Skin Care Talks

What is DHC Skin Care All About?

skeenz — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:00:02 +0000

DHC skin care was founded in Japan in the 1980s with a product base of only three items; today it showcases more than 150 excellent skin care products. This is one of the first companies to use the direct-mail approach in marketing of their products.

The DHC Skin Care Treatment is Based on the Properties of Olive Oil

Japan has always been attuned to nature, and olive oil has long since been used successfully in skin care. The virgin olive oil used in the products has exceptional properties to fight aging and keep the skin smooth and radiant.

For those who do not know, olive oil has the unique property of readily mixing with water. Hence, it is able to penetrate much deeper than any other oil or substance applied, thus moisturizing the skin and cleansing it from inside.

All the DHC skin care products derive their beauty-enhancing properties from olive oil, used for beautification, fairness and anti-aging treatments. Added to this aspect is the perfection-driven mentality that is so common in Japan, making the DHC skin care company one of the best in the world.

The DHC Skin Care Company: A Way of Doing Business That Clicked Big Time

This beauty product company, as is mentioned above, had started very modestly some 20 years ago with the concept of marketing its products all over the world through direct mail. The success of the company today speaks for itself.

This was a very innovative idea back in the eighties, and the fact that it met with so much success proves true two major beliefs. These two beliefs are that the quality of the DHC skin care products has been and is totally irreproachable, and the direct-mail business can and is working as good as any other type of marketing.

There are many promotional offers by the DHC skin care company. You get a discount if you buy products worth $48 and above. You can get good discounts when you order in high volume. You will be paid a special discount for every friend you introduce to the web, and you get totally free shipping when you order something that costs more than $68.

Besides the beauty products, the DHC skin care company actively promotes healthier
Lifestyles, and hence has brought out a number of luxury health spas on the peninsula of Izu. This excellent location, offer an out-of-this-world experiences through massages, spas, mineral baths and many other aspects that give you a healthy life and beautiful skin.

Shingles skin disorder

skeenz — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:30:02 +0000

The Shingles is an infection caused by the virus that causes chickenpox vermicelli-zoster. One or more nerves and the skin over them are pretentious. Normally, the disorder causes a painful blistering rash, usually limited to one part of the body. Shingles occurs most often between the ages of 50 and 70, but it can occur at any age. It occurs only in people who have been previously infected with the virus that causes chickenpox.

More than one third of older people with shingles have persistent ache post herpetic neuralgia. Generally, the older a person is the superior the chance of increasing posts herpetic neuralgia. Rarely, shingles leads to other serious troubles.

The causes of skin disorder:

The virus that causes chickenpox often continues to live in a person after the symptoms of chickenpox disappear. Frequently, the virus lives in the part of a nerve near the spinal cord. The Shingles develops when the virus becomes active again is reactivated decades later and travels down the nerve to the skin. The most people who develop shingles have a healthy immune system. But shingles is more likely to occur when the immune system is not implementation well. As people age, the immune system becomes slightly less effective. This slight change may be all that is needed for shingles to develop. Conditions that weaken or suppress the immune system make shingles more likely to develop. These conditions include certain disorders (such as some cancers, diabetes, and HIV infection), use of drugs that suppress the immune system (immunosuppressant, such as cyclosporine and corticosteroids), and adequate nutrition. Surgery or other trauma can trigger shingles. However, what reactivates the virus in an exacting person at a particular time usually cannot be single-minded.

Symptoms of shingles skin disorder:

The shingles usually causes abnormal sensations in the affected part of the body a few days before the rash appears. The abnormal sensations include deep pain, burning, a pins and needles sensation, itching, numbness, and tremendous sensitivity to touch. Prior to the rash appears, some people have symptoms similar to those of influenza (flu), such as fever or muscle aches. The rash may appear everyplace on the skin over the nerve in which the virus lives. The skin over a nerve is abounding innervated by that nerve. The area is called a dermatome. Usually, the rash is limited to an area on the trunk. But the rash can concern an arm or a leg, rarely even fingertips or toes. In some people, the rash develops on the neck or face instead. Almost always, the rash develops on only one side of the body.

Skin Care Routine Is To Be Followed Daily For Results

skeenz — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:30:02 +0000

Skin is the largest organ in the human body and one that is often neglected. Sun exposure, improper diet, unhealthy lifestyle, and following a wrong or no skin care routine are the leading causes of skin damage. Your health is reflected in your skin; therefore, when you start taking care of your skin seriously you will also be taking care of your health.

