear on our face. One advantage, aside from the obvious one of actually having products that will be highly targeted, is that money can be saved by not spending on products we think we need - but actually don't.

This technology highlights the importance of preventing skin problems before they occur. The subject of beauty foods and beauty supplements, and anti aging, is vast. But as a general rule, nutrition, and specifically antioxidants, play a vital role. For example, scientists have found that by drinking blackcurrent juice, the Japanese women participating in this study reduced the bags (discoloration) under their eyes. Their skin also sagged less. And it was the polyphenols, which are antioxidants, that were responsible for this improvement in the dark circles under their eyes.

Blood flow to the face improved, which would also be great if you suffer from a sallow or dull complexion. Added benefits to drinking blackcurrent juice are the boost it will give to your whole body. Blackcurrents are a great source of vitamin C, and have been shown to reduce eye strain.

So don't overlook the benefits of adding skin nourishing foods to your diet. They can have a more powerful effect over time than the topical skin creams we so often reach for when we want to slow down the effects of time on our faces!

References:
http://www.labtechnologist.com/news/ng.asp?id=59494
Australian Healthy Food, February 2006.

About the Author/Author Bio

Do you suffer from adult or teenage acne(R) If you enjoyed this article on a holistic approach to a beautiful skin care program, you'd enjoy these articles on simple natural acne treatments and traditional acne home cures. Learn natural approaches to treating acne, and why its important to heal it from within.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

How to Get Rid of Skin Discoloration That is Caused by Eczema

Many eczema sufferers get skin discolorations that are caused by the eczema. The condition is called post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. It is called this because the hyperpigmentation (skin darkening,) is a result of the inflammation that was in the area. This article talks about it.

You may find it helpful to know that the condition is caused when your skin cells that produce melanin become damaged. In this case the damage is the result of inflammation burning in that area during an eczema attack. Also, the damage is so bad that the melanin cells begin to produce a different color melanin. That is one of the ways that you get the discoloration in the skin.

The other discoloration comes from blood stains that are left in the area after the blood’s healing process.

You need to know that it will take a few months and up to a year to reverse the discoloration that is caused by eczema. You should also know that reversing this process can be relatively costly, depending upon how severe the problem is, and also upon which methods of treatments you choose to use. There are drugs to treat it, and there are microdermabrasion and skin peels.

Over the counter treatments will be inexpensive, but the question is whether or not they will have the strength to correct the problem.

The treatments that reverse post inflammatory hyperpigmentation range in strength depending on the severity of the problem.

You will want to know about hydroquinone. Hydroquinone is respected in the United States as being very effective at reversing PIH (post inflammatory hyperpigmentation.) However, in Europe, Japan and Australia the drug has been banned. The argument is that too many side effects come with hydroquinone use.

Do you want to learn more about eczema. Download my free ebook now click here http://www.eczemabathsalts.com.

Broyde McDonald is an experienced writer on the subject of Eczema Treatments.

Tips For Choosing Skin Care Products For African-American Skin

Skin, the largest organ in our body is made up of multiple layers of epithelial tissues that guard the underlying muscles and organs of our. Skin pigmentation (human skin color) on the other hand varies among peoples of the world. Skin color is determined by the amount of melanin, the pigment in the skin. More concentration of melanin in the body will give you a dark person so it goes without saying that a light-skinned person would have less of the melanin compound in the body.

African-American skin have that distinction of having the most of melanin concentration in the body and studies show that this melanin content in African-American skin has a greater tendency to hyper-pigmentation, or specks of darker colored skin surface that may appear as blemishes over time if not protected properly. This is one important consideration to take in choosing the right skin care product.

There is nothing really fancy in caring for the African American skin, dry skin being a much more common condition for this skin type. Body nourishment is the key. Drinking plenty of fluids will help prevent skin dryness and keep it radiant. A moisturizer is very essential to keep the skin soft and smooth. Choose moisturizers that are hypoallergenic and oil-free. A good moisturizer should absorb into your skin without a trace, creating an invisible barrier against moisture loss. When cleansing your skin, use a non-soap cleanser. Soap will dry and irritate your skin. Be sure to use warm water as well since water that is too hot will also dry out the skin.

