Summer Skin Care Written by Lori Stryker
Healthy skin is slightly acidic, due to acid mantle which covers it. The acid mantle is a combination of sebum and perspiration designed to protect skin from environment. Each day we lose 850 ml of water through perspiration, so drinking water is helpful in replacing this lost fluid. During summer, water loss is more rapid, and humid conditions accelerate water loss through skin as body attempts to cool itself. As a result, sebum production increases, collecting on skin and clogging pores. For many, this process results in breakouts, so regular cleansing is recommended.A good skin care regimen for most skin types during summer months is following: 1. Cleansing with a natural, vegetable soap or soap-based cleanser. 2. Exfoliation, not exceeding once or twice per week 3. Hydrate your skin with an alcohol free, natural toner or fill a clean, sterile spray bottle with filtered water and mist over face after cleansing or exfoliation. 4. Moisturize with a light, all natural moisturizer. Creams and lotions with petroleum based ingredients tend to clog pores unnecessarily. 5. Massage a face oil or moisturizer into skin at night. Massaging serves to increase circulation to skin, which helps natural rejuvenation processes which take place during sleep. 6. Keep lips protected and moisturized with a lip balm, lip gloss or lipstick, preferably containing a natural sunblock such as titanium dioxide. 7.Cover up to reduce amount of exposure to sun with a wide brimmed hat, long and loose fitting clothing. Ninety percent of skin cancers are due to chronic sun damage and eighty percent of wrinkles arise from photoaging.
| | Controlling AcneWritten by Lori Stryker
Controlling Acne Acne...it affects a majority of teenagers and many adults well into middle age. It is dreaded and despaired over by many who suffer from this common skin condition. Clearing acne begins by understanding what acne really is and what triggers it. Then we will consider how it can be controlled by lifestyle choices, skin care choices and wise use of make-up. Who suffers from it? Teenagers struggle with acne, but so do many adults. Acne breakouts can result from fluctuating hormone levels at various stages of life, such as puberty, pregnancy or menopause. Outwardly, acne can reveal internal signs, such as poor elimination or buildup of toxins, a lack of exercise or high stress levels. Both men and women contend with acne, and as good health and beauty are intertwined, causes of acne can reveal solutions to managing and reducing skin breakouts. What is it? Acne occurs when oil glands produce excess sebum, skin's own oil, which accumulates with dead skin cells to form a plug which results in a clogged skin pore. Bacteria trapped inside pore feed of sebum mixture, multiplying and producing agents which irritate walls of pore. As immune system works to attack bacteria, pus is formed leading to an inflamed pimple, blackhead or whitehead. Picking or squeezing a pimple can cause pore to rupture, releasing bacteria into surrounding area, and can cause more pimples, cysts or scars. For many, certain areas of skin have overactive sebaceous, or oil glands which produce excess sebum. These areas are typically forehead, nose, cheeks and/or chin. Comedones, or blackheads, are not caused by dirt, but rather by sebum which has clogged a pore, oxidized and discoloured by melanin. What triggers it? Often a spotty complexion denotes a diet high in sugar or saturated fats found in fried foods, refined or processed foods. Conversely, a diet low in fat may lack essential fatty acids, and can also affect appearance of skin. Breakouts can reveal toxin buildup, resulting from constipation, kidney or lymphatic problems. Other triggers include a polluted, dry environment, and seasonal climate changes. Genetics also determines whether a person will be predisposed to acne breakouts. In general, acne is caused by a combination of four main factors: - Genetics
- Skin Care
- Lifestyle
- Emotional State
We cannot change our genetics, but we can change other three factors to help reduce likelihood of acne breakouts. How can acne be controlled? Skin needs to be cleansed, fed and nurtured. Externally, skin benefits from a simple regimen: - Cleansing with a mild, slightly acidic and all natural soap. Other kinds of soaps can cause redness, soreness, irritation or tightness because of harsh chemicals, colorants detergents and fragrances they are made with. Avoid any products which contain ingredients which may irritate or dry out skin. Most often culpable ingredients are petroleum derived, synthetic or animal based.
- Tone with an alcohol-free, all natural toner, since alcohol is drying to skin and will cause oil glands to produce more sebum. Toner also helps reduce bacterial population on skin, decreasing number of bacteria which will migrate into pores.
- Moisturize with a petroleum free cream. Petroleum is comedogenic and can clog pores unnecessarily. Creams which contain natural waxes such as beeswax do not have a comedogenic effect on pores. At night, massage a facial oil into skin as this helps increase circulation to surface of skin and suppresses oil glands from producing excess oil.
- Once per week, use a gentle exfoliant to remove dead skin cells which accumulate at surface of pores and lead to blackheads. A mud mask used once every couple of weeks also helps draw out sebum in pores as clays present in mask are highly absorbent.
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