Archive for July, 2010

The Role of the Sun in Skin Care

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

Many people believe that the sun is a good contributor to ensuring good skin, but always be wary that the role of the sun in skin care can only be limited in ways that it actually can do more harm than good when one is not guided accordingly.
Vitamin D from the sun can be helpful for many, but it can only be left to that since we all know that we actually need to protect our skin from the sun’s harmful rays, especially from prolonged ultraviolet radiation.
Here are some tips to make good use of sun exposure and avoid the dangers of getting too much of it.
Always make it a point to wear sunscreen formulated with a sun protection factor (SPF) of no less than 15, regardless if the weather is cloudy or not wanting to spend a lot of time outdoors, since this will help keep your body filter out ultraviolet rays that can be reflected on the earths surface.
Make sure to also reapply sunscreen every 2 to 3 hours if you plan to go swimming or get involved in sports activities. Same goes even for sunscreen that is labeled waterproof. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
Also look for sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays, especially those labeled with “broad spectrum protection” or UVA protection for formulation with an SPF of 15 or greater.
Select a sunscreen that is labeled “nonacnegenic” or “noncomedogenic” to help keep pores clear and also prevents the skin from having pimples or acne.
If possible, stay away from the sun between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, which are the times of the day when the sun happens to be the hottest.
If staying indoors is unavoidable during these times, make sure to reapply sunscreen frequently and take indoor breaks every so often if you can.
One good tip in knowing when it is safer to be under the sun is when your shadow is longer than you are tall, but continue to wear sunscreen just to be safe.
Take note to apply more sunscreen with higher SPF when around reflective surfaces like ice, snow or water, since it intensifies the heat, as well as the ultraviolet radiation of the sun.
Some medications, like prescription acne treatments or birth control pills can increase a persons sensitivity to the sun, so make sure to ask your doctor if you are taking any or both of these treatments, as well as increasing the SPF of the sunscreen to use when exposed to the sun.
If you want the glow of a tan, try to fake it with self-tanners or salon tanning treatments to avoid the risk of getting harmful ultraviolet radiation. You may also want to avoid tanning beds, although manufacturers claim that tanning beds are free of UVB rays, they still use ultraviolet radiation that could also be harmful to the skin.
Never ever consider applying sunscreen on your exposed skin to be wasteful, since the cost of getting skin disease costs much more than several tubes of sunscreen.
Always make sure to give careful attention to children and do not hesitate to apply sunscreen on them, even double the frequency as you do on yourself. Children have more sensitive skin than adults and need it more than we do.
To avoid the risk of getting over exposed you may resort to going on a healthy diet that includes vitamin supplements, especially vitamin D and can be sourced from foods like dairy products, fish, oysters or fortified cereals.
Lastly, make sure to always go to a dermatologist whenever you feel something wrong in your skin, since skin cancer is very treatable when discovered early.
So make the most of the information provided in this article and understand the role of the sun in skin care.

