How the skin works

Can you imagine how we would look if we do not have skin covering us up? That may be too gross for our imagination.

• The skin is the largest vital organ of the human body. It covers you up, keeps you warm and keeps you cool. It also decides what can be absorbed and what should be rejected.
• Skin that is clogged and unhealthy is not just a beauty problem. It can become a hindrance to your sense of vitality and wellness. Proper care of your skin is important not only to your personal sense of beauty but also to proper elimination, more graceful aging and overall health.
• It acts as a mechanical barrier to infections. It ultimately prevents microorganisms and other substances from entering the body.
• Langerhans cells (a type of macrophage) are found within the dermis, they engulf invaders foreign to the body and debris.
• Keratin layers in the epidermis together with sebum produced by sebaceous glands act as a waterproof barrier.
• Melanocytes protect the body from ultraviolet light.
• Finger and toenails protect the extremities of fingers and toes from damage. Fingertips are important for dexterity and the sense of touch; they have ridged areas to assist in picking things up.
• Hair follicles offer some extra protection to certain parts of the body such as eyes and head.
• It regulates body temperature. Considerable heat is lost through the skin. Even under extreme conditions of high temperature and exercise, our skin tends to make body temperature normal. The production (evaporation) of sweat in the skin cools us down when exposed to too much heat.
• The core body temperature needs to be kept constant for normal physiological activity to take place (37° C). It needs to maintain a core temperature for homeostasis.
• Skin excretes waste product and excess salt from the body. Sweat includes waste products in solution. Water is lost continuously through the skin as insensible sweating. More pronounced water loss through sweating occurs as part of temperature regulation.
• Skin provides the sense of touch or sensation we need to know more about our outside environment through recognizing heat, cold, pain and other sensations. Nerve endings of the skin provide the body with a great deal of information about the outside environment.
• Skin synthesizes the use of Vitamin D in the presence of sunlight and ultra violet radiation needed for the absorption of calcium and phosphate.

So take care of your skin. No other organ in our body would perform these functions for you.

How to cleanse your skin

Did you know that the skin is the largest organ in your body? Covering you from head to toe, the skin is one of the crucial parts of your body’s defense system. Remember that clean and healthy skin means a healthy body and a happier you.

The skin is on duty protecting you 24 hours per day and keeping infections out. It is the first line of defense against attacks on your health. This is why it is so important to take care of your skin and make sure you are helping it do its job. By keeping your skin clean and healthy today you also prevent problems such as wrinkles or skin cancer tomorrow. Don’t slack just because some things are still to come.

Hygiene goes beyond the simple task of making sure you don’t smell bad when you go out in the street. Proper hygiene means keeping clean the largest organ in your body and also the most exposed to the hazards of this world. Here’s a list featuring simple tips for your daily hygiene:

• Start simple. Who said you need expensive products to take care of your skin? Gentle cleansers or soaps are usually enough for the daily cleansing of your skin.
• Start early. People tend to think that skin hygiene can be postponed indefinitely. This is not the case if you want to have healthy skin in your old age. Start protecting your skin today so it can stay healthy and fresh as the years go by.
• Use mild soap. Stay away from harsh cleansers that are made of strong chemicals. These can dissolve your skin’s natural proteins and oils, thus doing more harm than good. Cleansing products should be as chemical-free as possible. Do not use deodorant soaps on your face! They are made of strong chemicals and also leave a detergent film behind. This protective layer will actually irritate your skin and clog your pores.
• Use lukewarm water. The water used on your face should always be lukewarm. If you make it too hot, you will dehydrate your skin, making it more prone to damage. You may also scald or even burn your skin. If it’s too cold, the water will dry your skin.
• Be gentle. Some people think they ought to scrub their skin raw, but this is one of the things to avoid. You should instead be careful not to damage or tear your skin. Exfoliation is good because it will help remove dead skin cells, but be careful and so you will not hurt yourself.
• Toning is ok. Toning helps keep the skin clear and firm, which is good. The best tones around are those containing alpha hydroxy acids and glycolic. Avoid those made with alcohol and those that are marked photosensitive.
• Moisturize your skin. Moisturizers work by preventing the loss of water. They either draw moisture to the outer layer of the skin, or coat the skin’s surface with a film of substance, thus sealing moisture into the skin. The best substances for an intensive moisture treatment are pure vitamin E, or Aloe Vera oil. The oil is available in liquid form. You can also break open a capsule and apply the oil directly to the skin. This is a great treatment for the sensitive skin under your eyes. This part of your face is one of the first to succumb to show signs of aging because it secretes none of the oils that keep skin supple and firm.

