August 14th, 2010 by admin

stretch marks

Stretch marks are among the worst things that could happen to your skin. Alas, they are very common and can appear almost everywhere. The only thing we can do is learn what stretch marks in fact are and the possible ways to deal with them.  stretch marks appear when the body changes its shape very quickly. It means that stretch marks develop when you lose or gain weight fast.

All of these unexpected changes cause the middle layer of the skin to tear on the most strained places. If you’re a woman, now you see why stretch marks appear mostly on your tummy, hips or breasts. If treated timely and properly, however, stretch marks are very likely to disappear. Chronic stretch marks are more difficult to deal with, but not impossible. So here is what you need to do to get rid of stretch marks:

* Timely treatment is successful treatment: you should take action as soon as you notice the appearance of stretch marks. The earlier – the better.

June 5th, 2010 by admin

“Sun protection is essential for nice skin. If you smoke, quit. Eat blueberries and other fruits with rich color, which are full of antioxidants. Deep red, yellow and green vegetables are also good. Despite the warnings about mercury and other contaminants, I think fish, with its oils, is very healthy. Stay hydrated. Don’t overdo alcohol and caffeine. And, yes, get enough sleep.

A slim bod doesn’t necessarily mean it’s cellulite-free. “Cellulite is caused when little bits of fatty tissue push through the fibrous connective-tissue lattice that is part of the normal structure of our [skin],” says Dr. Gordon. “The fatty tissue itself is soft, and the fibrous connective tissue is tough. So you can think of it as the soft fat popping through the open spaces between the strands of fibrous tissue. No matter the body shape, even little bits of fat can push their way through.”

Skip the salsa and chips; avoiding salty foods and other water-retention traps can help decrease the appearance of cellulite. “If you retain fluids, you may feel your cellulite is worse than if you don’t.Seek out a sweet exfoliator. “Harsh exfoliators may chafe the skin,” says Gordon. “I like a sugar scrub because it dissolves as you use it. For this reason, it’s hard to over-exfoliate with a well-made sugar scrub.” Check out the new soft, body-friendly line of St. Ives Moisturizing In-Shower Exfoliating Body Polishes.

April 14th, 2010 by admin

If you suffer from exceptionally dry skin, instead of looking for the latest beauty secret, what you need is the best lotion for extreme dry skin to help treat your itchy, flaky skin. This list is comprised of proven products that don’t require a prescription. No matter which product you use, key points to remember when battling dry skin include being aware of what you eat and what products you apply on your skin. If you choose skin care products that are too harsh or even a moisturizer not suitable for your skin type, you may exacerbate the problem. When trying a new product, use it on a small area of the skin first before applying it to a larger area. In general, water-based lotions are better cosmetically, but oil-based creams provide an effective barrier to trap moisture. Once you determine the product that works for you, moisturize two times a day to keep your skin hydrated and reduce itching.

April 14th, 2010 by admin

reate an almond milk natural cleanser for oily skin. Combine 2 tsp. almond meal with 5 fl. oz. water, and whip the mixture in a blender for 2 minutes. Strain the whipped mixture through cheesecloth to make it smooth, and store your almond milk cleanser in a bottle. Apply the product to your face and wipe it off with soft tissues daily.

Wash with an olive oil cleanser by combining 2 tsp. olive oil and 1 tsp. honey. Apply the product to your face and neck, and wash it off.

Concoct a conditioning body mask that’s suitable for all skin types. Combine the following ingredients in a blender: 2 tbsp. half-and-half, ½ cup chopped pumpkin flesh, 2 tsp. honey, 2 egg whites, ½ a peach (with skin) and 1/8 tsp. instant coffee. Mix on a low-medium setting for 45 seconds, and spread the mask on your skin. Let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse off this skin care product with warm water.

April 14th, 2010 by admin

Skin cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer. Excessive exposure to the sun’s UV rays are the most common cause of the disease. In fact over 1,000,000 people are affected each year.

Skin cancer can be dvided into three different types of cancer.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

These carcinomas are found usually in places on the body that have been exposed to the sun, like ears, the face and the mouth.

Symptoms include a bump that turns in to an open sore (ulceration, reddish, flat spot that is sometimes crusty, a bump that gets larger and a sore that won’t heal.

Left untreated, it can spread quickly to other parts of the body, like the lymphatic system, bloodstream, and nerve routes.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Accounting for more than 75% of skin cancers diagnosed, basal cell carcinoma is the most commonly developed skin cancer.

