Thursday, 18 February 2016

Laser Skin Resurfacing for Acne Scars and Wrinkles

If ageing, acne, or too much time in the sun has left your face with blotches, scars, wrinkles, or lines, laser skin resurfacing may help your skin look younger and healthier by removing skin layer by layer with precision. The new skin cells that form during healing give the skin a tighter, younger looking surface. The procedure can be done alone or with other cosmetic surgeries on the face.

Preparing for Laser Resurfacing
Start by consulting a plastic surgeon or dermatologist to find out if you're a good candidate.Tell your doctor if you get cold sores or fever blisters around your mouth. Laser skin resurfacing can trigger breakouts in people who are at risk. If you decide to go ahead with laser skin resurfacing, your doctor will ask you to not take any medications or supplements -- such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or vitamin E -- that can affect clotting for 10 days before surgery.If you smoke, you should stop for two weeks before and after the procedure. Smoking can prolong healing.Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic medication beforehand to prevent bacterial infections and also an antiviral medication if you are prone to cold sores or fever blisters.

What to Expect During and After the Procedure
Laser resurfacing is done by a plastic surgeon or dermatologist. It's an outpatient procedure, meaning you'll not have to stay at hospital overnight.The doctor may treat wrinkles or acne scars around your cheeks, eyes, mouth, or forehead individually or treat your entire face. For small areas, the doctor will numb the areas to be treated with a local anesthetic and may also sedate you. You may require general anesthesia if your whole face is being treated.Treating just parts of the face takes about 30 to 45 minutes. A full-face treatment takes up to two hours.Following the laser procedure, the doctor will bandage the treated areas. 
After 24 hours, you will need to clean the treated areas four to five times a day and then apply a high quality moisturizer several times a day to prevent scabs from forming. For one such product, click this link  
Five to seven days after laser resurfacing, your skin will become dry and start to peel.

Benefits and Risks of Laser Resurfacing
-Burns or other injuries from the laser's heat
-Changes in the skin's pigmentation, including areas of darker or lighter skin
-Reactivating herpes cold sores
-Bacterial infection
A highly recommended moisturizer for after care is given below. Click on the link below for complete details.

Tuesday, 16 February 2016

Anti-Aging Products

1. SPF with zinc
Using SPF every day even if you're not outdoors is the best way to slow skin aging.While dermatologists are happy if you put on any sunscreen, they're partial to zinc as the best sun shield. Zinc doesn't irritate sensitive skin and has the broadest-spectrum UVA protection.
Ultraviolet A or UVA rays go deeper into the skin to cause DNA damage that leads to sagging skin and wrinkles, not to mention cancer. Given below is the link to a recommended product.

2. Retinoids
These are the No. 1 most studied and most proven anti-aging ingredient. Research shows they boost your collagen, a protein that helps keep skin firm. They also reduce the appearance of wrinkles and prevent new ones.Everyone should be using a retinoid in everyday routine to retard the signs of aging.Click the link below for one such product.

3. Vitamin C serum
You should use vitamin C under sunscreen to protect from the sun that slips through your sunscreen.
But make sure you find an effective formula. Look for 15% vitamin C, and make sure it's packaged in an airtight pump. You can find one such product by visiting the link below:

4. Omega fatty acids
Omegas, specifically omega 9, help improve the skin's ability to stay moist and defend against outside irritants.
Argan oil as a moisturizer is one such example. It does not cause acne and is a great antioxidant. You can find one such product here:

Black Heads- Causes and Treatment

Despite their name, some blackheads can be yellowish in color. A comedo is a widened hair follicle which is A filled with skin debris (keratin squamae), bacteria and oil (sebum).

What causes blackheads?
Blackheads are normally caused by the overproduction of oil which tends to occur when a person reaches puberty. Spikes in hormone production can result in the high levels of DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a hormone which triggers over-activity in the oil glands, resulting in clogged pores.
Food does not cause acne.  Although parents and grandparents commonly tell their teenage offspring not to eat chocolates and greasy foods because they think they encourage the formation of acne, they do not cause blackheads or make them worse.
Stress does not directly affect blackhead occurrence. However, stress and anxiety can cause people to pick at their blackheads and acne, which may irritate the skin.

How to treat blackheads?

1. Hormonal treatments
2. Cleaning the skin
Clean your face with a good cleanser, ideally, one for oily skin, such as a salicylic acid cleanser. Do not wash the affected area more than twice a day, otherwise you might irritate the skin and make symptoms worse.
3. Medications
4. Keep your hair away from your face
5. Skin virus may fight blackheads and acne
A virus that lives on our skin seems to naturally seek out and destroy the bacteria responsible for blackheads and zits. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh said that harnessing a virus that naturally preys on the bacteria that cause pimples could offer an extremely useful tool against this skin condition.

