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Dry skin care is important as damaged and dry skin needs to receive the proper treatment. Dry skin lotions can help, but there are lots of other things people can do to minimize dry skin and the damage that it does. Here are some effective tips for caring for dry skin.

What Is Dry Skin and How Is It Caused?

Dry skin (or xerosis) has a low level of sebum, which is the skin’s natural lubricant. As it does not have enough sebum, it dries out easily and is unable to retain the right amount of moisture needed for healthy skin.

A number of factors may cause dry skin. It is more common in winter when the cold outside and the heat inside contribute in drying up the skin. It can also be caused by hot water or harsh soaps. Poor diet or smoking can also cause or aggravate the problem. Dry skin may also be a symptom of other conditions, including dermatitis, eczema, ichthyoids, psoriasis, an under active thyroid and diabetes. Dry skin becomes more common as people age.

Problems Faced by People with Dry Skin

People with dry skin may find their skin cracks and peels or becomes flaky. Dry skin may look parched and feel tight after washing. It can also become red, irritated and inflamed. Dry itchy skin is a common problem for people with dry skin. In extreme cases, there may be deep fissures that bleed.

Dry skin ages more quickly than other types of skin. Wrinkles and fine lines can often become a problem.

Techniques for Dealing with Dry Skin

There are a number of things you can do for effective dry skin care. Baths and showers should be taken in warm, instead of hot, water, and should be kept as short as possible. Soap should be used sparingly. Mild cleansers and pure soaps are better. When drying your skin, use patting motions and avoid rubbing the skin too much. Try massaging your skin to increase the flow of natural oils.

Because cold and heat exacerbate the problems of dry skin, people with dry skin should protect their face and skin when going out into the wind or sun, and they should always wear a sunscreen.

Exercise, a good diet and enough sleep will all help keep your skin healthy.

Now we’ve turned a corner.  We’re no longer talking about the invisible effects of smoking inside the body, but the visible effects of smoking on your face. And while some smokers are fine with the idea of black lungs, the suggestion that smoking can prematurely age the face is a line of discussion that they will entertain.

No one wants to look bad, but for smokers, it’s an uphill battle.  According to Amanda Sandford, research manager for Action on Smoking and Health, states that, “for smokers, middle-age starts in their early 30`s as the tell-tale wrinkles around the mouth and eyes begin to appear.  Young female smokers are likely to be wasting their money on anti-aging face creams if they continue to smoke.”

And to make matters worse, the aging effects of smoking are often more noticeable in women than in men.  It’s not news that smoking affects the skin.  In fact, the phenomenon known as “smoker’s face” was first identified more than 40 years ago – in 1965.

Since that initial study, it has been estimated by researchers that the effects of smoking add between 10 and 20 years to your appearance.  So if you’re 35 and smoking, you could look like you’re 55 – and who wants to rush the hand of time?

Smoking speeds up skin damage in several key ways:

· It causes the formation of “free radicals” in your body.  Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage your very DNA and cause your     cells to behave erratically.

· It restricts the blood flow through your capillaries, thereby starving your skin of precious nutrients.

· It causes your body to break down the supply of collagen to your skin.  Collagen is an important part of maintaining your skin’ elasticity. And while it does decrease with age, smoking accelerates that process.

· It reduces your supply of vitamin A and prevents your body from efficiently absorbing vitamin C – both key ingredients in protecting your skin from damage.

· Once airborne, it has an overall drying effect on the skin.

· It causes deeply wrinkled skin around the eyes and mouth from continual puckering from drawing on a cigarette and squinting in reaction to the cigarette smoke.

What does a smoker’s skin look like over time?  The beauty effects of long-term exposure to tobacco smoke are:

· A loss of glow and vitality – your skin starts to look dull

· Discoloration – the smoke can actually stain your skin

· Normal wrinkles will be deeper and more pronounced – in fact, according to one study, you’re 3 times as likely to appear wrinkled if you smoke.

· Loss of tone and elasticity in your skin.  Similar to the damage caused by the sun, smoking breaks down the collagen that helps keep your skin taut and resilient.

