Damaged Skin Care

Many adults who have always enjoyed unblemished, peachy looking skin are having a problem with adult acne. True, it’s not life threatening but it can be soul destroying.

Adult acne damages self-esteem and can be physically painful with scarring which can last a lifetime. Adult acne is on the increase and, contrary to popular belief, is not always caused by junk food diets or poor hygiene.

The main culprit for this scourge is genetic, hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies and low immunity and stress. Unfortunately it can strike anyone at any time and there is no way of knowing if it will be a phase or there for the long haul.

Skin experts suggest that if you think you are suffering from more than just break outs, you should take immediate action and seek professional help. Adult acne generally cannot simply be treated by using a strong face wash and often needs to be looked at by a qualified skin professional or dermatologist.

One thing doctors fail to tell their patients is that intestinal health has been found to be important in the severity of adult acne. In one study, 50% of those with severe acne had increased blood levels of toxins that were being absorbed from a faulty gut. This suggests that many acne sufferers need a several-pronged approach, which not only helps the skin to return to normal functioning but also repairs and heals an impaired digestive tract.

It is vital to treat the skin from the inside as well as the outside by balancing hormone levels and using a good skin care approach. A good internal nutritional cleansing program such as Isagenix, would be beneficial with regard to decreasing toxin levels in the body.

Additionally, there are some foods which can help prevent acne:

• Calcium: A calcium rich diet has been found to help reduce the severity of acne. However, that does not mean you should mega-dose on dairy. In fact, it would be a good idea to eliminate cow’s milk and cheeses for a while as the lactose (sugar) in dairy product may be causing a hidden food intolerance. Instead, get your calcium from nuts and seeds, dried fruits, oily fish with bones, beans, green leafy vegetables, broccoli and shellfish.
• Vitamin A: Helps maintain normal skin functioning. Dietary sources include all the yellow fruits and vegetables, especially carrots and fish oils.
• Zinc: Helps your body absorb vitamin A. Good food sources include pecans, peanuts, shellfish, turkey and wheat germ.
• Bananas: Help the good bacteria in your gut. If your acne is severe, take a pro-biotic supplement also and drink at least two liters of water daily to help the body flush out toxins as well as increasing your intake of dietary fiber.

And, one final tip. Try to reduce the stress levels in your life. The largest study ever conducted on acne reveals that people under high levels of stress are 23% more likely to develop severe acne.

Even with skin cancer rates rising, many of us still like to bake ourselves bronze in the summer. There’s something about wearing white with a good tan. It just looks–healthy. Yes, we know people who don’t take care of their skin in the sun are going to age faster. But, we are hooked on that healthy look.

Experts tell us that spray-tanning and bronzing sunscreens are safer than tanning beds. Tanning beds have been associated with an increased risk of skin cancer and are definitely not recommended.

Some dermatologist are telling us that mineral makeup is a great innovation and the mineral bronzers can give the same effect as a golden tan.

The main ingredients in mineral makeup are mica, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These are found in most makeup, but at a high concentration and without irritants like talc, preservatives, fragrance and dyes. Mineral makeups also have a built in SPF 15.

Mineral makeup can reflect light, giving a nice tone to the skin. Minerals are inert so you are less likely to have reactions to mineral makeups. Talc tends to absorb sweat and oils, leading to a creasing effect which is undesirable, but the mineral-based makeups are more likely to stay looking great even after a work out or a hot day in the sun.

The mineral bronzers should be applied on the forehead, cheekbones, nose and decolletage area. You want to apply the bronzer on places where the sun hits.

Another important tip for summer is to up your intake of water and vitamin C. This helps to repair tissue. Treat yourself to an anti-oxidant facial to help your skin in the summer. And here’s another natural home remedy that will keep your skin fresh and healthy in the hot sun. Brew a pot of green tea, jasmine smells really nice, let it cool, then put it in a spay bottle to mist your face throughout the day. This is inexpensive and very refreshing!

Probably the last thing someone going through chemotherapy and other cancer treatment thinks about is the dry skin and other skin problems that will accompany the treatment. However, once someone has gone through these treatments, it becomes a top priority.

How does one rejuvenate the skin after going through cancer treatment? Although there is a wealth of dry skin solutions on the market, the vast majority of the products can actually cause further damage because most contain chemicals and fragrances which cause dryness. In addition to this, the chemicals can be absorbed into the body which is not a good thing.

Also, the majority of the lotions on the market clog the pores. Because the skin is a major avenue used by the body to eliminate toxins, if the pores are blocked, toxins stay underneath the surface of the skin and cause dryness, rashes and other problems. Cancer experts recommend using skin care products which don’t clog the pores.

