Scientists have found that sugar loves proteins. Sugar molecules love to hop onto proteins and POW, damage them – the scientific term is glycation. The main proteins in our skin are collagen and elastin. Both of these proteins weave together to form a fabric of elasticity, tone and firmness in our skin.  In fact, collagen is the most prevalent protein we have in our body. Sugar attacks our skin by attaching to the collagen and elastin and damaging it, causing our skin to sag and wrinkle. And that’s not all sugar does. It changes our type III collagen fibers (strongest) to type I (weakest).

Nothing ages our face faster than wrinkled, saggy skin with no tone.

Doctors advise us that one of the early symptoms of diabetes that they look for – skin that is pre-maturely aging, and saggy.  Most people with diabetes have gone years with undetected high blood sugar levels, and their skin is the first to show it.

So, what to do? If my skin is aging from eating sugar, is it too late to do anything about it? The good news is, NO, it’s never too late when it comes to improving your skin.

The first step, of course, is to stop the damage.  You can do that right away, by lowering your intake of sugar.  Focus on limiting the added sugars in the food you eat.  Did you know that the average american eats 31 teaspoons of sugar per day? There are 10 teaspoons of sugar in just one 12 ounce can of soda pop.  Just think of all the damage that amount of sugar daily is doing to our skin, and our body.

Become a label reader, pay special attention to processed food labels. Don’t buy products with added sugar or high fructose corn syrup listed in the ingredients. (Just to warn you, HFCS is a cheap sweetener, and it is added to everything.)

The second step is to rebuild – the collagen and elastin fibers in your skin can be re-built. You can improve your skin’s firmness, tone, and elasticity. The best way to do that is with daily doses of and using products containing vitamins.  Orally, take lots of vitamin B, C, and E. Want to have younger looking skin, then don’t miss taking your daily multi vitamin. These vitamins in particular are know to be collagen builders.

Topically, apply as many products to your skin as you can that contain the antioxidants that your skin love – Vitamins A, C, and E.  The same antioxidant vitamins that are fighting off the free radicals that are damaging your skin, are also building up your skin’s collagen and elastin. Why vitamins aren’t in every skin care product, I’ll never understand.

The good news is this – our skin is constantly growing, new skin cells are coming up from inside the skin, the top layer of skin cells are dying and sloughing off.  With just a few minutes of effort per day, we can have the skin we want, no matter what the skin concern.  It’s just knowing what the correct regimen should be, and then doing the necessary steps.

Back off the sugar, and say hello to younger looking skin, and a healthier body.

There’s help and hope at the skin care blog.

For a free skin care consultation, please fill out the form in my sidebar completely, and then SUBMIT.

---
Related Articles at Skin Care Blog:

No related posts

Here’s the latest information on acne treatment - We know acne starts at puberty, gets especially bad at certain times of the month, and for many of us it doesn’t go away. EVER.  Why, no one knows for sure, but scientists have  recently determined that one very significant trigger is an enzyme released only during hormonal changes in the body. Hmm, makes total sense, doesn’t it?

We have to understand the vicious cycle of acne-troubled skin to know how to treat it successfully.  The good news is, we now know that throwing the harsh chemicals and antibiotics at the problem really isn’t the best solution, and in fact may continue the cycle instead of stopping it.

The breakout starts literally weeks before you even see anything at the surface – one day your skin just produces too much sebum in one or more of your pores.

Since there is way too much oil for that tiny little pore,  it travels up the hair follicle and spreads to the skin’s surface, and creates oily skin. Some people just naturally have oily or combination skin, with no breakouts.  But people with blemish prone skin – that excess oil is now the enemy.

The oil on this skin type degrades and produces nasty chemical by-products that cause excess sloughing off  of skin cells around the hair follicle, creating a plug at the opening of the pore.  A slightly blocked pore looks dark from skin pigment (blackhead). With a completely blocked pore (air can’t get in, sebum can’t get out) the pore gets swollen (whitehead), and the acne bacterium now flourish.

Free radical reactions also occur in the sebum, causing more damage to the cells lining the pores, and so the body sends more white blood cells to do battle – redness and infection is now visible in the affected area.

