Category Archives: Skin care and treatments

The Latest Technology in Skin Care: Facemapping

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Are you prone to breaking out in spots in one particular problem area of your face? Fed up with buying numerous different products in the hope of finding a miracle cure?

I for one am one of those people that will go out and spend lots of money on the latest different creams, lotions and potions in the hope of improving my skin. The latest beauty trend could eliminate this by teaching us to simply understand what it is that our bodies are trying to tell us when we have a break out so that we can make an educated decision when we choose our skin care products. Getting to the root of the problem and understanding our bodies and our skin will mean that we can rectify the issue by changing our habits, lifestyle and diets to maintain a healthy body rather than just blindly covering up the problem with lots of different beauty products.

The idea behind face mapping comes from Chinese medicine practitioners and reflexologists that believe that different zones on your face represent certain internal areas in your body. By looking at which area is affected and what this indicates we can then change our lifestyles to improve our internal health as well as the external health of our skin.

The Zones

When analysing the skin during face mapping, the face is divided into 14 zones.

Zones 1 and 3 are the left and right side of the forehead and are related to the bladder and digestive system. If you get spots in this region it is advised that you pay close attention to your diet and make sure that you are eating a healthy diet and drinking enough water.

Zone 2 is the area on your forehead between your eyebrows, this area is said to relate to your liver. If zone 2 is your problem area it could mean that you are consuming too much alcohol, eating too much rich food or are possibly being affected by an allergy or food intolerance.

Zones 4 and 10 relate to your left and right ear areas, this area relates to your kidneys. If you have breakouts in this area then you should make sure you are drinking plenty of water, it may also help to cut out caffeine and alcohol.

Zones 5 and 9 are on the left and right cheeks, problem skin on your cheeks is related to your respiratory lung area. People who smoke or have allergies could be particularly susceptible to problem skin in this area.

Zones 6 and 8 are the areas around your eyes and are also related to your kidneys, dark circles can be improved by drinking plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated and flush out toxins.

Zone 7 is your nose and can be linked to your heart. If you have a red nose it could indicate high blood pressure, any bad skin below your nose and above your lip could be eased by changing your chapstick, lipstick or toothbrush.

Zones 11 and 13 are either side of your jaw line, if you have problems here then it can indicate dental problems.

Zone 12 is on your chin, if you tend to get spots here it could be due to hormonal imbalance or stress. Zone 12 is said to relate to both sexual health and also the small intestine. Problems in the centre of your chin could be due to digestive problems or food allergies.

Zone 14 can be found on your neck and chest, if you tend to get any flushing or redness here then it could be caused by allergies.

The popular Dermalogica Skin Care range have bought out their own face mapping service where a trained expert will analyse your skin, give you the results and suggest what kinds of skin care products would suit you best. This will enable you to make informed decisions about the skin care products that you buy and make changes to your lifestyle to compliment them.
Face mapping analysis allows each individual to have a personalised guide to use when choosing and applying skin care products, it can also indicate any underlying health problems.
Face mapping could hold the answers to aid us in feeling healthy in our bodies and our minds as well as keeping us glowing on the outside.

Author Bio
Sarah Hewitt is a new blogger who blogs about anything and everything. You can contact her via her Twitter page or Google+

Miracle Tips For Ageless Skin That Work!

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Everyone knows that skin is the largest organ of body, and performs vital functions like temperature regulation, eliminating toxins, providing protection against micro-organisms and ultraviolet radiation. Yet often we take it for granted, until it begins to take a toll on us.

Signs like wrinkles, blemishes, age spots and dry skin are natural with age, but quite unpleasant if they appear prematurely. So take care of your skin as early as possible, as it minimizes the risk of premature aging significantly. Here are some of my personal favorite tips which have helped my skin stay fresh and young.

Tip #1: Avoid Smoking – It brings undue loss to skin

Smoking reduces skin’s natural elasticity by promoting collagen breakdown. Collagen, a protein that helps skin strength, gradually degrades with age, leading to wrinkles. Smoking accelerates this process and tightens skin’s tiny blood vessels. This limits the amount of oxygen and nutrients reaching skin cells. Thus reducing elasticity, and accelerating skin ageing. Besides, burning cigarettes expose skin to heat, facial skin damage, pursing of lips and squinting of eyes which contribute to wrinkles.

Tip #2: Cleanse, Exfoliate & Moisturize

The cleanse-exfoliate-moisturize regime is the basis of good for skincare. When done in right proportions it favors clean and healthy skin. Here’s an overview:-

1) Cleansing removes dirt as well as kills bacteria. Here are some things to be kept in mind while cleansing.

·         Use warm water to loosen dirt and clogged pores.

