Anti Aging Skin Care - Dare to Look Young and Beautiful

These days there are some wonderful anti aging skin care products available to both men and women. Whether you are in your twenties or in your seventies, there are skin care treatments that can protect your skin from wrinkles. These creams can also reduce, or even get rid of, existing ones.

Many of the anti aging skin treatments can do much more than treat wrinkles. They can take care of sagging skin, dark circles under the eyes, brown spots and sunspots. Dry skin, red skin and even Rosacea can cease to bother you after a few months of treatment with these cutting edge products.

Do you have any of the above skin problems? If so, I suspect they bother you to some extent. When we start to look older, our minds go back to when our skin looked vibrant and compliments came our way. We assume that those days are gone forever. This isn't necessarily so. We can do more than dream....we can take action!

Here are some things you can do to improve the condition of your skin.

Get plenty of sleep

Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, especially carrots.

Stop smoking

Minimise alcohol intake

Wear a hat when you are in the sun

Wear a sun screen especially when you are driving the car.

Take a quality natural supplement.

If you are brave enough to dare to look young and beautiful then get yourself one of the new age anti aging skin care products to use on your skin. Such products will not contain mineral oil, paraffin or petroleum jelly.

Look for one that contains Cynergy TK, Nanobelle CoEnzymeQ10 and Natural Vitamin A.

Once these skin care treatments have transformed your skin you will experience some wonderful benefits, such as:-

Increased confidence.

Your family and friends will notice and will give you some lovely compliments on your appearance.

You will want to go out and socialise with people.




www.naturalbeautyproductsguide.com
Source: http://EzineArticles.com Veronica_O'Dea

Preventing Skin Cancer with Sunscreen

If you find yourself heading outside frequently, and who doesn’t, you need to take basic steps to prevent skin cancer. In this case, we are talking about sunscreen the proper use of it.

Skin cancer is often given short shift when cancer is discussed. In truth, it can be deadly in some forms and thousands of people suffer from it. Many of them don’t even know until it is too late. Fortunately, skin cancer is preventable and easily so. It is all about using sunscreen. There is more to it, however, than just applying sunscreen once at the beginning of the day and then forgetting about it. Here are some tips on how you should use it.

1. Early Application – Sunscreens work in different ways. Some work immediately, while others much sit on your skin for a bit. As a general course, you should apply sunscreen 30 minutes prior to going out in the sun.

2. Reapplication – Sunscreen protection is dependent on it being on your body. From time to time, you will need to reapply it during the day. How often? Well, read the instructions first. Also, reapply it anytime you go in the water or sweat profusely. This is true even for “waterproof” sunscreens. As an overall general rule, reapply every two to three hours.

3. Cloudy Days – Don’t be fooled by cloudy days. The vast majority of harmful rays from the sun penetrate the clouds. You should still use sunscreen on cloudy days and follow the reapplication guide above.

4. Your Scalp – For many of us, we don’t have as much hair up there as we perhaps think we do. If you have thinning hair, your scalp is going to take a beating from the sun. Now is not the time to be proud. Use sunscreen or where a hat to keep your scalp from being cooked.

5. Lips – Finally, nothing is worse then burned lips. Use a lip balm with sunscreen to protect the delicate lip skin.

When heading outside, it is often easy to get lazy and forget to apply sunscreen. Skin cancer is a serious thing, so show some common sense and protect yourself.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com John_Grimes

The Effects Of Smoking And Alcohol On Your Skin

Although smoking is best known for causing lung cancer, this habit is also among the biggest threats to your skin. Next to sun and chemicals, tobacco is one of the major accelerators of your skin natural aging process, and it is thought to be one of the fastest acting threats. Young people start showing signs of early skin aging after as little as 10 years of smoking. If you think this is a long period of time, you should keep in mind that many young people start smoking in their teen years (16-19 year olds) and are still below 30 when the first signs appear.