For acne treatment to be effective and stop the cycle, we must address all four areas of concern – excess sebum production, clogged pores, bacteria that degrade sebum and create irritating byproducts, and free radical reactions in sebum.

For excess sebum – scientific studies have shown that Zinc Gluconate, Vitamin B6, and Licorice Extract will reduce oiliness.

For clogged pores – salicylic acid helps speed the sloughing of the skin cells blocking the opening to the pore.  It also penetrates pores to clear most acne blemishes and to help prevent the development of new acne blemishes. (note: benzoyl peroxide is also an effective treatment, but not recommended because it does produce free radicals on the skin),

For bacteria – Manuka Oil and Tea Tree Oil support the skin’s natural healthy microfloral balance; extracts of Burdock, Watercress, and Licorice soothe irritated skin, helping to reduce the redness of acne blemishes.

For free radical reactions – Vitamins A and E are oil-soluble antioxidants to help prevent free radical attacks and oxidation of excess and bacterially-degraded sebum.  In addition, Vitamin A supports health,normal skin cell turnover and Vitamin E softens skin.

You can successful treat oily skin that is troubled by acne breakouts with  products that contain natural, botanical ingredients. The key is to dry up the acne blemishes and gently encourage natural skin cell turnover.  Then protect the skin against moisture loss and free radical attacks that can lead to prematurely older looking skin.

Look for skin care products that contain these natural ingredients (rather than harsh chemicals) which effectively address the four areas of acne concern. Your skin will heal, and you will be able to minimize and/or prevent further breakouts. You will have the beautiful clear skin you’ve always dreamed of – naturally!

For your FREE personal skin care consultation, please complete the form on my sidebar, tell me as much as you can about your skin problem, and then submit.

There’s help and hope at the Skin Care Blog!

---
Related Articles at Skin Care Blog:

No related posts

Where do all these free radicals come from?

One puff of exhaust from a city bus could expose your skin to more pollutants than those your grandmother was exposed to in her whole lifetime.

Air pollution, fluorescent lights, and some computer screens, even tap water with iron in it – all of these expose your skin to more free radicals than any generation before us. And, since your skin can no longer keep up with these assaults, a chain reaction of oxidation is happening right on it.  It’s like your skin is….rusting.

Welcome to modern society, right?  Free radicals run free and your skin really does look like it’s aging faster than you are.

We have the environment to thank for unprecedented levels of free radicals challenging the skin cells you have right now.  But here’s the real problem.  These same free radicals also cause damage to the skin cells you’ll have in the future.  Which means that without intervention, damaged skin cells continue to emerge and make your skin look older – way before its time.

In short, skin you don’t even see yet already looks older.

What are the major sources of free radicals in/on our skin?

1) Unprotected sun exposure

2) Pollution/chemical exposure/smoking

3) Skin care products- ingredients that produce free radicals (i.e. benzoyl peroxide, hydrogen               peroxide, hydroquinone)

4) Normal chemical processes in the body that give off free radicals

So what’s the solution to all of this free radical damage?

Fortunately for us, science has also discovered that antioxidants have the ability to stop the chain reaction of free radical cellular damage.  As they prevent free radial damage they actually slow the aging process.

Want to sustain the youthful appearance of your skin?  It’s pretty simple.  Increase your antioxidant nutrients, which will allow your skin to make healthy cells.  Who then, reproduce more healthy cells. The keys to more healthy-looking radiant skin – nutrients!

Antioxidant nutrient ingredients such as vitamins A, C, & E, grapeseed extract, panthenol, and beta glucan should be in every topical product we put on our skin, and definitely in our sun protection we wear everyday. We must also avoid all skin care products containing free radical producing ingredients.

Because, eating a diet rich in antioxidants is simply not enough.  It is estimated that only about 2-3% of the antioxidants we eat, get to the skin. To significantly reduce skin damage and repair the skin, we must apply products to our skin that contain high levels of antioxidants.  The epidermis has no direct supply of blood to provide antioxidants, and it also has the greatest exposure to sun and chemicals. Our skin is literally craving antioxidants.