First of all you should make skin care a part of your daily routine, one that is followed religiously. Remember that it is never too late to start a skin care routine. Though you will not see the results in a day or two, over a period of time you will see a healthy and clear skin.

Cleansing
A daily skin care routine will consist of four basic steps. The first step is obviously the cleansing step. You should use a cleanser that is suitable for your skin type. First splash your face with water and then apply a cleanser. Massage it in your skin for at least 30 seconds to boost the blood circulation in your skin. Next rinse your face with clean water.

Toning
Next step in your daily skin care routine is applying a toner. Toning helps refresh the skin. It is best to keep cotton wool pads soaked in a bowl of toner in refrigeration. After you have cleansed your face you can pad the skin briskly with the toner. Toning helps stimulate blood circulation.

Moisturizing
After toning, the next step would involve applying the right moisturizer. Use a moisturizer that is suitable for your skin type. The correct way of applying a moisturizer involves applying small dots of moisturizer onto your face. Applying upward and outward strokes, gently massage the moisturizer on your face.

Nourishing
Nourishing your skin is the final step in your daily skin care routine. Vitamin A creams and Vitamin E creams are very nourishing for skin as they help relieve dryness and maintain the elasticity of your skin.

For that perfect beauty you need to follow your skin care routine daily. Besides following your skin care you also need to make sure that you eat healthy. You should eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables as they are great antioxidants. Antioxidants help remove free radicals from your body. Free radicals damage the cells and thereby causing all sorts of problems, including skin damage. Strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, etc. are all high in antioxidants.

For a healthy skin you should avoid smoking and drinking. Both smoking and drinking are the main cause of premature aging. Instead drink lot of water and exercise to stay fit. In a month or so your skin care routine will show positive results thus motivating you further to keep following the routine.

Pamper Yourself at a Skin Care Salon

skeenz — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:00:01 +0000

Our appearance is important as it not only reflects our personality but also our age and health. There are many ways in which we try to maintain our looks and appearance, look fresh and young but sometimes we need a little extra touch from a skin care salon in order to rejuvenate, refresh and add that youthful glow.

Your Skin is Your Mirror

Your skin type can tell a lot about your personality and eating habits for it is greatly influenced by both. Depending on what type of environment you spend most of your time and what type of care you provide your skin, will in the end have a say in your overall appearance.

Everyday we face a large number of pollutants such as car smoke, dust, fumes and gases that we may not even be aware of as well as other factors at work or home such as cigarette smoke which will affect your skin. Besides our environment, the diet we keep also reflects on our skins and a poor diet in essential vitamins and minerals will result in dull troubled skin.

How You Can Change Your Skin Around

To maintain nourished skin you need to take care of it everyday. Adequate sun protection must be an essential factor in your day cream and a good night cream is required for replenishing the damage of the day. Cleansing is important to remove every day's deposit of dust and dirt in order to keep your pores clean and breathing. Caring for your skin must start at home and while your face is the one that is most exposed your whole body should not be neglected in the process.

Pamper Yourself at a Skin Care Salon

Sometimes the daily care is not enough and that is when professional help is required. In a skin care salon you will find treatment for your face and body to achieve a smooth, glowing younger skin but also a keep up a healthy tone.

The treatments applied in skin care salons are specific to your needs and therefore cannot usually be obtained at home such as whole body exfoliating, which will remove the dead skin and bring forward a brighter tone. Facials, cellulite treatment as well as water retention removal can easily be addressed in a skin care salon for an instantly better appearance.

Helpful Tip

Indulge at least once a month in a skin care salon treatment and you too will achieve healthier, glowing skin in no time at all.

The Non-chemical Way to Clear Up Acne

skeenz — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:30:02 +0000

There are tons of over-the-counter acne creams, lotions, gels, and washes that you can buy to help clear up your acne and most of these products do work well. The problem is that most of these products contain chemicals that can irritate your skin and skin irritation is one of the causes of acne!

Why would you want to put anything on your skin that you cannot even pronounce? A product that is expensive isn't necessarily better at clearing up acne.

There are some natural products that you can find around your house that can be used to clear up your acne.

Baking soda makes a great skin scrub. A scrub is used to exfoliate the skin, remove dead skin and can eventually unclog your pores. To use baking soda for acne, make a paste with the baking soda and a little water. Gently massage the paste onto your skin for ten to fifteen seconds and then rinse the baking soda off with clean water and pat your face dry with a clean towel.

