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By theresa
If you suffer from acne, you are probably wondering if you can still use self-tanning products. During this time of year, many people desire a bronze look, and they use self-tanning products to achieve that. If you suffer from acne, you need to understand some things before you go running out and buying the latest self-tanner.
It may be true that the active ingredients in sunless tannes don’t cause acne. But what about all of the other ingredients. Some sunless tanners ccontain oil and other pore-clogging ingredients. If your skin is prone to acne, these should be avoided. It seems like a paradox though because it’s unsafe to tan the normal way. Even though a tan may temporarily cover the redness of acne, there’s no evidence that having tanned skin helps to clear up acne. People who tan in the sun or in tanning booths or beds run the risk of developing dry, irritated, or even burned skin.
If you suffer from severe acne, such as cysts or nodules, then you probably shouldn’t use a self-tanner at all. If you only get a few pimples from time to time, you can probably use light self-tanning products without increasing your acne breakouts.I looked through hundreds of forums and articles before going out today and purchasing my self tanner because I’m trying to stay away from the sun and people mostly had terrible things to say. They complained of acne and pore blockage etc.
The information on this topic is actually pretty conflicting. While so many people would like to think that self tanners are the cause of their acne it seems that doctors beg to differ. Self-tanners can contain pore-blocking oils, says New York City dermatologist Dennis Gross. To help, “check the label for words like hypoallergenic or noncomedogenic, and choose a light gel instead of a cream formula.”
Another doctor I read speaking on the topic said, “Self tanners themselves do not clog pores however they can be put into formulations that can clog pores,” explains Dr. Doris J. Day, a Manhattan dermatologist. “You should exfoliate before applying to make sure the skin is smooth and the product penetrates evenly, and look for products that say non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic on the label. This means they have been tested to not clog pores. Generally this would be gels, lotions, or wipes. “
There are definitely a few good sunless tanners out there for acne-prone skin. L-Oreal’s Sublime, Bath & Body Works sunless tanner and Sephora’s Glow Fusion have all been reported to work great on acne-prone skin.
If you’re ready to skip laying out but don’t want to give up glowing skin, self-tanners are a great bet. Self-tanners can darken skin for up to a week thanks to dihydroxyacetone, or DHA. If you were to look at commercials, magazine advertisements, and many high society people, you see toned and tanned bodies. However, all of this is merely portraying a false sense of health and beauty. In truth, tanning beds can be very dangerous, causing burns, suppression of immune systems, damage to the cornea, cosmetic and drug-induced photosensitivity, and a higher risk of developing melanoma cancer.
Another important thing to know if that you must exfoliate to get an even tan. It’s not just something people tell you to do– you absolutely MUST to get an even tan. Believe me I’ve been there you don’t want to wind up streaking. Let’s say you have a layer of dirt on your skin. Do you think self tanner will work well if you put it on over it? You’re right, it wouldn’t. On the day you plan to start using the self tanner, take a shower. While you’re in there, exfoliate one more time, it can’t hurt. Before you start, though, you want to be completely dry. So towel off and hang out for a while before using the self tanner.
By JeffreyRapaport_MD
Women are worst affected by acne because of hormonal changes. Period during their menstrual cycle is the time when they are most affected by acne, pimples, zits or other skin problems. That is the time when body goes through many hormonal changes. Acne can occur on cheek, chin, neck, shoulders, arms, legs or buttocks. Acne affects both teens and adults. No one is left untouched by it. And acne on chin in women is one of the major problems.
The reasons of acne on chin in women are same as acne on other parts. But, it specially occurs before their menstrual cycle. So the main reason of occurrence is hormonal problem and other reasons are excessive toxin in body, stress or irregularity in diet.
There are many treatments, medication and acne solutions available in market to cure the problem of acne on chin in women. Along with them there are many laser treatments, natural treatments and home remedies available that can help women get rid of acne on chin easily.
Accutane is an effective treatment for chin acne in women. But, it is advised to use it carefully. Pregnant women and diabetics should avoid using it. A regular intake of this medicine can cure acne.