Smoking causes the narrowing of blood vessels throughout your body, including those that supply the outermost layers of the skin with oxygen and nutrients. Thus, your skin is slowly starved of vital oxygen and other substances, such as immunity-boosting Vitamin A. Alcohol has a similar effect by destroying the body supply of Vitamin A. This will lower the role of skin as the first line of defense against bacteria and infections.

The same Vitamin A is used in the skin turnover process to help generate the new cells that replace the dead ones. The vitamin provides a temporary boost in the production of collagen and can lend the skin a more youthful appearance for a while.

Over time, the lack of oxygen and nutrients would allow the formation of harmful free radicals that slowly damage the elastic fibers and collagen, which keep the skin strong and flexible. The result is usually the appearance of premature wrinkles. It is also thought likely that the repeated pursing of lips when inhaling smoke helps build wrinkles around the mouth, while the heat of the burning cigarette tip is also damaging the skin.

Seven Tips For Healthy Skin

Healthy skin is a sign of good health. The skin is the largest vital organ in our body, which is comprised of about two billion cells and has a surface area of around two square meters. Although only very few people can actually have the perfect skin and complexion, we can do something to bring out the best in our skin.

Here are quick and simple ways that we can care for our skin.


Nourish your skin by eating the proper foods. This means a healthy and balanced diet. A healthy and balanced diet promotes general well-being and optimizes the body to function at its best. To have healthy skin, eat plenty of seed food, i.e. fruits that contain seeds, and vegetables - organic is better as it contains additional nutrients.


Drink plenty of water. The recommended eight glasses of water a day is essential in maintaining the elasticity and suppleness of skin. Water also clears your skin and aids in the proper elimination of waste. Remember, less waste products in your body, more beautiful skin you would have.


Exercise regularly. Exercise is good for our hearts and bodies. Even our skin benefits from exercise since blood circulation is increased, thus bringing enough oxygen and nutrients to the rest of our bodies. Exercise also triggers the body to produce more sebum which is natural moisturizer for body.


Be smoke- and alcohol-free. Smoking tends to destroy the Vitamin C in your body and damage the elastic tissues that keep the skin tight. Drinking liquor on the other hand tends to expand your blood vessels causing red spots and itchiness on your skin.


Cleanse it. Cleaning plays an important part in the overall wellness of your skin. Experts agree that we should gently clean our skin, tone it, moisturize it, and exfoliate it.


Protect your skin. Harsh elements can severely damage your skin and can lead to irritation and infection. Wear sunscreen with at least SPF 15 every time you go out in the sun. For higher levels of activities, use SPF 45 because you will be perspiring, which dilutes the sunscreen. For those who are very fair, have red hair, blue eyes and freckles, add a total block that contains titanium or zinc.


Rest. Get plenty of rest. You are giving your skin a time to rejuvenate and heal while you rest. Stress is extremely bad for your skin and body. It indirectly creates instability in your hormonal system, which in turn leads to more skin problems like breakouts and acne.

The bottom line is that every person who wants to enjoy healthy skin for as long as possible should refrain from alcohol and tobacco consumption and should also take the basic steps in skin protection. There is no reason to harm yourself with unhealthy smoking and drinking and to damage your face with premature wrinkles. It is so simple to stay healthy.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com Misty_McDowell

Toxic Chemicals in Skin and Hair Care Products

It is important to be careful about the chemicals that are placed on the skin with skin care products and cosmetics. Many skin products and cosmetics have dangerous chemicals as a part of there components. Our skin is not a barrier to these chemicals it acts as a transporter for these chemicals and they can end up in our blood stream and from there to the rest of our body. These chemicals will add to the toxicity of the body and will potentially add to ill health or delay the healing process.

More than 500 ingredients are used to make cosmetics products. We are unsure of the safety for the majority of these chemicals. The most common reactions to the chemicals are eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis. However, there is evidence that people who work with these chemicals (such as hairdressers and beauticians) suffer from the cumulative effects of the chemical. The studies concluded that:

There is an increased risk of lung, uterine, ovarian, breast, digestive and respiratory cancer.