The good news – our skin can tolerate an infinite supply of antioxidants. When we give our skin the nutrients  it craves, the skin’s aging process will dramatically slow down – provided the skin is protected from sun damage and free radicals are no longer being applied to the skin.  It will produce healthy cells. Healthy cells = healthy, soft, radiant looking skin.

Anti-aging skin concerns are not just for baby boomers. It is estimated that between birth and age 27, our body’s antioxidant levels pretty much equal  the intensity of our free radical attacks.  But from age 27 and on, our antioxidant levels decline, and free radical damage increases.  By age 82, free radical damage is 60 times greater than at age 22.

Our goal for younger looking skin then, is to increase antioxidant usage and keep it at a rate greater than the rate of free radical damage to our cells.  Topical antioxidant skin care will protect you.  The result will be anti-aging and rejuvenating!

There’s help and hope at the Skin Care Blog.

For a free skin care consultation, please fill out the form in my sidebar completely and then, SUBMIT.

---
Related Articles at Skin Care Blog:

No related posts

Why does this happen?

The oils and waters in and around your skin’s basal cells make up your lipid barrier. A healthy lipid barrier limits the possibility of bacterial infections thanks to its acidity.  The skin also prevents many chemicals from entering the body, keeping irritants out and moisture in.

But when environmental aggressors attack the outer most layer of skin, it’s like a sledge hammer going right through a roof.  This creates fissures or openings through which skin irritants can enter and also, moisture can escape.

So what’s the solution?  Here are a few tips:

1) Moisture is your friend! Add a humidifier to your bedroom, but avoid hot showers, steam rooms, and sauna baths which dry the skin out. Also avoid skin care products that contain alcohol, propylene glycol, and glycolic acids. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize the skin daily, especially after bath or shower, and every time you wash your face or your hands.

2) Use skin products for sensitive skin, specifically designed to repair the lipid barrier – ingredients like dimethicone and allantoin  are FDA recognized as over the counter skin protectants. Use an intense moisturizer at night – look for products with soothing ingredients like shea and murumuru butter. Products that contain aloe vera and chamomile, further de-stress red and irritated skin

3) Use sunscreen daily to protect skin from sun as well as more water loss. Avoid harsh physical or chemical exfoliants, but do use a gentle exfoliant that also conditions the skin to slough off dry, dead skin.

4) Keep temperatures moderate indoors.  Avoid using washcloths or loofahs,  and use only a smooth sponge on your skin.

5) Substitute a soap-free gentle cleanser for your daily cleanser.  For extremely irritated red patches, apply a skin lotion containing hydrocortisone to treat the underlying inflammation of the skin.

6) Whatever skin treatment you are using on your face, also apply to your hands. When the barrier is broken on your hands there is a huge opportunity for bacteria to enter the skin causing severe inflammation and redness.

7) Instead of frequently washing your face in the winter, blot away oil with blotting papers. The skin around the eyes is the most delicate, so be sure to use plenty of eye cream at night on the orbital bone above the eye (never on the eyelid) and on the sides of the eyes over the crows feet to hydrate and protect.

Look for skin care products that contain a new ingredient called RFp3.  It’s a new  peptide technology which actually shields the skin against biological and environmental aggressors that trigger inflammation, breakouts and aging.  Peptides are revolutionary ingredients with amazing results.

For your own free skin care consultation visit my skin consultation page.

There’s help and hope at the Skin Care Blog!

---
Related Articles at Skin Care Blog:

No related posts

Odds are, you are neglecting one or the other, skin routine or shaving routine, or both and that’s where your difficulties lie. If you’ll address your skin condition (i.e. oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, blemish-prone skin) your shaving will be easier and less painful.  If you address your shaving techniques (i.e. what blade you use, what cream you use, what aftershave treatment you use) your skin will be smoother, softer, and healthier than ever.

Let’s start with addressing your skin condition.  Everyone, men and women alike, need to treat their skin with a basic regimen that includes a botanical based cleanser that contains an exfolliant, and a moisturizer that contains a broad spectrum sunscreen (minimum 15 spf).  Use formulas specifically for your skin condition.