So if you smoke, you may be setting yourself up for early aging.  Add that to the well-documented health risks and it might be in your best interest to skip that next cigarette.  Your face will thank you.

Rosacea is a chronic (long-term) disease that affects the skin and sometimes the eyes. The disorder is characterized by redness, pimples, and, in advanced stages, thickened skin on the face; other parts of the upper body are only rarely involved.

Who Is At Risk ?

Approximately 14 million people in the United States have rosacea. It most often affects adults between the ages of 30 and 60. Rosacea is more common in women (particularly during menopause) than men. Although this ailment can develop in people of any skin color, it tends to occur most frequently and is most apparent in people with fair skin.

What Does It Look Like?

There are several symptoms and conditions including frequent flushing, vascular rosacea, inflammation, and several other conditions involving the skin, eyes, and nose.

Frequent flushing of the center of the face–which may include the forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin–occurs in the earliest stage of rosacea. The flushing often is accompanied by a burning sensation, particularly when creams or cosmetics are applied to the face. Sometimes the face is swollen slightly.

A condition called vascular rosacea causes persistent flushing and redness. Blood vessels under the skin of the face may dilate (enlarge), showing through the skin as small red lines. This is called telangiectasia (tel-AN-je-ek-tay-ze-ah). The affected skin may be swollen slightly and feel warm.

A condition called inflammatory rosacea causes persistent redness and papules (pink bumps) and pustules (bumps containing pus) on the skin. Eye inflammation and sensitivity as well as telangiectasia also may occur.

In the most advanced stage, the skin becomes a deep shade of red and inflammation of the eye is more apparent. Numerous telangiectases are often present, and nodules in the skin may become painful. A condition called rhinophyma also may develop in some men; it is rare in women. Rhinophyma is characterized by an enlarged, bulbous, and red nose resulting from enlargement of the sebaceous (oil-producing) glands beneath the surface of the skin on the nose. Sufferers may also develop a thickening of the skin on the forehead, chin, cheeks, or other areas.

In addition to skin problems, up to 50 percent of people who have rosacea have eye problems caused by the condition. Typical symptoms include redness, dryness, itching, burning, tearing, and the sensation of having sand in the eye. The eyelids may become inflamed and swollen. Some people say their eyes are sensitive to light and their vision is blurred or otherwise impaired.

What Causes Rosacea?

Doctors do not know the exact cause of rosacea but believe that some people may inherit a tendency to develop the disorder. People who blush frequently may be more likely to develop the problem. Some researchers believe that it is a disorder where blood vessels dilate too easily, resulting in flushing and redness.

Factors that cause rosacea to flare up in one person may have no effect on another person. Although the following factors have not been well-researched, some people claim that one or more of them have aggravated their condition: heat (including hot baths), strenuous exercise, sunlight, wind, very cold temperatures, hot or spicy foods and drinks, alcohol consumption, menopause, emotional stress, and long-term use of topical steroids on the face. Patients affected by pustules may assume they are caused by bacteria, but researchers have not established a link between rosacea and bacteria or other organisms on the skin, in the hair follicles, or elsewhere in the body.

Can It Be Cured?

Although there is no cure for rosacea, it can be treated and controlled. A dermatologist (a medical doctor who specializes in diseases of the skin) can control the condition and improve the appearance of the patient’s skin. It may take several weeks or months of treatment before a person notices an improvement.

Some doctors will prescribe a topical antibiotic, such as metronidazole, which is applied directly to the affected skin. For people with more severe cases, doctors often prescribe an oral (taken by mouth) antibiotic, such as Tetracycline, minocycline, erythromycin, and doxycycline. The papules and pustules may respond quickly to treatment, but the redness and flushing are less likely to improve.

Some people become depressed by the changes in the appearance of their skin. Information provided by the National Rosacea Society indicates that people who have this skin disorder often experience low self-esteem, feel embarrassed by their appearance, and claim their social and professional interactions with others are adversely affected. A doctor should be consulted if a person feels unusually sad or has other symptoms of depression, such as loss of appetite or trouble concentrating.