These carcinomas are most commonly found on the face, neck, and hands. It is considered highly treatable and rarely spreads to other parts of the body.

Symptoms include a sore that oozes or bleeds, a redness area that is irritated, a yellow or white area that resembles a scar, and a pink pearly bump.

Melanoma

Melanoma is the most dangerous and deadly type of skin cancer.It can develop on any part of the body, however the arms, legs and trunk are the most common area of the body. When detected early, it is considered highly treatable.

Symptoms include a mole, freckle, or new/existing spot that changes color in size, shape, and color. It may have an irregular outline and possible be more than one color.

Your best defense in preventing skin cancer is to avoid excessive exposure to the sun. When you are outdoors, be sure to always wear a sunscreen, and stay in a shady area if possible!

April 14th, 2010 by admin

Skin disease, also known as dermatosis, is defined as any disease of the skin.  To be more specific, the skin is the largest organ of the body, and one of the most vulnerable.  It acts as a protecting shield for the body for harmful pathogens, but is not immune to disease on its own.  Disease is defined as an abnormal condition of an organism that negatively affects bodily functions.  Skin disease, then is the abnormal condition of the skin organ that impairs the function of the skin.

There are many skin diseases that are common, including acne, warts, and eczema.  The psychological effect of these diseases is not to be underestimated.  Since the skin is the most visible organ of the body, skin disease can cause significant psychological stress, especially amongst peers.  For example, a child struggling with acne may be ridiculed by his or her classmates in grade school, though it is often not their fault and uncontrollable.  Disease can be a life-changing thing, and skin disease is no different.  While most skin diseases do not require a visit to the doctor, there is a number of skin diseases that can be extremely severe and even fatal.

Some of the more common skin diseases plague people around the world on a daily basis.  The rest of this article will focus on highlighting some of the more common skin diseases:

1.  Acne

The bane of adolescents going through puberty, acne is a disease of the hair follicles and sebaceous glands.  The clogging of these glands leads to pimples, which almost 17 million people in the United States suffer from.  The clogged glands may be a result of rising hormone levels causing additional oil.  The pimples and lesions develop from the spilling of oil, skin cells, and bacteria onto the skin.

2.  Calluses and Corns

Golfers and guitar players are good examples of people suffering from calluses.  Corns are smaller calluses developed on top of toes from repeated rubbing and pressure from shoes.  While calluses are usually painless, corns can be very painful.  There are many treatments for this type of skin disease available in stores everywhere, including rubbing the callus with a pumice stone.

3.  Psoriasis

A common chronic skin disease, psoriasis causes red, raised areas that develop as scales on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back.  It affects 5 to 7 million people in the United States.  The cause of the disease is unknown, but is theorized to be caused by abnormally fast-growing skin cells.  Treatment for psoriasis usually is in the form of a cream or other medications.

4.  Eczema

Eczema is a disease that causes an inflammation of the epidermis.  It causes a persistent skin condition that is usually characterized by redness, swelling, itching and dryness, blistering, or bleeding.  Eczema can cause extreme irritation, usually due to the itchiness of the skin.  It is usually treated through anti-inflammation drugs or oilments and creams that reduce itching.

April 14th, 2010 by admin

Skin Whitening Tips # 1
Sunscreen is a skin whitening secret. No kidding. The suns UV rays affect our skin causing sunburn, even when we are indoors. More so, there are several constituents in our surroundings that cause the melanin rate to increase. Sunscreen creams, help reduce the effect of the UV rays, and stop the increasing melanin rate. After regular use over a period of time, it starts reducing the melanin as well. Melanin are the skin darkening cells. As such it is clear, reduction on melanin leads to fairer skin. Read more on skin care.

Skin Whitening Tips # 2
Moisturizing is also a very important method for skin whitening. Drying of the skin often results in skin darkening. More so, dry skin tends to get tanned faster. As such, keeping your skin moisturized at all times is a sure fire way to making it fairer. Make sure that all your exposed skin is kept moisturized. This also helps in keeping your skin supple and smooth. I would call it, touchable!

Skin Whitening Tips # 3
Tomato has bleaching effects. It is a natural skin lightener. Rubbing tomato on the skin is one of the best way to bleach the skin without any harmful chemicals. It has best effects when the tomato is cold. Cut it in half and rub the internal part of the tomato on your skin. Rub it for around 10 minutes and then leave it on for around 20 to 25 minutes. Then wash it off with cold water. The skin might seem dry after this skin whitening treatment, so best is to put on moisturizer after that. It is one of the natural skin whitening tips.