African Americans also often have trouble with an oily complexion due to the fact that their skin has more, and larger, sebaceous (or oil) glands than Caucasian or Asian skin. The large number of sebaceous glands can produce unwanted oily or shiny appearance. If these oil glands are over-active they can become clogged and cause acne to break out on the skin. For the very oily or acne-prone skin, an oil-control lotion will help eliminate shine for hours.

Exfoliate with a mild and gentle exfoliate that can be used daily. Exfoliating rids the skin of dead skin cell, and clears the pores so they can accept more moisture. For blemish prone skin, using an exfoliating product with salicylic acid will aid in clearing any break out.

Another important consideration is the regular use of sunscreen. While more melanin content in the body can help protect from the sun, a lot of unprotected skin exposure to it can cause the dreaded skin cancer. It is highly recommended to use one with an SPF 30 at the very least.

Facial skin, no matter the type needs to be cared for always. It is that part of the body that we look at first at anytime. No other part of our body is subjected to so much scrutiny as the face, so better to always have it healthy, radiant and blemish free. Let us make intelligent efforts to meet this end and in doing so, it gives us the confidence we need that ultimately transcends all skin color prejudices.



Skincare, acne and health expert. I also have been building a variety of websites for the last 3 years. Depth knowledge of medicine. Also, we have a doctor in our staff who helps me to write the articles. Julia Elorriaga LastSkinCare.com For more information about Skin Care visit Skin Care - LastSkinCare.com

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

African American Skin Care

The fact is that any type of skin condition can happen regardless of the pigment of skin you have. When it comes to African American skin care and others with darker complexions however, there are a few skin care problems that are much more prevalent.

Here are five of the most common African American skin care issues?

Acne

Acne is a chronic disorder characterized by excess production of oil from sebaceous glands causing the hair follicles generally on the face, chest and back to become plugged. Pimples, papules, pustules and comedone, (black heads and white heads) cysts and infected abscesses can be treated in acne. Acne affects most teenagers to some extent. However, the disease is not restricted to any age group; adults in their 20s - even into their 40s - can get acne. In regards to African American skin care, acne may result in long lasting discolorations of the skin. Therapy is the same for all skin types but it is very important to use topical agents that minimize irritation of the skin.

Ingrown Hairs of the Beard (Razor Bumps)

Another African American skin care issue is Ingrown Hairs. African Americans have curved hair shafts and this is true of beard hair as well as other body hair. Often after a very close shave, the pointed hair may curl back into the skin and it may pierce the wall of the hair follicle, causing a reaction resulting in bumps called "pseudofolliculitis barbae." If you can, growing a beard is a viable option for helping this.

African American men should try different methods of hair removal if they suffer with ingrown hairs, which are also called razor bumps. Shaving with a special type of safety razor that does not permit a very close shave may help. Do not stretch the skin during shaving and don't shave on a daily basis. If hairs become ingrown, lift them up with an alcohol-cleaned needle (don't tweeze or pluck) just before shaving. Sometimes using a rough washcloth before shaving can help to loosen hairs about to grow inward.

Hair removal chemicals do remove hair but should only be used once a week. They must be wiped off promptly according to package directions and wash your face twice with soap and water immediately afterwards to guard against irritation.

Permanent removal of hair performed by an experienced Electrolysis Operator may be an effective solution and there are new medicated creams that may slow hair growth and help. Be sure to consult your dermatologist about treatment options.

Variations in Skin Color

African American skin has larger melanosomes (cells that determine skin color ) and the melanosomes contain more of the pigment melanin than those found in white skin. Because of the protective effect of melanin, African-Americans are better protected against skin cancer and premature wrinkling from sun exposure.

Post inflammatory hyper pigmentation is quite common in dark skinned individuals, even after minor trauma. An area of the skin may darken after an injury such as a cut or a scrape, or after certain skin disorders such as acne. To avoid or reduce post inflammatory hyper pigmentation, avoid picking, harsh scrubbing, and abrasive treatments. Darkened areas of skin may take many months or years to fade, although topical (surface) bleaching agents may help. Also chemical peels (using alpha and beta hydroxyl acids) and microdermabrasion can be helpful."

Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a common African American skin care condition where pigment cells are destroyed and irregular white patches on the skin appear. Many dermatologists think that the cause of this common disorder is an autoimmune process, where the cells of the body attack the pigment producing cells.

