8 Tips for a Healthy and shining Skin

Tip 1: Drink Water

Water has long been considered as the most efficient natural treatment or an almost free treatment for any skin condition because of its being alkaline, with pH 7.3. It prevents dehydration which is capable of producing sebum or oil from the sebaceous glands. Your skin needs water in order for it to function best, thus doctors and nutritionists suggest that a daily intake of between 6 to 8 glasses of water per day is highly needed.

Tip 2: Watch Your Diet

Nutrition plays a vital role in skin health too. Specific foods such as those acidic foods and dairy products are said to be effective in causing an allergic reaction in some people. Also, one of the widely debated topics in the area of nutrition today is chocolates. Some say that chocolate does affect the condition of the skin, while others say it doesn’t. Whatever the result may be, the best advice is just to follow a nutritious diet that has a number of fresh fruits and green-leafy veggies, as well as fiber.

Tip 3: Consider Exfoliants

Many experts say that exfoliating your skin is another great way to attain a beautiful skin. So, try to invest in a good body exfoliant or "loofah", as it is commonly called, as it is capable of eliminating the dead skin cells from your body. Accordingly, this should be done once or twice a week so to free the skin to breathe. What’s more, exfoliants help to put off ingrown hair from developing.

However, it is essential to avoid using any body exfoliant on the skin on the face. The main reason for this precaution is that the facial tissue is more sensitive and finer than those tissues of the body.

Tip 4: Consider a Healthy Routine for Facial Care

When it comes to facial skin care, getting into a healthy beauty routine is not bad. Most of the doctors today greatly suggest that you cleanse, moisturize and tone your skin twice every day. When cleaning, never fail to remember cleaning the area on the neck, including your face. Apply a moisturizer or neck cream after.

Before going to bed at night, always bear in mind to remove all make up. Clean your skin before you sleep, no matter how tired you may feel. It was found out that during the night, the skin goes through a process of elimination and cannot breathe properly if it is clogged with make up. And, you may also find out that sleeping with your make up on will cause your skin to "break out" with spots on it.

When it comes to shaving for men, some men may experience shaving rashes. For many, these rashes lower their self-esteem, but this is actually not a big problem to think about. There are a lot ways to avoid rashes. Perhaps one of the best is to make sure that when shaving, the razor strokes are following the direction of hair growth. That’s simply it!

Tip 5: Heal Your Feet

When it comes to skin care, the feet are often neglected. So, if care you found no time for a professional pedicure, try to fill a football or basin with warm water and add your favorite essential oil. Soak your feet for about fifteen minutes. Then, dry them and apply a rough skin remover onto them. Rinse this off and dry you feet well. And, if you consider pedicure, simply add some body cream to your feet for an easy and quick fix pedicure.

Tip 6: Avoid Too Much Exposure to the Sun

One of the most common precautions when it comes to skin care is avoiding too much exposure to the sun. As you may know, over exposure to sunlight causes sunburn. So, while current sun blocks only block out the UVB rays and still let in harmful UVA rays, it is still wise to cover up before venturing into the hands of Apollo. If possible, use a wide brimmed hat while tending your garden to keep the sun from your face.

Tip 7: Exercise

Aside from considering a healthy diet, exercising your body also helps keep your skin healthy. Note that a proper exercise does not only keep the body fit by regulating the oxygen; it also improves the glow of the skin as well.

Tip 8: Take Enough Rest

One common problem that face people is stress; the one which is not normal. It was found out that when a person is stressed, the adrenal cortex converts adrenal androgens to the hormone testosterone in male and female, which in turn results in overactive sebaceous glands. These adrenal androgens are released causing a double amount of testosterone, causing the face to be oily, while other areas of the body are still dry from dehydration. So, taking proper rest that includes 6 to 8 hours of undisturbed sleep daily is the best way to rejuvenate the skin.

9 Acne Treatments That Definitely do Not Work

Given that acne is by far the most common disease in the world, I’m constantly surprised at the amount of misinformation there is about acne treatments. There are so many commonly held believes regarding treatments, which have no scientific or medical validity, but continue to be passed on from individual to individual. More worrying is the possible consequences of trying some of these options. Here are list of common acne treatments that categorically do not work:

1.Household cleaning products, even when diluted, should not be used to treat acne. There can be severe adverse reactions including chemical burns from pursuing this route

2.Similarly cleaning powders are ineffective for acne

3.Washing up liquid does not work for acne

4.Home facial saunas will do nothing for your acne, but will certainly aggravate, already sensitive skin

