As women get older, acne often gets better. But some women have acne for many years. Some women even get acne for the first time at age 30 or 40. It’s not unusual when that happens.

For many women, acne can be an upsetting illness. Women may have feelings of depression, poor body image, or low self-esteem. But you don’t have to wait to outgrow acne or to let it run its course. Today, almost every case of acne can be resolved. Acne also can, sometimes, be prevented. Talk with your doctor or dermatologist (a doctor who specializes in treating skin problems) about how you can help prevent acne and if treatment would help you.

Source: the Office on Women’s Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health.

Acne lesions occur mostly on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. It is the most common skin disease. Although acne is not a serious health threat, severe acne can lead to disfiguring and permanent scarring.

Most young women and men will have at least a few pimples over the course of their lives. But acne seems to affect men and women in different ways. Young men are more likely to have a more serious form of acne. Acne in young women tends to be more random and linked to hormone changes, such as the menstrual cycle.

As women get older, acne often gets better. But some women have acne for many years. Some women even get acne for the first time at age 30 or 40.

For many women, acne can be an upsetting illness. Women may have feelings of depression, poor body image, or low self-esteem. But you don’t have to wait to outgrow acne or to let it run its course. Today, almost every case of acne can be resolved. Acne also can, sometimes, be prevented. Talk with your doctor or dermatologist (a doctor who specializes in treating skin problems) about how you can help prevent acne and if treatment would help you.

Source: the Office on Women’s Health

• Skin creams
• Lotions
• Perfumes
• Lipsticks
• Fingernail polishes
• Eye and face make-up products
• Permanent waves
• Hair dyes
• Toothpastes
• Deodorants

Unlike drugs, which are used to treat or prevent disease in the body, cosmetics do not change or affect the body’s structure or functions. So next time if you see some products that promise you to change your skin tone or texture, read the ingredients.

Source: the Office on Women’s Health

Fragrances and preservatives are the main ingredients in cosmetics. Fragrances are the most common cause of skin problems. More than 5,000 different kinds are used in products. Products marked “fragrance-free” or “without perfume” means that no fragrances have been added to make the product smell good.

Preservatives in cosmetics are the second most common cause of skin problems. They prevent bacteria and fungus from growing in the product and protect products from damage caused by air or light. But preservatives can also cause the skin to become irritated and infected. Some examples of preservatives are:

• Paraben
• Imidazolidinyl urea
• Quaternium-15
• DMDM hydantoin
• Phenoxyethanol
• Formaldehyde

The ingredients below cannot be used, or their use is limited, in cosmetics. They may cause cancer or other serious health problems.

• Bithionol
• Mercury compounds
• Vinyl chloride
• Halogenated salicyanilides
• Zirconium complexes in aerosol sprays
• Chloroform
• Methylene chloride
• Chlorofluorocarbon propellants
• Hexachlorophene

So next time when you shop, read the label and better yet, print out the ingredient above when you shop. If you see them on the label, avoid them. But the truth is, how many cosmetics don’t come with them?

Source: Office on Women’s Health

• Clean your skin gently with a mild soap or cleanser twice a day — once in the morning and once at night. You should also gently clean the skin after heavy exercise. Avoid strong soaps and rough scrub pads. Harsh scrubbing of the skin may make acne worse. Wash your entire face from under the jaw to the hairline and rinse thoroughly. Remove make-up gently with a mild soap and water. Ask your doctor before using an astringent.
• Wash your hair on a regular basis. If your hair is oily, you may want to wash it more often.
• Do not squeeze or pick at acne lesions. This can cause acne scars.
• Avoid getting sunburned. Many medicines used to treat acne can make you more prone to sunburn. Many people think that the sun helps acne, because the redness from sunburn may make acne lesions less visible. But, too much sun can also increase your risk of skin cancer and early aging of the skin. When you’re going to be outside, use sunscreen of at least SPF 15. Also, try to stay in the shade as much as you can.
• Choose make-up and hair care products that are “non-comedogenic” or “non-acnegenic.” These products have been made in a way that they don’t cause acne. You may also want to use products that are oil-free.
• Avoid things that rub the skin as much as you can, such as backpacks and sports equipment.
• Talk with your doctor about what treatment methods can help your acne. Take your medicines as prescribed. Be sure to tell your doctor if you think medicines you take for other health problems make your acne worse.

How do we do that? Wear sun screen. Wear as much and as often as possible. Don’t go out to the beach until later in the day. Even the best Sun screen can’t protect you 100%. Number two, wear lotion and facial cream. Moisturize your skin 24/7. If you have the discipline to do that, then you will have beautiful skin for long than most women.

Most women don’t realize that the sun can really damage their skin and premature their look. It’s true that tanned skin looks healthy and beautiful. But you will pay the price later on in life. As people age, their skin loses fat and becomes thinner. So wrinkles and age spots start showing. The best way to protect your skin is to stay out of sun between 10 am to 4  pm.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. The main cause of skin cancer is the sun. Believe it or not, sunlamps and tanning booths can also cause skin cancer. Anyone can get cancer, but people with fair skin that freckles easily are at greatest risk. Skin cancer may be cured if it is found before it spreads to other parts of the body.

There are three types of skin cancers. Two types, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, grow slowly and rarely spread to other parts of the body. These types of cancer are found mostly on parts of the skin exposed to the sun, like the head, face, neck, hands, and arms, but can happen anywhere on your body. The third and most dangerous type of skin cancer is melanoma. It is rarer than the other types, but can spread to other organs and be deadly.

Other than avoiding the Sun, you also check your skin regularly, like once a month, for things that may be cancer. Look for changes such as a new growth, a sore that doesn’t heal, or a bleeding mole. Also, check moles, birthmarks, or other parts of the skin.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

There are some tips that can avoid frowning at night. Keep your bedroom dark and quiet. Don’t go to bed worrying about stuff. Either solve the issue or forget about it. Take a relaxing bath and read some enjoying books before going to bed.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

• FDA approval is based on controlled, clinical study of these products when used in the face.

• The safe use of these products with Botox or other wrinkle therapies has not been evaluated in a controlled, clinical study.
• The safe use of these products repeatedly over a long period of time has not been evaluated in a controlled, clinical study.
• The safety of these products is unknown when used during pregnancy, while breast feeding or in patients under 18 years of age.

The last and the worst part is that health insurance does not typically cover elective surgical procedures such as wrinkle correction.

Source: the FDA