Skin Care GuideThe Ultimate Guide to Skin Care

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Your busy lifestyle leaves little time for pampering skin care. The result: Your skin isn’t the baby-soft body glove you were born with. As you age, your skin gradually becomes thinner and finely wrinkled. Oil-producing (sebaceous) glands grow less active, leaving your skin drier. The number of blood vessels in your skin decreases, your skin becomes more fragile, and you lose your youthful color and glow.

Good skin care — such as avoiding the sun, washing your skin gently and applying moisturizer regularly — can help delay the natural aging process and prevent many skin problems. These simple skin-care habits will help you protect your skin to keep it healthy and glowing for years to come.

1. Protect yourself from the sun

The most important way to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun. Ultraviolet light — the invisible but intense rays from the sun — damages your skin, causing deep wrinkles, dry, rough skin, liver spots, and more serious disorders, such as noncancerous (benign) and cancerous (malignant) skin tumors. In fact, most of the changes seen in aging skin are actually caused by a lifetime of sun exposure.

For the most complete sun protection, use all three of these methods:

• Avoid the sun during high-intensity hours. The sun’s rays are most damaging from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reduce the time you spend outdoors during these hours.
• Wear protective clothing. Cover your skin with clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats. Also, keep in mind that certain clothing styles and fabrics offer better protection from the sun than do others. For example, long-sleeved shirts offer better protection than short-sleeved shirts do. And tightly woven fabrics such as denim are better than are loosely woven fabrics such as knits. Several companies now make sun protective clothing (SPF clothing), which is specifically designed to block out ultraviolet rays while keeping you cool and comfortable.
• Use sunscreen. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) greater than 15. Apply liberally 20 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every two hours, after heavy sweating or after being in water.

2. Don’t smoke

Smoking accelerates aging of your skin and increases wrinkles. Skin changes from smoking can appear in young adults after 10 years of smoking.

Smoking causes narrowing of the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin. This decreases blood flow, depleting the skin of oxygen and nutrients, such as vitamin A, that are important to skin health. All of these factors increase damage to the elastic fibers (elastin) and collagen, which give your skin strength and elasticity.

In addition, the repetitive facial expressions you make when smoking — such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke — may contribute to wrinkles. It’s also possible that repeated exposure to the heat from burning cigarettes may damage your facial skin over time.

3. Wash your skin gently

Cleansing is an essential part of caring for your skin. The key is to treat your skin gently.

• Use warm water and limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from your skin. Limit your bath or shower time to about 15 minutes or less, and use warm, rather than hot, water.
• Avoid strong soaps. Strong soaps — those most capable of stripping oil from your skin — can leave your skin dry. Instead, choose mild soaps or detergent substitutes with added oils and fats. Good choices include Dove, Vanicream, Cetaphil and Purpose.
• Avoid irritating additives. If your skin is sensitive, avoid products containing perfumes or dyes. These can irritate your skin and may trigger an allergic response.
• Remove eye makeup carefully. Use a soft sponge, cotton cloth or cotton balls when removing eye makeup to avoid damaging the delicate tissue around your eyes. If you wear heavy, waterproof makeup, you may need to use an oil-based product, such as Eucerin, Aquaphor or petroleum jelly, to remove makeup.
• Pat dry. After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on the skin. Immediately moisturize your skin with an oil or cream.

4. Moisturize regularly

Moisturizers help maintain your skin’s natural moisture levels. They work by providing a seal over your skin — to keep water from escaping — or by slowly releasing water into your skin.

The moisturizer that’s best for you and the frequency with which you need to moisturize depend on many factors, including your skin type, your age and whether you have specific conditions such as acne. A good way to test if you need a moisturizer is to wait 20 minutes after bathing. If your skin feels tight, you should apply a moisturizer.

Select a moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15 to help protect your skin from damaging ultraviolet rays. If you have sensitive skin, look for products free of heavy dyes, perfumes or other additives. If your skin is very dry, you may want to apply an oil, such as baby oil, while your skin is still moist. Oil has more staying power than moisturizers do and prevents the evaporation of water from the surface of your skin. If your skin is oily, you may want to skip moisturizing.