Take good care of your skin. Nobody else will do that for you.

How to have clear pores

Everyone wants clear, impurities-free skin. Unfortunately, not all of us were blessed to have the model- look beautiful skin that we always wanted. People are always bombarded with those various skin disorders and we are always flocking to our drugstores to buy the latest miracle cure for that naturally beautiful skin.

• Fact number one. The cosmetic industry makes billions of dollars from the public quest for great skin. They use the money to advertise and perpetuate their products. Do not be fooled by the hype.
• Fact number two. There are many factors that contribute to the clogging of pores: like dehydrated skin, improper cleansing, excessive oil production, excessive build-up of dead skin cells, hormones, excessive sweating, dirty work or play environments, genetics, makeup, fingers on the face, allergic reactions, a diet high in sugar content and many others.
• Fact number three. Most skin impurities are due to clogged pores, so the best way to have that beautiful skin is to unclog your pores.

1. Avoid oil-based products such as facial lotions, wash and cosmetics. Look for products that are “non-comedogenic,” it means it will not clog your pores.
2. Do not wear tight headband, baseball hat, and/or helmet when you exercise or play sports, and make sure you wash the sweat-soaked things each time you wear them.
3. Keep the skin hydrated and moist so your cells can function properly. Moisturize your face with mild, non-comedogenic moisturizers to keep it hydrated. Moisturizing is a necessity. Again, the product with the least amount of chemical additives is the best. Always use a light moisturizer on your face after cleansing.
4. Cleanse your pores with an alcohol-free toner or skin conditioner on cotton balls. Do not try to scrub harshly or you will strip and damage your skin. Even after rinsing your face, if you do not remove the remainder of cleanser and loosened debris residues, you are only going to imbed that debris deeper into the pores as you layer serums and moisturizers on top. The absolute best way to perform this deep pore cleansing is with an alcohol-free toner or skin conditioner on cotton balls. There’s no need to harm your skin by vigorous scrubbing or harsh acids, simply wipe with toner damp cotton balls until the last cotton comes away perfectly white.
5. Astringents, Salicylic Acid, retinoic acids, and glycolic acids all work to prevent pores from clogging. Be aware of some active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, these ingredients can cause major side effects.

So there, those are ultra easy steps to eliminate or lessen your problem, start today. Beauty starts with your skin.

How to Properly Wash Your Face

Face washing is often the core of beautiful face. Before you apply all those cosmetics or medications for your acne, experts always tell you to wash your face.

Cleaning is essential in maintaining beautiful and healthy skin. And since we always want to put our “best face forward,” here are several tips that we compiled on how to properly wash your face.

1. Remove every trace of make-up/cosmetic on your face. Use cotton ball and moisturizing cream to avoid damaging your skin.
2. Use lukewarm water. Avoid using too hot and too cold water that can dry out your skin. This will also open the pores for deeper cleansing.
3. Avoid strong or harsh soaps/ cleansers. Strong soaps can dry your skin and strip off natural lipids. Choose soap that are mild if you prefer soap, or you can always choose cleansers that are soap- free, non- comedogenic, and mild like Cetaphil, Burt Bee’s or Neutrogena.
4. Massage face by gently rotating upwards your middle ring and pinky fingers. Remember that hard rubbing will actually do more harm than good.
5. Rinse face well to remove all residue of soap or cleanser. Residues left behind can actually clog your pores. Facial cleansers can leave an invisible residue behind which can clog your pores. Rinse three times, then rinse again.
6. Pat dry with soft, non- abrasive towel. Never ever rub your face.
7. Use an alcohol- free toner on your face. It should make your face feel smooth and refreshed. Astringents and toners with glycolic or alpha hydroxy acids work the best for toning the face. These acids actually can reduce the pore size, and help avoid ingrown hairs. They are aggressive and have quick results. Remember to look for a product that is not photosensitive (sensitive to light).
8. Finish off with moisturizer to replenish the natural oils that has been lost. Moisturizing is a necessity. Again, the product with the least amount of chemical additives is the best. Always use a light moisturizer on your face after cleansing. For an intensive moisture treatment use pure vitamin E, or aloe vera oil. It is available in liquid form, or just break open a capsule and apply the oil directly to the skin.