Use eight parts water to one part vinegar. Clean your face and pat it dry, then using a cotton ball soak the ball in the vinegar solution and apply it directly to the problem areas, leaving it on. If you have stubborn acne you can try a stronger vinegar

You can also use apple cider vinegar to help clear up your acne. You can also use plain vinegar. The reason vinegar works is because it kills bacteria. Bacteria on your skin cause acne. The vinegar also balances your skin's pH and absorbs oil that can cause acne.

Use eight parts water to one part vinegar. Clean your face and pat it dry, then using a cotton ball soak the ball in the vinegar solution and apply it directly to the problem areas. Rinse your skin after ten minutes. You can make a stronger solution for stubborn acne by mixing 2 or 3 parts of water to 1 part vinegar), then apply it directly to troubled areas of skin and rinse off after ten minutes. You can also substitute lemon or lime juice in place of the vinegar. The citric acid in the juices acts as a exfoliate and also halts the growth of acne spots and fades the ones you already have.

You can make a natural mask for your face using egg whites. The egg white mask will heal and rebuild your skin as well as absorb excess oil from your face. To make the mask, crack and egg and remove the yolk. Beat the egg whites, and apply them directly to your face. Wait fifteen minutes, and then rinse your face.

Use oatmeal to remove excess oil from your face. Cook oatmeal in the normal fashion, let it cool. Rub the cooled oatmeal over clean skin and let it sit like you would a mask. After it dries, rinse it off. Doing this on a regular basis should yield noticeable results.

Keeping your digestive system working smoothly can help your acne from the inside out.

Using these non-chemical ways to clear up acne is gentler on your skin and less costly too.

Understanding Rosacea-The Ins and Outs

skeenz — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:15:02 +0000

If you have ever suffered from rosacea, then you know that this problem can cause you to be self-conscious about the way you look. Rosacea causes swelling and redness on your face, and can also be characterized by small acne like bumps around your forehead and around your mouth. In the most severe cases of rosacea, your nose could become disfigured, leaving you with the choice of seeking plastic surgery to correct the problem. There is no cure for rosacea, and because it is a progressive disease, you should take the time to understand all you can about this condition.

What is Rosacea?

Rosacea is considered a progressive inflammatory condition that is often characterized by persistent and chronic blushing or flushing of the face. The condition stops there for many people, however, for millions of other people, the condition becomes progressively worse. It can cause painful read acne like pustules and blisters that are sensitive to the touch. When left untreated, you may find that the skin on your face thickens and can cause disfigurement of the nose. In some cases of rosacea, it can affect the eye and cause your eyes to have red and irritated look and could cause contagious conjunctivitis. While most cases are contained on the face, some people may experience a rosacea on other parts of their body, including their arms and legs, scalp chests and neck. Reservations should not be confused with acne, because it is certainly not the same. Rosacea has nothing to do with clogged pores or hormone levels. If you experience persistent problems with these symptoms that it is likely you are facing rosacea and not acne breakouts.

What does rosacea feel like?

It is important to remember that no two people are alike, so no two cases of rosacea will be exactly alike either. Some people may find that their symptoms are quite mild, and may only include flushing of the face. Other people may find the redness is also accompanied by varying degrees of bumps and pustules on the face. In addition, some people may have redness that never seems to go away, while others may find that the redness comes and goes and can be traced to certain triggers. Most likely any person that experience is rosacea will often feel itching or burning or stinging on the face during a rosacea outbreak. Many people compare this to the feeling of a severe sunburn or wind burn. People with rosacea also have very dry and cracked skin that will need to be treated with moisturizer several times a day.

There are varying degrees of rosacea as well. Doctors will take a look at your individual case and decide how severe your outbreaks are and will find an appropriate treatment. Generally the grading system is on a scale of zero to three with zero showing no symptoms and three being the most severe.

If you suffer from rosacea, then it is important to learn how to maintain your condition and how to treat it properly from day to day.

All about sensitive skin care

skeenz — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:15:02 +0000

'Sensitive skin care' is governed by a few basic rules. However, even before we delve into the rules for sensitive skin care, it's important to understand what a sensitive skin is. Sensitive skin is one which is unable to tolerate any unfavourable conditions (environmental/other), and which easily gets irritated on contact with foreign materials (including skin care products). For this reason, some products are especially labelled as sensitive skin care products. The degree of sensitivity can however vary from person to person (and depending on that, the sensitive skin care procedures vary too).

Generally, all skin types respond negatively to detergents and other chemical based products. However, the damage starts generally beyond a defined threshold (or tolerance level). This tolerance level is very low for sensitive skin types, leading to skin getting damaged very easily and quickly. Sensitive skin care products either avoid the potential irritants or keep them at very low concentrations.