5. Shave carefully

Shaving is a common and inexpensive way to remove unwanted hair. But shaving can cause skin irritations, especially if your skin is thin, dry or very sensitive. For a smooth shave:

• Press a warm wash cloth on your skin before shaving to soften the hair. Or shave after a warm bath or shower.
• Don’t shave dry skin, which can cause razor burn. Apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving to protect and lubricate your skin.
• Use a clean, sharp razor. If using an electric razor, don’t use the closest setting, which can aggravate the skin.
• Shave in the direction of hair growth, not against it.
• Rinse your skin afterward with warm water.

If irritation does occur, apply a lotion that doesn’t contain ethyl or isopropyl alcohol. Though alcohol and alcohol-based products may feel cooling, they don’t really soothe irritated skin because the alcohol evaporates rapidly from the skin.

The end of summer is rich in apples. You think it’s ordinary fruit without any surprising qualities, but you are mistaken. Apples contain sugar, tannin, organic acids and pectin. Thanking this great content, apples nourish, moisten, soften and renew skin very well. Today I offer some original recipes of apple masks for facial skin. Choose and try!

The mask for normal skin. Add 3 tablespoons of hot milk to 1 tablespoon of oaten flakes and keep for 10 minutes. Grate one apple and mix with beaten yolk, add flakes and mix everything carefully. Put on the face and neck and keep for 10 minutes. Then wash with warm boiled water. This mask nourishes and moistens damaged skin from sun.

Two masks for dry skin. Mix 1 tablespoon of grated apple with 1 tablespoon of butter. Beat one yolk with 1 teaspoon of honey and add to apple mixture. Mix everything and put on the face and neck for 20 minutes. Then clean the face with napkin. You’d better to use this mask before sleep.
This mask has the great tonic effect. Grate one apple, add 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 yolk, 1 teaspoon of ascorbic acid, 1 teaspoon of apple vinegar and 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil. Mix everything carefully and put on the face. Keep for 30 minutes and then wash with cool water.

For greasy skin. Beat up white of egg and add 2 tablespoons of grated apple, 1 teaspoon of potato starch and grinded apricot (or half a peach). Mix everything carefully and put on the face for 15 minutes. Then wash with warm water.
Also you can grate one big green apple and add 1 teaspoon of grinded horseradish. Beat up white of egg and add to mixture. Put on the face and keep for 15 minutes. Then wash with cool water. This mask draws pores and tonics greasy skin.

The mask for sensitive skin. Boil one potato (without salt), clean it and knead with fork. Add grated apple, 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil and yolk. Mix everything carefully and put on the face and neck. In 20 minutes wash the face with cool water.

Masks for aging skin. Grate one carrot and 1 green apple. Mix them and put on the face for 15 minutes. Wash with cool water. This mask moistens skin and gives the healthy color.
Beat up an egg; add grated apple and 3 grinded apricots (or 1 peach). Mix everything and put on the face and neck. Keep for 20 minutes and then clean the skin with ice-block.

And finally the mask for all types of skin. Mix 1 teaspoon of apple sauce with 1 teaspoon of mayonnaise. Put the mixture on the face and in 20 minutes wash with warm water. It’s very easy and fast mask for any type of skin.

Life sciences product developer Senetek says it has initiated trials that will determine the efficacy of its Pyratine 6 compound on acne Rosacea, having evaluated positive results through separate trials comparing it to Kinetin, the company’s original anti-aging active ingredient.

Senetek says it has carried out an independent analysis that evaluated the effectiveness of its second generation cytokinin, Pyratine 6, against the original anti-aging ingredient, comparing results of separate clinical studies.

The results of the analysis showed that the subjects in the Pyratine 6 clinical trial demonstrated that, compared to Kinetin, it was significantly more effective as an anti-aging ingredient.

