Skin Care

Enemies of the Skin

CITY LIFE
Fresh air combined with certain health keys is what we should all aspire to. Unfortunately, modern lifestyles mean it’s impossible to escape the city’s byproducts. There’s no doubt that living in a city contributes to premature aging of the skin. Chemicals such as carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, lead and chlorofluorocarbons (all part of what we know as pollution) set off free radicals, which lead to collagen and elastin breakdown. Furthermore, car fumes (especially leaded petrol) and dust can filter in through air vents; chemicals are released into the air by machines; modern ventilation systems restrict the supply of fresh air in office buildings; and there’s UV radiation from unnatural light sources and computer screens. Our drinking water often contains chemicals, residues of heavy metals and human wastes. Add stress to this package and it’s no wonder we’re seeing so many more cases of sensitized skin. In fact, living in a polluted city can add as much as five years to your face. The answer (other than retiring to the Alps) -comes in the form of antioxidants.

SUN
Let’s face it, there is no such thing as a healthy tan. While a teeny bit of sun exposure is necessary for vitamin 0 production, too much sun will prematurely age the skin (see chapter three). According to dermatologists, the sun’s ultraviolet rays are accountable for more skin damage than any other factor.

SUGAR
A diet too high in sugar or simple carbohydrates may have a negative effect on the skin’s appearance and how fast it ages. Sugar in the human body can attach itself to structural proteins like elastin and collagen, causing them to be less flexible and potentially more prone to degeneration. If, for instance, an enzyme that repairs skin after sun exposure isn’t working properly because it’s got a sugar stuck to it, then that important function isn’t going to happen. Remember that the body converts anything that’s starch -rice, pasta, cake and flour -into sugar. Rather opt for ‘good’ foods like protein, essential fatty acids (found in fatty fish like mackerel, salmon and tuna) and iron. An iron deficiency contributes to Pollution, sun exposure, sugar and cigarette smoke all trigger the formation of free radicals. The result is a skin ‘breakdown’ manifesting in premature aging or even severe conditions such as skin cancer, anemia and a low blood count, and produces a pale, sallow complexion.

SMOKING
If you cannot give up smoking for all the sound health reasons, at least consider what it does to your face. The skin of a smoker is, on average, 40% thinner than a non-smoker’s. Smokers have far more wrinkles than non-smokers -in fact, a 40-year-old smoker is likely to have as many as a 60-year-old non-smoker. Particularly noticeable are the lines around the mouth (from puckering) and eyes (from squinting through the smoke).

Remember to be moderate in your consumption of alcohol. A glass of wine per day is perfectly permissible, but don’t be tempted to overdo it – your skin will pay the price.

Furthermore, nicotine and tar slow down the blood circulation and thus reduce blood flow to the skin, depriving it of vital nutrients and oxygen, and leading to an unattractive greytinged, dull complexion. The two harmful substances also promote the formation of free radicals and weaken the collagen and elastin fibres, resulting in skin that is prematurely wrinkled. If that’s not enough to put you off, consider that smokers have much higher rates of skin cancers, they are less able to utilize antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin C and their wounds heal slower. When your skin is cut, it needs more oxygen and nutrients than normal for the healing process. Smoking causes the little blood vessels in the skin to constrict, resulting in less blood flowing to the skin and therefore slower healing.

ALCOHOL
Alcohol is a toxin and when ingested has to be detoxified by the body. Excessive quantities are not easily dealt with as they place strain on the organs involved in the detoxifying process, such as the liver. While a glass of wine with your meal is fine, a single night of bingeing will be visible on your skin the next morning as dehydration, redness and puffy eyes. Usually heavy drinkers tend to have heavier capillary formation, giving the skin a red, ruddy look. Alcohol is also a vasodilator: when you drink, your skin feels warm because your blood vessels actually relax, allowing more blood flow to the skin. If you do this consistently, the blood vessels eventually start to stretch, which leads,to greater blood vessel formation. Alcohol also depletes the body’s levels of vitamin B, especially folic acid and thiamine. In your skin, a deficiency will manifest as a sallow complexion, dryness, slackness and breakouts.

STRESS
Mental overload and undue stress can cause your skin to behave badly. When you’re stressed, the body releases adrenal or stress hormones, which bring about a number of changes in the skin, including blemishes and oily or dry patches. In chronic cases, blood is pumped away from the skin to the main organs, resulting in a pale, ashen appearance and under-eye circles. At the same time, cell turnover is slowed, and this leads to a build-up of toxins that makes the skin look sallow.

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Advanced Skin Care

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How To Remove Your Blackheads Successfully

Blackheads are actually a type of acne which are very difficult to get rid of. They tend to stay on your skin for a longer period. There are a number of techniques available for the removal of blackheads,but most of them don’t produce any permanent result.