Of the 169 permanent hair dyes, 150 are mutagenic (cause changes to our cells genes).

The use of permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes is associated with increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, leukaemia and Hodgkin's disease.

The ingredients that you need to avoid include:

Foaming agents including sodium laureth sulphate (SLS), ammonium lauryl sulphate and 1,4-dioxane.

Artificial fragrances - many chemicals are able to gain access to our body via our olfactory system or sublingually (under the tongue). In the case of toothpaste a single fragrance can be made up of 200 chemicals which don't have to be labeled. Many fragrances are based on petroleum products and some reactions to these include dizziness, skin irritation and brown tinges to the skin. Products that are fragranced with essential oils are your safest choices.

Artificial colors. Things have improved since Queen Elizabeth 1 died from lead poisoning caused by her trademark white make up. However, there are still many questionable colorants. Synthetic colors are made up from coal tar containing heavy metal salts that deposit toxins into our systems.

Emulsifiers - these are used in just about all personal grooming products. They keep the texture uniform and stop the ingredients from separating. Eggs can be used for this but skin care companies prefer a more synthetic version. Glyceryl monostearate and stearic acid are two commonly used emulsifiers and oral care products that are known to cause side effects - in particular skin irritations. Another commonly used emulsifier is triethanolamine, a substance that is converted in living tissue into nitrosamines - some of the strongest carcinogens known. Triethanolamine causes skin irritation problems. Ethoxylates is another commonly used emulsifier which is a strongly mutagenic. It damages the DNA which increases skin aging and the risk of developing skin cancers.

Preservatives - These are used to slow the rate at which the products decay and therefore increase the products shelf life. Some of these that need to be avoided are:

Imidazolidinyl urea - formaldehyde. This is known to cause dermatitis, skin irritation, nerve damage and cancers.

Parabens - over 90% of cosmetics contain a preservative from the parabens family. Some of the latest research suggests that these may work as endocrine disruptors. These chemical play a role in increasing the rate of breast cancer and decreasing rates of male fertility.

Carrying agents - this is the ingredient that provides all the other ingredients a means to be suspended. Water is the most common carrying agent and some are derived from vegetable glycerine or seaweed. However, it is usually a petroleum derivative.


Porpylene glycol is commonly used and there are general warnings about it when it is in contact with the skin. It can cause brain, liver and kidney problems. Yet this is the agent that is commonly used in stick deodorants, toothpaste and most other personal care items!

Other ingredients to watch out for are PVP/VA copolymer, stearalkonium chloride, petrolatum and paraffin.

Skin and hair care products are used in an attempt to enhance our appearance or preserve our skin - however this is not what many of the product that are commercially available actually do. Many are far from safe and add to the toxic burden of the body. If you have been using unsafe skin and hair care products (and anybody who uses the usual commercially available products will have) then you need to detoxify your body to remove these toxic chemicals and limit the damage that they can cause.


Source: http://EzineArticles.com Dr_Jenny_Tylee

Ringworm effects on the skin

Ringworm is a fungal infections of the skin resulting in raised red swellings or lines that resemble burrowing worms; includes the diseases known as athlete's foot, jock itch, and ringworm or the scalp.

Ringworm is not caused by a worm. It is caused by a fungus. The kinds of fungi (plural of fungus) that cause ringworm live and spread on the top layer of the skin and on the hair. They grow best in warm, moist areas, such as locker rooms and swimming pools, and in skin folds.

Although the world is full of yeasts, molds, and fungi, only a few cause skin problems. These agents are called the dermatophytes, which means "skin fungi." Skin fungi can only live on the dead layer of keratin protein on top of the skin. They rarely invade deeper into the body and cannot live on mucous membranes, such as those in the mouth or vagina.

Body ringworm (tinea corporis) may be caused by Trichophyton, Microsporum, or Epidermophyton. The infection generally produces round patches with pink scaly borders and clear areas in the center. Sometimes the rash is itchy. Body ringworm can develop anywhere on the skin and can spread rapidly to other parts of the body or to other people with whom there is close bodily contact.