Doctors usually treat any eye problems with oral antibiotics, particularly tetracycline or doxycycline. People who develop infections of the eyelids must practice frequent eyelid hygiene. The doctor may recommend scrubbing the eyelids gently with diluted baby shampoo or an over-the-counter eyelid cleaner and applying warm (but not hot) compresses several times a day. When eyes are severely affected, doctors may prescribe steroid eye drops.

Electrosurgery and laser surgery are treatment options if red lines caused by dilated blood vessels appear in the skin or if rhinophyma develops. For some patients, laser surgery may improve the skin’s appearance with little scarring or damage. For patients with rhinophyma, surgical removal of the excess tissue to reduce the size of the nose usually will improve the patient’s appearance.

Working With Your Doctor …

The role you play in managing your rosacea is important. You can take several steps to keep it under control:

Keeping a written record of when flareups occur may provide clues regarding what is irritating the skin.

Most people should use a sunscreen every day that protects against UVA and UVB rays (ultraviolet rays) and has a sun-protecting factor (SPF) of 15 or higher, but sunscreen is particularly important for people whose skin is irritated by exposure to the sun.

Using a mild moisturizer may be helpful, but avoid applying any irritating products to the face. Some people find that a green-tinted makeup effectively conceals skin redness.

If your eyes are affected, faithfully follow your doctor’s treatment plan and clean your eyelids as instructed.

There’s no better time than the present to indulge your skin with a total body scrub. Winters dry cold air can wreak havoc on your skin’s natural moisture level, causing dry, ashy, itchy, flaky skin. The artificial heat blowing from indoor heating units in homes and cars can be extremely drying to the skin as well. A salt or sugar scrub exfoliates the skin while hydrating and polishing the skin to a healthy glow. A body scrubs also promotes healthy circulation and blood flow in the body.

A mud wrap is also an excellent body treatment to have during winter months. We are less active during the winter so the body does not get a chance to sweat a lot, and of course perspiration releases toxins. With a mud wrap toxins are pulled from the body while the mud exfoliates the skin and remineralizes the body. Rehydration with lotion application is an important step because the mud can be drying.

Don’t neglect your skin this winter! Make an appointment today for your customized body treatment.

Taming dark circles is tricky.

“There are a lot of factors that contribute to quote-unquote dark circles,” said Dr. Diane Berson, an assistant professor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University in Manhattan. “It’s a combination of heredity and genetics.”

Most people think dark circles are a telltale sign of tiredness, or the unsightly evidence of a binge involving one too many margaritas. That is true to a certain extent, as fatigue makes skin dull, and drinking alcohol dehydrates and thins the skin.

But the most likely culprit causing chronic dark circles, dermatologists say, is excess pigmentation in the skin. Dark circles are prevalent on all skin colors and types, but they especially trouble African-Americans, Southeast Asians and Southern Italians. Beach bunnies should note: sun exposure exacerbates dark circles.

Dilated blood vessels that sit close to the thin under-eye skin are another cause, doctors said. And airborne allergens, which cause blood to pool in the vessels under the skin, can worsen their appearance, said Dr. John A. Persing, a professor and the chief of plastic surgery at the Yale University School of Medicine. (Treatment for these sufferers may be as simple as an antihistamine pill.)

Aging, which causes skin to thin, can darken the eye area, as can certain medications such as birth control pills, which can dilate blood vessels.

The problem is that few, if any, of the creams on the market are formulated for people with excess pigmentation or dilated veins.

“Multiple creams are available, however it is unclear how effective they are,” Dr. Persing said.

For people who aren’t sure why they have dark circles, he recommends topical products that contain a plumping agent or alphahydroxy acids, which can thicken the skin, or vitamins C and K, which can inflame skin and add volume.

But considering the glut of products on the market with a variety of active ingredients, Dr. Persing said, “If there are that many of them available, that usually means they’re not terribly successful.”

If you are concerned about dark circles, come in for a Microzone treatment specifically for your eye area.  It will only take 30 minutes and results will be seen immediately.

