If you use AHAs to treat existing pigmentation, extra caution is needed because UV light will trigger melanin production and the result will be more intensive discolouration than before. This new pigmentation is often even harder to get rid of. The body is a delicate and amazingly resourceful organ. It won’t do something that’s no longer necessary or ‘being done’ for it. When people start to wear glasses, their eyes often get weaker and if muscles or limbs are not used, they weaken. The skin as well… if you are doing something for it, like removing the dead skin too much with chemicals, the skin will compensate for this and slow down its natural exfoliation rate. After you have exfoliated, yes, your skin does look good, but when you stop exfoliation the skin actually becomes thickened and course, as this natural ability of the skin has slowed. So don’t over do it! Don’t go too deep by using chemical preparations. But yes, still exfoliate but using natural and cheaper AHAs. Not ever}⁷ day as you would be doing using moisturisers with AHAs. Weekly is enough … and naturally, not chemically. Read on for the “How to” but first…

More on Pigmentation

Unwanted brown patches or pigmentation are formed on parts of the body, face, hands, chest and back which are exposed to the sun. What they are is a grouping of the skin pigment, melanin, which is always produced by the skin in the epidermis. The colour of your skin and your ability to tan is determined by the amount of melanin produced by the melanocytes. Melanin is produced by the body in response to sun exposure. Its purpose is to absorb UV rays and protect the body from the sun.

Types of Pigmentation Liver Spots

There are some types of skin pigmentation that can be caused from things going wrong on the inside. This is probably the reason brown spots on the hands were called ‘liver’ spots. See your health care practitioner if unsure. Still Freckly at Forty?

Freckles (technically known as ephelides) are small brown or tan patches on the skin. They are just colour and have no texture, common in individuals with lighter skin, blond or red hair. They usually disappear around 40 and pop up while very young and get darker with sun exposure … that’s why they fade in winter. If you want to have no freckles then … stay out of the sun.

“Wisdom” Spots

I call them wisdom spots, you earned them! More commonly referred to as ‘age’ spots. (Doesn’t my name sound better?) Known technically as lentigines. Just like freckles, except they appear later in life and everyone can get them, all skin types. Pregnancy Mask

Great news with this one is it disappears in most cases with the birth of the baby… so don’t treat it. Also known as chloasma or melasma. Hormonal changes from the pregnancy are the cause and also the reason it fades once hormones go back to normal. When you are taking oral contraceptives, your body is tricked into thinking it is pregnant so guess what? You can also get unsightly pigmentation from taking the pill. Unfortunately, ver}’ often not all colour fades when you stop taking the contraception.

Browu Blotches? Yon Have Two Choices

… Lighten or Exfoliate!

Choice One: Lighten. If you have pigmentation or discolouration that isn’t fading you can lighten it with those ‘miracle’ and often expensive, skin lightening creams … but once you stop using them the dark patches will be back. Choice Two: Exfoliate. Exfoliating to renew the skin cells will be helpful, by removing the outer skin cells, which are usually darker, you will make your freckles, pigmentation or age spots lighter and less visible.

Do Both … Lighten And Exfoliate At The Same Time

An inexpensive and natural way of lightening pigmentation, and exfoliating at the same time, is the ‘proven’ old fashioned lemon juice routine. It works because lemons (and other citrus fruit to a lesser degree) contain citric acid which is an AHAs (which is why it will exfoliate as well as lighten). Just rub the juice with your fingers on to your skin and leave for at least 10 minutes. Then rinse. If you want to increase the exfoliant factor, dissolve some everyday sugar into the lemon juice before applying.

The post A Cure For Pigmentation appeared first on HealthPlace.com.

After the age of 25 the levels of collagen become depleted and this leads to many unfavourable changes, mainly in the skin, which loses its firmness, flexibility and smoothness. What is more, these changes coincide with the loss of suitable moisture content and resulting in wrinkles and lines. Thanks to its valuable features and extremely important function in the proper functioning of the system, collagen is continuously the focus of attention of doctors, biologists, biotechnologists, and cosmetologists.

