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

Even though over the counter wrinkle creams all claim to reverse wrinkles, they don’t really deliver the result. However, they can moisturize and nourish your skin. Limiting your exposure to the environment is probably the most helpful thing to do to avoid premature skin aging. Limiting Sun exposure is the single most important factor in skin protection.

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.

In ancient times the Edelweiss flower was sought after by men who wished to prove their bravery.  Because the flower grew at such heights and was often on cliff sides and in dangerous areas many people were known to have been injured, or even killed in pursuit of this flower, which led many men to wear it in the lapel as sort of a badge of honor.  Of course, the fact that the Edelweiss flower was the favorite of the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife, the Empress Elizabeth also gave it prestige.  The flower became so popular among hikers that the governments of Austria, Germany and Switzerland took steps to protect it in certain parts of the Alps.  Today Edelweiss is grown on many continents and is no longer in the danger it once was.  It became even more popular however the 1960′s when a song called Edelweiss in the popular stage play and film The Sound of Music sang its virtues and beauty.

For centuries Edelweiss extract has been believed to have positive health effects.  Edelweiss teas have been popular as well as use of Edelweiss extract in hot milk, often sweetened with honey.  Diarrhea and dysentery were two ailments that it was believed Edelweiss extract could cure.  People also believed that it could help fight ailments such as diphtheria  and tuberculosis.  Today research by the pharmaceutical industry indicates that there was something to these ancient beliefs.  Used in high quality anti aging and anti wrinkle cosmetics.

Edelweiss extract is an ancient folk lore remedy that modern science is making popular once again.  They have also discovered that the ultra violet light absorbing chemicals this plant has developed from high altitude growth makes it a good additive to sun blocks.  Pharmaceutical researchers also are interested in the way some chemicals in the plant prevent amplification  of oxides, which are tied to the aging process.

The future of research into Edelweiss extract looks as bright as the high Alpine sun, and the popularity of Edelweiss extract as an ingredient in high quality cosmetics means the plant will remain popular for many years to come.

For more information visit: http://www.revitol.com/

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.

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.

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.

2. Use sunscreen products on your skin. Many suntan products have sunscreens to protect your skin from the sun.

Products with sunscreens have an “SPF” number on the label. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. A higher number means it protects longer. Buy products with an SPF number of 15 or more.

Buy products whose label also says: “broad spectrum,” meaning it protects against the two types of harmful sun rays “water resistant,” meaning it stays on your skin longer, even if you get wet or sweat a lot.

Tips For Using Sunscreen Products:

* Put a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 on your skin 15 to 30 minutes before going outside.
* Rub the sunscreen evenly on all uncovered skin. Be sure to put it on your eyelids, lips, nose, ears, neck, hands and feet. If you do not have much hair, put it on the top of your head.
* Do not get a sunscreen in your eyes. It can sting.
* Once in a while, put on more sunscreen while you’re in the sun. Read the label to see how often to put it on.
* Do not use a sunscreen on babies under 6 months old.
* On children older than 6 months, use a sunscreen every time they go out.

3. Wear a hat. A hat with a wide brim helps shade the neck, ears, eyes, and head.

4. Wear sunglasses. Buy only sunglasses with a label saying the glasses block 99 to 100 percent of the sun’s rays. If there is no label, do not buy the glasses.

5. Cover up. Wear loose, lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and long pants or long skirts when in the sun.

6. Avoid artificial tanning methods. This includes sunlamps and tanning beds, as well as tanning pills and tanning makeup.

Tanning pills have a color additive that turns your skin orange after you take them. The FDA has OK’d this color additive for coloring foods but not for tanning the skin. The large amount of color additive in tanning pills may be harmful.

Tanning makeup is put on the skin to make it look tan. Sometimes the color can be washed off with soap and water. Other times, it wears off after a few days. These products are not sunscreen lotions and will not protect your skin from the sun.

7. Check your skin regularly for signs of skin cancer. Look for changes in the size, shape, color or feel of birthmarks, moles and spots. If you find any changes or find sores that are not healing, see your doctor.

* Look at the back of your neck and scalp with the help of a hand mirror.
* Look at your body–front, back and sides–in the mirror.
* Bend your elbows and look at the undersides of your arms.
* Look at the backs of your legs and feet.
* Check parts that are hard to see–like your back–with a hand mirror.

Source: Department of Health and Human Services