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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 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 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
Both men and women suffer from acne through their teens and often in to their adulthood. However, women may be a little worse off where acne is concerned due largely to the amount of hormones produced in women’s bodies. Often, these hormones act out, causing more acne to form then usual.
Some women notice an increase in acne coinciding with their natural cycles. Typically, right before and during their menstrual cycle several women report either more acne over all or an increase in cystic acne. This is due to the increase in hormone production brought on by their cycle. Unfortunately, hormone related acne may be the hardest acne cause to treat and often standard treatment options do little good in fighting the breakouts.
There are two ways to effectively treat hormone related acne, both in home and with the assistance of a dermatologist. The first step in treating your acne is to determine if you do in fact suffer from hormone related breakouts. The easiest way to do this is to track your cycle and make note of when more acne appears. By noting the certain times your acne is worse or more frequent you will best know when to treat the acne.
Once you know when your acne is at it’s worst you can take increased measures to treat it at home, either by simply paying extra attention to your normal acne fighting skin care regimen or by adding extra steps to ward off the increased acne production. Some women have great success just by adding an oil reducing clay based facial mask to their skin care routine three to four times a week during their heavy hormonal acne periods.
However, if your hormonal related acne does not see a noticeable improvement after a few months of extended home care, you may want to consult a dermatologist. Dermatologists can treat the cause, your hormones, both topically and orally. To determine what treatment options is best for you, set up an consultation with a local dermatologist.
Whatever the cause of your acne, no one should have to suffer. Once you are able to narrow down the possible cause of your acne, you will be better prepared to fight it, either at home or with the assistance of a dermatologist.
By theresa
Tyra Banks recently spoke out about her experience with an acne treatment gone awry. It seems that no matter how much money skin treatments cost it really had more to do with what the products are comprised of than how much they are as Tyra unfortunately learned the way most of us do, by looking in the mirror. Those same “acne fighting” “anti aging” creams that costs hundreds of dollars may cost you your confidence if not tested beforehand on a little patch of skin. Sorry Tyra, looks like you had to learn the hard way but thanks to your story we wont have to!
Moisturizers are bland, oily substances that are applied to the skin by rubbing. They are used to replace natural skin oils to cover tiny fissures in the skin, and to provide a soothing protective film. By doing this, they slow evaporation of the skin’s moisture, thereby improving the appearance and feel of dry and aging skin. One question is always commonly asked. If somebody has very oily skin, should they be using any type of moisturizers or lotions. If your skin is already oily, it’s already not dry enough to be using moisturizers and lotion. These products will make your face appear to be even more oily. You will want to avoid moisturizers and lotions unless you use and acne pads and they start to dry your face out to the point where it’s dry instead of oily. If you notice there is too much oil on your face you will want to wash your face off with something that remove the oil. Soap is not necessarily the best thing to use.
Getting the right moisturizer can make all the difference for an acne-prone complexion. First and foremost, make sure any moisturizer you buy is oil-free. A moisturizer with an oil base will indeed cause acne problems. However, there are more moisturizers on the market without oil than there are with oil. Moisturizers with a gel base or moisturizers containing salicylic acid are great moisturizers for acne-prone complexions. A moisturizer that states it will help prevent acne breakouts is usually a great choice. Don’t go overboard. Drying out oily skin with harsh products will not stop your oil, and will only add the problems of surface dryness, flaking, and skin irritation to the mix. Some tightness is normal after using cleansers that are effective enough for oily skin, but don’t use a cleanser or toner that leaves skin feeling parched.
Tyra Banks spoke about spending $200 on a face cream and ended up breaking out in droves. The ‘America’s Next Top Model’ host - who prides herself on her bargain hunting and calls herself “the queen of cheap” - regretted spending the extra money after her skin erupted after reacting to the beauty product. She revealed on the ‘Tyra Banks Show’: “I bought this $200 face cream and I had to stop using it because it broke me out. I had pimples on top of pimples. The kind of pimples that feel like there is poison underneath your skin. The kind of pimples that feel alive! I guess I’ve learned my lesson - stick to the cheap face cream I’ve been using for more than 10 years. There is no magic in a bottle.”
If you have mild acne, adult acne toners can really make a difference in how soon your acne clears up. If you have persistent or severe acne, adult acne toners should still be part of your acne treatment regime. The only difference here is that your acne treatment regime is usually a multi-step process which includes cleansing, toning and applying medication. Regardless of the severity of your acne, you want to make sure that you cleanse your skin prior to using an adult acne toner. The process of cleansing is to remove dirt and oils from the surface of your skin.