Blackheads are mainly caused due to the clogging of the pores of your skin by the excess secretion of sebum from your sebaceous glands. Other factors include unhealthy and irregular food habits,excess rubbing of the face,insufficient intake of water etc. So before going for any cosmetic or medical treatment,you should start by going for a healthy diet. You should drink a lot of water and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Avoid junk and oily food. Try to avoid cooked carbohydrates and fats. You can use olive oil in your diet.

Apart from your diet,the following are the different techniques available to remove your blackheads:

(1) Exfoliating: This is a good method for removing your blackheads. For this purpose, some low potency exfoliating product (made of Benzoyl Peroxide) may be used. It removes the dead skin cells and thereby removes the most stubborn blackheads. It is also mild on your skin.

(2) Using Retinoids: Topical Retinoids can be used successfully to remove and prevent blackheads. It reduces the oil secretion and and opens the pores of the skin.

(3) Use of blackhead strips: These are small strips which are to be placed on the affected area for some time and then to be pulled off. It removes all the blackheads from the surface. This is an easy way to remove blackheads but is only temporary.

(4) Chemical peels: Chemical peels containing Salicyclic Acid or Glycolic Acid are also used to remove dead cells from the pores of the skin very effectively.

(5) Make-up: You must be very careful about your make-up and should use cosmetics that do not clog your pores. You should also wash your face thoroughly before going to bed.

All these techniques will help you to remove your blackheads. But along with these,you must also watch your diet and maintain proper hygiene.

Different Home Remedies For Acne

Those who suffer from acne generally use various costly medicines, creams and other methods to cure there ailment. Some of these are oral medications whereas others are topical creams or other surgical methods. But there are also different home remedies available for the treatment of acne. These remedies can be prepared at your home at a very little or no cost. Before going for other costly medicines you can start your acne treatment with these easily available home remedies. The following are some of the home remedies available:

(1) Orange peel: Treating acne with orange peel is very effective. Orange skin is to be pounded with water. The mixture is then to be applied on the acne affected area.

(2) Lemon juice: Lemon juice can also be used to treat acne. Applying lemon juice repeatedly on the affected area helps to reduce the pimples. Another good method is to mix lemon juice and rose water in equal amounts and to apply the mixture on the affected area with a cotton ball. Keep it there for about half an hour and wash.

(3) Garlic: Garlic is also an important ingredient which can be used to treat acne and other skin problems. Raw garlic can be massaged on the skin several times a day. It helps to cure acne from the outside. To be more effective,one or two garlic seeds should be taken with water every day for a month. This will purify the blood and cure acne from the inside of your body.

(4) Coriander juice: Mix a teaspoon of coriander juice with a little turmeric powder. Wash your face thoroughly before going to bed and apply the mixture on your face and leave it for the night. In place of coriander juice,mint juice can also be used.

(5) Fenugreek: Leaves of this vegetable are used to cure acne. The leaves are be to made a paste and applied on the affected area before going to bed each night. In the morning wash it with warm water.

(6) Cucumber: Apply small pieces or grated cucumber on the face for about half an hour each day. It helps to prevent acne,blackheads and other similar skin problems.

(7) Egg yolk: Egg yolk can be used to remove excess oil from your skin. Apply the egg yolk with a cotton ball on your skin. Leave it for about fifteen minutes and then wash with cold water. An oil free skin will help to prevent acne.

All the above home remedies can be used effectively to prevent and control acne. But when you start a treatment,you must give it sufficient time to work.

Want To Prevent Acne?

Among the different causes for acne,one important cause is to have an oily skin. An oily skin produces excess sebum which gets clogged in the pores of the skin. These pores then become prone to infection which often gets infected by bacteria and leads to an acne outbreak. So in order to prevent acne,you must try to keep your skin oil free. As the facial skin is prone to excess sebum production,acne attacks are also mainly found on the face. A greasy and oily face also looks bad. So in order to prevent acne as well as to look beautiful,you must make your face oil free.

The following tips can be followed to have an oil free skin:

(1) Wash your face regularly at least twice a day. It removes the dirt, pollution and extra oil so that they don’t clog the pores of the skin. Use warm water to wash the face and then rinse with cold water.

(2) You can use an astringent to remove the excess oil. Make sure not to use any oil based make-up.

(3) Before going to bed, make sure to remove all make-up from your face. It is better not to use any cold cream or other similar lotions.

(4) Try to avoid junk foods, oily and fried foods.

(5) Avoid oil based sunscreen lotions. Alcohol based lotions and creams should also be avoided.

(6) There is a direct link between stress and acne. When a person is under stress it increases the sebum secretion which makes the skin oily.

(7) Drink a lot of water.

(8) While using make-up, it is better to use loose powder instead of foundation or compact. Using loose powder several times can make the skin dry.

If you follow the above tips,you can make your skin oil free. But you should always remember the fact that while having a dry skin is good to prevent acne,it is likely to age faster than oily skin.