How to Remove Acne Scars Tue, August 31, 2010
There are several ways on removing acne scars. The appearance of acne starts during puberty when the body actively produces hormones that causes too much sebum in the skin. This skin stage may pass but it would definitely leave marks to haunt your appearance forever. Treating acne scars can be done through natural inexpensive ways and dermatological procedures that would probably cost a lot. However, acne scar treatment still depends on the mildness and severity of the scar.
Below are some of the techniques on removing acne scars naturally:
1. Hydration is the key. It has been proven that water is one of the best natural methods on how to remove acne scars and prevent acne breakouts. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water or more helps your skin to shed those unwanted dead skin cells.
2. A lot of people are recommending the use Vitamin E capsule for those scars. You might apply it topically to the affected area by pricking a spot in the capsule and apply the oil to the scar. Another option is to take it orally to have that cell renewal from the inside.
3. Rosehip seed oil is also an effective remedy on how to remove acne scars. This is an anti-ageing and anti-wrinkling agent that helps the skin to regenerate. Massage it on the scar twice a day.
4. Eating a balance diet may help in removing acne scars. The more nutritious foods you include in your meal, the faster the scar will heal. It helps in building the skin cells and gives a healthy skin glow as well.
5. Combine rose water and paste of sandal wood and apply it on the spot where the scars are. Leave it overnight then rinse with cold water the next day.
Aside from the natural ways of removing acne scars, there are also dermatological procedures that would definitely give you a much faster result. However, pregnancy and other health conditions may hinder your want to undergo these procedures. Here are some of the hi-tech methods on how to remove acne scars effectively.
6. Not only certified dermatologists do a dermabrasion, but facial salons do as well. Dermabrasion is the removal of the top skin layer using a machine that chafes off the skin. Once the skin heals, the top layer will then have a smoother and clearer appearance.
7. Laser resurfacing is one of the most affordable anti-scar treatments available. It simply uses a high-energy light that would remove the fine scars and even prevent wrinkles.
8. You may also have a chemical peel procedure. This is just like dermabrasion. The only difference is that the top layer of the skin is peeled off using chemicals not machines. This is not a very advisable procedure for all since some people may have allergic reactions to the chemicals.
With all the available choices for treatment, you surely would not have an excuse as to why your acne scar is still obvious. It’s your choice whether you would opt for the natural way or the dermatological procedure on how to remove acne scars.
Normalizing Combination Skin Mon, August 30, 2010
Often the biggest frustration for those with combination skin is caring for it properly. Having both dry and oily skin areas on your face can make skin care seem almost impossible. There are, however, things that you can do to care for and keep your combination skin healthy and feeling good.
For one thing, some areas of your face may feel tight after you wash. This will typically be on the parts of your face not included in the T-zone area. These areas will likely also look flaky and dull and may feel rough.
First of all, make sure you are cleansing every day. Use a mild cleanser on your entire face. Use the cleanser twice a day, preferably before bed at night and after get up in the morning. These are the times your face most needs to be cleansed anyway, but if you have combination skin it is imperative.
Get a good moisturizer. Once you have identified which parts of your face are the dry parts, most likely these areas are not in the T-zone and this is the area you will treat. Use the moisturizer on those dry areas only. Using it in your oily T-zone will only make that area worse.
The goal when you have combination skin is to normalize it. Normalizing is trying to gain a balance between the oily and dry areas so that all your skin looks and feels the same. In order to accomplish this feat, you want to look for products that are made for such normalization. For instance, ones that contain alpha hydroxyl acids (fruit acids or AHA’s) or retinols will work best. Retinols are a vitamin A derivative. Such products should help you to gain more normal and even looking skin.
The reason AHA creams are so beneficial to your skin is that they area catalyst for skin cell regeneration. By burning off or removing the top layer of skin cells (or the too oily and too dry ones) they expose the healthier skin cells beneath them. These cells are more likely to absorb moisturizers. They also help improve skin elasticity through their water-binding properties. This can help with that “tight” feeling you may get in the dry areas with your combination skin. The only thing about which you need to be aware is that once you are using AHA’s, you need to continue using them. Once you stop, your cells will not regenerate at the rate they were with the AHA and will return to their original state very soon.
Operation Beautiful Sun, August 29, 2010
I am such a big believer in positive self-talk and when I came across the book “Operation Beautiful” by Caitlin Boyle, I was so overwhelmed by the wonderful message it sends to women everywhere: you are beautiful… just the way you are!
Boyle’s project consisted of leaving Post-It notes on bathroom mirrors everywhere with positive statements such as “You are Beautiful” and “Smile! You are Awesome”! The goal was to get women across the country to influence women to accept themselves the way they are and use positive affirmations to improve their self-esteem.
This is such an uplifting book and one I think many women, moms and women everywhere can relate too! We all have had negative self-talk at one time or another, and this book is an excellent reminder on being positive and living a happy, fulfilled life.