If you have sensitive skin, which means you have to repair your skin’s lipid barrier, you will have to address that condition first, and then move on to treat oiliness, dryness, or blemishes.  Once the barrier is healed, your skin will be less sensitive.  You will then be able to use the appropriate skin care products that will help you manage your other concerns.

Your sensitive skin can be caused by many things, but primarily it will be caused from your shaving techniques – the wrong beard prep, the wrong blade, or the wrong after shave product, or all of the above.  You know you have sensitive skin when it tends to turn pink or red, or stings or burns when you apply products to it.

The good news is you can repair your sensitivity!  Try using botanical based products that contain some over the counter strength medicines, which are gentle but effective.  The gentle cleanser can also be used as your shaving cream.

Changing your shaving techniques will do wonders to improving your skin conditions.  The first thing I’m going to recommend is you go back to shaving the way your grandfather did.  I’m happy to report wet shaving techniques are making a big comeback because they are healthier, cheaper and greener!

Start with lots of heat and steam – shave right out of the shower, when your skin and beard have been softened and the pores are opened.  Then, get rid of your  lightweight, multiple blade razor, and that big aerosol can of chemically laden shaving cream.  They are costing way too much, and they are wrecking your skin.

Your shaving razor needs to be heavy enough so you won’t have to apply too much pressure to get the close shave that you want.  When you apply too much pressure, you are removing the top layer of your skin in addition to the beard, thus, the razor burn and ingrown hairs.  Those double, triple, and even quadruple blades – YIKES!  They are wreaking havoc on your skin.  You are damaging your skin every time you use them.

It’s time, men, to go back to the double edge, adjustable safety razor, that has some weight to it.  The replacement blades are recyclable and cheap, but better yet, they will not damage your skin. Replace the blade, at minimum, weekly.

Find yourself a botanical based cleanser, that you can lather up with a nice badger hair shaving brush.  This brush will last your entire life!  Here’s an excellent website to learn more about wet shaving and how to get started.

After shaving, it’s time to really pamper your skin.  Don’t ever use products containing alcohol after shaving, no need to feel the pain after shaving to feel all manly.  A good natural skin soother is an alum block – a clear crystal that you smooth all over the skin after shaving to soothe the skin.  Follow up with a natural fragrance if you like.

For your own free skin care consultation visit my blog page.

There’s help and hope at the Skin Care Blog!

---
Related Articles at Skin Care Blog:

No related posts

Dead skin is the enemy to healthy skin. It clogs our pores, combines with sebum and dirt to cause pimples, breakouts, or worse – acne.

It forms in layers upon layers on top of the skin, blocking any healthy moisturizers, toners, or medications we use to improve our skin – which leads to dry, flaky, and ultimately cracked and or bleeding skin.

It gives our skin a dull, sallow appearance.  So, we put makeup on to try to look better, and the makeup looks ashy, streaky, and just, well, bad.  And the makeup doesn’t last, about half a day, max.

For men, when shaving, dead skin causes the razor to skip and not glide smoothly, leaving you a not so close shave which can cause painful razor stubble and ingrown hairs.

Dead skin makes oily skin oilier, dry skin drier, and acne-prone skin have more acne.  It’s something we can’t ignore, for it will only get worse.

Years ago we were told to use an exfoliating mask twice per week, and enjoy the “luxury” of a facial. Today, the skin care experts tell us, exfoliation is no longer a luxury for healthy, beautiful skin, it is a necessity.  A daily necessity.  So much so, that exfoliation ingredients are being added to all new formulations for cleansers now, and designed to be used twice per day.  If your facial cleanser doesn’t have any physical or chemical exfoliants, then you need to switch. TODAY.

Microdermabrasion is a fairly new type of at-home product that is a more advanced form of exfoliation using tiny tiny granules to exfoliate skin, which can be used 1-2 times per week, and can be easily done at home.  In my opinion it is the new “miracle product” for skin. It will revitalize dull skin, reduce large pores, erase fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars, reduce mild pigment irregularities (hyperpigmentation), stretch marks and age spots.  Yes, it IS that good.