·         Treat skin around eyes tenderly, as it is delicate. Remove eye make-up with proper make-up remover and soft hands.

·         Always use lukewarm water to wash face, as both hot and cold water can cause capillaries to break.

·         After you are done with the cleansing process pat dry skin to retain moisture.

2) Exfoliating involves using a facial scrub once or twice a week. You can simply put a dab of cleanser on a damp cloth and massage it in a circular motion on your face. Scrubbing removes the top layer of dead skin cells that contributes to dull complexion. Toners remove all remaining traces of oil, make-up and dirt.

3) Moisturizing protects your skin from drying and looking dull. It helps skin to maintain its natural moisture levels, because it seals already present water content and slowly releases it back to skin.

Tip #3: Sun Protection: Keep Skin Away From Long Sun Exposure

Sun is the biggest reason behind premature skin aging. So restrict and protect skin form UVA and UVB rays.

·         Limit the time you spend outside during 10 am to 4 pm, as these are considered high intensity hours for sun rays. Wear full length clothes, scarf’s to avoid getting in contact with the sun.

·         Use a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) higher than 15. Apply generously on face and other parts exposed to sun, about 20 minutes before you go out.

·         Women over 30 should start using anti-aging cream to curb skin aging signs.

Tip #4: Eat Healthy

·         Focus on a healthy diet.

·         Avoid fast food, processed food, and fried food.

·         Instead eat what’s good for your skin like foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fruits, fresh veggies, lots of salad, Salmon and Tuna.

Tip # 5: Physical Activity – Reap its benefits

Exercise increases oxygen circulating in body which helps skin stay vibrant and healthy. Do at least 30 minutes of physical activity everyday. Exercise helps you fall asleep at night, improve your sleep quality and reduce stress, which indirectly helps your skin become healthy.

Tip #6: Get Enough Quality Sleep

Sleep is essential for healthy skin. Improper sleep will make your skin look tired and older, especially with bags under your eyes. Here are some tips for a good night sleep:

·          Try to keep a regular sleep routine.

·        Avoid having heavy meals before going to bed. Put a gap of at least 2 hours before you sleep after a   heavy meal.

·         Drink plenty of water during the day time and avoid it during bedtime.

·         Keep your bedroom cool, dark and quiet.

·         Avoid stimulants (caffeine and nicotine) in evenings.

Author Bio:

Jenny Williams is a dermatologist by profession and blogging is her hobby. She loves shareing her vast knowledge and experience by interacting with people on the internet. Jenny is passionate about reading fiction and traveling.

Dealing with stretch marks – the options available to you

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Stretch marks can be incredibly embarrassing and can lead to you feeling shy about wearing any kind of revealing clothing, even just a pair of shorts in the summertime. Many women feel as though they’re the only ones to be afflicted with this unsightly issue, simply because people tend not to discuss it all too often. The fact is though that a huge number of men and women suffer from them, whether they have been caused by weight or muscle gain or loss, or by pregnancy for women.

If you do have stretch marks though, you could be waiting for a long time if you decide to simply wait for them to disappear on their own. This may eventually happen, but it can sometimes take months or even years for your red or pink stretch marks to turn to a silvery white colour. Even this shade can be noticeable, so it might be worth looking into some of the other options available to you:

1)      Stretch mark creams

There are a great many creams out there that are designed for use on stretch marks. They can speed up the rate at which your stretch marks fade, but you should remember that it will still take some time – don’t expect them to just vanish overnight. You will need to follow the instructions for the cream you are using very closely and should give it a fair chance at working, so don’t just give up after two weeks!

2)      Diet changes

You might be surprised to hear that just changing your diet slightly could help your stretch marks to fade faster. You should begin eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as using healthy oils when cooking and lowering the amount of fat in your diet. Taking a dietary supplement such as a multi vitamin might also help – choose one that has vitamins A, B, C and E, as well as copper and zinc and ensure you are drinking the recommended amount of water every day as this can help with skin elasticity.

3)      Cosmetic procedures

If you want to rid yourself of your stretch marks for good instead of simply waiting for them to fade you could look into the option of laser stretch mark and scar removal. This non-surgical procedure can effectively reduce the appearance of stretch marks following just one thirty minute treatment (four treatments are usually recommended) and because it’s a non-invasive procedure you won’t need to take time off work for recovery.

Laser treatment works by using a factional laser on the stretch marks, which breaks down the toughened tissue and helps healthy new tissue to form in its place. Afterwards, the area that’s been treated is likely to be red and swollen, but this should go down within a week. Not all skin colours can be treated with this procedure though, so you’ll need to check with your local skin clinic to see if you can undergo laser stretch mark removal.

Do you have stretch marks and, if so, what words of advice would you give to others with them?