Then post toner or Alcohol you can go ahead and use an oil free moisturizer. Maybe Tyra should have thought of picking up some Cetiphil at Rite Aid before she waster $200 on some silly skin care con. It’s not about price when it comes to acne it’s about using mild gentle products that don’t over do it. Sorry Tyra you are no longer on the road toward becoming America’s next top model.
By theresa
I love oatmeal and I eat it practically every morning for breakfast. But the cool thing about it is not only is it great for you but it’s great for your skin too But the thing I didn’t know was that it makes a great face mask and scrub as well! As for measles and other skin irritations, people have used oatmeal to conquer acne. Apply some cooled, cooked oatmeal to the whole face for fifteen minutes, then wash off. Oatmeal is an astringent and seems to draw oil and impurities out of the skin, keeping it clean and blemish-free. This method may take a week or two, but should have good results. The use of oatmeal masks and oatmeal-based products to treat acne has become popular in recent years. You can use colloidal oatmeal, which is simply rolled oats that have been milled into a fine powder, as a facial scrub. Or, you can cook up some oatmeal and apply it directly to your face.
It’s a great exfoliant for your skin and we all know how important it is to wash away those dead skin cells and impurities to stop our pores getting clogged. It’s great for sensitive skin because its effective enough as a natural exfoliant but it’s not too harsh that it will damage or aggravate your skin. This is good news for those with sensitive skin because it doesn’t take a lot for a break out to occur.
The edible grains of a widely grown cereal grass, oats (avena sativa) appear in many beauty products. People appreciate their soothing, anti-inflammatory properties. Come to think of it, that’s another childhood memory. When I got the chicken pox my mom popped me into an oatmeal and baking soda bath to relieve the itching. Oats are also highly absorptive, hypoallergenic, and help to soften skin.
They have the best amino acid balance of all the cereal grains (amino acids work as water-binding agents in skin care products). Oats have also been clinically shown to help heal dry, itchy skin. Oat grains and straw appear in shampoos, dusting powders, moisturizers, and cleansing bars and that’s just the start of a list.
Oatmeal is a good home remedies for acne because oatmeal is an astringent which helps to draw out oil and impurities from the pores and keep your skin clean and blemish free. As well as being an effective exfoliant, oatmeal can also be combined with other natural products to make your very own acne clearing face mask.
Oatmeal, when used as a skin cleanser, actually absorbs and removes surface dirt and impurities while providing very gentle exfoliation, leaving skin smooth, soft, and clean, without soap. As a facial mask, oatmeal deep cleanses pores without irritating and drying out skin. And as a facial scrub, oatmeal gently but effectively removes dead skin cells, to reveal softer, smoother looking skin. In addition, cleansing and exfoliating with oatmeal provides the bonus of a natural, healthy glow.
Eating Oatmeal is also cancer fighting. So you can divide half for your skin and half for breakfast! Here is some info on the health benefits of oatmeal.
According to the American Cancer Society:
1. Insoluble fiber’s cancer-fighting properties are due to the fact that it attacks certain bile acids, reducing their toxicity.
2. Soluble fiber may reduce LDL cholesterol without lowering HDL cholesterol. LDL is bad; HDL is good.
3. Soluble fiber slows down the digestion of starch. This may be beneficial to diabetics because, when you slow down the digestion of starch, you avoid the sharp rises in your blood sugar level that usually occur following a meal.
4. It has been found that those who eat more oats are less likely to develop heart disease, a disease that is currently widespread in the United States.
5. The phytochemicals in oat may also have cancer-fighting properties.
6. Oats are a good source of many nutrients including vitamin E, zinc, selenium, copper, iron, manganese and magnesium. Oats are also a good source of protein.
By theresa
I never quite knew what the deal was with using moisturizer and having super oily skin. The truth is that any little thing I put on my face causes a break out. I was jealous of people around me using toners and other skin care products because any minor topical cream or treatment and my skin would erupt like a volcano. So I decided today to do a little research on the pros and cons of moisturizer. Those with combination skin must be dealing with a constant struggle. I could only imagine. But regardless I figured a little knowledge on the subject couldn’t hurt even if I wind up never using moisturizer again.
