Skin Care Hub

We all have heard age spots. Age spots are sometimes called “liver spots”. However, they have nothing to do with the liver. Do you know that these flat, brown spots are actually caused by years in the sun. They are bigger than freckles, and flat. They can appear on all areas such as the face, hands, arms, back, and feet. Even though age spots are harmless, talk to a dermatologist about removing them if they start to bother you. Always wear a sunscreen or sunblock to prevent more sun damage.

Unlike age spots, skin tags are small, usually flesh-colored growths of skin that have a raised surface. They are associated with aging, especially for women. You can find them on the eyelids, neck, and body folds such as the arm pit, chest, and groin. Skin tags are harmless, however, a doctor can easily remove them if they bother you.

Source: National Institutes of Health

Have you wondered why older people get wrinkles? Over time, our skin begins to wrinkle. Exposing ourselves to the ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun makes our skin less elastic. Therefore, wrinkles appear on our faces and bodies. The other big factor is gravity. Gravity can cause skin to sag and also wrinkle.

If you laugh a lot and smile a lot, such habits also wrinkle the skin. There other one is like frowning. Some of these habits are easier to change than others. You can’t really control how you use your facial expressions, especially when you sleep. But you can avoid other factors such as smoking.

Many research has been done to reverse wrinkles. Some work and others don’t. Some of them require surgery and procedure done by a doctor. Talk to a dermatologist if you are really concerned about your wrinkles.

Source: National Institute of Aging (NIA)

To most people’s surprise, skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. About one million Americans get it each year. However, unlike many other kinds of cancers, very few people die directly from skin cancer. It is pretty much 100% curable if caught early and treated quickly.

There’s a simple preventive thing you can do to avoid skin cancer. Avoid direct sun light. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. But there’s another cause that most people are unaware of,  sunlamps and tanning booths, can also cause skin cancer.

Most skin cancer patients get them after the age of 50. But the damage has been done way before that. You should start protecting your young children at early age. And if you’re in your 20s and using tanning beds, think long and hard.

Everyone can have dry skin. But more older people suffer from dry skin, often on their lower legs, elbows, and lower arms feeling rough and scaly. There are many reasons, but not drinking enough liquids, extended exposure in the sun, living in a very dry climate, smoking, excess stress are the mostly likely ones.

Dry skin also can be caused by health problems, such as diabetes or kidney disease. Using too much soap, antiperspirant, or perfume and taking hot baths will make dry skin worse.

To ease dry skin and the common itchy, you can use lotions, creams, and ointments.

Moisturizers like lotions, creams, or ointments can soothe dry, itchy skin. They should be used everyday. Take fewer baths and use mild soap and warm water.Use humidifier during winter time.

A number of breakthrough lotions formulas are being released in the market. There are different variants of bath lotion for dry skin, oily skin, and normal skin. There is also what’s is called milk bath skin lotion That every one can use to maximize that nourishing effect. Choosing the right lotion for your skin is essential to ensure that perfect glow. Just know your skin type and match it with the lotion you are to buy.

The first and foremost important thing to remember regarding skin care is to properly wash your face EVERY night to remove all your makeup and dirt that is sitting on your face. Removing the foreign substances off your skin will give it the opportunity to breathe and to try to repair any damages you may have caused to the skin during the day.

When it comes to skin care, I am a firm believer that price of the products do not matter. Consumers are inundated with advertizing campaigns that all tout a product’s superior results and effectiveness and the products range greatly in terms of pricing.

The key to finding the right skincare products is to know what your skin needs. For example, is your skin dry, oily, sensitive, ridden with sun damage? Having an honest self evaluation of the needs of your skin may be the first step in picking the products that may work the best for you. Price is NOT indicative of a product’s effectiveness. So remember that, and find the products that fits both your budget and your skin.

Skin care can be boiled down to 3 important steps, none of which is expensive or time-consuming.

The first step in skin care is cleansing. The product you use to clean your skin will depend on whether your skin is naturally: (1) dry; (2) oily; (3) neither oily nor dry; or (4) sensitive. Dry skin should not be cleansed with harsh products, such as astringents. This will dry the face out even more.

Oily skin, on the other hand, can and should be cleaned with an astringent, which will reduce the oil buildup on the skin. Skin that is neither oily nor dry can be cleansed with whatever product you like best. Sensitive skin should be cleaned with a minimal amount of cleanser, which should be free of dyes, fragrances, harsh chemicals or unnecessary additives.

You should clean your skin in the morning and before bed. Never go to bed wearing makeup; this will clog your pores and can lead to rashes and breakouts.

The second step is moisturizing the skin. If you have sensitive skin, avoid dyes, fragrances and irritants such as alpha hydroxy acids. For oily skin, a very light moisturizer is recommended. For dry skin, daily moisturizer is a must.

The third step could save your life. Always, always wear sunscreen on any part of your body that is not covered by clothing or a hat. If you will be in direct sunlight for a long period of time, be aware that clothing actually lets some sunlight in, and has a very low SPF. To protect your skin from aging and from cancer, which is deadly if not detected early and treated, apply sunscreen to areas that are covered by light clothing such as t-shirts.

Aging skin requires some extra care. Continue to wash your face with a mild cleanser twice daily. In the morning use a light moisturizer with a sunscreen and at night use a hydrating moisturizer.

Pay special attention to the skin around the eyes by patting the moisturizer into the skin with your ring fingers. There are numerous creams, peels, toners, firming lotions available for your use but less is more. When I was young, I heard a woman talk about applying makeup. She said after you apply, take a cotton ball and wipe some of it off. That advice has stuck with me and I am now 58 years old!

As for cosmetic surgery, if you can afford it and need it, then go for it! Personally, I like my wrinkles and have earned everyone of them.

Many older people suffer from dry skin, particularly on their lower legs, elbows, and forearms. The skin feels rough and scaly and often is accompanied by a distressing, intense itchiness. Low humidity — caused by overheating during the winter and air conditioning during the summer — contributes to dryness and itching. The loss of sweat and oil glands as you age also may worsen dry skin. Anything that further dries your skin — such as overuse of soaps, antiperspirants, perfumes, or hot baths — will make the problem worse. Dehydration, sun exposure, smoking, and stress also may cause dry skin.

Dry skin itches because it is irritated easily. If your skin is very dry and itchy, see a doctor. Dry skin and itching can affect your sleep, cause irritability, or be a symptom of a disease. For example, diabetes and kidney disease can cause itching. Some medicines make the itchiness worse.

The most common treatment for dry skin is the use of moisturizers to reduce water loss and soothe the skin. Moisturizers come in several forms — ointments, creams, and lotions. Ointments are mixtures of water in oil, usually either lanolin or petrolatum. Creams are preparations of oil in water, which is the main ingredient. Creams must be applied more often than ointments to be most effective. Lotions contain powder crystals dissolved in water, again the main ingredient. Because of their high water content, they feel cool on the skin and don’t leave the skin feeling greasy. Although they are easy to apply and may be more pleasing than ointments and creams, lotions don’t have the same protective qualities. You may need to apply them frequently to relieve the signs and symptoms of dryness. Moisturizers should be used indefinitely to prevent recurrence of dry skin.

A humidifier can add moisture to the air. Bathing less often and using milder soaps also can help relieve dry skin. Warm water is less irritating to dry skin than hot water.

Source: http://www.niapublications.org/agepages/skin.asp

By Casey Gentles