Those are eight simple steps that would help you keep your face clean and beautiful. Start today for a more refreshed and beautiful you.

Indoor Tanning

The social desirability of the tan is a modern phenomenon. The concept of having a tan without going outdoors became more and more appealing. People enjoy having a tan for innumerable reasons. Aside from cosmetic reasons of just having a good tan, people actually enjoy the therapeutic effects of tanning.

It was actually the Europeans who started tanning indoors with sunlamps. The practice of harnessing ultraviolet light as a therapeutic exercise spread in Europe, particularly in sun-deprived countries, in the 1970s. This was long before the first indoor tanning facility was established in the United Sates in the late 1970s.

Since then, the professional indoor tanning industry in the US has grown substantially in the past 30 years. According to industry estimates, it has grown into a $5 billion industry with 28 million Americans tanning indoors annually at about 25,000 tanning salons around the country.

The most popular device used in tanning salons is a clamshell-like tanning bed. The customer lies down on a Plexiglas surface as lights from above and below reach the body. However, indoor tanning units are alleged to have safety risks. While this is so, people - young women in particular - still patronize tanning salons. The development of photo aging and skin cancer will take years to become apparent in these young tanners, while the perceived social value of a tan is immediately apparent.

Tanning occurs when the skin produces additional pigment (coloring) to protect itself against ultraviolet rays. Overexposure to these rays can cause eye injury; premature wrinkling of the skin, light induced skin rashes, and can increase the chances of developing skin cancer. Even the indoor tanning industry admits ultraviolet radiation can cause skin cancer provided that it produces an actual burn.

However, industry spokespeople point out that the pattern of sun exposure that causes skin cancer, in particular melanoma and basal cell carcinoma, is not consistent with indoor tanning practices. For a given amount of UV light, the industry argues there is a difference between receiving the energy in many small doses that lead to a tan versus a few big doses that produce a burn.

So protect yourself from the possible risks of skin cancer.

Take note of the following precautions:

• Limit your exposure to avoid sunburn. Always ask for information and further assistance concerning exposure limits for your age and skin type.
• Use goggles to protect your eyes. Make sure the goggles fit snugly and check if the salon sterilizes the goggles to prevent the spread of eye infections.

Consider your medical history. Avoid tanning devices when you are undergoing treatment for lupus or diabetes. You might also want to inform the salon if you are taking antihistamines, tranquilizers or birth control pills.

Know Your Skin Type

Vanity is a natural human characteristic. It is innate in all of us. And although most people do not regard their skin as an organ, our skin is in fact the largest vital organ in our body. Skin that is clogged and unhealthy is not just a beauty problem. It can become a hindrance to your sense of vitality and wellness. Proper care of your skin is important not only to your personal sense of beauty but also to proper elimination, more graceful aging and overall health.

There are five major types of skin. Understanding your skin type is the best approach to your personal skin care.

• Normal skin—is the type of skin that we’d all love to have. This is the “healthy” type of skin. This type is the not too oily, not too dry type, characterized by few blemishes, generally firm and smooth with small pores. When you pull the skin away from the bony structure, it springs back to normal position. Lines and wrinkles are appropriate for age.
• Dry Skin—due to environmental exposure to harsh elements and very often lack of water skin may flake off and feel tight in your face. It may lack natural oils, may look rather flaky with small pores, blemishes and blackheads. Without adequate moisture, dry skin can easily become chapped. As dry skin ages, it’s more likely than other types to become wrinkly.
• Oily Skin—skin may look oily and coarse, may have recurring blackheads, acne and large pores. The texture of skin is thick; the touch is often sticky. This type is usually youthful- looking due to the presence of oil on the skin. Often, individuals with oily skin have a tendency to develop acne in their teen and middle years, and overgrown oil glands, or sebaceous hyperplasia, in the middle and late years.
• Combination Skin—varies according to your skin type. This is the Jekyll and Hyde type of skin, often with split personality. This type may be characterized as oily on the T-zone (the area that stretches from the forehead down to the nose and chin), and dry to normal on the cheeks and around the eye area.
• Sensitive Skin—people with sensitive skin are the most prone to allergies, rash, sting, and burns. This type of skin gets irritated easily and can go very red and blotchy. This type will have a lot more trouble to environmental factors and tends to be very sensitive to cosmetics.