5.Sticky tape left on the skin overnight and removed in the morning will certainly remove dead skin cells and excess oil, but is likely to damage the sensitive skin, and may cause an allergy to the glue

6.Prolonged exposure to the sun or using a sun bed will not help your acne, and can be dangerous if you are also taking oral medication of certain types. For example taking certain antibiotics in tablet form, will make your skin highly sensitive to sun light

7.Sudocrem is an excellent treatment for nappy rash, but highly ineffective for acne, primarily because it contains a mixture of greases and oils which are bad for acne

8.Taking high doses of vitamin A or B will not directly help your acne, and may cause other side-effects

9.Squeezing your spots is universally not recommended in combating acne. Doing so will prolong and spread the acne to other parts of the affected area

There are many other ‘not recommended’ acne treatment regimes, many of which will worsen an already difficult condition. Avoid these shortcuts and stick with a programme overseen by your medical professional, or one which is based on solid scientific and medical evidence. If you do this, you'll succeed in overcoming your acne condition.

Peter Vine is a successful online publisher of Acne-Treatment-Expert.com

He provides practical advice and the latest information on all aspects of adult acne treatments, which you can readily research on his website.

9 Steps To Cleaner And Healthier Skin

How to manage a cleaner, healthier and easier to manage skin just follow this list of nine items:

1) Lower your stress level through prayer and meditation. Stress creates hormones that actually age us as they destroy cells and create toxic biproducts and free radicals. Studies have shown that prayer and meditation can reduce our stress levels. Prayer and meditation have been proven to even alleviate some of the symptoms of cancer and other life threatening diseases.

2) Drink plenty of water. It is a fact that 90% of us do not drink enough water. For your skin cells to function properly and heal properly from cuts, etc... we need to drink 8-12 glasses of water every day. Our skin is one of our most important organs as it protects us from disease, cushions our falls, etc... It needs plenty of water.

3) Get proper sleep. Not getting the proper 8-10 hours of sleep per day will first show in your skin. Broken capillaries, puffiness, circles under the eyes.

4) Eat well. Get proper nutrition. Too many junk foods can cause or worsen skin problems like pimples and acne. A well balanced meal 3 times per day has been proven to help alleviate spikes in skin problems and help to average out the outbreaks in acne vulgaris.

5) Take vitamins to supplement your skin and body. We can't always make sure we get 100% of each vitamin and mineral with the foods we eat, but we can take a multivitamin once a day. They are cheap at Walmart and there is no excuse. People that take multivitamins once a day live longer. Its a proven fact just like persons that smoke take years off their lives.

6) Properly clean your skin. Harsh soaps can dry out your skin and even stimulate further sebum (oil) production which can worsen acne. Use a mild cleanser with 2% salicylic acid. This has been proven very effective in ridding excess oils while maintaining proper hydration and pH. The slight acidity will keep bacteria at bay.

7) Don't smoke. Smoking puts years on you. Literally, smoking can add 10 years to the aged look of your skin. Why would you want to do that? If you must have nicotine then get nicotine gum or the patch - they will cure your cravings and there is no evidence or statistics of anyone developing cancer, lung disease, etc... from these.

8) Wear sunscreen. The skin does have keratonin to protect against the suns rays, but it is no match for UV rays, etc... that we expose ourselves to. Melanoma has several forms and all are deadly. If you don't think you will get skin cancer or think you are invulnerable, just go to your local dermatologist and ask to see pictures of clients with skin cancer, better yet go to the oncology center at your local hospital. You won't think that way ever again. Wear sunscreen.

9) Treat yourself to a spa treatment atleast once a year. Skin peels, TCA peels, deep tissue massage, complete relaxation, aromatherapy, etc... will all energize and heal your skin. TCA peels will actual improve your skins ability to regenerate itself and improve collagen levels.

Remember, follow these nine steps to enjoy healthier skin.

Learning About Acne

Acne, often thought to be only a teenager's skin problem, is actually a condition that can affect adults both male and female, although it generally begins during puberty. Taking a proactive approach to treating acne is very important. How you look after your skin every day, along with the treatment you and your doctor select are key steps in your fight to eliminate pimples, preventing scarring and eliminating your acne.

There are a number of acne medications that can be used to treat your acne including over-the-counter acne products like Panoxyl?, or prescription drugs including topical treatments, Accutane? and hormone therapies.