A good solution to the problem is Lindi Skin Care products. Lindi Skin has been formulated to meet the special needs of cancer patients. The ingredients are natural botanicals, anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatories, antiseptics, antibacterials and supply good nutrition to the skin. Lindi Skin products do not contain preservatives typically found in most skin products.

The Lindi Skin line has been created in conjunction with patients, cancer survivors, doctors and other medically trained professionals using the latest scientific and medical data to create the state-of-the-art skin care products.

These products were specifically created for those dealing with the effects of cancer treatments so you can rest assured they will give your skin what it needs.

Fighting the ravages of aging is a huge business today. In fact, women are spending nearly $13 billion per year on non-surgical facial solutions. Let’s examine some of the most popular treatments.

Microdermabrasion is very popular. It is a treatment which helps clean out the pores and reduce pore size. It works is by utilizing tiny rough grains to buff away the outer layer of skin to reveal younger, more supple layer of skin. There is minimal recovery and no down time.

You can look at before and after photos of women who have had a series of microdermabrasion treatments and you will notice a difference. Specificially with sun-damanged skin, age spots and fine lines and wrinkles.

Then there are the peels, from chemicals to fruit acids. Deep peels can dramatically reduce visable signs of aging. Peel means just what it says. You literally “peel” off a layer of skin to reveal a new you.

The photofacial is another non-surgical solution. This is the intense pulse light treatment which helps to develop collagen. It’s not a laser. The photofacial uses light technology to deliver precise amounts of light energy through the skin’s surface. This reduces the pore size and gets rid of dark pigment spots, brown spots, as well as red marks on the face. One can expect a total rejuvenation with this treatment and it only takes 20 minutes to see results.

So, if you are looking older and more tired than you would like, don’t despair! You can have some or all of these non-surgical facial solutions and take years off your face.

Do you ever leave the house with no makeup. Or, what would be the bare minimum you could do with? For me, its always been eyeliner and lip gloss. While I may still look a little rough, at least with these,  I can go out not feeling completely naked.

Must have makeup varies depending on who you ask but most agree on one thing. It all starts with genuinely cleaned skin, not just splashed with water. A good skin care regimen is essential . And if you are over 30, plan on exfoliating daily to get rid of dead, dry cells and bring back the brightness.

According to one of New York Cities most prominent makeup artist, here are some must haves: bronzing powder, mascara and lipstick. She stresses the importance of not forgetting the eyebrows. Your brows frame your face, if they look polished and defined, you can actually get away with much less makeup.

Here’s another tip our from the same makeup artist. Apply your bronzer from the decolletage on up. At her studio, they use this technique on every celebrity and socialite that walks through the doors. You can contour the face by using a fan brush on the cheekbones, chin and bridge of the nose. Bronzer warms the skin and brightens the eyes. To minimize a larger nose, use a concealer over the bridge and bronze on the side to soften the angles. And, don’t forget the blush- a touch of it adds the right hint of color.

I now have a whole new respect for bronzer. Prior to writing this, I used just a bit on my cheeks. Looks like I have to buy some different brushes and rethink what I’ve been doing.

My new makeup must haves are bronzer, eyeliner and lip gloss.

In another post, we talked about everyday items you probably have in your kitchen that you could apply topically to help with your hair. This time, I’d like to talk about what you eat and what it can do for your skin. Clearly fancy lotions, creams and sunscreens can help keep your skin beautiful. But, since beauty is more than skin deep, good skin is an inside job. You need to eat the right antioxidants, vitamins and fats. As we have discussed before, what you eat affects your skin.

With that in mind…here is some food for thought. (and good skin)

