Acne and Dark Skin

Those of African, Latino or Indian decent have skin pigmentation that is darker than those who are of European decent. Treating any skin disease is often based on the color of the skin.

Some cosmetic procedures, for example, cannot be used on skin with dark pigmentation because it will leave light spots.

Actually acne is an equal opportunity disease. The color of the skin has no bearing whatsoever on whether a person will have acne.

Treating acne is based upon the type of acne it is and what the most effective treatment options are for the particular type of acne that is present in each patient.

Many acne medications make the skin sensitive to excessive sun exposure. This has nothing to do with the color of the skin. The sensitivity is simply a side effect of the medications.

Those with darker skin complexions are not usually as prone to sunburn as those with lighter complexions but these medications make dark skin as susceptible to sun damage as their lighter skin friends.

A sun blocking product with an SPF factor of at least 15 is recommended when there will be prolonged sunlight exposure.

There is one type of acne that often afflicts only those who are of African heritage. This type of acne is called Pomade Acne.

Pomade acne is caused by a hair care product that is designed to straighten very curly hair.

The product has a very heavy oil base and should be kept off of the skin as much as is possible.

The pigmentation in very dark skin can get darker after an inflammation is cleared up.

This is called 'post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation'....which means increased pigmentation following inflammation.

The spots will gradually return to their normal color over time but a dermatologist can prescribe medication which will hasten the process.

Organic Skin Care

Organic skin care refers to natural skin care products or therapies whose ingredients are grown organically in areas where soil is very rich in nutrients. Encompassing a plethora of plants, plant extracts, herbs, flowers and natural oils, organic skin care products are an extension of natural skin care therapies and products.Non-toxic and full of natural riches, the organic skin care products gently nourish the skin and rejuvenate it. They reduce dark circles, wrinkles and pimples, and leave your skin looking younger and healthier.

Your skin is something that will be with you for the rest of your life. It serves you and your body in a number of ways. It aids in sensory perception, protects you from injuries, works as a barrier against dehydration, assists in temperature maintenance, removes toxic wastes, aids in the manufacture of vitamin D, and serve as a structure to the organs and tissues within your body. In simple words, your skin is a vital part of your life. It’s very essential that you care for it and maintain it in a healthy state so that it will continue to function well for you in future too.

Products

Products are from natural plant based ingredients & contain no: toxic petrochemicals, enzymes, optical whiteners, phosphates, chlorine or ammonia. Skin care products that are sold in department stores and other places should be scrutinized since not all ingredients in these may be organic. Organic skin care products offer natures goodness with few side effects yet at the same time, these products can be effective for helping a variety of skin conditions, such as acne, pimples, oiliness, dark circles, dryness, wrinkles, pigmentation, freckles, and many others. Skin products containing anti-aging vitamins and anti oxidants give one younger looking skin and flawless skin.

Benefits of Organic products

No Side effects - With the using of natural organic skin care products is purely natural and it didn’t cause any side effect on your skin.

All Natural - These organic products contains fruits and fresh vegetables ingredient.
This contains no harmful or chemical ingredients.

Environment Friendly - These natural organic skin care products exist into environment naturally, where chemicals products are unable to exist into nature’s way.

So Much to Protect

It’s a known fact that our skin is the largest organ in the body. It is responsible for maintaining our body temperature and it also regulates your body’s fluid balance. You can imagine, that with your skin having so much influence it can be quite damaging if you are applying the wrong elements to your skin. Organic skin care helps eliminate many of the harmful toxins we are exposed to.

The additional benefits of using organic skin care products are many. The main fact being that you can create many organic skin care products in your own home. There are several good recipes for organic skin care. If you have never tried organic skin care products I encourage you to do a search online for organic skin care products, this will reveal a whole new alternative to healthy skin care.

Wrinkles and Liver spots are signs of aging, mature skin

The natural aging process produces visible effects on our skin. Increased dryness, wrinkles, liver spots and other growths begin to appear, and cuts and bruises heal more slowly. These are some of the signs that indicate chronological aging is taking place.