Subjects in the trial reported that over an eight week period the appearance of wrinkles improved by 22 per cent with Pyratine 6, whereas only a 2 per cent improvement was reported for Kinetin.

Likewise, over the same period, skin roughness improved by 86 per cent with Pyratine 6, compared to only 35 per cent for Kinetin, and overall aging improved by 24 per cent with Pyratine 6, compared to just 3 per cent with Kinetin.

The results of the trial led to NOVA dermal phase meter evaluations being carried out on the Pyratine 6 compound to determine the effects on reductions in skin redness and acne.

These tests showed improvements in skin moisture of 35 per cent over eight weeks and 41 per cent over 12 weeks, while redness was reduced by 42 per cent over eight weeks and 62 per cent over 12 weeks.

Likewise the compound was said to be well tolerated by all the subjects, producing no notable skin irritations or allergic reactions.

“The data collected through the comparative analysis of Pyratine 6 and Kinetin has given us significant reason to focus our efforts on taking the strategic steps necessary to launch Pyratine 6 commercially as an anti-aging compound as well as initiate clinical trials to prove that Pyratine 6 can also be used as an effective treatment for Acne Rosacea,” said Frank Massino, Senetek CEO.

The company says that following the results of its trials, an IRB-approved pilot clinical study has now been initiated to determine the efficacy of Pyratine 6 as a treatment for Rosacea, which will be conducted at the University of California.

The outcome of these trials has also influenced a decision by one of the company’s prospective licensees, which is a major cosmetics company, to commence separate clinical trials to determine the efficacy of Pyratine 6 for both skin whitening and acne treatments

Treatment will depend in part on the location, the age of the patient, as well as the size and immune status of the individual. The treatment choice will depend in part on previous experience of the patient and the patient’s preference. Many of the treatments can be uncomfortable and therefore difficult to use in children.

Treatments can be either destructive as in the use of liquid nitrogen or most recently there is an immunological approach to boost the patient’s own immune system.

Common Warts

Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy is most commonly used in those who can tolerate the pain. Repeat treatments are frequently required. Excising or scraping off these warts is less desirable as it will scar. The use of pulse dye laser or very occasionally the Co2 laser can be used in resistant lesions. Cantharone can be used particularly in children as it is more easily tolerated. Other treatments involve the use of immune therapy. Substances such as DNCB involve painting the substance on the warts in order to develop an allergic reaction. This immune allergic reaction will be useful for destroying the wart.

Flat Warts

Flat warts frequently occur on the face and on the legs. Care needs to be taken not to use a treatment that will have a high risk of scarring. Very light liquid nitrogen cryotherapy can be used.

It is important that shaving is done very carefully or is stopped for a while as this is known to spread these warts. Treatments such as Aldara have been used. Topical treatments such as vitamin A acids (Tretinoin) can sometimes be of benefit. Efudex cream has also been used.

Plantar Warts

Plantar warts can be stubborn. Because of their location aggressive use of liquid nitrogen cryotherapy is difficult in that it can not only be painful but swelling and soreness can prevent walking for a number of days. Often paring the warts by thinning them down can be helpful. The use of salicylic acid preparations that are applied daily and cover the affected area will eat away at the surface of the wart allowing it to be pared down. This may make it more responsive to liquid nitrogen. The use of duct tape to soften the lesions in some individuals can be in itself curative. It appears that changing the water content and making the skin mushy enhances the patient’s ability to eradicate these warts. Treatments such as surgery and scraping of these warts is discouraged as scars can sometimes be painful on the weight-bearing parts of the foot. The pulse dye laser can be used once the wart has been thinned as it does not produce scarring. Occlusion combining these therapies with Aldara cream in some individuals is helpful.

Genital Warts

Genital warts are usually sexually transmitted. It is important that woman be checked to rule out any atypical changes on the cervix. Small warts can be treated with liquid nitrogen although this is uncomfortable. Podophyllin or podophyllotoxin can be applied every few days and this can be helpful.