Jeffrey Rapaport, MD, FAAD is a skin specialist and his medical practice focuses primarily on Acne prevention and Acne Scar Repair and Restoration surgery. His practice is located in NJ and his website is at www.cosmeticskin.com. He can be contacted for a free consultation at (201) 227-1555
By Angela
ToastyKen @ Flickr
One of the longest living Old Wive’s Tales about healing your acne is the toothpaste myth. The theory holds that applying toothpaste to your pimple overnight will make the spot clear by morning. We’re not sure where this myth came from, as there is no medical research to suggest that the ingredients in toothpaste are actually beneficial to your skin. In fact, they may even be hurting it.
Recently, I have been battling a rather nasty round of acne break outs around my mouth and chin. I tried everything I could think of to clear up the break outs. I changed my face wash, swapped out my pillow cases and laundry detergent, stopped wearing lipstick all together, and many other typical methods of putting the stop to a persistent acne break out. The acne would decrease for awhile and then come back after a few days. Finally, I did some research to see what else could be causing the acne in just this one spot.
According to my findings, that toothpaste your mother told you to put on your pimple as a teenager may actually be to blame. The ingredients in toothpaste, especially certain kinds, can contain fluoride as well as a whole host of other chemicals and scents. When these chemicals get on your skin they can irritate it, or simply clog your pores, causing an acne break out.
While I wasn’t applying the toothpaste directly to the break out, research says that toothpaste can come in contact with your skin while you are brushing, especially around the lip areas (exactly where I was having my break out.) The best way to combat this? Always brush your teeth before washing your face. This will ensure you are removing any trace of toothpaste that may have gotten on to your skin.
So, another acne myth bites the dust. Toothpaste is not, in fact, a good acne spot treatment. However, there are plenty of excellent acne treatments available for purchase that will work wonders on your skin.
By JeffreyRapaport_MD
When there is trauma or injury to the skin, it responds by scarring most of the time. There are commonly two types:
1. Pigmented
2. Fibrotic
In pigmented scars, the skin appears darker in colour due to damage on the superficial skin layers. In some skin types, the scars will appear red and later turn to a dark brown colour.
In fibrotic scars, there can be pits / holes in the skin or the skin can appear raised and bumpy.
What are the causes?
In most cases, scars are due to burns/injury/surgery or trauma.
Acne scars: These are one of the commonest scars on facial skin. They appear as pits or small holes on the skin. Sometimes, they can be deeper and appear to be wavelike.
Pigmented scars: These commonly follows minor trauma/sun burn/ abrasion. The area appears dark in colour.
Hypertrophic scars: These are raised and red scars that appear as bumps. It mainly occurs in areas of irritation.
Keloid scars: These are caused by an aggressive healing process of the skin.
Contracture scars: Occur post-burns. There is tightening of skin in the injured area.
What is the treatment?
The treatment basically depends on the type of scar.
Chemical Peeling: This helps in the case of superficial pigmented scars and takes six to 10 sessions. The peels are a combination of alpha hydroxy acids and TCA.
Fractional Lasers: New laser technologies have very less downtime and are a boon to treating scars. It takes six to eight sessions every three to four weeks. The result varies between 70 and 80 per cent depending on the scar.
Ablative Lasers: This procedure is barely used due to the long recovery period and is not suitable for Indian skin.
Injections: Steroid injections are used for treating hypertrophic and keloidal scars.
Surgery: Plastic and reconstructive surgery is required for contracture scars.
Preventive steps
Acne scars can be avoided bypicking on the scars and by avoiding forced clean up of the pimples by extraction.
The best way to remove this is by undergoing chemical peels under a dermatologist’s supervision.
Acne scars are the easiest to avoid. People prone to keloids and
hypertrophic scars should be cautious about abrasive procedures.
What does the doctor say?
Acne scarring can be treated with the latest techniques. In the last two years, there have been many advances in laser technology available for Indian skin which now makes it possible to treat scars safely and effectively. Facial scars can be removed and so one should get it treated at the earliest.
Dr. Jeffrey Rapaport, MD is a NJ based cosmetic dermatologist. His practices focuses on acne prevention and acne scar reconstruction. He pioneered Multi life Scar Reconstruction surgery. He can be reached at the CosmeticSkin.com or by calling (201) 227-1555
By MayaStein
Mild acne scars can be treated effectively with natural acne scar treatment. Try the following tips to get rid of acne scars the natural way.