Francis Lawson is a freelance writer specialising in non surgical treatments such as skin treatment or non surgical face lifts.

Skin Whiteners Brighten Your Skin

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Every woman wants to have beautiful, glowing skin. Because of this, there are a variety of masks, lotions and soaps available in stores that are made to target specific skin issues like acne and signs of aging. If you’ve tried numerous beauty treatments to no avail and you want to try something different, you should try a new beauty treatment known as skin whitening.

As we get older, our skin loses its luster. Issues like age spots can give the skin a darker, older looking appearance. What skin whitening does is add a bright glow to your skin that will give your face a healthier, more youthful look and feel. When you use a skin whitening product not only will you get clean skin, but you will get skin that truly glows. Skin whitening can be done in a completely all natural way that is safe for your skin. Skin whitening products come in a variety of different packages including:

1. Skin Whitening Soap. A skin whitening soap is a bar of soap that cleans while lightening and brightening your skin. If you prefer to whiten your skin using a bar of soap, then you should try skin whitening soap.

2. Skin Whitening Cream. A skin whitening cream is applied to the skin after it is washed. Skin whitening cream can be used on any part of your body that you want whitened and brightened.

3. Skin Whitening Lotion. Skin whitening lotion is similar to a skin whitening cream only it isn’t as thick. As with a skin whitening cream, skin whitening lotion can be applied to almost any part of the body you want whitened.

4. Whitening Body Scrub. If you want to cleanse your body while giving it a whiter and brighter appearance, you must try a whitening body scrub. Not only will a whitening body scrub give your skin a deep down clean, but it will also give it a healthy glow.

5. Whitening Mask. A whitening mask is perfect for fighting signs of wrinkles while whitening and brightening your skin. A luxurious whitening mask is perfect for you if you want a deep down skin whitening treatment.

6. Whitening Toner. A whitening toner is a great way to moisturize your skin while whitening it. Simply apply the toner after washing your face and you will soon see whiter and brighter skin.

There may be a wide variety of beauty products on the market today, but no other skin product can give you the glowing skin that a skin whitener product provides. If you want to have healthy looking and feeling skin that is whiter, brighter, and more youthful appearing, you should try one of the above listed skin whitening products.

About the Author: Suzzy Boleche is a blogger and beauty enthusiast with Flawless Beauty and Skin. She has a passion for health, fashion, and reading. She also enjoys spending time with her family.

How can facial thread veins be treated?

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A lot of people suffer from facial thread veins – these are tiny broken veins just under the surface of the skin that usually appear visually as little red lines. The usual places for them to happen are on the sides of the nose or on the upper cheeks.

These types of veins can happen at any age but they accumulate as we get older, so most people will start to notice them in middle age. There are some people who have quite a lot of them so by the time they get to their mid fifties they are really quite prominent.

We aren’t exactly sure why people develop these blemishes, but being exposed to harsh weather and sunshine seems to be one reason and this probably reflects underlying damage to the skin from dryness and exposure to ultraviolet light. For this reason moisturisers and sun creams can protest the skin from this sort of damage and the development of facial thread veins.

As far as treatment is concerned there are several techniques that can work quite well. The usual treatment for thread veins on the legs is injection sclerotherapy with a chemical which makes the veins shrivel up and go away. However the face veins are often too tiny to inject and in any event, the face is a very sensitive area and injections are very painful.

For that reason face veins are best treated with heat based techniques which avoid injections into the face. These devices use either electrical energy, delivered by a tiny wire into the vein (such as the Veinwave device), or a light based device such as a skin laser or Intense Pulsed Light machine. Both techniques aim to deliver a dose of energy into the vein to make it shrivel up and disappear. For tiny facial veins both options can be quite effective.

One problem with both techniques however is the potential to accidentally burn the patient with the delivery of energy – this is a particular risk for laser and pulsed light systems, so it is advisable to be treated by someone with significant training and experience in the use of the equipment. In addition, particular skin types are more suitable than others for these sorts of treatments – patients with fair skin tend to do better than patients with darker skin. Black skin is a particular problem for laser techniques as the melanin pigment in the skin tends to absorb the laser light before the blood in the vein and this can cause burns or depigmentation of the skin, both of which can look unsightly.

After treatment it is important not to be exposed to prolonged or intense sunlight for a couple of weeks, as the skin is sensitised to light and even mild sun exposure can cause a significant burn – use of high protection factor sun creams can limit this risk, but it is not a good idea to have your face veins treated immediately before flying to Spain for a holiday!

Eddie Chaloner, a consultant vascular surgeon at Radiance Health in London, wrote this article. Eddie has been qualified since 1989, and was appointed a consultant vascular surgeon in 2002. He is a pioneer in the minimally invasive procedures to treat thread veins, varicose veins, and DVT.

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