Here are a few tips for sensitive skin care:
* Use sensitive skin care products only (i.e. the products that are marked for sensitive skin care only). Also, check the instructions/ notes on the product to see if there are specific restrictions/warnings associated with the product).
* Even within the range of sensitive skin care products, choose the one that has minimum preservatives, colourings and other additives
* Do not use toners. Most of them are alcohol based and are not recommended for sensitive skin.
* Wear protective gloves when doing laundry or other chemical based cleaning. If you are allergic to rubber, you can wear cotton gloves below the rubber ones.
* Another important tip for 'sensitive skin care' is to avoid excessive exposure to sun. Apply sunscreen lotion before getting out in the sun.
* Avoiding exposure to dust and other pollutants is also important for sensitive skin care. So, cover yourself adequately before going out.
* Use hypoallergenic, noncomedogenic moisturizer as a sensitive skin care product (if there is none specifically labelled as a sensitive skin care product)
* Use soap-free and alcohol free cleansers. Cleanse your face whenever you return from spending time out doors.
* Do not scrub or exfoliate too hard. It can cause reddishness and even inflammation.
* Do not leave the makeup on for too long. Use hypoallergenic makeup- removers.

So, sensitive skin care is very different from the normal skin care. Sensitive skin care is more about being careful with your skin (both in terms of sensitive skin care products and protection against environments atrocities on skin).

Clinique Skin Care Includes a Wide Range of Products

skeenz — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:00:03 +0000

There is no need to struggle with skin care, as with Clinique products it is easy to obtain optimum results when using their gentle cleansing creams, UV-response body SPF or body spray SPF, among other skin care products. There are also Clinique skin care products such as Moisture-in-Control oil-free Lotions, Skin removers, Repairwear deep wrinkle concentrates for face and eye, Seven day cream and a host of other products that can be used as required.

If one chooses a combination of Extremely Gentle Cleansing Creams, Moisture in-control oil-free lotions, Repairwear deep wrinkle Concentrate for face and eye and Take the day off cleaning, these Clinique skin care products how-to page at their website www.Clinique.com would explain the best manner of using the products selected. There are morning as well as evening routines that are explained to the user.

Morning and Evening Routines

The morning routine may begin by using the Repairwear deep wrinkle concentrate for face and eye as it should help to quickly repair the deeply wrinkled look as well as restore firmness to the skin. This would be followed by Moisture in-control oil-free lotions that help to make the skin feel cleaner and fresher.

Follow this with City block sheer oil-free daily face protector SPF 15 because the skin is always in need of protection all day, never mind the different weather conditions. This step of skin care by Clinique would help protect against UVA/UVB rays as well as different environmental irritants and also keeps the makeup wear longer, and also makes for a smoother and softer finish for foundation.

The evening routine for skin care with Clinique products chosen would begin by using Take the day off cleansing balm which should help to dissolve tenacious eye and face make-ups as also sunscreens. The next step would be to use Extremely gentle cleansing cream which allows for gentle dissolving of makeup as well as tissue off and results in the effectual cleaning of water-sensitive skins.

Next, the Repairwear deep wrinkle concentrate for face and eye will help to quickly repair the deep wrinkles as well as make the skin firmer. Finally, to end the evening routine, one can use Moisture in-control oil-free lotions to help clean and freshen the skin.

In addition, Clinique skin care products may be used to cleanse with non-drying facial soaps or liquid facial soaps and this would enable the user to benefit from Clinique's facial soaps that work on very dry to dry skins as well as on oily skins. There is also a Clinique skin care clarifying lotion that helps to exfoliate the skin.

No Sweat in Treating Hidradenitis Suppurativa

skeenz — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:15:02 +0000

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a recurring skin infection and irritation which is heralded by the appearance of not only blackheads but also sensitive, red lesions or bumps. These bumps resemble boils in that they swell up, rupture and then drain pus, often for days. Because this is a chronic condition, scarring will likely results after just a few occurrences at the infected site.

Unfortunately, there is no known cause of hidradenitis suppurativa but some doctors believe it is as an extreme form of cystic acne. This is because it occurs deep into the skin, near the hair follicles and oil glands. This condition mainly affects the area around the major sweat glands which are in the armpit and groin areas. For those who are unlucky enough to develop it, hidradenitis suppurativa usually starts after puberty and can recur for years, often getting worse as time passes. No definitive cure is available for this skin infection but if caught early enough, there is hope at controlling the symptoms and prevent new bumps and lesions from forming.