Home Remedies to Treat Acne

1. Whip up some ‘whites

You will need…
-2 to 3 egg whites, separated from yolk


 2. Utilize a banana peel

You will need…
-1 banana peel


Different Skin Types and the Choice of Cleansers

Making the right choices about your skin care starts with knowing your skin type. Different skin types are genetically determined but choosing the best skin care for the face is essential to care for skin's health and to slow the ageing process. Each skin type uses different types of cleansers. Given below is the description of each skin type with recommended cleansing products from different dermatologically tested and approved skin care brands ( click the images for product details).
1. Normal Skin: A normal skin type has good circulation and there will not be any trace of sebum (or oil) on the tissue. Normal skin is soft, with a smooth, even skin tone. This skin type uses cleansers that lather with water. Liquid cleansers and soap gels are equally popular. For one such product, click here:

2. Dry Skin: A dry skin type has a low level of sebum and does not maintain oil easily. Dry skin is often flaky and feels tight after being wiped. Gentle cleansing and a rich protective moisturiser is essential to control that tight, uncomfortable feeling. Dry skin uses a cream cleanser that moisturises as well. Click here for one such product:

3. Oily Skin: An oily skin type will leave blots of facial oil on the tissue, particularly from the cheeks, nose and forehead. This type of skin has overactive sebaceous glands, producing more oil than necessary leading to acne flare ups and enlarged pores in majority. It is vital to thoroughly clean the skin regularly with gentle, soap-free cleansers. Oily skin uses a water-based cleanser or a deep cleaning method which slows down the production of oil. Many of the cleansers which are appropriate for acne-prone skin would be suitable for oily skin. Click here for one such product:
4. Combination Skin: With a combination skin type oil is produced around the 'T-zone' of the  nose and forehead but not on the cheeks and eye areas. The best skin care for combination skin will involve treating each region differently. A foaming gel or lotion cleanser with the correct pH balance could be perfect for combination skin types. Click here for product details:
5. Sensitive Skin: Having a sensitive skin type can mean different things to different people. It can be caused by skin conditions such as rosacea, eczema or allergies. Sensitive skin can become inflamed and irritated easily. It is important to choose the right skin care for sensitive skin because many cleansers and moisturisers contain ingredients that can cause an adverse reaction. People with sensitive skin can react easily to fragrance and preservatives, and should avoid mechanical cleansers such as cleansing grains, brushes and loofahs. Click here for the product:
6. Acne Prone Skin: Acne cleansers are generally used to remove accumulated oil, make-up, sweat, and dirt on the surface of the skin. In doing so, these products generally make it easier for topical acne treatments to be absorbed. However, excessive use of acne cleansers can also lead to irritated dry skin. Most acne patients will only need to cleanse with such products once to twice daily. Click here for a recommended product:

Healthy Hair and Scalp- Do's and Don'ts

For longer and healthier hair, you should look into how well you're treating your scalp. Getting gorgeous hair has so much to do with its roots.  Here you’ll find some of our professional secrets to getting the lustrous strands you desire.
1. Supplements:
Adding a supplement with the right balance of vitamins can help you achieve maximum lengths. Look for a formula made for hair that has biotin, silica, vitamins B, C, and E, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids.

2. Effects of Birth Control on Hair Thinning: 
High levels of testosterone in women can actually lead to excess shedding; contraceptives regulate the hormones to help decrease hair loss. If you notice your hair is thinning but you don't see shedding, it's time to make a dermatologist appointment, as this could be a sign of female-pattern thinning. It's also wise to ask for a thyroid check.

3. Effects of Diet:
 If you suffer from a dry scalp, try incorporating more omega-3 fatty acids and fish oils into your diet. Vegans should also make sure to supplement their diet with protein and iron for maximum hair and scalp health.

5. Getting your hair dyed shouldn't tingle:
 A lot of people who have scalp problems don't even know it, If you go get your hair colored and feel a tingling, then there is a possibility that your scalp is really dry. And it will only worsen over time, which can lead to dandruff, inflammation, unhealthy hair follicles, and, potentially, hair loss.

6. Scalp exfoliation:
Just like you exfoliate the skin on your face, your scalp can also benefit from a good scrub. Adding a few spoonfuls of sugar to your shampoo to help get rid of dead skin cells, using the pads of your fingers to work the mixture in really works. Always avoid using your fingernails when scrubbing. For heavy buildup, try a salicylic acid shampoo once a week.

7. Using conditioner: 
Some people don't use conditioner on their scalp because they're afraid to clog pores or weigh down fine hair.  But just like your face requires moisturizer, your scalp benefits from hydration. Just make sure your conditioner is non-comedogenic, so that you can actually use it from roots to ends. Adding a drop of oil to your leave-in conditioner for extra moisture really helps.

2 Simple Remedies to Get Rid of Dandruff

1. Lemon Juice and Olive Oil:
Take equal proportions of lemon juice and olive oil. Massage this mixture with the help of your fingertips into your scalp. Leave on for half an hour and then wash it off using a mild shampoo.

2. Baking Soda:
Make a thin paste of baking soda by mixing it with water. Massage into your scalp using your fingertips. Leave on for half an hour. Wash off using a mild shampoo.