Daily Skin Care Regimen
1. Cleanse (AM and PM)
2. Tone (optional, depending on skin condition)
3. Treat (optional, depending on skin condition)
4. Moisturize (AM; PM may be optional depending on Step 3)
5. Protect/Sunscreen (AM; may be combined with Step 4)

Weekly Skin Care Regimen
1. Exfoliator (if your Daily Regimen is not exfoliating)
2. Mask (no need for Exfoliator if mask is exfoliating)

Product Tips for each Skin Type

Normal Skin: Skin with a clear, supple surface that is neither dry nor oily.
Use products that don’t strip your skin of moisture. Mild cleansers and light moisturizers with sunscreen work best. Toner isn’t required.

Oily Skin: Skin with overactive sebaceous glands; often with enlarged pores.
The key to achieving balanced skin is using the right products to help your skin maintain the ideal amount of oil in the skin. Toners often help to remove more oil that cleansers alone. Look for light, oil-free moisturizers with sunscreen, or try a powder sunscreen.

Dry Skin: Skin that produces a low level of sebum and struggles to retain moisture.
By using the right moisturizing products, you can trap water in the skin and even repair the damaged lipid barrier. Stick with gentle, creamy cleansers and look for moisturizers with Vitamin E or natural oils.

Combination Skin: Skin that needs both moisture and oil to reach a healthy balance.
Combination skin often experiences oiliness in what is called the T-zone area. This can include the forehead, nose, and chin. The cheeks are often dry or very dry. The right products are essential to achieve balance without over-drying or over-moisturizing the skin. Gentle foaming cleansers work best. Moisturizers vary, depending on which side of the combo side you lean to, oily or dry.

Sensitive Skin: Skin that is thin or fine-textured and is prone to irritation and/or allergic reactions.
Sensitive skin may be easily irritated for a variety of reasons. Being aware of how your skin reacts to specific products and making sure you limit those reactions will keep your skin happy. Look for products that specifically say “safe for sensitive skin.” Chemical-free products also tend to cause fewer reactions.

Vitamin C can be found in forms such as Ascorbic Acid – the unaltered and exfoliating form of Vitamin C, Ascorbyl Palmitate – a derivative of Vitamin C with similar benefits, and more in skin care. Because Vitamin C oxidizes very quickly with water, manufacturers often have to modify to the Vitamin C to maintain the helpful qualities for skin care.

When used in topical treatments, Vitamin C can actually transform the overall look and feel of your skin. Vitamin C improves your skin in several ways. Vitamin C promotes the synthesis of collagen, which improves the structural proteins within your skin. Topical use of Vitamin C also will neutralize free radicals, defend against environmental damage, and help prevent premature fine lines and wrinkles.

Topical doses of Vitamin C are used specifically to lighten darker skin cells, tone lackluster and distressed skin, and tighten aging skin with fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging. Products such as the Cosmion C Iontophoretic Rejuvenating Serum infuse your skin with this healing Vitamin to penetrate, repair, and revive your complexion.

The Aging Effects of UV Rays

Too much sun causes wrinkles and other signs of aging, not to mention skin cancer.

 By Krisha McCoy, MS Medically reviewed by Niya Jones, MD, MPH

Damage from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause your skin to age prematurely — think wrinkles. The good news is that premature aging due to UV rays is largely preventable. By taking steps to avoid excessive sun exposure and protecting your skin when you’re in the sun, you can help keep your skin healthier and postpone wrinkles for years to come.

The Sun’s Spectrum of Ultraviolet Rays

Radiation energy emitted from the sun reaches the earth in the form of UV rays. Ozone in the Earth’s atmosphere provides some protection, but the breakdown of the ozone layer that has occurred over the past few decades is making us even more vulnerable to UV rays damage. Even on overcast days you’re still being exposed to UV rays — “cloud cover” offers no protective value.

Two types of UV rays reach the earth, UVA and UVB (the sun also emits UVC rays, but these are absorbed by the earth’s atmosphere). UVA rays are the rays that cause tanning as well as wrinkles and other signs of premature aging, and UVB rays cause sunburns and skin cancer. But both ultimately damage your skin. UV rays are more powerful during the summer months. They are also stronger in high altitude areas and the closer you get to the equator — geographic factors that increase your risk of premature aging.