Most of these changes are a natural progression of aging, however, some changes in the skin such as growths may need to be more closely investigated to rule out pathological changes such as skin cancer. Nevertheless, most changes in the skin are natural and do not pose any health risks.

Wrinkles

Gravity is the skin’s worst enemy. Weakening of collagen and elastin fibres causes reduced firmness of the skin, gravity pulls at the skin and causes it to sag, this in combination with a reduction in the fatty padding of the skin inevitably causes wrinkling of the skin tissue.

Can Wrinkles Be Avoided?

Environmental factors such as over exposure to the sun, smog, cigarette smoke can all have an adverse effect on your skin. In addition, you may also have inherited weaknesses from your parents that can cause premature aging of the skin.

Despite these challenges, there are simple steps you can take to prevent wrinkles and remember - the earlier you start, the better!

• Wear Sunscreen,
• Always wear a hat with a wide brim when going outside remember, just because there’s clouds does not mean there’s no UV,
• Don’t sunbathe, and
• Where possible, stay out of the sun between 10am to 3pm.

As we progress through our 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and beyond, our skin requires an appropriate natural skin care regime to maintain, as well as repair, the skin. The older you are when you start to protect and care for your skin, the less effective it will be, however, it is never too late to start.

Treatments for Aging Skin

There are a multitude of drugs, chemicals and procedures on the market these days, promising you that you can have the face of a baby in your 90’s. We all know where to put that. However, there are many natural and totally safe methods of treating aging skin and preventing premature signs of aging and I’m not just referring to your facial skin, although this is the most visible and therefore the most important to many people.

Using a natural skin care regime should apply to your entire body and not just to your face. Regularly use a clay mask to nourish your skin and remove impurities, cleanse your skin, tone it and last but not least moisturise, moisturise, moisturise.

Do not use commercially available soaps unless absolutely necessary these soaps remove the protective acid mantle of your skin and dry it out. Instead, use an exfoliant followed by a cleanser to clean your skin and leave it smooth, invigorated and with it’s protective acid mantel in tact.

Follow this by using a toner. Toners close open pores to prevent loss of moisture, resulting in firmer skin. The last step is to use a moisturiser. Moisturisers help to hydrate your skin, prevent loss of moisture and provide nourishment and nutrients for your skin to use in fulfilling its many functions.

Liver spots or age spots

Aging skin often develops unsightly blemishes, commonly called liver spots, which can appear on the face, neck and on the back of the hands. They are caused by the sun and accumulation of lipofuscin (pigments and/or wastes) that is derived from free radical damage of skin cells.

Liver spots, also known as lentigines or lentigos, are sharply defined, rounded, brown or black, flat patches of skin. The epidermis (top surface layer) is expanding with more pigment, developing what looks like a large freckle. They may appear as a single spot or in clusters.

Remember that your skin is an eliminatory organ and therefore it eliminates toxins from your body one reason for liver spots is that the eliminatory organs (Kidneys, Liver and Bowels) are not working as well as they should and therefore the skin takes up the slack.

Removal of these impurities can be achieved using the above described skin care regime. In addition, when showering, use a Lufa or other type of skin brush on your body’s skin. This will not only remove dead skin cells, but promote blood circulation to the skin which in turn provides the skin with nutrients carried in the blood.

Green Tea is a fantastic anti-oxidant and should be consumed regularly. Leafy green vegetables, fish such as salmon and tuna, nuts and fruits contain essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants to nourish your organs and help them perform their vital functions adequately.

It is vitally important that you not only have a good skin care regime, but you should also have a good health regime, which includes a good diet, 8 -10 glasses of water per day and a regular exercise programme. This is very important and cannot be underestimated in its positive results on keeping you looking and feeling younger for longer.

Factors can influence you skin type?