It is a biopolymer which, thanks to its unique properties, is used especially to manufacture such medical materials as sutures, collagen foils, transplant membranes, artery prosthesis, collagen sponges and medicine capsules. Up to now these forms of collagen were mainly obtained from pig or cow skins, which is dangerous due to the risk of disease transfer, i.e. BSE or allergies. Collagen from animal skin is a firm net, making it impossible for it to penetrate human skin, this penetration also being impeded by the consistency of this product.

The methods used to obtain collagen from cows or pigs are also chemically aggressive since they use very strong acids, which results in a product that is not natural, unlike Natural Collagen Inventia®. Natural Collagen Inventia® has the consistency of an easily absorbed gel, containing over 90% of collagen as dry matter. The collagen is obtained from fish skin, therefore it is free of pathogenic factors, and, to be more specific, it is an innovative way of obtaining collagen that keeps the spatial, native structure of the triple helix at temperatures in the range 5 to 28ºC.

By supplementing collagen deficiencies through supplying one identical with human collagen, our skin becomes rich in elements necessary for collagen to be created, and our fibroblasts are forced to increase the synthesis of this unique protein. The skin restores its own youthful look, firmness and shine. Our product is obtained in a natural way. Apart from collagen, it contains other precious proteins such as elastin. Their proportions are natural and identical with those selected by nature in the course of evolution, ensuring that as living beings we have the possibility of regenerating our skin.

The post What is collagen? appeared first on HealthPlace.com.

So what are these herbs or herbal skin care mechanisms?

Aloe vera, which is an extract from Aloe plant, is one of the best examples of herbal skin care product. Freshly extracted aloe vera is a natural hydrant that helps in soothing skin. It also helps in healing cuts and treating sun burns.

A number of herbs are known to possess cleansing properties. Dandelion, chamomile, lime flowers and rosemary herbs, are a few examples of such cleansers. Their herbal skin care properties get invoked when they are combined with other herbs like tea.

Antiseptics are another important part of Herbal skin care. Lavender, marigold, thyme and fennel are good examples of herbs that are known to possess antiseptic properties. Lavender water and rose water also form good toners.

Tea plays an important part in herbal skin care. Tea extracts are used for treatment of skin that has been damaged by UV radiation.

Oils prepared from herbal extracts present another means of herbal skin care. Tea tree oil, Lavender oil, borage oil and primrose oil are some popular oils used in herbal skin care. Some fruit oils (e.g. extracts from fruits like banana, apple and melon) find use in shower gels (as a hydrating mix)

Homeopathic treatments and aromatherapies also come under the umbrella of herbal skin care remedies.

Herbal skin care is good not only for the routine nourishing of skin but also for treatment of skin disorders like eczema and psorasis. Most herbal skin care products don’t have any side effects (the most important reason for preferring them over synthetic products) Moreover, herbal skin care products can be easily made at home, hence making them even more attractive. So, herbal skin care is the way to go. However, this does not mean that you totally discard the synthetic products. Some people go to the extent of debating with their dermatologist, if he/she suggests a synthetic product. You should accept the fact that some skin orders might need usage of clinically proven non-herbal skin care products.

The post Herbal Skin Care appeared first on HealthPlace.com.

1. Always have skin care on mind, whether you are buying products for make up or actually applying them onto your skin after you have bought them. So what you are buying is a ‘make up and skin care’ product, not just a make up product. Check the ingredients to see if it contains things that you might be allergic to. Also check if it contains high concentration chemicals that can harm your skin.

2. ‘Make up and skin care’ is also about testing the products before using them. So, apply the make up on a small patch of skin e.g. earlobes and check how your skin reacts to it.

3. Keep track of expiry date on your make up products and never use them beyond the expiry date. In fact some products (e.g. vitamin C based products), if not stored properly, get spoilt much earlier than the expiry date.

4. Cleanliness is an important part of make up and skin care procedure. Sharpen your eye-liners regularly and keep all your makeup equipment clean at all times. You might fix a date, each month, for overhauling of your equipment. As part of cleanliness, your make up and skin care procedure should also include keeping your hair clean at all times.