Your skin is oily so you use a product to get rid of the oil, then your skin becomes tight and dry so you use a product to moisturize, which often causes the oiliness to return. But there is a way to stop this cycle and achieve healthy, balanced skin. The key is using the right products to help your skin maintain the ideal amount of oil in the skin.Moisturizer is something we use to hold the skins own water content in place, and add to it. For oily skin, the best choices for that are a gel or a lotion. Creams usually add to much of a good thing to oily skin, and weigh it down. You want hydration, not lubrication.
Oil (sebum) is produced by sebaceous glands. Normal sebum production performs the important job of lubricating your skin. Sebum also carries with it dead skin cells shedding from your hair follicle walls. The amount of sebum an individual generates is determined by genetics (and often increases during adolescence). While excess sebum is not directly responsible for acne, it can contribute to clogged pores.
It may seem strange but everyone needs to moisturize (even people with oily skin). This isn’t to add moisture as such, but to help the skin retain moisture. A good moisturizer, suited to your skin type, will help your skin retain water and protect it from the damaging effects of pollution and the sun. If you use a topical acne medication, apply the moisturizer after applying the acne medication. If your skin still feels dry or stings, try applying the moisturizer before applying the acne medication.
When it comes to oily skin you will want to wash your face at least twice per day. You want to use some type of facial cream that will remove the oil from your face. You do not want to put anything on your face which will make it produce more oil or make it look worse. You will to use some type of acne pads with alcohol. The alcohol will dry out your skin and stop it from being as greasy or oily. You will want to use these in the morning and at night.
For some reason though I really don’t see the point in applying alcohol to then apply moisturizer. It seems like it doesn’t make much sense to dry your skin out before moisturizer. Getting the right moisturizer can make all the difference for an acne-prone complexion. First and foremost, make sure any moisturizer you buy is oil-free. A moisturizer with an oil base will indeed cause acne problems. However, there are more moisturizers on the market without oil than there are with oil. Moisturizers with a gel base or moisturizers containing salicylic acid are great moisturizers for acne-prone complexions. A moisturizer that states it will help prevent acne breakouts is usually a great choice. Even if you have oily skin, you can still benefit from the use of a daily moisturizer. And, no, moisturizers don’t have to leave your skin feeling greasy and looking shiny. The trick is in finding the right product. I’m still on the fence about the whole thing really but I guess I’ll give this hydration idea a try and see if my acne improves. I’ll keep you posted!
By Angela
If you are a female struggling with acne there is a chance your hormones may be to blame. Some women experience an over-production of the hormone androgen. This hormone causes an excess of oil produced in your glands which leads to acne. Fortunately, oral contraceptives have been proven to reduce the androgen hormone and clear acne breakouts.
Is Your Acne Hormonal?
There are literally dozens of reasons why you could be experiencing acne. However, if your acne is characterized by a combination of the following symptoms you may be experiencing hormonal acne.
1. Your acne flair-ups started in adulthood.
2. Your acne appears worse during or after your menstrual cycle.
3. Your menstrual cycles are irregular.
4. You experience an excess of hair growth in irregular areas on the face and body.
If you posses any of the characteristics above your doctor can perform a simple blood test to check for an increase in androgen hormones. If you do have an excessive amount of these hormones your doctor may prescribe an oral contraceptive to counteract the over production.
How Do Oral Contraceptives Decrease Acne?
Oral contraceptives work in two ways to fight acne. One, the active medicine found in some types of oral contraceptives decrease the production of oil causing hormones. The less oil your glands produce, the less acne you see on your face. Two, oral contraceptives help regulate your body’s natural cycle. Having an irregular cycle can reek havoc in your skin, by regulating these cycles you may see a decrease in acne break outs.
What Are The Risks Of Oral Contraceptives?
Oral contraceptives are not for everyone. While these medications have been tested and proven safe for use in most healthy females, they do carry certain risks. Most obviously, birth control pills primary function is to decrease the likelihood of pregnancy. If you are currently pregnant or considering becoming pregnant, you should not take oral contraceptives.
Birth control pills also carry a lesser chance of other risks such as stroke, heart disease and mild medical complications. If you have a history of anemia, high blood pressure, or you smoke you should consider these risks before starting on a hormonal treatment using oral contraceptives.
If you are interested in starting a hormonal treatment that uses birth control pills to fight acne you should see your general doctor. Your doctor can run the necessary tests and provide the prescription. If oral contraceptives aren’t the answer for you, there are other hormonal treatments available to help curb your acne. Speak to a dermatologist about an alternate treatment plan.