As a skin care product, microdermabrasion is going to cost you a little more than most exfoliants, but you’re not using it every day, and it is much less cost than a trip to a dermatologist for DERMABRASION treatments which are much more painful, costly, and involve stronger chemicals.  Also, you will find after microdermabrasion that you use LESS moisturizer, and less makeup, and your makeup will last longer, so enjoy some savings there as well.

With all my clients, regardless of their skin concern, I recommend starting with a microdermabrasion product.  Once we have the layers of dead skin cleared away, we know that the skin products we use to treat the skin will be much more effective.

Also, microdermabrasion is not just for the face.  You can also find products designed especially for the skin on and around the lips, and also the skin on the rest of your body.  Imagine being able to remove all the dead skin layers on places like your feet, heels, and elbows!  Imagine a nice close shave under arms and on the legs. One treatment per week of microdermabrasion, and then you’ll be able to maintain smooth, soft body skin with a simple botanical moisturizing lotion.

There’s help and hope at the Skin Care Blog!   For you own personal skin care consultation, click here

<a href=”http://technorati.com/claim/j2jmvgwuk3″ rel=”me”>Technorati Profile</a>

---
Related Articles at Skin Care Blog:

No related posts

Blemished skin can profoundly affect our social and professional lives. It can cause us to withdraw from others, avoid relationships, and hold back on seeking that next job promotion.  Our entire self esteem can be completely wrapped around our inability to control the way our skin looks.  Adult suffers are taking this problem very seriously.

For most blemish sufferers, however, the news in good.  Even though there is no cure for acne, we CAN safely control and manage the breakouts.  And you DO want to manage and control them – otherwise you’ll experience post-acne complications such as discoloration of the skin (brown spots from previous blemishes) and worst  of all – scarring.

Treatments for acne have significantly evolved over the years.  We’ve tried all sorts of remedies that failed.  But with more and more people demanding blemish control, we finally have some proven solutions that work.  No more spot treatments (they didn’t work), no more sun lamps or heavy alcohol toners (they just dried our skin out), and no more blaming the person who’s suffering with bad skin (it’s their SKIN that’s the problem, not the person).

Smart science tells us that if we treat our entire face, consistently every morning and every night, with the right formulations, we can manage most blemish-prone skin problems.  The formulations must contain only non-comedogenic ingredients.  A blemish is simply a clogged pore, so we can’t use ingredients that clog the pores on our skin.  Products must first – calm the skin’s irritations (botanicals like chamomile and aloe are the best), secondly – unclog the pores and eliminate the plug of oil and bacteria, and third – gently exfoliate the skin to remove dead skin that can clog the pores.

Sometimes all you need is a routine of twice per day using purely botanically-based skin care products to get the desired results.  But, if you’re still breaking out, you should try using botanically-based products that also contain over the counter strength medicines such as sulfur, benzoyl peroxide, and alpha hydroxy acids.  If, after several weeks on this regimen, you still don’t have your blemishes under control, it is recommended that you see a dermatologist immediately for prescription strength medicated skin care products to get your acne under control.  The important thing is -don’t wait! The condition will only worsen and now you’ll be dealing with the complications as well.

In most cases, you may only need to use the medicated products for a short while, until your skin is cleared, and then you can gradually change your regimen back to purely botanical.  If you find your skin flaring up again, you can go back on the medicated products as needed.

If you’re one of the millions struggling with blemish prone skin, just know, you’re not alone.  Many others are going through the same struggles as you.  There is hope!  I encourage you to act today, seek advice from a skin care professional.  Ask them for their recommendations for a twice daily skin care regimen that treats the entire skin, is botanically based, with non-comedogenic ingredients, contains over the counter medications (if needed), gently exfoliates, calms the skin, unclogs pores and fights bacteria.

And, of course, no matter what your skin concern, always- always- always wear your sunscreen!

For your own personal skin care consultation, you can go here for help.