5. Nail care is another important aspect of make up and skin care. Use a good quality nail polish and always keep your nails clean. Once you are done with cleaning and polishing your nails, you should rub in cuticle oil at the edges of the nail.

6. If you have deep-set eyes, you should use a liquid eye liner instead of a pencil one. This will prevent smudging at the deep edges of your eye-lid.

7. If you have a skin disorder e.g. acne, you should not apply heavy or chemical based make up. Consult your dermatologist if you are not sure about the make up products that you can use while you have acne or other skin disorder. Never try to squeeze pimples/ acne. Remember that make up and skin care should not conflict each other.

8. Use a mild make up remover (instead of just washing it away).

9. Another important ‘make up and skin care’ procedure is the following golden rule: “Never sleep with your make up on”

10. While applying a deodorant, make sure that you maintain the recommended distance between the nozzle and your skin (as mentioned on the deodorant pack).

So, make up and skin care should always go hand in hand. Do not try to treat make up and skin care differently.

The post Makeup and Skin Care appeared first on HealthPlace.com.

. Genes
. Inner nutrition – what we eat and drink
. Exercise
. General health and well-being
. Emotional health, and
. Outer nutrition – how we take care of our skin

While we can’t alter our genes, we can improve our skin by making the necessary adjustments in the areas we can influence. Read on to discover the basic components of a healthy outer nutritional plan for your skin.

If you seriously want great skin the very first thing to do and wear a hat and good quality sunscreen when out in the sunshine. Having said that, let’s move on to understand the next three basic foundations to great skin.

If you want your skin to look and feel great, careful cleansing is very important. This should be done first thing in the morning and last thing at night to remove pore-clogging dirt. Don’t cleanse enough and you could find yourself prone to spots. Cleanse to often and you could be stripping away essential oils and be susceptible to dry skin or even eczema. Understanding your skin type (normal, dry or oily) and using a cleanser to match is the best foundation for great looking skin. Remember to rinse your face with warm water after using a cleanser, as any residue will continue to work on the skin if not completely removed.

Our grandmother’s used soap and water…isn’t that good enough? Soap is not very good at removing makeup because it does not contain enough oils to dissolve the staying power that most cosmetics have today. Remember the ‘tight’ feeling after your have washed your fact with soap? Soap can be very drying on your skin and may wash away essential oils. Another reason not to use soap is that it is not matched to the natural balance of our skin. Soap is generally alkaline, whilst skin is naturally acidic.

The second step to great outer nutrition for your skin is to tone. Toners are designed to remove any last traces of cleanser, while also helping to tighten and refine pores and prevent the build-up of dead skin cells. After toning your skin should fee and look revitalised and refreshed, and ready to be moisturised. Again you will need to apply a toner that matches your skin type.

The third foundation step is to apply moisturiser to help restore the moisture loss caused by the drying effects of sunlight, central heating, wind, cold and pollution. A good daytime moisturiser would contain a sunscreen and will be easily absorbed into the skin. At night you should use a richer, more nourishing cream, as this is when your skin more readily absorbs moisture.

Despite the plethora of products on the market and the myriad of additives…. the most important ingredient of any moisturiser is water! If water is just splashed on the skin it will not say there. Moisturisers are basically oil and water emulsions which contain a humectant (a substance added to another to make it moist), which attracts water and helps ‘fix’ it in the upper layers of the skin.

Moisture that is lost firm the skin needs to be replaced quickly so that the surface of the skin is kept both soft and smooth. The living cells in the layers need water so that they will not shrivel up and die. A moisturiser can protect the skin by providing a varier between the skin and the external environment. It also prevents the loss of moisture from the deeper layers of the skin.

Should people who have oily skin use a moisturiser? Moisturisers are particularly recommended for people with dry skin but everyone can benefit from using a moisturiser. You simply need to ensure that you choose the correct moisturiser for your skin type. People with oily skin should choose a moisturiser that hydrates their skin whilst helping absorb any excess oil.