Daily Skin Care To Avoid Signs Of Aging

Monday, July 5th, 2010

Experts in the beauty industry say that there are actually two effective ways of skin care to the aging skin: first is the artificial means and the natural means. The former can be done through plastic surgeries and through the use of products that contain chemicals that are believed to minimize the signs of aging and the latter would include measures to living a healthy lifestyle.
More and more people prefer the artificial means because it is an easy remedy to aging. They encourage people to take natural means as possible because if these are done and followed properly, they can have a lasting effect on the person’s appearance and over all health and well being.
Experts say that natural skin regimen is the best way to achieve a long lasting, healthy skin. This might include having a balanced and healthy diet and developing a regular work out, exercise or physical activities to keep the blood circulate freely. This can also be possible by stopping smoking cigarettes; veering away from stressful events; finding ample time to sleep; being well hydrated through lots of fluids especially water and by keeping a positive outlook in life.
Why Skin Care Is Important
To avoid the early signs of aging, proper skin care should be an essential part of every person’s life. The first step in taking care of skin is to know what type of skin you possess. Dermatologistsprofessionals who are experts on skin and skin care and treatmentcategorize skin types into four that include dry, oily, normal, and combination.
If there’s a tight or rough feel of the skin, you should pay more attention to the way you treat your skin because this is an indicator of dry skinthe most common contributor of ugly skin. This is characterized by the presence of flakes and scales as well as redness and itchiness of the skin. Experts say that is if you have dry skin, it is a must that you avoid washing it with hot water. It is also a must that you stay away from using harsh or strong soaps and alcohol-based skin products to avoid skin irritation.
Then, the next type is the oily skin that is characterized by shiny appearance and large pores on the skin’s surface that makes it prone to acne. People who have oily skin should shun away from too much scrubbing that can cause more pimple breakout. It is also advisable that they use non-comedogenic skin products to maintain a healthy skin.
On the other hand, normal skin is characterized by healthy glow. It doesnt have redness or large pores. People who have normal skin type should use skin care products that help maintain the natural water balance of their skin.
Last effective skin care would be the combination skin that has dry and oily areas. Oily sections usually include the T-zone (the forehead, nose, and chin), while cheeks remain less oily. People with combination skin must use products that are specifically developed for this skin type in order to avoid over-drying that can cause redness, itchiness, or any irritation.

Basic Skin Care Regimen you Should Know About

Sunday, July 4th, 2010

Many people often ignore that the key to having healthy and good skin is oftentimes missing out on basic skin care regimen that you should know about and practice.
It is oftentimes understandable how people often tend to neglect the idea that skin care should also be part of their regular routine due to the daily grind of everyday work and living, however, many people deny the fact that this should still be a part of their regular routines.
Basic skin care should form part of a persons way of life, since having healthy skin is also a good way to ensure healthy living, which also contributes to ensuring preventive measures against health threatening conditions like skin cancer and other skin related diseases.
First skin care regiment to consider would be cleansing.
There are a lot of skin cleansers available in the market, especially drugstores and skin care centers, however, awareness should also be the responsibility of everyone before even going through this process.
Take for example the importance of knowing your skin type, which is key to also knowing which type of skin cleansers to use.
This is practically important since there are a variety of skin types that can be appropriate for specific skin cleansers as well, since using the wrong type of cleanser for the wrong skin type could cause more harm than good.
Among the most common skin types are oily or dry skin, for which varying levels also apply, which are often effects secretions of the skins sebaceous glands.
When in doubt about determining your skin type and what cleansers to use, you may seek the advise of a dermatologist to make you more confident about the cleansing regimen you are going to pursue.
Next would be exfoliation, which is the process by which dead skin is scraped off or removed from the outer surface, intended to clear the outer layer of the skin from prolonged exposure to dead skin cells that could impede the regeneration of healthy skin.
Among the most common exfoliation methods include, microdermabrasion, retinoids or chemical peels.
Microdermabrasion usually involves using scrubs, for which most believe should be done once weekly. But make sure to use scrubs composed of tiny grains, since coarse grains could scar the outer layer instead of just removing dead skin cells.
Retinoids on the other hand works by removing the top layer of skin cells, especially dead cells, and at the same time, promote the regeneration of collagen in the skin and works by preventing the rapid breakdown of the skins structural fiber causing fine lines and large pores as we grow older.
Last is chemical peel, which is a process supervised and administered by a dermatologist or licensed skin therapist, which provides better results compared to over the- counter chemical peel treatment kits.
Chemical peels usually take an hour or so, but can achieve maximum results of making the skin look younger and shave as much as five years off your face.
Lastly, always make sure to apply sunscreen, especially when you are constantly exposed to the sun.
This is mainly so because the sun can add years and even cause the skin to dry rapidly, causing wrinkles and can even bombard the skin of dangerous doses of ultraviolet rays that can cause skin cancer.
It is important to be aware of these basic steps since skin care is more than just leasing the eye with aesthetics, but essentially so since basic skin care you should know about is also a key contributor to a healthy and productive way of life.