Ringworm is very mildly contagious. It can be caught from domestic animals (especially dogs and cats) as well as most farm animals. The infection can be caught from the animal directly, or from anything the animal rubs against. Ringworm can also be caught from other humans, both by direct contact and by prolonged contact with flakes of shed skin.

Ringworm of the scalp may start as a small sore that resembles a pimple before becoming patchy, flaky, or scaly. It may cause some hair to fall out or break into stubbles. It can also cause the place where the infection is to become swollen, tender, and red.

Anyone can get Ringworm . Scalp Ringworm often strikes young children; outbreaks have been recognized in schools, day-care centers, and infant nurseries . School athletes are at risk for scalp Ringworm, Ringworm of the body, and foot Ringworm; there have been outbreaks among high school wrestling teams . Children with young pets are at increased risk for Ringworm of the body.

There are several other skin conditions that can mimic the ring-like appearance of ringworm. None of these, however, are serious. They include eczema, contact dermatitis, psoriasis and seborrhea. If treatment for ringworm fails, your doctor may consider these other possibilities.

Scalp and beard infections may cause patches of baldness. In scalp infections, the lymph nodes at the back of the neck may become swollen and tender. Inflammation and scaling are usually fairly mild and may look like a patch of dandruff.

Diagnosis is usually made based on the appearance of the typical ringworm rash. Cultures, especially scalp cultures for tinea capitis, can be done though. Topical steroids are a usual first treatment most parents use, but this can change the appearance of ringworm, so be sure to mention to your Pediatrician if you have been applying any topical creams to your child's rash.


About the author:Rachel Broune writes articles for Ringworm Home Remedies. He also writes for Acne Remedies and Skin Care
Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

What Are Bacterial Skin Infections

There are many types of bacteria, both good and bad. In fact, most bacterial species cannot cause disease. Many species even play beneficial roles producing antibiotics and foodstuffs. The soil teems with free-living bacteria that perform many essential functions in the biosphere, like nitrogen fixation. As well, our bodies are covered with commensal bacteria that make up the normal flora.

The skin is the body's first barrier against bacteria that cause infections. Even though many bacteria live on the surface of our skin, healthy skin can usually protect us from infection. Bacterial skin infections can affect a small spot or may spread, affecting a large area. They can range from a treatable infection to a life-threatening skin condition.

Many types of bacteria can infect the skin. The most common are Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. Skin infections caused by less common bacteria may develop in people while hospitalized or living in a nursing home, while gardening, or while swimming in a pond, lake, or ocean.

Bacteria usually enter through small breaks in the epidermis that result from scrapes, punctures, burns, and skin disorders. Areas of the skin that become swollen with fluid (edema) are especially vulnerable. Cellulitis is more common in people with poor blood circulation (chronic venous insufficiency). However, cellulitis can also occur in skin that is not obviously injured.

Folliculitis is the inflammation of hair follicles due to an infection, injury, or irritation. It is characterized by tender, swollen areas that form around hair follicles, often on the neck, breasts, buttocks, and face. Boils are pus-filled lesions that are painful and usually firm. Boils are usually located in the waist area, groin, buttocks, and under the arm. Carbuncles are clusters of boils. These are usually found in the back of the neck or thigh.

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome is a response to a staphylococcal infection and is characterized by peeling skin. The disease mostly affects infants, young children, and individuals with a depressed immune system or renal insufficiency. The disease can be life threatening.

Cellulitis is a deep bacterial infection of the skin. The infection usually involves the face, or the arms and legs. It may happen in normal skin, but it usually occurs after some type of trauma causes an opening in your child's skin. This opening can lead to an infection.

When treating bacterial skin infection topically, is there any evidence to prefer fusidic acid, chlorhexidine, clioqinol, or mupirocin, or miconazole in terms of efficacy, and emergence of resistance. (standard guidance sugests avoiding systemically used drugs topically to minimise resistance, but this only really applies to fucidic acid, which is rarely used sytemically).