(c) Copyright Kim Beardsmore

Kim Beardsmore enjoys the flexibility of working from home. Are you interested in earning money from home? We’re looking for individuals who have basic phone and internet skills to join our team of work-at-home-ers. If you’re serious about earning money from home and are willing to work (this isn’t ‘get rich quick’), then we’d like to help you grow a profitable business. We offer complete training, online and offline resources and a partnership for success. http://free2liv.com/?refid=EA-567883386

-id=5062.htm 334 Health-and-Fitness Weight-Loss Why Does the Weight Come Back?

Before many Australians recently, a devastating story unfolded on a popular current affairs program.

We watched with compassion as the fattest man in Australia told of his most recent, serious attempt to lose weight. Approximately 12 months earlier and weighing close to 300 kilos, he under went surgery and had his stomach stapled.

I doubt there would have been one person watching not moved by this man’s depression and plight. Despite undergoing the surgery, today he could barely get through each day, both physically and mentally. He shared with us his sense of hopelessness and wanting to end it all.

It was not only his size that was causing his depression. He had to deal with a heart broken by disappointment.

You see, the stomach stapling had been a success.

He soon lost well over 50 kilos post operation and he and his family rejoiced. But then the unthinkable happened.

The weight came back. Today he weighs well over 300 kilos – more than before the stomach stapling.

This is an extreme case, but nonetheless raises a question that so many people continue to battle with.

After a diet, why does the weight come back so quickly?

To answer this we need to understand how much energy a body requires. For each pound you weigh, each day you need 12 calories to maintain your body weight. If you weigh 120 pounds you will need 120 x 12 calories, that is, 1440 calories per day to maintain that body weight. If you eat or drink more calories than your body requires, the excess energy is stored as fat. It takes 3,600 excess calories to make one pound of fat.

In this example, if your typical daily calorific intake is 2000 calories, in around 30 days you would put on between 4-5 pounds of fat!

Let’s say, you then decide to go on a restrictive diet and halve your calorific consumption to 1,000 calories per day. You stay on this diet for around a month and lose 10 pounds and now weigh 110 pounds. You feel fantastic about losing the weight but can’t keep up such a restrictive regime because you are irritable and have no energy.

So you go off your diet and go back to your usual routine of 2,000 calories a day. Remember you are lighter now and your body requires less energy to maintain its new weight. You would now require 110 x 12, that is, 1320 calories per day.

In this instance, by consuming 2000 calories daily, because you are lighter than before, you would put the weight back on in just 24-25 days!

If you want to keep the weight off you must develop a consistent change in eating habits to ensure you do not consume more than your body requires. You cannot continue to eat the same quantities and/or combinations of foods that caused you to be overweight in the first place. This will require developing an understanding of the nutritional content of food and raising your body’s metabolism through increased muscle mass and exercise.

The post How to Have Great Looking Skin appeared first on HealthPlace.com.

PROS: Quick, inexpensive, an especially close shave, refreshing and reinvigorates the skin with use of shaving lotions.

CONS: Stubble reappears quickly, risk of cuts and nicks to the skin, risk of ingrown hair if the blade is not sharp.

What should I look for in choosing a razor?

Some razors such as Schick and Wilkinson-Sword, have comfort or lubricating strips near the cap above the blades.

Some contain aloe and are made from water soluble polymer or PVP which allows for a smooth glide over the skin reducing friction.

Twin blades allow for a very close shave and many come with flexible heads allowing the razor to follow the contours of the body.

Look for razors with safety guard wires over the blades to minimize the risk of cuts and nicks and skin irritation. Blades with a platinum chrome finish maintain their sharpness.

Which is the best direction – with the hair growth or against it?

Shaving in the same direction as the hair growth is the most comfortable.

Shaving against the hair growth certainly gives a much closer shave. Many use a combination of both.

Many dermatologists warn however that shaving against the hair growth can cause ingrown hair and irritation and it can make the skin sore and sensitive.

How many times can I use one blade?

This depends greatly on the individual and the thickness or coarseness of the hair. Some prefer to change a blade after using it once or twice, others after 3 or 4 times while many expect between 5 to 7 uses.

The key is to change it regularly and always use a sharp blade. If you feel it dragging on your skin it’s time to change it!

The post Shaving: Answers To Frequently Asked Questions appeared first on HealthPlace.com.