Good Skin Care is Important

Good skin care is essential to graceful aging. Babies have smooth, soft skin that is wrinkle free and moist. Over time harsh elements in the environment wear on the skin making is dryer and tougher. With age comes wrinkles and sagging in the skin. Good skin care can slow down the harmful effects of time and the environment.

Before good skin care can be attempted, it is important to have a thorough understanding of how the skin operates. Skin consists of three layers. The inner most layer is the subcutaneous tissue. The tissue in the subcutaneous layer contains fat cells, which insulate the body. The middle layer is the dermis. The dermis contains the connective tissues. The outermost layer of skin is called the epidermis. The purpose of the epidermis is to protect the inner skin from environmental contaminants. Cells in the epidermis continuously travel from the inner most part of the epidermis to the surface, flaking off once they reach the top. The cells in the epidermis become thinner over time. Less collagen is produced causing skin to lose its elasticity. This causes the skin to sag and wrinkle. The number of sweat glands also decrease over time leading to dryer skin. As people age, cells in the subcutaneous layer become smaller also contributing to the sagging and wrinkling. UVA and UVB radiation from sunlight thin the epidermis even more. They also contribute to a faster breakdown of collagen in the dermis.

Good skin care requires cleansing and moisturizing. Cleansing is essential to remove dirt and dead skin cells. It helps to prevent pimples or acne. Cleansing, however, can dry out the skin. Cleansing removes the oil on the skin, which retains moisture. As a result moisturizers are needed to restore water to the skin and protect the skin. Special liquid cleaners are recommended over using traditional bar soap. Liquid cleansers can be made with moisturizer to combat the drying agents in the cleansers. The type of cleaner chosen depends on the skin type of the person using it. Vitamin E is often included in good skin care products as it helps moisturize the skin. It also maintains elasticity. The type of moisturizer used is important as well. A heavier moisturizer should be used at night while a thinner, lighter moisturizer is recommended for daytime use.

Good skin care requires a lot of effort. A regime of cleaning and moisturizing should be followed everyday in order to be effective. Avoiding exposure to the sun and tanning is ideal to prevent the harmful effects of radiation. Application of sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15 is helpful as well. Smoking should be avoided. A healthy diet is beneficial in improving the elasticity of the skin. Drinking water is essential to good skin care. Water helps the body function better. It also cleans the pores from the inside. It re-hydrates the skin, which helps the skin stay moist. Keeping good habits in addition to good skin care will help the skin age gracefully and beautifully.

Main Types Of Skin Sensitivities

 “Normal” balanced skin has a solid skin barrier that shields the skin cells, keeping allergens and irritating substances from the deeper skin layers. Unless sunburned, your skin rarely stings, reddens, or develops acne, allowing normal skin types to use most products without reacting. However, the irony is that many products may not be potent enough to penetrate the “thick” barrier and deliver results.

According to leading dermatologist Dr. Leslie Baumann, sensitive skin – which is reported by over 40 percent of people – has a weaker barrier, making it vulnerable to many kinds of skin reactions. While many products target sensitive skin, there are four very different subtypes of sensitive skin, so your treatments and products must address your unique subtype:

Acne subtype: Develops acne, blackheads, or whiteheads

Rosacea subtype: Develops recurring flushing, facial redness, and hot sensation

Stinging subtype: Develops stinging or burning of skin

Allergic subtype: Develops redness, itching, and flaking of skin.

All of these sensitive skin subtypes have one thing in common: inflammation. That’s why all the treatments for sensitive skin are designed to reduce inflammation and reduce its cause.

How to Care for Psoriasis

Skin Conditions – Vitamins Help Skin Conditions

While the use of daily vitamins has for years been recognized as an important part of maintaining health, only recently have researches started paying attention to the relationship between nutritional intake and skin health. Vitamins have long been used in topical skin treatment for their beneficial effects on their skin’s surface and for their antioxidant properties, but obtaining skin benefits via ingested vitamins had not received much attention.

Common to many of these “beauty-vitamin” formulations is a powerful blend of antioxidants, including higher-than-average levels of vitamins A, C, and E, as well as other antioxidants such as lycopene — the red plant pigment in tomatoes and other fruits, and pycnogenols. Not coincidentally, these are many of the same ingredients that have popped up in topical products during the last several years.