---
Related Articles at Skin Care Blog:

No related posts

Banishing those signs of aging may be easier than you think; sneaking in some skin-friendly foods and supplements may be all you need to get started on a skin rejuvenation plan and achieve those youthful looks. Dr. Nicholas Perricone, M.D., an antiaging pioneer, unveils the secrets to healthier skin in his book, The Perricone Prescription. This face and body rejuvenation plan includes the Three-Day Nutritional Facelift, a diet full of antioxidant-rich foods, green tea and supplements that support a healthy lifestyle.

Nutritionists and antiaging beauty experts agree that eating natural, unprocessed foods and making sure your diet contains enough healthy fats are essential for achieving youthful skin. Consider sticking with these nine food rules for your own skin:

#1: Skip the high-sugar snacks. Eating too much sugar may cause wrinkles and cause unnecessary damage to the cells responsible for collagen. Frederic Brandt, MD, a dermatologist and author of 10 Minutes 10 Years explains that sugar causes skin cells to become especially vulnerable to protein breakdown, making it less resilient, dry, and prone to developing wrinkles(Source: Prevention.com). If you have to cater to that sweet tooth, a piece of fruit is your skin-friendly choice.

#2: Eat your greens. Dark, leafy green vegetables are rich in antioxidants and Vitamin A, an essential vitamin for a clear complexion and even skin tone.

#3: Load up on healthy fats. Avocados, salmon and cashews are valuable sources of healthy fats that can improve the texture and tone of the skin, and make it less vulnerable to damage. If you’re not getting enough healthy fat in your diet, consider an Omega 3 or Omega 6 supplement.

#4: Snack on almonds. Almonds are a valuable source of Vitamin E, another essential vitamin that can restore damaged skin tissue and keep your skin glowing. Vitamin E supplements are another option for excessively dry or inflamed skin.

#5: Go berry-picking. Blueberries, strawberries and other fresh berries are rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals. Eating antioxidant-rich foods can prevent free radical damage so skin stays strong, youthful-looking and resilient, even with toxins in the environment.

#6: Reach for the whole wheat loaf. Whole wheat contains selenium, a mineral that can keep skin cells healthy and ward off skin damage.

#7: Cut back on caffeine. Too much caffeine can deplete vitamins and minerals from your system, and also leave you dehydrated.  Dehydration can lead to a duller complexion and flaky skin, so skip the espresso and soda when possible.  Green tea may be a healthier alternative, according to Dr. Perricone, and can be enjoyed hot or cold.

#8: Add some color to the salad plate. A daily salad full of colorful vegetables means you’ll enjoy a medley of vitamins, minerals and antioxidant-rich foods that can help keep skin problems at bay.

#9: Skip or limit the alcoholic drinks. Alcohol dehydrates the body and makes you more vulnerable to developing wrinkles, red patches on the skin, and a dull complexion.

from www.locateadoc.com

For you own personal skin care consultation, click here

---
Related Articles at Skin Care Blog:

No related posts

Acne is no longer just for teenagers -adult acne (blemishes and breakouts) is occurring at increased rates every year.  Blemish-prone skin will take all our confidence away, and cause us to retreat as far away from other people as possible.

Sun damage, anyone?  The baby boomer generation is starting to see the very visible effects of sun damage – brown spots, discoloration, and dullness to the skin like they have never seen before.  You’re only 40, but your skin looks like you’re 70.

Lines and wrinkles, …oh my!  The beauty magazines tell us scientists have discovered we are losing collagen at the rate of 1% per year, starting at age 20! What are we going to do to rebuild it?

Sensitive skin?  With so many toxins in our environment hitting our skin everyday, our natural skin barriers are being destroyed, and red, irritated, burning skin is more common. People are having trouble finding something gentle enough to use on a daily basis.

The good news is dermatologists, scientists, and the skin care industry as a whole have been working over time, developing new and advanced treatments that really do help people.  Staying on top of the new technology and new treatments can be a little daunting.  The purpose of this blog will be to publish news about what’s new in skin care treatments, address some of the most common skin care concerns and offer tips as to how to get better results, in less time, for less money.  There’s help and hope at the Skin Care Blog!   For you own personal skin care consultation, click here

---
Related Articles at Skin Care Blog:

No related posts