1. Sandalwood is very effective in treating acne scars. Mix it with some rosewater and apply it to the scars. Leave it on overnight and wash it off in the morning.
2. Rub ice cubes on the face to tighten the pores.
3. Cut a tomato in half and rub it on your skin.
4. Use cucumber juice as a toner.
5. Raw garlic is a very effective acne blemish treatment.
6. Take turmeric internally or make it into a paste and apply it to the skin.
7. Sage and Aloe Vera have healing properties. Apply Aloe Vera directly to the skin. Seep sage in hot water, cool and then apply.
8. Apple cider vinegar is good for clearing up spots. Use in place of a toner.
Maya Stein is an accomplished author. She typically writes on women’s health and related issues. She can be reached at maya@hotmail.com
By Angela
Serena @ Flickr
There are several things that can cause our acne, and it’s easy to focus on what we’re putting directly on our face while over looking things that may be indirectly leading to our acne. Take your hair for example; have you ever stopped to wonder if your hair may be causing your acne break outs?
Your hair, even when it is freshly cleaned and dry, contains a load of natural oils. While these oils may be great for your hair, they aren’t necessarily beneficial to your skin. In fact, if they come in repeat contact with your face, they may be adding to the oil already on your skin, and increasing breakouts. Also, if you are like me, you use a product or two on your hair. Hair products aren’t made the same as products for your face and skin, they are often comedenic and include several oils. If these products are in your hair, and your hair touches your skin, these products will transfer over to your face.
So how can you tell if your hair is to blame? The easiest way is to track where your break outs typically occur. If you notice a lot of break outs along your forehead, or down the sides of your face, there is a chance your hair may be to blame. However, even if your break outs aren’t centralized to any one area, that doesn’t mean you can rule your hair out entirely. Often when we sleep, our hair gets mashed in to parts of our face for several hours at a time and may cause acne.
If you think your hair may be an acne culprit there are a couple of things you can do to reduce the chance of acne. First, try and keep your hair as clean as possible and reduce the number of products that you use. Clean hair will be less likely to cause acne. Second, try to wear your hair off your face. This may not be possible all the time and for every hair style, but reducing the time your hair spends on your face, especially at night, will reduce the chances of acne occurring overall.
By Angela
If you are planning on going to your first dermatologist appointment soon you no doubt have a list of questions planned to ask the doctor. While the here and now of your acne is very important to both you and the dermatologist, it is also important to discuss your past with the dermatologist. By giving them an accurate description of your acne history, they will be better able to treat your skin.
To make the most of your visit to the dermatologist, be prepared to give him or her a full background on the questions below. This will help shape your acne history for the best course of treatment going forward.
1. When and where did your acne start? Be sure to tell the dermatologist when you first started noticing acne break outs and point out any area where they seem to be the worst.
2. What have you been using to treat your acne? Make a full list of any OTC or prescription medication (including oral contraceptives) you have used in the past to treat your acne.
3. What makes your acne better? If there are certain times of the month, foods, daily habits, or treatments that have a positive effect on your acne be sure to tell these to the dermatologist. They may help with your treatment.
4. What makes your acne worse? Conversely, if you have noticed a pattern in anything that may worsen your acne, inform the dermatologist of this as well.
5. Do any of your family members suffer from acne? Your acne may be genetic, be sure to tell the dermatologist of anyone in your family suffering from the same condition.
Prepping for the dermatologist can be a daunting task, but it helps to have all of your information handy. You may want to consider writing anything you can think of about your acne down so that you will be sure to cover your bases during your consultation.
If you’d like to start a free consultation on-line you can do so using this form: http://www.jrapaport.com/askquestion.php.
By Angela
If you have seen a dermatologist or you general care doctor regarding your acne in the past you know that there are several topical treatments that can be prescribed to treat acne. These treatments vary in active ingredients as well as effectiveness. One of the most popular prescribed treatment is the Differin Gel.
Differin is a prescription strength topical treatment used in the prevention of acne. The goal of Differin is to treat the acne under the surface, rather then as a spot treatment for pre-existing acne.