For more info visit www.OperationBeautiful.com
Reversing UV Damage is Top Post-Summer SkinCare Concern Fri, August 27, 2010
With Labor Day fast-approaching and the summer sun almost a thing of the past, women and men across the United States will be in search of fall’s must-have skin renewal system to repair and reverse UV damage. According to Dr. Adam Geyer, Kiehl’s Since 1851 Consulting Dermatologist, and instructor in clinical dermatology at Columbia University in New York City, “When tans fade, people start to see the remnants of summer, including dark spots, uneven skin tone, blotchiness, and fine lines and wrinkles, and that is just what’s on the skin’s surface. Under the surface there is invisible damage that can and will manifest into what is seen on the upper layer of the dermis.”
Treating photo-damage (due to UV damage, acne scarring, aging, hormonal changes and lack of moisture) takes diligence, and when seeking products to address hyperpigmentation, three key concerns include blocking the melanin production, disabling the melanin transfer, and lastly, blocking melanin retention. This September, Kiehl’s will introduce Photo-Age Corrector
a range of four products, clinically proven to reveal healthier, brighter skin, reverse dark spots and even out overall discoloration in as little as four weeks. Targeting major melanin triggers with safe, natural and effective skin brighteners, use of the Photo-Age Corrector High-Potency Spot Treatment as part of a daily routine will maximize the results–smoother, more radiant, and even-toned skin–by lessening visible sun spots, as well as regulating the future production of pigment, and therefore invisible damage that is beginning to form below the skin’s surface.
Although post-summer is the ideal opportunity to kickoff skin’s repair process, a year-round preventative approach is key. “With effective anti-melanin formulas, it’s possible to lighten spots, but if your skin faces repeated exposure, they will come back,” says Geyer. “Consistent photo-protection is the corner stone to maintaining an evenly toned complexion.” Dr. Geyer’s top five tips to prevent and repair excess pigmentation year-round, include:
1. Protect. Protect. Protect. Since UV light is the #1 cause of uneven skin tone, be diligent about incorporating a broad spectrum sunscreen into your skincare routine 365 days a year–not just when at the beach.
2. Exfoliate nightly. Sloughing away skin’s top, dead skin cells has a stimulatory effect on skin and decreases retention of unwanted pigment in the epidermis. It also allows the active ingredients in products applied afterwards to penetrate deeper and work more efficiently in reversing brown spots.
3. Use antioxidants as a second layer of protection. Products laced with powerful antioxidants such as vitamin C are a great addition to your morning skincare routine. This particular antioxidant is able to effectively neutralize free radicals to help decrease pigmentation.
4. Be cautious of some chemical-based skin lighteners. If you’re using a hydroquinone-based product (a prescription-only chemical skin lightener), care should be taken when applying this ingredient to avoid developing a reverse reaction, known as hypo pigmentation (an over-lightening of the skin). Prevent this from happening by only using a small amount directly on the affected area.
5. Be patient: There is no lightening fast fix! Fading of brown spots takes months, as the skin must go through several renewal processes. Stick with a proven anti-pigmentation regimen to see results and even consider taking some pre-treatment pictures to monitor how much your complexion is beginning to even out.
Anti-Aging Skin Care – The Basics Fri, August 27, 2010
The very first question most people have when exploring the realm of anti-aging skin care is, “What skin rejuvenation products have been proven to be effective”?
Accurate information regarding the multitude of anti-aging treatments flooding the marketplace is the best way to make informed decisions for developing your own skin rejuvenation regime which incorporates the anti-aging skin care techniques, strategies and treatments that best address your personal aging skin issues.
The basics of effective skin rejuvenation begin with the facts on anti-aging skin care treatments. There are several active ingredients that have been clinically proven to be effective skin rejuvenators. One of the most effective treatments is vitamin A derivatives such a retinol or retinyl palmitate.
The Retin A or Renova vitamin A treatments are the strongest although the most irritating treatments of the vitamin A options and are only available by prescription. If your skin needs major rejuvenation attention, ask your Doctor if you are a candidate for the prescription vitamin A treatment of Retin A or Renova.
If not, including one of the other retinol alternatives in your skin care routine is an excellent strategy. The concentration of over-the-counter retinol products can range up to 1%. The basic rule of thumb is, the higher the concentration, the stronger the treatment. Be forewarned though, read the directions carefully because the stronger retinol products can be quite irritating to the skin. Starting slow and gradually working your way up to higher concentrations will allow your skin to adjust to the treatments better. The vitamin A derivative, Retinyl Palmitate, is the less irritating of the Vitamin A options and is considered to have quite effective rejuvenating qualities.
The next most beneficial anti-aging skin rejuvenation treatment is a chemical exfoliant such as an alpha hydroxyl acid (AHA) or beta hydroxyl acid (BHA) product. The most popular of these acids is an AHA glycolic acid. Glycolic acid should be use in concentrations of 8% to 15% depending on your skin’s sensitivity. Start out with a lower concentration and gradually move up to a 10% then 15% concentration depending on your skin’s tolerance in order to avoid irritation.
The last consideration is including an antioxidant to contain the skin damaging free radicals as well as to encourage overall skin repair. Products containing Vitamin C Ester, Spin Trap, or CoQ10 are all good options to explore. Then, of course, there are other viable anti-aging treatments which can be incorporated into your regime depending on your particular skin rejuvenation needs which include DMAE, Kinerase or Kinetin, and GHK Copper Peptides. Finally, the most critical and essential aspect to any successful skin rejuvenation regime is sunscreen, at least once a day, each and every day!
