Natural skin care is taking care of your skin from the outside by using homemade lotions, masks, and soaps or manufactured products with only natural ingredients - not products containing man-made chemicals. Natural skin care is also taking care of your skin by taking care of your whole body with a good diet, exercise and avoiding excess of things like alcohol and processed foods.
Natural skin care uses naturally-derived ingredients such as roots, herbs, essential oils and flowers combined with naturally occurring carrier agents, preservatives, humectants, surfactants and emulsifiers. The typical definition of natural skin care is based on using botanically sourced ingredients now existing in or formed by nature, without the use of synthetic chemicals. Natural skin care products are produced in such a way to preserve the integrity of the ingredients. People who use natural skin care products are less concerned with artificial beauty enhancements, as they feel that natural beauty is healthy beauty.
Natural skin care products include a wide array natural skin care ingredients that are normally extracted not only from florals but also from the other sources of nature such as the sea. Some examples of natural skin care ingredients include jojoba, vitamin e, safflower oil, sea salts, olive oil, grape seed extract, shea butter, beeswax, witch hazel, aloe vera, tea tree oil, and chamomile. Natural skin care ingredients contain the necessary nutrients, vitamins and fatty acids that will keep your skin looking soft.
Aloe vera is one of the most popular and effective natural skin care remedies nature has to offer, and is found in everything from skin care products to cosmetics. Aloe Vera is renowned for its healing and hydrating properties.
To view the rest of this article on natural skin care, go to Better-Skin-Care.com
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Keratosis pilaris – What can you do to treat it?
Keratosis pilaris may be a harmless skin problem but it affects an estimated 40% or more of the adult population. Keratosis pilaris is a genetic follicular disorder characterized by small rough bumps on the skin. It usually occurs on the back and outer sides of the upper arms; although, Keratosis pilaris can also appear on the thighs, buttocks or flanks.
Also called “chicken skin”, Keratosis pilaris occurs when a hair follicle becomes plugged with excess keratin, which is a natural protein in the skin. These plugged follicles result in small red bumps and/or rough patches sometimes becoming inflamed and irritated in the more severe cases. KP is not acne even though it looks very similar. Acne is a result of sebum (oil) blocking the pores not keratin. Keratosis pilaris is also different from acne in that is can be worse in people with drier skin or in a colder, drier environment. Kp bumps can prevent the hair from growing out of the affected follicle resulting in an ingrown hair.
Usually more common in woman than men, keratosis pilaris comes in three different varieties:
1) Keratosis pilaris rubra – a more red and inflamed type
2) Keratosis pilaris rubra faceii – a reddish rash on the cheeks
3) Keratosis pilaris alba – bumps without the inflammation or irritation (most common)
The bad news is that keratosis pilaris is not curable – only treatable. Being a hereditary disorder, the best a sufferer can hope for is to alleviate the symptoms. The good news is that this is very possible.
The key to treating keratosis pilaris is to soften the keratin deposits in the skin. Keeping the keratin soft and exfoliating the affected areas will help keep hair follicles from becoming plugged with keratin. Self care measures will work for most people in at least improving skin’s appearance and the amount of bumps seen.
Self care measures that are helpful are:
Don’t over scrub the problem areas. This can aggravate the condition and make the bumps worse.
Don’t over dry your skin after bathing. Pat dry and allow moisture to remain.
Apply an over-the-counter lotion with lactic acid (AmLactin 12%). For areas other than the face, at least a 12% concentration is recommended. A lactic acid lotion will soften keratin, exfoliate dead skin cells and provide moisturization. Lactic acid is a naturally occurring humectant for the skin.
Use a humidifier if the air inside your home is dry.
Apply lotions to your skin while the skin is still moist from bathing.
Try not to scratch or pick at the bumps.
If your keratosis pilaris is more severe, there are prescription medications that can help.
The prescription medications used to soften keratin include:
Lac-Hydrin (ammonium lactate) – a 12% lactic acid lotion to soften keratin and promote cell turnover
Topical retinoids – (Tretinoin, Avita, Tazorac) – promotes cell turnover preventing the follicle from becoming plugged – retinoids may cause skin irritation
Carmol or Keralac ( urea moisturizers) – loosens dead skin cells and softens dry skin
Topical corticosteroids – usually prescribed as a short term treatment because of the potential side effects, corticosteroid ointments are anti-inflammatory
See your doctor for further information on prescription medications.
Even though this skin condition does not have any long term health repercussions, it can be a real bother to the people who have it. The real key to dealing with keratosis pilaris is consistency. You must constantly treat the affected area to keep the bumps away. If you stop treating - the bumps will return. It is as simple as that.
For more skin care advice, visit http://www.better-skin-care.com
Also called “chicken skin”, Keratosis pilaris occurs when a hair follicle becomes plugged with excess keratin, which is a natural protein in the skin. These plugged follicles result in small red bumps and/or rough patches sometimes becoming inflamed and irritated in the more severe cases. KP is not acne even though it looks very similar. Acne is a result of sebum (oil) blocking the pores not keratin. Keratosis pilaris is also different from acne in that is can be worse in people with drier skin or in a colder, drier environment. Kp bumps can prevent the hair from growing out of the affected follicle resulting in an ingrown hair.