For more information about medical treatments, click on the appropriate treatment above. If you want to learn more about your acne, read one of the recent articles we have featured here:

Hormonal treatments for acne: How they work Hormonal treatments, including oral contraceptives, have long been recognized by dermatologists to be an effective treatment option for women who have acne, no matter how severe. Read Hormonal Treatment of Acne: How They Work

Acne Myths: Chocolate And Sex Causes Acne! Have you been told that you shouldn't eat chocolate because it causes acne? Or how about French fries? Pizza? Wrong! Those are just myths, and while some foods can make acne worse for some people, researchers have found that it does not cause it! Read Acne Myths: Chocolate and Sex Causes Acne!

The Big Squeeze On Acne: A Discussion About Acne Scars. We all aspire to a smooth, clear complexion. When pimples arise, the need to flatten them out and squeeze is understandable. Unfortunately, this may lead to short and long-term problems such as persistent redness, large brown stains (hyperpigmentation) and scarring (loss of skin substructure). Stains and scars are often confused by patients - stains are pale or brown flat marks, whereas scars can be seen as indentations or pock marks in the skin. It is now recognized that scars can also develop from small, as well as, large lumpy pimples. Read The Big Squeeze on Acne: A Discussion About Acne Scars.

Acne: Pinpoint the Trigger While acne commonly develops during the preteen and early teen years, it can also arise in young adulthood and persist for years. Studies show women feel more frustrated by acne than men do - adult women even more so than teenage girls. Why? Dealing with a chronic disorder typically associated with puberty can lead to great frustration. But, don't despair if you have acne, effective treatment is available. Read Acne Treatment: Pinpoint the Trigger

The Big Squeeze on Acne: A Discussion About Acne Scars

We all aspire to a smooth, clear complexion. When pimples arise, the need to flatten them out and squeeze is understandable. Unfortunately though, this may lead to short and long-term problems such as persistent redness, large brown stains (hyperpigmentation) and scarring (loss of skin substructure). Stains and scars are often confused by patients - stains are pale or brown flat marks whereas scars can be seen as indentations or pock marks in the skin. It's now recognized that scars can also develop from small as well as large lumpy pimples.

For both scars and stains, the best treatment is avoidance - that is, preventing the acne in the first place or at least treating it early and avoiding picking or squeezing the spots.

To treat acne and prevent new scars from forming, you should remember:

You should get help for your acne as soon as you notice it as early treatment minimizes the severity of acne and the risk of scarringEffective acne treatments are availableYou can control and cover the visible lesions and avoid embarrassmentIt is common to have stains and mild scars from acne. Stains will generally improve with time and can be helped to improve more quickly with skin care treatments such as topical retinoids, alpha-hydroxy acids and therapeutic exfoliating facials. For many of those with mild scars, they may not even be aware of it - some of these may improve over time. However, severe scarring may be more difficult to treat.

There are a number of types of scars caused by acne. (Pictures can be found at Types of Acne Scars)

Ice pick scars - Deep pits, that are the most common and a classic sign of acne scarring.Box car scars - Angular scars that usually occur on the temple and cheeks, and can be either superficial or deep, these are similar to chickenpox scars.Rolling scars - Scars that give the skin a wave-like appearance.Hypertrophic scars - Thickened, or keloid scars.Ideally, acne should be quiescent or controlled before treating scarsTreatments for scars depend on the specific scar typeTreatment also depends on your skin type.Embarrassment from is most often due to facial scars - effective treatment can lead to an improvement in self-image and confidenceScars on the chest and back will also respond to treatmentThere are several non-surgical treatment options that may be appropriate for your acne scars:

Skin Camouflage/Cover-up: For patients with active acne, acne staining, and scars - effective camouflage foundation can improve the appearance of the skin rapidly. Choose products that are non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic and have your tones matched by a skin-care expert to achieve that matte, flawless appearance.

Topical Creams: (Tretinoin): Can improve your acne, reduce staining and improve fine scars by causing gentle exfoliation and by encouraging collagen production.

Chemical Peels (AHA peels): Can improve overall skin tone and luster, but do little for scars, it works best if you get a series of at least six peels, having one every 1-2 weeks.

Skin Fillers/injectables: Materials are injected into the depressed area of the scar to elevate it to the level of the normal surrounding skin. This treatment is best for scars with smooth shoulders such as thumbprint or rolling scars. Evaluating whether individual scars will respond to fillers is easily done by placing slight tension at the scar edge - if this improves the appearance of the scars, fillers will help. There are temporary and permanent fillers - examples are: Artecoll?, Zyplast?, Restylane?, and HylaForm?.