Symptoms and Other Signs

Where the sweat and oil glands are found in prominent areas is where you are likely to find an outbreak of hidradenitis suppurativa. The main areas are the groin, armpit and even anal area, three places where people sweat the most. In addition, areas of the body that tends to rub together like the buttocks, breasts or inner thighs may also have an outbreak. People can have this skin infection in more than one part of their body unfortunately.

Typical signs of hidradenitis suppurativa include the development of red, painful bumps which fill with pus and then break open to drain. Excessive sweating, itching and foul odor may accompany this discharge. Some of these painful bumps may just leak pus continually and take a long time to heal. Sometimes they never fully heal and instead scar up.

Sometimes, the affected area looks pitted and contains blackheads which is trapped sebum from the oil glands that are exposed to the surface. Small painful bumps may swell under the skin and form hard cyst-like nodules which can become irritated or inflamed periodically.

Some people with hidradenitis suppurativa may only experience mild symptoms while others get worse and develop multiple areas of this skin infection. Weight gain, excessive sweating, extreme heat and fluctuating hormones all play a role in this unpleasant condition.

Diagnosis and Treatment

The doctors will likely order blood tests to determine infection and may even take a sample of the drainage if it is present. These tests will rule out other conditions such as a carbuncle, pilonidal cyst or even tuberculosis. As far as treatment is concerned, if the case is mild, antibiotic soaps and topical antibiotic ointments may be used to keep the condition from getting worse.

Oral antibiotics may be necessary as well as retinoids to help slow or stop the production of the oil glands. Hidradenitis suppurativa may also require anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the swelling. For more serious cases, incising the bumps and draining them may provide temporary relief but doesn't guarantee that they won't return. Drastic measures occur when the skin and affected tissue are completely removed and then skin grafts used to repair the site. While this extreme measure will effectively "cure" that particular site, it does not guarantee that the hidradenitis suppurativa won't recur in another area.

Psoriasis and Phototherapy Programs

skeenz — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:00:02 +0000

When patients have psoriasis that does not respond to topical medications alone or have lesions that are too extensive for topical treatment, phototherapy becomes an option. During phototherapy, the patient's skin or just the lesions are exposed to ultraviolet lights. Patients usually receive phototherapy treatment in a dermatologist office or psoriasis clinic. There are several types of phototherapy programs available, all with their own advantages and disadvantages.

The excimer laser is effective in treating limited plaque psoriasis and offers two distinct advantages over other forms of phototherapy. Dermatologists are able to target the laser to treat only the psoriatic lesion, which eliminates possible damage to surrounding unaffected skin. Since the lesions are the only thing treated, significantly higher doses of light can be used. Higher doses allow for fewer treatment sessions. The excimer laser delivers high intensity wavelengths of UVB to the targets psoriasis plaques. Each treatment session lasts only a few minutes and are usually given twice a week. Eight to ten sessions are needed to achieve near clearance. Psoriasis sufferers considering laser treatment should know that many states do not distinguish who can and cannot perform procedures using laser and light sources. Skin treatments using lasers may carry potential side effects and should be performed by a board certified dermatologist or under direct physician supervision.

Also known as photo chemotherapy, PUVA is effective with patients suffering with plaque, guttate and palmar-plantar psoriasis. It offers long lasting clearance to many who respond to the treatment and requires the patient to ingest, topically apply, or bathe in medication called psoralen before being exposed to UVA rays. Psoralen makes the skin more sensitive to UVA rays which requires the patient to wear UVA blocking sunglasses for the rest of the day when exposed to sunlight because psoralen remains in the eyes for a while. Twenty five treatments spaced between 2 to 3 months are needed before clearing occurs, but due to the inconvenience and side effects, PUVA is usually reserved for patients whose psoriasis has not responded to other treatments or have widespread lesions.

UVB phototherapy is highly effective in patients who have moderate to severe psoriasis and thin plaques. Patients usually receive between 2 and 5 treatments per week. During treatment the skin is exposed to UVB, which is generated from a special lamp or laser. To enhance the penetration of UVB rays, an emollient is applied before exposure. There are two types of UVB phototherapy, including broadband which is required 3 to 5 treatments per week. This UVB therapy has been around for more than 80 years and is highly effective. The broadband light, however, does not reach the scalp and areas where skin folds occur. The new form of UVB therapy is called narrowband because it emit's a narrower band of UVB wavelengths. Narrowband UVB therapy is proving to be more effective than the traditional broadband therapy. This form of therapy does have the potential to produce severe burning or if it poses a long term risk for development of skin cancer.