The extent of color loss differs with each person; some people lose pigment over their entire bodies. Some patients with vitiligo do not regain skin color, however some cases of vitiligo do repigment. See your dermatologist as soon as possible, as the extent of the disease will determine the appropriate treatment. .

Several skin care methods are used to treat vitiligo, but none have been perfected. Topical medications, including corticosteroids and new non-steroid anti-inflammatory preparations are commonly used. In cases where vitiligo affects most of the body, it is sometimes best to destroy the remaining normal pigment. A dermatologist can determine what treatment is best based on the extent of the disease.

Keloids

When the scar from a cut or wound extends and spreads beyond the size of the original wound, it is known as a keloid. Keloids may vary in size, shape, and location. They occur more often in brown or black skin making this a very common African American skin care issue.

Keloids are a common skin care issue on the ear lobes, neck, chest, or back, and usually occur after an injury or surgery. Occasionally they occur spontaneously, especially on the mid-chest area. Keloids often follow inflammation caused by acne on the face, chest, and back.

Keloids may be painful both physically and emotionally (from a cosmetic perspective), but it's important to address keloids primarily as a medical, rather than cosmetic condition.

Depending on the location of the keloid, skin care treatment may consist of cortisone injections, pressure, silicone gels, surgery, laser treatment, or radiation therapy. Unfortunately, keloids tend to return and even enlarge, especially after treatment with surgery.

Find more great information on not just African American skin care but all skin care needs. Find up to date and step by step skin care articles, resources, products and the latest skin care news. Visit us today at http://www.Skin-Care-101.com

Tales of a Freckle-Faced Kid in India

I feel it’s only fair to start this post with a word of warning: I’m currently feeling quite brain dead. My first week as a ‘real YAV’ has resulted in a state of mental exhaustion that is not particularly conducive to blogging. Thus, I apologize for any incoherence on my part. Also, this is a rather incomplete portrayal of my first week, but it’s a start . . .

Monday morning, after sending Ariel, Becca, John, and Lindsey to their various sites 2+ hours south of Alwaye, Achen and Kochamma put David and me into a taxi and sent us on our way. I arrived at Christava Mahilalayam at 8:30, and found a gaggle of smiling, 13-year-old girls, waiting to welcome me at the school’s gate. I had barely introduced myself before they bombarded me with questions about my family, where I’m from, and how I like Kerala thus far. Their greeting was demonstrative of the general excitement that has permeated the Mahilalayam student body; every time I step outside the staff room, my students receive me with eyes of wonder and the phrase, ‘Good (insert time of day here) Miss.’ I’ve spent the first week visiting classes to get a sense of each standard’s (grade’s) knowledge of the English language . . . These visits usually result in students standing up one at a time to recite (quite speedily) a list of important personal information (name, hometown, names of every family member in household, and favorite hobby), or in the teacher allowing the class to bombard me with questions. Family – just so you know, basically every Mahilalayam student knows all your names and occupations (since this seems to be the first point of curiosity). In general, the students’ communication skills are better than I expected; this, along with the enthusiasm surrounding the presence of an alien redhead, makes me more excited to actually assume the ‘teacher role’ tomorrow morning.

One of the best parts of my day comes with the morning/evening bus rides to and from school. Christava Mahilalayam is only about 20 minutes away from Chacko Homes via Auto-Rickshaw, but my school bus stop is one of the last on a long and windy route through the streets of Alwaye. Thus, I get plenty of time to chat with my students and the other teachers who ride the bus. On the first day, the staff pointed out the one little girl who boards the bus at U.C. College – a talkative and enthusiastic 8-year-old name Affra who dutifully makes sure I get off at the right stop. For the rest of the week, I also met her at 7:50 and sat next to her on the bus, hearing all about her family and learning whatever Malayalam words she and her two best friends choose to throw at me. After school on Friday, Affra invited me to her house for tea, and I proceeded to spend the rest of the evening with her wonderful family, who welcomed me in with the open arms I’m finding to be common among Malayalees.