Differin comes in three different strengths and types. The first, and most commonly prescribed, is the Differin Gel .01%, this gel works both under and on top of the skin, treating current acne and helping to reduce the bacteria that causes acne under the skin. If you have mild acne this treatment will likely be prescribed. Differin Gel .03% is the second in the product line. This gel works the same as the other gel, however it is stronger for people with more moderate to severe acne. Finally the Differin Cream, is a light weight formula typically only prescribed to people with sensitive skin.
Research has shown that Differin can take eight to twelve weeks before a patient will see results with the product. During that initial period the patient may experience dryness, flaking and reddened skin. These side effects are pretty standard when using a topical acne treatment and should not discourage anyone considering the drug.
Overall, Differin has helped several acne sufferers lesson or even remove their acne breakouts. However, Differin may work best on people with mild to lightly moderate acne. If you acne is more severe you may wish to talk to your dermatologist or doctor about a more aggressive course of treatment.
By MayaStein
Working out and leading an overall active life have so many benefits that enumerating them all would require too much time and patience. Yet, working out, and especially sweating at the gym or outdoors, also comes with a couple of downsides, as many girls probably know already. Acne on several parts of the body is one of the biggest such downsides, but that is not to say it can’t be prevented and treated efficiently, says Dr. Jeffrey Rapaport of Cosmeticskin.com
Acne on the back, chest and derriere are common when working out as a result of the sweaty fabrics that rub against the skin and prevent the pores from properly breathing. This can be more than just a few pimples here and there, extending to a breakout that can be as painful and unpleasant as it is unsightly. Luckily, it can be both prevented and treated efficiently, provided you follow some quick and easy remedies.
Some fabrics trap moisture against the skin, making your pores even more likely to get clogged. The solution to avoid a full breakout, which can be somewhat harder to treat (not to mention that it will also take longer than preventing it), is to shower immediately after working out. Taking a shower right away will “unclog” the pores, which means that the longer we wait after a workout, the more chances we’re giving bacteria to grow.
However, if this still doesn’t work, then we should proceed to the next step, namely that of treating the condition before it gets worse. Vinegar is ideal in this sense. We recommed a sponge bath with warm water and vinegar to kill off the bacteria. Add one tablespoon of white table vinegar to a quart of warm water, sponge down the affected area, and rinse in the shower. At night, apply a benzoyl peroxide cream. If you see no improvement in three weeks, consult a dermatologist for a topical antibiotic, like Clindamycin – the foam version is particularly back friendly because it’s quickly absorbed.
Another thing we should remember before heading out to the gym is that we must always wear suitable clothes. To avoid this type of nasty breakouts, experts recommend making no kind of compromise when we’re buying workout equipment, be it shoes, pants or hoodies. Choosing a fabric that allows the skin to breathe could be a first step in preventing workout acne, and we would be spared the trouble of having to treat it later.
By Angela
Hitting the gym for a good work out can be great for your mind and your body. When you’re working up a sweat you just feel better; not to mention healthier, but is that sweat helping your acne? A lot of skincare websites seem to believe so.
On the surface, the myth seems to hold some weight. When you sweat, fluid is pushed out of your pores. So in theory, that sweat would take a lot of dirt and debris with it, and thus help clean out your pores. And we all know that cleaner pores mean less acne. However, sweat doesn’t actually clean out your pores and it can fact cause acne to flair up in some people.
Vigorous exercise can also cause an increase in oil production. While this isn’t the case for everyone, typically people who partake in intense work outs three or more times a week will start to see an increase in the oil produced in their pores, which may lead to some acne.
To make matters worse, both the friction and heat your body experiences while you are working out can cause even more acne to flair up. This is especially the case in people who suffer from acne break outs on their body. When you are working out, your whole body heats up, unfortunately, when paired with form fitting clothing friction will occur which can irritate the skin around your shoulders, back, or anywhere that your clothing is not allowing your skin to breath.
So sweating being good for your acne is just another acne myth, and it may in fact be making matters worse. To combat this, be sure to wear loose clothing at the gym. You can also shower immediately after working out to try to combat some of the sweat and oil produced in your glands during your sweat session.