The following article looks at the different skin types, such as oily, dry, normal, sensitive, mature or a combination of these. It provides a brief description of each of the skin types and what you need to be aware of in order to balance your skin and provides you with approaches to natural skin care that help you make the correct choices for your particular skin.

Skin Types: Normal, Dry, Oily, Combination, Dull or Mature

Normal skin type

Normal skin is smooth, finely-textured, soft and supple. If you are lucky enough to possess this skin type, treasure it by using light cleansers and lotions and mild toners and fresheners.

Dry skin type

Dry skin is usually thin and delicate and often flaky and prone to fine lines. It sometimes feels tighter than it should. Extremely rich and greasy creams are not good for it because they strangulate the pores, often enlarging them and so creating an extra problem. Use light oils and lotions for moisturising and choose herbal toners, which are mild and not too astringent. Try to restore the pH or acid-alkali balance with the application of such things as cucumber juice or diluted vinegar so that the sebaceous glands are encouraged to function.

Generally speaking, the emollient and hydrating herbs (chamomile, comfrey, cowslip, elderflower, fennel, marshmallow, orange blossom, rose, violet) are the best to use in lotions and toners for dry skin. But there is no hard and fast rule. Astringent herbs can be good for dry skins, for example, if blended with emollient herbs or oils and gels, and many herbs are suitable for all skin types. If the skin is sensitive as well as dry, see the notes on sensitive skin below.

Oily skin type

Oily skin is shiny and coarser-textured, often with enlarged pores. It is prone to blackheads and spots. Don’t use alcohol to reduce the oiliness of the skin, as it will only worsen the problem. Many herbal toners are suitable for reducing oiliness and tightening the pores (see list of suitable herbs below). Egg-white makes a nice mild face-mask. Don’t over dry the skin; moisturise with a light lotion. Aim to restore your skin’s acid-alkali balance so that the sebaceous glands cease to produce such large amounts of oil

Astringent and cleansing herbs are generally the best to choose when treating an oily skin. These are: cinquefoil, clary sage, comfrey, cucumber, dandelion, horsetail, houseleek, hyssop, lavender, lemon balm, lemongrass, lemon verbena, marigold, mint, parsley, sage, witch hazel and yarrow. But don’t forget that many herbs are suited to all skin types and that many of the strengthening and anti-inflammatory herbs (chamomile, cowslip, fennel, lettuce, elderflower, orange blossom, rose, violet) are suitable for oily skins.

Combination skin types

The person with this skin type will have to follow two beauty routines, one for the dry areas, and another for the oily. I think the oily areas balance up more easily in this type of skin than when the whole face is oily, so don’t despair.

Sensitive skin type

This skin is usually fine-textured and often prone to reddish veins and patches. Keep to light oils and lotions for cleansing and moisturising, and mild herbal toners and compresses to soothe the skin and reduce redness and veins. It is usually wise for people with sensitive skins to stay away from the stimulating herbs (lavender, lime flower, mint, nettle, sage, southernwood, summer savory, thyme).

Dull skin

Dull skin has lost the bloom of vitality and the soft glow of renewal. It looks matt and lifeless. Its acid balance has slipped. If it is oily or large-pored skin use diluted cider vinegar or lemon juice, or cucumber juice to balance it. If it is dry skin, use buttermilk or cucumber juice.

Mature skin type

Older skin can be toned and softened and restored to much of its former beauty. The skin is a wonderfully regenerating organ, given encouragement. Use a light hand with makeup if you must use it, as this dries and ages the skin.

Other Factors that can influence you skin

The foundation of a healthy beautiful skin is diet. Are you getting sufficient polyunsaturated fats? These are essential to a healthy skin and do not cause facial oiliness. They are found in cereal grains, nuts and cold pressed nut and vegetable oils.

Plenty of vitamin C is fundamental to a beautiful skin, because it builds collagen and elastin, the bonding and structural substances which give tone and resilience. There is no need to resort to tablets. Eat bean sprouts, green and red peppers, black currants, oranges and lemons. Then there are guavas and rosehips, so your diet need not be restricted or dull. There is infinite variety to suit every palate.