Skin infections are extremely common during the neonatal period. This may be due to changes in the social and cultural behavior. Most mothers nowadays depend on housemaids or nurseries to take care of their infants or young children. This may lead to more exposure to infections and various skin diseases.

A skin infection of the top layers of skin, more prevalent in the tropics. The condition mainly affects adults and persons with diabetes. The condition usually appears in areas on the body where skin touches skin, such as under the breast and in the groin area. Symptoms may include irregular pink patches that turn into brown scales.

To prevent yourself from developing a bacterial skin infection, good personal hygiene habits need to be practised. Hand washing is especially important as we touch many surfaces with our hands and then touch our own skin.

Casual contact cannot spread Staph infections, but close contact can. Drinking fountains, desks, and pencils are casual contact; whereas towels, bed linens, hats.

Read about Natural Herbal Home Remedies and Acne Cure Treatments. Also read about Beauty and Makeup Tips

About the author:Read about Natural Herbal Home Remedies
Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Skin Cancer Prevention

RISK FACTORS FOR SKIN CANCER:
A number of things can put a person at risk for skin cancer. The primary risk factors are:

*You have fair skin, red or blond hair, and light-colored eyes.
*You sunburn easily or have experienced a serious sunburn (sunburns are thought to increase your risk of skin cancer).
*You have many moles or freckles.
*You spend a lot of time working or playing outside.
*You live in tropical or subtropical climates.
*You have a family history of skin cancer, especially melanoma.
*You spent a lot of time in the sun as a child. Most skin cancers appear after the age of 50. However, the damaging effects of the sun begin in childhood.
*You tan in the sun or with a sunlamp or tanning bed. Sun lamps and tanning beds give out rays that can cause serious long-term skin damage and contribute to skin cancer.

There are other factors that can impact your risk of damage from UV light.
You must be especially careful in the sun if:

*You have previously been diagnosed and treated for skin cancer, especially melanoma.
*You have any auto-immune disease such as systemic lupus.
*You have had an organ transplant.
*You take oral contraceptives (birth control pills).
*You take any antibiotics that lower your immunity.
*You take any anti-inflammatory, anti-nausea, diuretic, or antidepressant drugs.Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about the risk of any medicines you may be taking that could be harmful to you if you are exposed to sunlight.

SKIN CANCER PREVENTION:
Skin cancer is mostly avoidable if sensible precautions are taken. The following are preventive tips for reducing your risk of developing skin cancer:

*Stay in the shade between 11am and 3 pm, when the sun is at its strongest. UV radiation is at its most intense in the middle of the day between April and September, and is strongest closer to the equator and at higher altitudes.
*You can still get burned on cloudy days. UV rays reach the ground through the clouds.
*UV rays can also pass through water. Never assume you are safe from burning because you are in the water.
*Sand and snow reflect the UV rays. Be especially careful on the beach and in the snow.
*When in the sun, wear protective clothing. Long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and long skirts offer the most protection. Dark colors are better than light colors. Tightly woven clothing protects better than loosely woven clothing.
*Always wear wide-brimmed hats that shade your face as much as possible.
*Always wear sunglasses. UV-blocking sunglasses can help protect your eyes from sun damage.
*Always apply sunscreen with a sun-protection factor (SPF) of 15 to 30 before spending time in the sun. When applying it, pay close attention to your face, ears, hands, and arms. Sunscreens should be reapplied at least every 2 hours and even more often if you are swimming or sweating. If you are also using insect repellent, make sure the sunscreen is applied first.
*Give yourself a self-exam every month for signs of skin cancer. Examine every inch of your body including your scalp. Use a mirror to expose the areas on the back of your body. Be aware of the moles you have in order to notice any changes that may occur.To effectively prevent skin cancer, you must pay special attention to the risk factors and follow the precautionary tips that are listed above. Taking these steps will greatly decrease you and your family’s chances of developing skin cancer.

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