Non-ablative collagenosis: New laser and radiofrequency devices are being evaluated for enhancing collagen formation in deeper skin layers without damaging the skin surface. It is possible that these treatments may also prove useful in acne scarring.

1. Microdermabrasion: It uses very fine aluminum crystals to achieve light exfoliation of the skin. This is helpful for staining and very fine scars. It also works best if you get a series of at least 6, having one every 1-2 weeks.

2. Photorejuvenation: Using laser or broadband visible light, 5-6 treatments that are performed every 3-4 weeks. This treatment improves mild acne scarring by causing new collagen formation.

3. Scar Revision: Surgical removal (excision) of acne scars is especially effective for ice pick and boxcar scars. The excision may be in the form of a punch that is closed with sutures that are removed about 7 days later. The end result is replacement of a circular scar with a linear suture scar.

Another technique called subcision uses a sharp instrument to undercut the tethered bases of scars. In this case, the overlying skin is not cut so there is no need for sutures. Further improvement can then be achieved by injecting filler substances into the subcised regions.

4. Resurfacing: a) Ablative Laser Treatments: - Laser resurfacing (CO2 laser, Erbium Yag laser): These resurfacing lasers remove the surface layer of skin and cause a zone of heat injury. The healing process allows for reformation with younger less scarred skin and deeper layer of new collagen formation.

b) Dermabrasion: - This is a mechanical procedure in which a rapidly rotating wire or brush is used to strip off the surface irregularities of skin. Felt by most experts to be the most effective primary treatment for extensive scarring, it can be used in conjunction with fillers and excision.

The Unseen Impact of Acne: There is help for those suffering.

Acne is universal. At some time or another we all experience this annoying disease. As teenagers we are frustrated with unsightly blemishes, and as adults, we are dismayed that we can still get acne. Acne has a predilection for affecting the face - a primary site for others to gauge our attractiveness. Facial involvement with acne is an ongoing source of embarrassment and concern - especially for those in the formative years of physical growth, self-image development and socialization.

When the pore openings on the face, neck, back, chest, and arms become plugged with skin debris, oil produced by the deeper oil glands becomes trapped - resulting in blackheads and whiteheads. As inflammation develops, we start to see red pimples and even deeper lumps, (cysts or nodules). These inflamed spots can then lead to scarring and staining of the skin. (Read about Acne Basics)

Oil production increases during adolescence when the sex hormones are elevated and the oil glands have increased in size. Acne becomes less frequent in the early and mid -20's, although some patients can have persistent breakouts into their 40's and beyond.

While the physical features of acne are readily apparent to us all, the emotional and social impact of acne is often underestimated by non-sufferers. This can be manifested as anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal. Previous studies have shown that those with acne are dissatisfied with their appearance, embarrassed, self-conscious and lack self-confidence. Problems with social interactions with the opposite gender, appearances in public, and with strangers have also been observed.

The mental stress of sufferers with acne can be greater than that associated with other chronic diseases such as asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, back pain, arthritis, and heart disease. Acne patients also have a greater tendency to significant levels of depression and anxiety.

Of particular note is one study in which 18 per cent and 44 per cent of acne patients, respectively, reported serious depression and anxiety. To further illustrate the depth of despair experienced by those living with this condition, six per cent of patients in one study reported thinking about committing suicide.

Acne can also affect one's ability to earn a livelihood. A previous study has shown that those with acne were more likely to be unemployed than those unaffected. A recent Canadian study also observed that those with more severe acne were more likely to be unemployed than those with lesser involvement. It is uncertain whether these findings are due to the patient's psychosocial impairment or the negative response by potential employer's to those affected by acne.

Effective therapy for acne can help reverse both the physical features of acne and the unseen psychological and social impact of this condition. With appropriate treatment, we frequently observe improvement in self-esteem and confidence. From the initial visit where patients may appear withdrawn and sullen, improvement with therapy is typically associated with a more positive outgoing disposition. Studies have demonstrated that effective acne therapy can help reverse feelings of shame, embarrassment, anxiety, and inadequacy.

If over the counter preparations do not control your acne you may need to see a dermatologist and medical prescriptions may be necessary. Available treatments currently available include:

Topical prescriptions Antibiotic pills Hormone pills Isotretinoin pills Light and photodynamic therapy. With targeted treatments individualized to acne severity and specific patient needs, there is every likelihood that acne can be significantly improved - allowing one to regain his or her confidence to lead a better, more productive life.

If you or someone you know is suffering silently, feeling there is no hope, turn to a dermatologist or a doctor to discuss the types of treatments available. You can also learn more at www.acnecuretreatment.chrischel.com