Lack of vitamin A can cause dryness of the skin. Eat dandelion, parsley, watercress, carrots, pumpkins, celeriac.

If your skin is unbalanced, either flaky or too oily, or if your lips peel, then check your intake of vitamin B foods. Oats, years, bran, goat’s milk, whole rice, sunflower seeds, sprouted seeds and grains are some of the sources.

Importance of Skin Care: Ever wondered just what exactly our

The importance of skin care cannot be underestimated. For example, that the skin is the largest organ of the human body? Mostly we take our skin very much for granted and don’t spend much time thinking about the skin?s functions and their importance, until some problem occurs or we injure ourselves.

The following article provides some insight into why good skin care is important and suggests a simple skin care regime anyone can follow to help your skin perform at its best.

Our skin’s functions are too many to go through here in detail, however it protects our ‘insides’ from the external environment, acting both as a barrier and a filter between ‘outside’ and ‘inside’ our bodies.

The skin helps in regulating our body’s temperature, like when we have a fever or we’re physically working hard, we tend to sweat, which is the body’s way to attempt to lower the temperature.

The skin also protects us from harmful substances entering our body, and it eliminates many toxins. This takes workload off our Liver and Kidneys to filter out by-products from our body’s metabolism. The skin also breathes!

These are just some of the important functions of our skin and as you can see, looking after your skin is vital, not just for your outer beauty, but for maintaining your inner health.

Now there is skin care and there is skin care… well, we all (hopefully) wash our body (skin) every day and we may even rub some body cream on and that is pretty much that. Women (most) go one step further when they make-up their face. Often using a cleanser and then a moisturiser before applying make-up. But is that really skin care?

I think not. I would consider it an attack on the skin rather than caring for it. You see, most of the products marketed to women are full of artificial colours, stabilisers, emulsifiers and other chemical, which are supposed to help in achieving a “beautiful complexion”.

Some products are advertising hormones, which are supposed to make your skin re-gain that youthful (no wrinkles) look, but more often than not these ‘hormones’ are artificial or synthetic and may well cause problems with the hormonal balance of the body. This is NOT Skin care this is plain old manipulation and marketing.
Real skin care is much more than that and is more than just skin deep. Your skin is a living, breathing organ of your body. As such, just like every other organ in our body, it needs to be fed from the inside it requires nutrients.

There are 4 basic ingredients to feeding the inside:

Good nutrition: keep it simple, fresh and unprocessed. That is the best nutritional advice I can give. The simpler the food, the less processing and the fresher your food is, the better it is for you. Fresh fruit and vegetables contain so many of the nutrients we need to maintain our health. Sure have the odd processed, high in fat meal when you’re enjoying a meal out or have to attend a Luncheon or what ever. But make sure you have more natural foods than not. Keep the diet varied don’t eat the same old, same old risk a new veggie one you haven’t tried before ‘ you might like it Adequate rest and relaxation: don’t work yourself to an early grave its not worth it. Make sure you get the sleep you need. Did you know that a study in England showed that your IQ (intelligence) drops if you do not have 8 hours sleep per night?

Think about it, do you get more work done if you feel well rested? Can you concentrate better if you’re not tired? I bet you can.

Well, why not invest some additional time into rest and relaxation so that you gain an increase in energy and concentration? I’m sure you will find you will get more work done in less time if you’ve had sufficient rest.

If you do not drink at least this amount, your body will either not function well (on some level) or it will take it from where ever it can. That is called dehydration. You know, dry lips, dry flaky skin, parched mouth, cracks on you tongue, premature wrinkles the list goes on. So, drink up (water, mind you) or shrivel up its up to you.

Fresh air and sunshine: well, what can I say. Taking a deep breath of air and tell me it doesn’t feel great Well? Oxygen is the stuff of life. Fill your lungs with it. Here I could go into how most of us do not know how to breath properly, but I’ll save this for another article.