Skin Whitening Tips # 4
Wheat flour is a great secret to fair soft skin. Mix wheat flour with water, making it a thin paste. Rub it on to the skin. Make sure that you have applied it evenly on the skin. Leave it on for around 15 to 20 minutes. While washing it off, rub it on the skin like a scrub. Dab dry your face to avoid too much friction on the skin. Regular wheat flour treatment, like once a week, is a great way to have soft, supple and fair skin. Basiclly, it is a sure fire answer to the question, how to look hot.

Skin Whitening Tips # 5
Papaya extract is great for the skin and hair. While eating it is great for the eyes, skin, hair and the digestive system. Applying it as a pack on the skin works well for skin whitening. Mash the papaya, cool it, and apply it on your skin. Leave it on for around 20 minutes. Lounge around while you wait. Wash it off after the stipulated time. Dry your face lightly. You will not only notice your skin tone to be fairer, but a soft glow as well.

Skin Whitening Tips – Bonus Note
There are many lifestyle changes that can help you make your skin a shade fairer, if not more. Reduce coffee intake. Coffee is responsible for increasing the body toxin level as well as the heat. This leads to increase melanin count, hence, making the skin darker. Reducing coffee intake will lead to a slow and steady whitening process of the skin. To increase the speed, ensure that you drink 4 to 5 liters of water on a daily basis. This will help flush out the toxins from the body faster. More so, the glow on the skin will be more prominent.

April 14th, 2010 by admin

July 27th, 2009 by admin

Author :Step9

Blemish free, clear and healthy skin is a wish of everyone but only few are part of this wish. However, you can be a part of this wish too with proactive skin care. Proactive skin care means protecting and healing your skin for blemishes and also to stop the growth of new ones. With proactive skin care, one can also stop premature aging of the skin.

Mainly the skin problems depend upon the skin types. If you have oily skin, your skin will be more prone to acnes. Acnes are caused due to comedo, which is a hair follicle that gets combined with oil, dead skin cells and bacteria, and results into acnes. Our skin become more prone to acnes when it gets exposed to pollution and harmful sun rays, thereby leading to dead cells and accumulation of oil dirt. Today we see not only women but also men suffering from the problem of acnes. However, the people who have dry skin are prone to cracks in their skin.

Whatever may be the skin problem whether related to dry skin or oily skin, the solution for a healthy and clear skin comes in the form of proactive skin care tips. These include following methods:

1) To stop the growth of acne, one must everyday clean his or her skin with the application of suitable cleanser and benzoyl peroxide which penetrates into the pores and clean hair follicles.

2) As much as possible, keep your skin protected from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. The best alterative to protect oneself from UV ray is to always apply sunscreen lotion when you are moving out. You can also carry an umbrella along that will protect your skin from harmful sun rays.

3) To make your skin healthy and wrinkle free, avoid habits like smoking that decreases necessary vitamins from our body like Vitamin A and Vitamin C that are essential for healthy and glowing skin. Read the rest of this entry »

July 27th, 2009 by admin

Author: James
Among the more effective anti-aging skin care products, we find Tretinoin, Retinol, and Retinyl Palmitate. These are all forms of vitamin A or derivatives thereof. The most significant of them is Tretinoin (retinoic acid). It is found in vegetables such as carrots and spinach. Tretinoin is used extensively in the treatment of acne and increasingly used in anti-aging regimens. Vitamin A is readily absorbed by the skin and stimulates production of new skin cells and as a result increases collagen production. Collagen being responsible for the fuller, firmer, and younger looking skin.

Being the strongest of the Vitamin A treatments, Trentinoin can treat some of the most stubborn skin conditions, but is also the most irritating of the products. When using any of these vitamin A treatments, if your skin becomes irritated, stop using the product to avoid further damaging the skin. Vitamin A in all its forms increases sensitivity to the sun. Don’t forget the sunscreen!

Retinol, while not as strong as Tretinoin is found mostly in anti-aging or skin rejuvenation products. It is found in the same vegetables as any other Vitamin A treatment, but is not as easily absorbed into the skin. Its popularity among anti-aging products is due to the fact that one can start with a mild form of it and gradually increase the dose, thereby avoiding the irritation encountered with the stronger forms of vitamin A. Read the rest of this entry »