• Tomatoes- Think of them as sunblock. In Germany, researchers say people who ate 1 1/2 ounces of tomato paste daily for 10 weeks had 40% less artificially induced sunburn than those not eating the tomato paste. Researchers credit the tomato paste’s 16 milligrams of the antioxidant lycopene with fortifying the skin against sun damage.
• Marmalade as a cancer antidote. The University of Arizona researchers were amazed to find that eating orange and grapefruit peels once per week or more, which 37% of the subjects did, cut the risk of squamous cell skin cancer by a third. They suspect it is the high concentrations of the antioxidant d-limonene in the oil of the peel that migrates into the eater’s skin.
• Prunes fight wrinkles. A large group of elderly Greeks, Swedes and Australians found that those who ate the most prunes, apples, vegetables, olive oil, fish and legumes, had fewer wrinkles and less sun-damage skin than those who ate lots of meat, butter, margarine and milk products. Prunes have a higher concentration of protective antioxidants than any other fruit.
• Salmon as a face-lift. Nicholas Perricone, MD and author of the Perricone Prescription advises eating 8-12 ounces of fish per day, primarily salmon as part of a nutritional face life. Perricone says salmon’s Omega-3 oil combats wrinkle-promoting inflammation and “plumps up the skin.” Fish oil does look promising for the skin. In British research, taking 4000 mg of Omega -3 per day for three months reduced sunburn damage by 30%. This dose is equivalent to eating 12 ounces of salmon per day.
• Tea against skin cancer. Studies show that tea-drinking mice have fewer skin cancers. Even rubbing tea extract on their skin keeps cancers away. Green and black tea appear equally effective, and caffeine may help as well. In one study decaf tea was less effective than caffeinated tea in the mice.
• Antioxidants save skin. Several studies suggest that antioxidant supplements help protect skin from sun damage. German researchers found that dose of 1000 IU vitamin E and 2000 mg of vitamin C daily for eight days, boosted resistance to sunburn by 20%. Other research found that a mixture of beta carotene, lycopene and lutein taken for three months also reduced mild sunburn.
• Alcohol promotes skin cancer. Men and women who consumed three or more alcoholic beverages per day were 30% more likely to have basal cell carcinoma- the most common skin cancer than non-drinkers, according to Harvard research. The main causes of wrinkled, damaged, cancer-prone skin are aging, sun exposure, smoking and excessive alcohol.

So, it truly does matter what you eat!

I’ve gone on record and have written that I like all natural things. I’ve also written that I like facials. Well, it looks like I have to make a disclaimer. While I like facials and I like  natural things, I am not interested in having a Bird Poop Facial any time soon!

The latest trend in skin care is the Geisha Facial, a new facial treatment made from Nightingale droppings and coined the Bird Poop Facial by fans and curious spectators. Supposedly, this new skin care innovation is the secret to true Geisha Beauty. It is made with all natural ingredients, including Japanese Rice Bran (to brighten and soften skin complexion using natural enzymes.) But the most important ingredient is Uguisu no Fun, or, powdered Nightingale Droppings. This is an old secret ingredient of traditional kabuki actors and Geisha used to remove makeup.

Geisha have always been known for their clear porcelain, unblemished complexion. This beautiful appearance was later found to cause chronic skin problems because of the zinc in their facial powder. They found a unique remedy when they discovered that the Uguiu no Fun could not only be used to remove makeup but also to brighten, heal and re-texturize their skin.

Accordcing to Shizuka Bernstein, who is a master aesthetician at her New York spa, Shizuka, “The Uguisu no Fun is sanitized through exposure to ultraviolet light to kill bacteria before being finely milled into powder and is safe to use on the skin.

The other ingredient, Japanese rice bran, enhances the exfoliating ability and skin lightening properties. The skin care treatment is completed with a hydrating camelia oil massage and a refreshing antioxidant Green Tea Collagen Mask.

To celebrate a successful skin care treatment, all sessions end with an offering of gourmet Japanese teas and cookies in the Tranquility Lounge.

It all sounds wonderful, relaxing and I truly do love facials, but I’m having trouble getting past the “Bird Poop” part of the treatment.

It’s pure, it’s natural, it’s actually good for your skin. These claims are what have catapulted mineral makeup into a full-fledged cosmetic phenomenon.

Today, virtually every cosmetic company has a mineral makeup. Mary Kay recently unveiled their line of mineral makeup. Check out your local drug store and you will find most of the players such as Revlon, Neutrogena, L’Oreal, Cover Girl and Physician’s Formula now have mineral lines. So do New York Color, Wet n’ Wild, Mabelline, and Avon. M.A.C. will be debuting their line this year if they haven’t already done so.

Why the buz? The consumers are buying into the all-natural rage. Some retailers such as Walmart and Target report that sales of mineral-based cosmetics were in the amount of $149 million last year!

Mineral makeup is affordable, costing no more than traditional makeup. Women love it because they view it as a treatment and self-preservation rather than self-indulgence. It’s exciting to know there are healthy options that offer them beauty.

Bare Escentuals has been the trailblazer in the mineral makeup market. If you’ve ever watched late night TV, most likely you have come across their infomercial.

For most of us who are sold on mineral makeup, we have all undergone a metamorphosis from the days of traditional, greasy, heavy makeup. Makeup that would melt in the summer, get oily and leave us feeling as though we were wearing a mask. Another benefit, sun protection that doesn’t disappear if you perspire.

From a dermatologist perspective, the makeup appears to be pretty safe and the women like it. Stated by Dr. Robert Norman from Tampa, FL. “The makeup doesn’t aggravate acne or cause flare-ups but, there are certain people who will be sensitive to it.”