So what does all this have to do with skin care?

Well, that is the point of putting expensive, beauty products on your skin, when you do not give it the stuff of life from the inside? The cells that make up your skin need the right nutrients for proper development, growth and all that You can help your skin by using good quality natural skin care products, but you have to support this from the inside as well. Only in that way can you expect to get good results from proper skin care.

So what’s proper skin care?

Well, for starters there are 3 basic steps.

1. Cleanse and Condition

2. Hydrate and Tone

3. Moisturise and Revive.

OK. Cleansing the skin seems obvious and I know, you do know how to use soap wrong, this is one sure way to make your skin dry-out quicker. Most soaps remove the natural oils of the skin, change the natural pH levels and do nothing to remove the dead layers of skin, which can block your pores and lead to blackheads. And, oh no, not pimples! The skin produces oils and acids to help it function, to protect it from loss of excessive moisture, to form a barrier etc. So please do not use soap or detergents unless it is necessary.

Using a loofah or a gentle ’scrub’ will remove the dead skin cells and this in turn will promote better blood circulation and help your skin to breath.

The next step is to hydrate and tone the skin. Say what?

Well, you’ve just removed the dead skin layers, rubbing the skin with a loofah and or a specially formulated cleanser, now it’s time to remove the residue, sooth the skin and prepare the skin for getting a good feed of nutrients from the moisturiser.

Preparation of the skin prior to putting on the moisturiser is not dissimilar to preparing a surface about to receive a new coat of paint. You wouldn’t just paint over a wall that hasn’t been cleaned and prepared for the new paint, would you? It would be a waist of time and money well, good skin care is the same. You first get rid of the old layer of paint, than you give it a primer and finally the top-coat.

Ah, I already use a moisturiserGreat, at least that’s a step in the right direction. But, have you looked at the ingredients? Are they natural, or are there numbers and words you don’t recognise on the label? If so, then consider that your body absorbs these substances and if they are not useful, (preferably of a natural kind) then the body has to eliminate them - and that’s more work and not necessary.

In some cases, the body actually can’t eliminate these substances and has to store them. This is a potential problem and could cause health issues down the track. Pure essential oils, or herbal extracts are usually good ingredients to have in your skin care products.

So there you have it - the importance of good skin care. These steps, if you follow them, will help you to achieve the results you want and your body will thank you too.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you.

Concepts Of Skin Care !!

The concept of beauty itself has undergone such a transformation, that it is little wonder that the change has been felt in the field of cosmetology as well. The emphasis has gradually shifted from camouflage of defects, to a more comprehensive art, which involves both preventive and corrective care of the skin.

It is founded on the idea that many skin problems can be avoided by taking a few simple precautions; believing in other words, in the maxim that ‘prevention is better than cure.’ Attention is also being paid to the ingredients in cosmetics, to achieve the best results. Refer http://www.cosmeticsdiary.com/skin-care.htm for complete skin care routine and tips.

Skin care concept #1. Growing old, Staying young

One factor that has influenced the modern approach to beauty is the human desire to delay all signs of ageing for as long as possible. And no other organ of the body reveals age as much as the skin does. For complete detail on dry skin (see http://www.cosmeticsdiary.com/dry-skin-remedy.htm), for oily skin ( http://www.cosmeticsdiary.com/oily-skin-remedy.htm ) , for sensitive skin ( http://www.cosmeticsdiary.com/sensitive-skin-care.htm ) . Modern skin has changed all this. Today, a person whose good looks have proved durable, need not depend on heredity or a substantial bank balance. Skin care is now within the reach of everyone. All one needs is an awareness of the methods and products that are available, and relate them to individual needs.

