Skin Care Myths

By Mitch Endick

Ever since humans first became self-aware about personal hygiene and appearance there has end to extremes that some people will go to in order to improve their looks. For thousands of years and in almost every culture, different concoctions and treatments have been applied to the skin and ingested in an attempt to maintain youth and beauty. Now many of these treatment and concoctions would prove to be fairly harmless. But countless others proved to be extremely dangerous, doing more damage than good or, worse yet, fatal. There are so many stories of charlatans and snake oil salesmen that talking about all of them here would simply take to long. So let us focus on a few of the more infamous cases, some funny and some tragic. Certain other myths exist about the skin that does not involve consuming some magic elixir, applying a cream or other type of treatment. One this is particularly dangerous is the notion that a sunburn will turn to a tan or that you need to burn before tanning to give the tan a good base. According to many experts there are no known circumstances under which a sunburn a good thing. Aside from being painful, the burn can damage the skin in ways that not readily apparent. Continuous overexposure to UV or ultraviolet rays can result in the skin aging prematurely or worse overexposure can lead to the development of skin cancers letter in life. Another potentially dangerous myth is that people with darker skin do not need to use sunscreen since darker skin pigments act as a natural sun block. According to many experts dark skinned people should follow the same basic advice about sunscreen and use a product with an appropriate SPF rating. Whatever your skin type, just remember that skin cancer can be fatal so it pays to take all appropriate precautions against overexposure to UV rays. Cellulite has been a skin care buzzword for many years and is not a legitimate, recognized medical condition. Despite the dubious origins of the term, a plethora of myths have sprung up about what causes it and how to get rid of it. The popular mythology of cellulite defines it as an unsightly fat deposit that gives the surface of the skin a sort of orange peel look. The mere mention of the word cellulite is often a cause of dread and self-loathing for many folks who may be overly concerned about their body image. Preying on the overly self-conscious the marketplace has been flooded with cures and treatments that are said to help us deal with this terrible affliction. Some of the so-called ways to eliminate cellulite range from the mundane and ridiculous, to the patently absurd. There is the usual assortment of creams and gels that claim to almost magically breakdown these miserable little fats cells. And lets not forget those specially designed skin scrubbers, sponges and loofahs that will make those unsightly fat deposits disappear. The simple truth is that these products, just like the snake oil cures of earlier times, have no other purpose than to separate the gullible from their hard-earned cash. The only good news about these creams, scrubbers and other contraptions is that they are not dangerous. The simple truth is that there is no such thing as cellulite and fat by any other name is fat. Experts agree that the best way to maintain a healthy look is to eat right, exercise, do not smoke and get enough sleep. The money you save by not falling for the myth will bring a smile to your face and smile always improves your appearance.

Author Resource:- Mitch Endick is a short article writer for the popular skin care web site SkinCareSystem.com. He provides informative advice on skin care, acne prevention and cure, cosmetic, tanning and sun effects on the skin. His website, http://www.SkinCareSystem.com is full of skin care remedies and techniques.

How To Successfully Avoid Hyperpigmentation

None of us look forward to that time in our lives when we may be struck by hyperpigmentation, and yet it is often thought of as an inevitability.

There is no reason we need to succumb to this idea! With a few simple guidelines you should never have to fall victim to this condition.

Hyperpigmentation is commonly referred to as liver spots and is associated with the elderly. It is a discoloration of melanin skin pigment‚ that turns a darker shade than the rest of the skin.
Melanin is programmed to absorb ultraviolet rays from the sun in order to protect the rest of the skin and body. This pigment is in everyone, and is commonly concentrated into freckles and moles.

Such areas are known to expand and grow darker with exposure to the sun; this is because the UV light is being absorbed. With hyperpigmentation, the condition occurs without the presence of a mole or freckle, and large, unattractive patches can occur on any part of the body.

Although many people still do not understand hyperpigmentation, the truth is quite simple. The condition is caused by sun damage, and therefore if necessary precautions are taken, there is no reason that you or anyone else should contract the condition.

Now there you go, some good news! It is certainly a relief to realise that you will not necessarily have to endure the age spots that your grandmother did. Of course your grandmother was terrific, but that is no reason you should copy her looks exactly!

Age spots do tend to show up on elderly people more than anyone else, but if you look more closely at those around you, you might notice that younger people who have outdoor jobs have developed the same pattern prematurely. It is purely a sun related issue!

So the first step towards protecting yourself is to resist any unnecessary exposure to the sun and those harmful UV rays. How can you do this? It is actually very simple, assuming that you work indoors!

The sun is most harmful between the hours of 9 am and 4 pm, depending on the season and where you live, so keep that in mind if you are venturing outdoors for any reason. It is important that you keep your skin covered up; wear long sleeves, long pants, a hat and anything else you have lying around!

Clothing is the best protection against the sun, so use it. When it comes to your face, this is the most common site of hyperpigmentation. Why? Simply because most of us do not wear a covering over our faces. Desert cultures like the Muslims have adapted to their climate by wearing veils and protective scarfs, however it is not a part of Western culture to do this and so most of us are still at risk.

If you want to protect your face, you must buy a strong sunscreen. Doctors recommend SPF 15 as a foundation base, but if you plan to be outside under a blazing sun for a few hours, go for a higher number of protection.

There are many makeup products that include sunscreen protection, so if you are concerned about your foundation and eyeliner then look for a brand that has worked sun protection into the product.

It is simple: keep your skin covered and protected from the sun, and you will not suffer from age spots at any age. Get out the sunscreen and keep that youthful glow for as long as you can!


About the Author: One of the problems with the skin as it ages is that marks sometimes known as age spots start to appear. These are totally natural but a good facial range may help to reduce the appearance of such marks on the skin. Take the time to understand how your skin works and you will be better prepared