Christy Nolan, an esthetician in Dr. Norman’s office recommends Jane Iredale Mineral cosmetics to patients particularly after laser and surgical procedures. She is personally a big fan of the makeup and wears it daily. “It goes on very well, blends and covers with out damaging the skin,” and says Nolan, “it doesn’t clog the pores like other makeups can.”

Have you ever heard of contact acne? I hadn’t and neither had the esthetician I checked with. What is it and what causes it?

Contact acne, unlike other acne, is not an indicator of poor health, bad diet or hormonal problems. But it can certainly cramp one’s style. Contact acne, according to Dr. David Eisen of the Acne Treatment Clinic, “is inflammation of the oil gland and hair follicle which results from irritation from sweating that occurs in areas of the body where there is poor ventilation. Bra straps, belts or helmets can cause pimples on the back, tops of arms, forehead and chin as a result of clothing in close contact with the skin.” Dr. Eisen goes on to explain that “although dirt and oil can be washed off the face and body, acne cannot be washed off. If the drain in the sink is clogged, I could scrub the sink all day long and still not unclog the drain.”

According to this same doctor, there is a false notion out there that tanning helps heal summer acne flare ups. I always bought into this one growing up in the Southwest and spent every spare minute in the sun because of it. Dr. Eisen says all you do is darken the skin color to match the color of the pimples, and, as a result, inflammation is less obvious because of the illusion tanning gives.

So, contact acne is a seasonal skin problem, unrelated to regular acne which is a chronic, genetic, hormonal disease. Contact acne is easy and affordable to clear up quickly. Usually it will clear up in 4 weeks to 8 months depending on the severity.

Here are some do’s and don’ts that will help:

DO

• Wash with a gentle soap or cleanser, but limit cleansing to twice daily.
• Keep skin dry, steering clear of tight fitting clothing and sports equipment where possible. Immediately remove sweaty garments after a workout.
• Seek a doctor to treat inflammation when the over -the- counter products don’t clear up the acne.

DON’T

• Pick at the pimples, that will only prolong the healing time of the blemishes.
• Scrub with loofahs or abrasive, harsh chemicals.
• Tan blemishes, it’s a prescription for skin cancer.

All of you bathers, cyclists and runners everywhere, enjoy the great outdoors and don’t sweat the summer breakouts!

Mineral make-up is the latest addition to the new beauty culture. But, as we have discussed, it’s anything but new, having it’s origins back in the days of the ancient Egyptians. Unlike traditional make-up, mineral make-up contains no perfumes, talc, alcohol, dyes, mineral oils or preservatives. It is simply mineral based loose powder that naturally nourishes the skin.

Mineral make-up has its fans and it has it critics. The fans, and I’ll admit that I am one; love the fact that the mineral make-up is light, natural, long lasting and can’t be duplicated by traditional make-up. For me the most important thing is that it’s natural. The older I get, the more I want to surround myself with more natural things, whether it’s clothing, skin care or make-up.

The critics for mineral make up see it as a marketing gimmick targeted at “selling women”; simply repackaging the same ingredients which have been in make-up for years. The fact is, while the ingredients are much different than traditional make-up, most all mineral make-up has remarkably similar ingredients, most all which are natural.

Let’s talk about how traditional make-up compares against mineral make-up.

Traditional Make-up

• Heavier than mineral make-up which, can sometimes, with additional coverage, feel like one is wearing a mask.
• Traditional powders can cake in areas where fine lines exist. This creates an illusion of deeper lines, which can make one look older.
• Most traditional make-up products are petroleum-based and contain filler ingredients which can clog pores, irritate skin and some which are known carcinogens.
• Most traditional make-up requires many reapplications during the day.

Mineral Make-up

• It’s great for sensitive skin and a breakthrough for women struggling with acne, dryness or clogged pores.
• It does not feel like a mask. Mineral make-up has a lighter texture, allowing the skin to breathe. So, even with more coverage, you will see a natural radiance.
• Mineral make-up ingredients are good for your skin. Minerals such as zinc, and magnesium which refreshes, rejuvenates and relaxes the skin.
• It does not enhance wrinkles as traditional powders do. Mineral make-up creates a glowing appearance because of the essential vitamins and antioxidants present.
• Mineral make-up protects skin from the sun. The zinc oxide offers natural UVA and UVB protection.
• It makes skin look better. And, it’s like you are wearing nothing on your face.

If you have yet to try the mineral make-up, at least now you have some of the facts which will allow you to make an educated decision. If you are like I am, I think you will be thrilled with mineral make-up.