Nutritional requirements are often slightly different for young children, adolescents, and during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Vitamin skeptics continue to argue that there are no proven benefits to vitamins at doses higher than the RDA. The case of vitamins and skin conditions is a clear case proving the skeptics wrong. It is time that physicians start to put the remarkable healing powers of vitamins to work for their patients. In the meantime, the low toxicity and ready availability of vitamin supplements and creams enables the self-educated to act for themselves.

A vitamin helps enhance your mind’s ability to sharpen your memory. Your job may be one of constant change or if you are a student, you have to memorize hundreds of details or facts. Perhaps you are a senior and you want to end those annoying “Senior Moments” of short term memory loss.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A strengthens the protective tissue of the skin and prevents acne. It helps reduce sebum production. This vitamin is essential for the maintenance and repair of the tissue which the skin and mucous membranes are made of. Vitamin A is also a powerful antioxidant needed to rid your body of toxins.

Vitamin B Complex

Help to maintain healthy skin tone – also helpful in relieving anxiety and stress.Fights acne. Vital for healthy skin by improving circulation and metabolism. important in the functioning of your immune system and your antibody production.

Vitamin C

Among the most important new dermatologic discoveries is the power of vitamin C to counter the effects of sun exposure. It works by reducing the damage caused by free radicals, a harmful byproduct of sunlight, smoke, and pollution. Free radicals gobble up collagen and elastic, the fibers that support skin structure, causing wrinkles and other signs of aging.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E helps to get clear skin. have vitamin e rich tablets daily. it is also good for reproductive organ’s function. Apply the oil inside the vitamin e capsules on face. then your face will glow. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that enhances healing and tissue repair. It prevents cell damage by inhibiting the oxidation of lipids (fats) and the formation of free radicals. Recommended dosage to fight acne.

Most Common Skin Conditions

There are many different kinds of skin conditions, with a seemingly equal amount of treatment approaches. Those most commonly seen include eczema
(atopic dermatitis), psoriasis, folliculitis and, of course, skin acne. Skin Diseases can leave you with a wide range of symptoms, some more difficult to deal with than others and can show up as an itchy condition, pigmentation disorders, extremely dry skin conditions, sores and other less than stunning appearances. Getting treatment for most skin conditions requires a trip to the dermatologist and, in some cases, agressive action.

Common skin condtions include:

Solar Damage – Without a doubt the skin’s biggest enemy, the sun can have an enormous impact on all facets of the derma from wrinkles to age spots to problems with the physical structures that support and nourish. Skin conditions resulting from sun damage may take advanced procedures such as laser peels, chemical peels and photorejuvenation.

Skin Rash – Rash is a wide ranging term for a whole host of conditions. Most infections and bacteria that cause skin problems are also responsible for irritation. These may show up in the form of skin rashes. Though every case is different, these can be an indication that chronic skin conditions may be present. Skin rashes can be the result of a reaction to plants, allergens, chemicals, pollutants, toxins and climate.

Liver Spots – These spots on the skin (also known as solar lentigines) are the trademark of prolonged sun exposure over time. Additionally they are also one of the skin conditions that help to promote an aged appearance. Simple things can be done to keep them from forming from using an alpha hydroxy acid based product to more advanced procedures such as fraxel laser treatments.

Infections – Bacteria, viruses and other pollutants can be absorbed into the skin and cause mild to very complicated infections. Once they have taken hold, they should be subjected to prescription medication and the assistance of a dermatologist. It should be your goal to learn how to fight the skin diseases and conditions that can lead to infection. Keeping wounds and other raw skin conditions clean and free from bacteria is the first step in dodging these types of conditions.

Skin Diseases – Many skin conditions develop because of disease. These diseases can leave difficult to remove discolorations and may need advanced treatments to repair. A rare skin condition can also lead to hospitalization and worse based on the diagnosis.Catching these early and treating them with prescription medications (both topical and oral) can help you make great strides in getting rid of them fast.