Skin care concept #2. Moisture is Life

As knowledge about the skin and its cosmetic needs have grown, it has been found that aged and prematurely aged skins have one thing in common - a lack of moisture. A youthful skin, on the other hand, is soft and moist, proving how important moisture is to the skin. The amount of moisture that the skin holds determines its texture to a great extent - weather it is soft and smooth, or dry, rough, creepy and covered with fine lines. The skin loses moisture to the environment, when humidity is low, or is lowered by artificial means. Make your own homemade moisturizers easily learn how - http://www.cosmeticsdiary.com/homemade-moisturizer.htm

Skin care concept #3. Essential 4-step Skin care routine

Learn it here http://www.cosmeticsdiary.com/skin-step.htm

Skin care concept #4. Prevention is better than Cure

Between prevention and corrective care, the former is much simpler and less time-consuming. Corrective skin-care, of course, spells hope for people with specific problems that detract from beauty. With preventive care, the earlier you start, the better and longer lasting are the results. The texture of one skin is different form another and so are its other characteristics. Get all information on skin types at http://www.cosmeticsdiary.com/skin-type.htm. Therefore, its needs are also different.

For the detail and depth knowledge of all skin problems and their treatments refer http://www.cosmeticsdiary.com/skin-disorders.htm. Cosmetics Diary - http://www.cosmeticsdiary.com is comprehensive guide to skin care and skin disorders information.

Stay Young- Play Bingo

Exercise, intellectual stimulation, surgery, meditation or detox you name it, we love it. Let’s face it, we live in a society obsessed with staying young. So, when you mention to someone that bingo may well be a key to youth, the image of pensioners playing in a retirement home may well prompt them to ask a few questions. It’s not chess or bridge, but researchers insist that bingo can keep your mind trim and bring more to your youthfulness than just cash prizes and idle chitchat.

Bingo players who have been playing bingo for a sustained period of time have been found to have superior reflexes in many cases to non-bingo players. The speed and mental agility required to scan six bingo cards in time before the next call is certainly better than stagnating in front of the television and has been responsible for keeping the minds of many people of different ages fit and healthy. As we get older, the blood begins to run at a thinner rate to the brain. Using our brains less can result in a decrease of mental agility and flexibility. Playing bingo is an enjoyable way to keep those attributes intact.

The competitive spirit of the game is also something that helps to regenerate our bodies when we take ourselves out of the workforce. The experience of retirement can very much and rightly so, equate to slowing things down. People take things at a far more leisurely pace. This is what is so attractive and something many look forward to after a fast-moving career. The only problem is that as we do that, so we lose a sense of the invigoration that the competitive energy used to spark. The great thing about playing bingo is that it is able to reignite that spark, depending on where you are playing. Certain bingo halls can be notoriously competitive. Players have developed ways of managing to cope with as many cards as possible by turning them upside down, paying for someone else to keep an eye on them and even continue other activities, such as knitting while the game is in play. The callers can move relatively quickly and you have to stay on your toes in order not to miss a call or a number.

To many, this competitive edge and speed aspect is so vital to the maintenance of their energy and fighting spirit. It keeps all of the senses in a sharp shape and forces the player to sustain some of the efficiency and rigour they may have been used to when working or even when their bodies may have had slightly more endurance than they do now. Players have to stretch themselves to the limit and keep the competitive flame burning by the allure of large cash prizes.

The social aspect of the game is crucial as well. It is the combination of the interaction and communication so prevalent in the bingo halls with the mental agility and stimulation that many suggest can contribute to the prevention of depression. Depression is something that becomes more and more of a concern as the mind begins to deteriorate. People find they are unable to stimulate themselves as they used to do and hence become very frustrated and bored. Therefore, the sustenance of mental stimulation and optimum functioning is so important to a balanced state of mind.

A healthy mind may in many cases also signify a healthy body. If the mind begins to deteriorate, many health practitioners believe it can influence the degeneration of the body immensely. So it is not just the brain that bingo seems to be able to keep in prime condition. As lives become less and less active physically (often because of unavoidable circumstances), it becomes more and more important to place the energy we used to put into our bodies, into our minds in order to help sustain both.