Yet, despite both the overwhelming generosity I have received and the excitement that has met me, this has been a week of ups and downs. While the extrovert in me loves to be meeting new people and answering the questions of eager students, the introvert in me finds it exhausting. In addition, because everyone with whom I’m interacting is using his/her second language, I’m constantly aware of the speed at which I am speaking and the words I’m using. This is causing my brain to work overtime, and contributing to me fried mental state. It’s in situations like these where I truly miss the ability to recharge around those who already know me, and who will understand the super-speed of my colloquial English. Thankfully at least, I have not yet faced challenges that I wasn’t expecting . . .

And, in closing, here’s a couple other random tidbits from my first week:

1) Jaco and Anne were right in telling me I would receive comments about my freckles: In multiple conversations with various people, I have received questions about what they are and whether or not I have a skin disease, and been given the suggestion that a certain facial cream will clear my blemishes right up . . .
2) If Miracle on 34th Street were set in India, I’d cast one of my Chacko Homes ‘honorary grandpas’ as Kris Kringle. Hands down.
3) I rode the bus yesterday all by myself! I made it into Alwaye town without any glitches, and met David for some shopping and exploring. On the way back, I may or may not have boarded the wrong bus and then had to get off and try again. Oh, life in India.
4) A discussion about American music in my 9th Standard class resulted in me singing ‘Mamma Mia’ with a 14-year-old boy in front of the class.

Monday, October 13, 2008

FRECKLE REMOVAL

First, before having any laser freckle removal performed, have your dermatologist determine if any of your spots are precancerous or cancerous. If your dermatologist determines the spots to be freckles and not harmful, laser treatment can proceed. 


The best thing about freckles is that they are highly treatable with lasers. The treatment usually ends with a highly satisfactory result.

How it Works

A laser, such as a 532nm Nd:YAG KTP Q-Switched laser or Q-Switched Ruby laser, is passed over the area to be treated and the melanin pigment which makes up the freckles is removed by the laser light. Green laser light is particularly effective on brown spots and freckles.

The reason green light works so well at removing brown spots is because melanin pigment is designed to block short wavelengths of light, namely ultraviolet light which is shorter than any visible color of light. We have ultraviolet light, the next longer wavelength is purple then blue, green, yellow, orange, red, and then infrared which is invisible. So shorter wavelengths of light are more strongly picked up by melanin, thus you can use very low energies of green light to treat brown spots.

Possible Side Effects

One of the problems you may get is a little bit of crusting on the skin or a little bit of bruising which may last a week to two weeks following treatment.

A Regimen for Fading Age Spots

Posted by Marta

I am frequently asked by readers and friends which cream they should buy to treat age spots. Thing is there are no silver bullets. At least in my experience, it is a finely calibrated combination of potions, lotions and treatments that, after patient experimentation, really gets results. In other words, it’s a daily and weekly regimen. Here is the one that I am finding is working at fading freckles and attacking the most stubborn age/sun spots.

Treatments

Possibly the effective part of my regime is monthly salon sessions of LED light therapy treatments where panels emitting red (visible) light and infra-red (invisible light) are placed over the hands for 20 minutes. I have recently started to top up my monthly sessions once a week using an at-home LED device called Baby Quasar.

 

LED will fade freckles, age spots and generally smooth out hyperpigmentation (its even good for rosacea). Be prepared for the fact that, immediately after treatment, freckles will look darker. A smear of sunscreen is very important at this stage. Within 36 hours or so, you should start to see results.

Potions and lotions

Vitamin C and ferulic acid is my own concoction for the more stubborn age spots. I simply added a phial of ferulic acid to a 1oz bottle of Somme vitamin C cream. Ferulic acid improves the performance of vitamin C, which acts as a mild exfoliant. It also acts as a natural sunscreen and so is helping prevent the sun spots get any worse.

 

For what I would regard as a freckle with slightly too much attitude, I use a gentler cream made by Suki called Intensive Skin Brightener. This is especially good for sensitive areas. For example, I have a freckle on the arch of my right eye, which I wouldn’t dream of subjecting to the ferulic and vitamin C. For such a mild product, made only with natural ingredients, the Suki is surprisingly and wonderfully effective.

In the evenings I dab some copper peptides in the form of Skin Biology's Super Cop 2X on the areas I am treating. The morning creams are doing an exfoliation job and the copper peptides should be repairing by helping the new cells to grow. I use it in the evening because it is an intense blue/green color that doesn’t penetrate the skin very well (patting it onto slightly damp skin helps) and it leaves me looking slightly bruised for about half an hour.