Know your skin and take care of it. It is your glory to being healthy and beautiful.

Perricone’s Do’s and Don’ts for a healthy skin

Shaping up through the proper diet goes along with having a smoother and healthier looking skin. The right combination of healthy foods and dieting can bring out a better-looking you. Living with the wrong diet will only leave your body weaker and your skin looking old and tired.

Perricone, a specialist on eating for a better skin, says that eating right helps improve how one looks. It basically means that the type of food that you eat can help define your physical appearance. Perricone was responsible for the “anti-inflammation diet,” which, when observed by his patients, resulted in a younger look and significant reduction of acne and eczema problems.

Perricone’s “wrinkle-free diet” contains a lot of do’s and don’ts. The first crucial element in his diet regimen is Protein. Protein helps a lot in repairing the cells and in fighting aging. Some of the most popular in the list of protein foods are fish, chicken without the skin, turkey breast, and egg whites.

The next important element is that fat should not be avoided, well, not totally. The reason for this is that fat is anti-inflammatory and it contains antioxidants that help maintain a youthful looking skin. Just as most fish contain proteins, salmon, tuna, and mackerel contain omega-3 fatty acids that lower bad cholesterol and are, consequently, good for the skin.

Perricone’s list of Don’ts includes lessening the intake of carbohydrates and sugar that may cause inflammation. As these foods cause chemical changes in the body, they likewise cause collagen to diminish, which is not very good for the skin.

Lastly, Perricone suggests a regular intake of water because it not only helps cleanse the body; it also causes the cells to work better. Eating right is an important key to a successful skin care regimen. Having a well-maintained body also leads to a better and healthier looking skin with fewer wrinkles.

Summer Skin

Summer is here in earnest and the weather is perfect for going to the beach. After an interminable winter and spring, the time has come again for walking out in the sun and having a blast outdoors. There are parties and trips to the beach and holidays waiting for the individual eager for fun. Care and worry left at home, it’s time to enjoy yourself.

However, if you suffer from acne you may want to take some precautions before hitting the beach. I’m sure that skipping the summertime beach fun is simply out of the question, but this doesn’t mean that you don’t need to be careful about it. Many people think that exposure to the summer sun is good for their skin since it tends to burn off pimples, but prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation is not a good choice. Also, the sun simply burns the topmost layer of the face skin. It does not deal with the true causes of acne and the so-called positive effects are only temporary. This means that pimples will be back as soon as the sebum starts clogging the pores again.

Walking around in hot weather is pretty much guaranteed to make people sweat. Sweat is bad news for acne and people suffering from this condition should refrain from wiping their face frequently. Sweat should be washed away gently with lukewarm water. Another bad news is that exposure to sun and wind tends to dry out the skin. Again, this may seem a good way to prevent the accumulation of excess sebum within the pores, but it’s not that simple. Dry skin tends to crack and lesions heal slower. Exposure to wind is also guaranteed to replace the negative effect of the sebum with the negative effect of wind-borne dust. Pores will still get clogged, just not with sebum.

Another thing you need to be careful about is sunscreens. These lotions and creams may contain oil which is just as bad for the pores as sebum. It would be a poor tradeoff to avoid UV radiation by worsening the acne. Be careful about what type of sunscreen and after beach lotions you buy and stay clear from those rich in oil. And one final advice: watch out for the effect of salty sea water on your skin. Salty water and perfect skin don’t mix well at all. And that’s even before you get to think about sea water not being all that clean.

What can be done to help fight acne in summer? For starters you can take care of your skin, make sure it is clean and free of sebum and dust in the morning and evening. If your lifestyle or job involves a lot of sweating, you may want to be even more careful about your skin. The ClearPores skin cleansing system is the perfect tool for this job. The deep washes use Salicylic Acid and SD Alcohol to keep both the surface of the skin and the pores clean and dry, while the herbal supplements kill bacteria. Finally, the protection cream acts as a shield on your skin and makes sure sebum, grime and bacteria don’t become a threat.