Damage Done by UV Rays

When UV rays reach your skin, they interact with a natural chemical in the skin called melanin. Melanin is your first line of protection and absorbs UV rays in order to shield your skin against sun damage; this chemical reaction is what gives skin a tan. When the amount of UV rays you’re exposed to exceeds the protection provided by melanin, however, you get a sunburn.

Repeated overexposure to UV rays can lead to various forms of skin damage including:

• Fine lines
• Wrinkles
• Age spots, freckles, and other discolorations
• Scaly red patches, called actinic keratoses, thought to be the beginnings of skin cancer
• Tough, leathery skin that feels and looks dry and rough

As if these signs of aging weren’t enough, the sun causes numerous types of skin cancer, including life-threatening melanoma; eye damage such as cataracts, which impair vision; and a weakened immune system, leaving you less able to fight off infections.

Break the UV Ray Cycle

You can help protect your skin from wrinkles and other sun damage with the following steps:

• Use sunscreen. Every day, generously apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, choosing products that provide what’s called “broad spectrum” protection against both UVA and UVB rays. When you’re in the sun for prolonged periods of time, reapply sunscreen every two hours.
• Wear protective clothing. Whenever possible, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses to further shield your skin from the sun. Consider clothes made from fabrics with built-in SPF.
• Avoid peak sun hours. Stay in the shade during the hottest part of the day, usually from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are at their most intense.
• Follow the UV Index. The UV Index is a daily indicator of how much UV radiation is expected to reach the earth — think of it as a pollen count reading for your skin. Developed by the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Weather Service, it’s usually broadcast along with your local weather report. A rating of 1 to 2 is considered low, and anything over 11 is very high. The higher the number, the more you risk overexposure to UV rays.
• Never use tanning beds. Tanning beds emit the same UV rays that come from the sun, so skip them. Contrary to popular belief, they are not a “safer” way to tan.
• Bronze yourself with sunless tanning products. If you like the look of sun kissed skin, consider do-it-yourself tanning products or splurge on a salon spray-on tan. But remember to still use sunscreen and take all other precautions against UV rays when you’re going to be outside.

While the sun may feel warm and inviting, exposure to UV rays comes at a cost. Take steps to protect yourself from the havoc that sun damage can wreak on your skin.

Symptoms of Hair that is Ingrown

An ingrown hair problem is generally characterized by a number of symptoms, but each person may experience the symptoms slightly differently. The most common symptom of ingrown hairs is inflammation of the skin in localized small bumps. The degree of inflammation will vary. Within the center of the bump, a barely visible curled hair is present. Accompanying the swelling is redness, mild pain, and itchiness. Ingrown hair can also lead to the formation of puss in the affected areas.

As will be discussed later, ingrown hairs are closely associated with the act of shaving. Therefore, the beard and neck areas in men are prime locations for ingrown hair to occur and it can be a significant mens skin care problem. However, women also commonly shave certain body areas and therefore, like men, women are also concerned about ingrown-hair. For women, the legs, underarms, and bikini area are all usually affected by these razor bumps.

Ingrown hair symptoms may resemble other skin care problems. One such problem is known as keratosis pilaris. This is a non-contagious skin condition that produces symptoms similar to ingrown hairs and it is commonly found on the upper arms, thighs, and occasionally on other body areas. Old shedding skin cells that get trapped in hair follicles cause this condition.

What Causes Ingrown Hair to Occur?
When a hair shaft is cut it has a sharpened edge and as this hair strand grows, it might curl back into the same hair follicle and get trapped underneath the skin surface. Basically, it grows back into the skin. Also, new hairs may also get caught under the skin surface without ever being cut. These scenarios create the irritation symptoms that occur with ingrown-hair.

Treatments and Prevention
Often ingrown hairs disappear on their own by growing out from beneath the skin’s surface. In addition, ingrown hairs can be removed by carefully lifting them out of the skin with tweezers. The hairs should not be plucked. However, for many individuals this is a chronic skin problem that does require more sophisticated action to be taken to alleviate the discomfort.