Cancers – Cancers are usually considered the most dangerous of all the common skin conditions. These can be invasive and potentially life threatening strains such as melanoma or less aggressive but still aggressive forms such as basal and squamous cell carcinomas. If detected quickly enough and treated effectively, most forms of skin cancer are curable with melanoma needing to be caught the earliest to be battled correctly.

This is of course, not exhaustive list of skin conditions. Consulting a dermatologist is definitely recommended if you suspect that rashes or other breakouts may be the beginnings of a more serious condition. The vast majority of skin problems can be addressed by the wide array prescription medications currently available.

Medical Treatments for Age Spots, Rosacea and Wrinkles

There are many skin care products out there today. But what if you have tried them all with little result? Then you may want to consider more advanced options such as botox, dermal fillers or lasers. Following are some basic explanations of products and procedures currently on the market and how the treatments work.

RETINOIDS

Retinoids are derived from vitamin A but contain a different chemical structure; retinoids may limit oil production, reduce skin oiliness, and prevent acne and pigmentation. In addition, retinoids improve visible wrinkles and dark spots for pigmented skin types, and can even act to prevent further acne outbreaks in oily skin. Dermatologists recommend you start retinoid use slowly, beginning with the lowest strength available, sparingly, especially if you have rosacea, acne or skin redness. Expect two weeks of use before your skin can tolerate the treatment without redness or flaking. Despite the initial reactions, many find the end results to be well worth it.

If you continue to react to the treatment with excess irritation and redness you can discontinue use, further reduce the amount or try another brand. With normal reactions, the cream can be used as often as every other night per your doctor’s instructions.

HOW TO PROPERLY USE A RETINOID

1. In your hand, mix a pea-size portion of retinoid with a couple of drops of Vitamin C serum if desired to smooth the mixture.

2. Apply to face and neck using upwards strokes – don’t forget the back of your hands.

3. Place a trace of product on your fingertips and apply gently on the skin area under the eye (never on top of the eyelid or around the eye).

4. Use once every three days for two weeks or until no redness or dryness is visible.

5. At the end of two weeks, apply the mixture every other night for another two weeks

6. After the first two weeks of use, you can use the cream nightly and indefinitely.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and Vascular Lasers

Dermatologists use Intense Pulsed Light, or IPL (a combination of different colors of light) to remove the dark spots, broken blood vessels and enlarged oil glands that produce excess oil and cause acne. There are various types of IPL, some more powerful than those used in salons. IPL can also be used in combination with a topical medication called Levulan that makes the skin sensitive to light and intensifies the treatments effect. When used in a combination with Levulan, the light therapy becomes know as Photodynamic Therapy, or PDT. This treatment is effective for dark spots and oiliness and is also a highly effective treatment of flushing, redness, visible blood vessels and other symptoms on the rosaecea spectrum.

IPL can also be combined with various vascular lasers. The red blood vessels absorb the light produced by the vascular laser (or the Intense Pulsed L ight.) The blood vessels then heat up and burst, leaving the skin untouched. One vascular laser, the Dornier 940nm, works with the blood component deoxyhemoglobin and as a result, this laser does not produce bruising after the procedure, as other vascular lasers can. It can also be used on dark skin with no damage. IPL treatment is administered first to the entire face, followed by the Dornier laser directed to large blood vessels next.

Preparing for Light or Laser Treatment:

You can reduce the number of IPL treatmenrs needed to treat dark spots by regular retinoid use for a month or more in advance to pre-treat dark spots. Differin gel or Triluma. In advance of the light therapy, Levulan gel is spread on your face for thirty minutes or more and then removed. Your doctor can then perform an IPL or other light treatment. It generally takes ten minutes, and you will notice a mild feeling of warmth. The procedure is rarely painful. Since the Levulan sensitizes the skin to light, you will need to use sunblock for 36 hours after treatment. After Photodynamic Therapy, your skin may look red, peeling, or crusted for three to seven days after the PTD procedure.

After blue light treatment for acne:

There is no downtime from this procedure.

After vascular laser treatment for blood vessels.

Some vascular lasers cause intense bruising, so be sure to discuss this with your dermatologists prior to treatments so you will know what to expect.