ClearPores

Hello, my name is Lisa. I’ve been suffering from acne since my teen years and it’s always been a curse on my life. People used to stare at me wherever I went and it was absolutely awful. Many people have no idea what it is like to be stared at. To have others look at you like you are a freak or some kind of cheap entertainment. In school I was the object of so many jokes and pranks I really can’t remember how many times I left school in tears. Acne made me lose my self esteem and confidence. I was staying in my room most of the time and I was even afraid to go shopping with my family.

I spent many mornings crying in front of the mirror and wishing that acne would suddenly go away. My parents have always been kind and supportive, but that just wasn’t enough. No amount of kindness from my parents’ part could make people stop staring at me in the street. It got so bad that I lost interest in school and sunk into depression. I had also tried a lot of remedies and cures for acne hoping that one of them might work and rid me of acne once and for all. When all the cures had failed, I felt that I was caught in a nightmare from which there is no escape. I felt I was doomed to be the “girl with a bad case of acne” for the rest of my life.

By the time I found ClearPores I had no hope left. I was sure that there can be no cure for my acne and that I would be stuck with it forever. When I first went through the ClearPores website I thought: “Yeah, right, just another company promising the moon. Been there, done that”. It was my mother who insisted that I should try this anti-acne system and I thought I might as well do it. I guess I was ready to try anything at that time. Imagine my surprise when I realized that ClearPores was actually working and that my skin was getting clearer everyday. I was amazed to find that an anti-acne system I didn’t trust to do anything more than empty my pocket was actually working.

It’s been six months since I used ClearPores for the first time and I really can’t believe how good my skin looks. Most of the pimples are gone thanks to the deep washes and herbal supplement. And the protective cream is keeping my skin free of new pimples at all times. ClearPores is like a dream come true and now I can get out of the house whenever I want because people don’t stare anymore. I’ve never been so happy and full of energy in my life. Everybody who’s suffering from acne should try ClearPores.

Home and Over-the-Counter Acne Treatments

Acne is the most common skin disorder known today. In United States alone, nearly 60 million people are infected with acne, where 85 per cent of teenagers suffer from it.

Skin experts and practitioners recommend several natural acne treatments. Here are some that we have compiled just for you.

• Wash your face twice a day (thrice at most) with gentle and unperfumed cleanser. Avoid using soaps as they contain harsh chemicals and ingredients that can damage your skin.
• Avoid touching your face. Stop putting your hands by your face! I am often guilty of this resting my hand on the side of my head while reading. Also rubbing or bracing your chin is another common problem when thinking. Avoid rubbing, touching, or itching your skin with your hands. Your hands contain a lot of bacteria that can cause acne flare-ups. It is probably one of the most difficult things to avoid since much of the hand to face contact throughout the day we are unconscious of. Make it a habit to avoid hand contact and be conscious of it during the day to avoid bacteria.
• Avoid the temptation to pick, prick and squeeze your acne. This will send the infection deeper into the skin and can cause severe scarring.
• For mild to moderate acne, you can use over- the- counter topical ointments, solutions, lotions or gels that contain benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or azelaic acid as an alternative to benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide is best at killing P. acnes and may reduce oil production. Resorcinol, salicylic acid, and sulfur help break down blackheads and whiteheads. Salicylic acid also helps cut down the shedding of cells lining the follicles of the oil glands.
• Topical antibiotic solutions and lotions can also be applied.
• Tea tree oil is a natural antibiotic and antibacterial agent and has a drying effect on the skin. It keeps the P. Acnes bacteria at bay along with decreasing facial oiliness, which makes this oil a worthwhile investment.
• Sulfur helps to heal existing blemishes by unblocking pores.
• Alpha or Beta Hydroxy Acids (AHA or BHA) works by keeping the skin exfoliated. Glycolic acid, the most well-known of the bunch is a useful adjuvant therapy for mild acne. Mandelic acid, a lesser known one, but one that combines the keratolytic properties of glycolic acid with natural antibacterial properties that help reduce the presence of P. acnes, may be considered a more effective alpha hydroxy acid in treating acne lesions. It is also much less irritating than glycolic acid, a factor that may be very important to those with sensitive skin who are unable to use other agents such as Retin-A, benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, or salicylic acid. It is effective in treating mild cases of acne on its own, and can be used successfully with other therapies on moderate acne.

These treatments are usually effective for mild to moderate acne problems only. The effectiveness usually takes several weeks or approximately three to six months to be noticed. For more severe and serious acne conditions, do not hesitate to consult your dermatologist.