Possible treatments for individuals with chronic ingrown-hair problems are the use of depilatory creams or electrolysis in order to remove the hair. No hair, no ingrown-hair problem! Depilatory creams are used for the short-term removal of the hair. For a more permanent hair removal method, then electrolysis is the way to go. A dermatologist, depending on the severity of the condition, can prescribe other treatments. Topical antiseptics may be used to prevent infections from occurring or when there is infection, antibiotics may be required. Although it is not always possible to stop ingrown hairs from occurring, the best treatment is prevention.

Shaving Tips for Preventing Ingrown Hairs or Razor Bumps

Shaving often causes an ingrown hair problem to occur and that is why it is also referred to as razor bumps. Therefore, the best prevention technique is not to shave. Although this is a very logical approach, it is not very practical because not all men want facial hair and not all women are thrilled to have hairy legs or armpits. The alternative is to practice proper shaving techniques consistently and to follow certain shaving tips as described below.

Shave with an Electric Razor
Many individuals have found that shaving with an electric razor reduces the occurrence of hairs that are ingrown or razor bumps. This is likely due to the fact that electric razors do not shave as close as a wet blade. With blades, the shave is much closer and there is a greater chance of the cut and sharpened end of the hair to re-enter the hair follicle.

Use Shave Gel Instead of Foam
Gels are typically less irritating whereas foams can dry-out and irritate the skin. The shave gel product should contain plenty of lubricating agents and be specially formulated for sensitive skin. Do not use any product that contains alcohol. Alcohol will make this skin care problem substantially worse because it will dry out the skin and close the pores.

Wash the Skin Before Shaving
Wet hair is full of moisture and cuts easier. On the other hand dry hair is tougher and stronger. As a razor encounters this tougher hair, it gets pulled up from the follicle and then retracts beneath the skin surface after it is cut. This increases the risk of ingrown-hairs because the cut hair gets trapped inside the hair follicle and digs inward or sideways into the skin as it grows. The hair to be shaved should be wet for around five minutes prior to shaving. Washing the skin before shaving also helps to exfoliate it and helps lift the hairs away from the skin follicle.

Shave in the Direction of Hair Growth and this Same Direction Each Time
For men, the direction of shaving is downwards on the cheeks, chin, and moustache areas and upwards on the neck. For women this means shaving downwards on the legs. This is a very important factor in preventing hairs from becoming ingrown. It prevents the hair from being cut too short. If shaving with the hair grain (direction of growth) is done consistently, then the hair can be trained to grow out straight, which prevents it from curling back into the skin.

Shaving against the grain will give a closer shave and some individuals prefer this technique. However, if one is prone to skin irritation and the development of hairs becoming ingrown then shaving with the grain of the hair is strongly recommended.

Shave with Skin in a Relaxed State
When shaving it is best not to pull the skin too tight. A little pressure is okay, but too much stretching will result in the hair being cut too short. Also, do not use too much pressure on the blade.

Avoid Repeated Strokes in the Same Area
Repeated strokes with the razor over the same area will cause the hair to be cut too short and result in a greater chance of the development of an ingrown-hair problem. Also, a single blade razor is generally preferred. With rigid twin blade razors, the first blade lifts the hair and the second blade cuts it deep and usually at an angle that makes the development of ingrown hair likely. Pivoting head razors with multiple blades are not as bad as the fixed blades razors.

Other Tips for Preventing Hair from Becoming Ingrown

Exfoliate the Skin
Exfoliating the skin can be a very useful procedure for preventing hairs that are ingrown or razor bumps. This process will remove the barriers that prevent the hair from growing out of the skin. It should be performed regularly when bathing or when the face is washed. Exfoliation can be performed with a gentle scrubbing pad, an exfoliating glove or a loofah. Certain creams that contain beta hydroxy acids, such as salicylic acid can help to exfoliate the skin and are very effective in reducing razor bumps.

Practice Daily Health Skin Care
Daily moisturization of the skin is necessary as well to prevent ingrown hair. Gentle cleansing and proper moisturization will keep the skin smooth and supple and will keep the hair follicles moisturized and the hair growing in the right direction. The moisturizer used should not clog the pores – such products are labeled as noncomedogenic.