Usually more common in woman than men, keratosis pilaris comes in three different varieties:
1) Keratosis pilaris rubra – a more red and inflamed type
2) Keratosis pilaris rubra faceii – a reddish rash on the cheeks
3) Keratosis pilaris alba – bumps without the inflammation or irritation (most common)
The bad news is that keratosis pilaris is not curable – only treatable. Being a hereditary disorder, the best a sufferer can hope for is to alleviate the symptoms. The good news is that this is very possible.
The key to treating keratosis pilaris is to soften the keratin deposits in the skin. Keeping the keratin soft and exfoliating the affected areas will help keep hair follicles from becoming plugged with keratin. Self care measures will work for most people in at least improving skin’s appearance and the amount of bumps seen.
Self care measures that are helpful are:
Don’t over scrub the problem areas. This can aggravate the condition and make the bumps worse.
Don’t over dry your skin after bathing. Pat dry and allow moisture to remain.
Apply an over-the-counter lotion with lactic acid (AmLactin 12%). For areas other than the face, at least a 12% concentration is recommended. A lactic acid lotion will soften keratin, exfoliate dead skin cells and provide moisturization. Lactic acid is a naturally occurring humectant for the skin.
Use a humidifier if the air inside your home is dry.
Apply lotions to your skin while the skin is still moist from bathing.
Try not to scratch or pick at the bumps.
If your keratosis pilaris is more severe, there are prescription medications that can help.
The prescription medications used to soften keratin include:
Lac-Hydrin (ammonium lactate) – a 12% lactic acid lotion to soften keratin and promote cell turnover
Topical retinoids – (Tretinoin, Avita, Tazorac) – promotes cell turnover preventing the follicle from becoming plugged – retinoids may cause skin irritation
Carmol or Keralac ( urea moisturizers) – loosens dead skin cells and softens dry skin
Topical corticosteroids – usually prescribed as a short term treatment because of the potential side effects, corticosteroid ointments are anti-inflammatory
See your doctor for further information on prescription medications.
Even though this skin condition does not have any long term health repercussions, it can be a real bother to the people who have it. The real key to dealing with keratosis pilaris is consistency. You must constantly treat the affected area to keep the bumps away. If you stop treating - the bumps will return. It is as simple as that.
For more skin care advice, visit http://www.better-skin-care.com
Broccoli Sprout Extract Defends Skin Cells against UV Sun Damage
Scientists from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, are reporting that sulforaphane, a chemical extracted from broccoli sprouts, can help protect skin cells from the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation when applied topically. Sulforaphane has been shown to counteract the carcinogenic reaction to UV rays.
The researches dosed mice with a UV light equivalent to a person sunbathing twice a week for 20 weeks. After the UV exposure, broccoli sprout extract was applied to some of the mice, in differing doses, for five days a week for an eleven week period. Some mice were not treated as a control group. At the end of the study, the mice treated with broccoli sprout extract, had a much lower incident of cancer growth. Where all of the control group of mice developed signs of cancer.
The sulforaphane was also tested by Dr Paul Talalay of Johns Hopkins University and his group on 6 healthy volunteers. At the highest doses, the sulforaphane decreased UV-induced redness and inflammation by 37 % on average.
“This is not a sunscreen,” Talalay said. Instead, the extract helped fortify skin cells to fight the effects of UV radiation. Dr. Talalay also said, “This is the first demonstration that a human tissue can be protected directly against a known human carcinogen”.
Sunscreens provide a physical barrier by absorbing and blocking UV rays, but broccoli sprout extract helps increase the production of protective enzymes that guard against UV damage. The effect of sulforaphane continues to work even after applications have stopped. Dr Talalay remarked, “Two days after we stopped treatment, there was still an effect.”
These findings are promising and paving the way for one of the first after-sun treatments that is proven to reverse sun damage. It may also be helpful to people with suppressed immune systems that are at a higher risk for skin cancer.
With skin cancer on the rise, affecting more than 1 million Americans each year, the simple broccoli sprout may hold the key to preventing needless deaths from skin cancer and may also lead to better anti-aging skin care ingredients for us all.
For more skin care information, visit http://www.better-skin-care.com
The researches dosed mice with a UV light equivalent to a person sunbathing twice a week for 20 weeks. After the UV exposure, broccoli sprout extract was applied to some of the mice, in differing doses, for five days a week for an eleven week period. Some mice were not treated as a control group. At the end of the study, the mice treated with broccoli sprout extract, had a much lower incident of cancer growth. Where all of the control group of mice developed signs of cancer.
The sulforaphane was also tested by Dr Paul Talalay of Johns Hopkins University and his group on 6 healthy volunteers. At the highest doses, the sulforaphane decreased UV-induced redness and inflammation by 37 % on average.
“This is not a sunscreen,” Talalay said. Instead, the extract helped fortify skin cells to fight the effects of UV radiation. Dr. Talalay also said, “This is the first demonstration that a human tissue can be protected directly against a known human carcinogen”.
Sunscreens provide a physical barrier by absorbing and blocking UV rays, but broccoli sprout extract helps increase the production of protective enzymes that guard against UV damage. The effect of sulforaphane continues to work even after applications have stopped. Dr Talalay remarked, “Two days after we stopped treatment, there was still an effect.”
These findings are promising and paving the way for one of the first after-sun treatments that is proven to reverse sun damage. It may also be helpful to people with suppressed immune systems that are at a higher risk for skin cancer.
With skin cancer on the rise, affecting more than 1 million Americans each year, the simple broccoli sprout may hold the key to preventing needless deaths from skin cancer and may also lead to better anti-aging skin care ingredients for us all.
For more skin care information, visit http://www.better-skin-care.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
