Hormones and your skin.

Overactive teenage hormones are the main culprit of acne breakouts and excessively oily skin. And, of course, we all hope that as we get older our hormones will regulate. However, hormones play a key role with your skin’s health through most of your life. Depending on your age, gender and genetic makeup, you may or may not have to understand the relationship between hormones and your skin. However, knowing what you can expect your skin to do as a result of your body’s hormones can prepare you to find the perfect skin care line.

The Teen Years: Overactive Hormones, Oil and Acne
When we hit puberty, almost without fail our hormones go into overdrive. For many, this doesn’t have an impact on their skin. However, for many people the overactive adrenal gland produces hormones that result in an excess production of oil (causing oily, shiny skin) and an excess production of skin cells (clogging pores and hair follicles and causing acne breakouts). Whether your skin care concern is finding an effective acne treatment or just finding a way to reduce oil and shine, hormones are the cause of skin imperfections for a huge number of people during their teen years. If you’re battling teenage acne and what to start a path to clear skin.



Adult Years: Adult Acne and Hormonal Shifts
Whether you had perfect skin as a teenager or troubled skin as a teenager, hormones shift again in your early adult years. That may mean that your skin improves, or it may mean the onset or continuation of adult acne breakouts. For women, hormonal shifts due to pregnancy or menstrual cycles can also result in breakouts at an older age. Finally, stress can trigger activity in the adrenal gland, and for many people adult life is full of newfound stress. How do you manage hormonal shifts that result in acne breakouts as an adult? Finding the right product to reduce the signs of acne and control your breakouts.

Menopause: The Onset of Hormonal Aging
Did you know that in studies skin loses up to thirty percent of its skin-firming collagen in the first five years after menopause? For women, the hormonal shift that occurs before and during menopause results in a significant decrease in collagen production. This process, known as Hormonal Aging, causes loose, crepe-like skin and wrinkles to form. Yes, just when you thought that you were old enough to not have to worry about your skin responding to hormones, Hormonal Aging came along!

Break out the truth about ACNE!

There are so many myths out there about acne. Let's see what is real.

Myth # 1: Adults don’t get acne.
As anyone who has ever battled a breakout just before a big date or an interview can tell you, acne is most definitely NOT just a teenage problem. That’s because it’s a skin disorder that commonly occurs during significant hormonal shifts in the body, and those can, and do, happen well into adulthood. Changing medications, dealing with a medical condition that affects hormone levels, or even stressing can all mean breakouts. And of course, skin also reacts to the changes in hormone levels that accompany pregnancy and menopause.

Myth # 2: Chocolate causes acne.
Have you ever turned down a piece of candy or a cup of java for the good of your skin? It turns out, there’s no strong or convincing data that things like chocolate, peanut butter or caffeine have any influence on the severity of acne. But one thing we do know for sure, drinking lots of water has many health benefits, including the maintenance of beautiful, hydrated skin. 

Myth #3: Skip the sunscreen if you have acne.
Sun protection is extremely important for the overall health of your skin, so you should never pass on sunscreen. If you suspect a connection between your sunscreen and your breakouts, it might just be the formula. Fortunately, there are lots of different sunscreen options out there today. So look for one that’s designed for sensitive skin, or better yet, one marked “non-comedogenic” so you know that the formula won’t clog pores. Your skin will thank you.

Myth #4: Sun tanning improves acne.
Some believe that catching some rays can counteract oily skin or even kill the bacteria that can cause acne. While the sun may temporarily dry your skin or make it feel less oily, the truth is that your glands will still continue to produce oil. Additionally, UV radiation will not penetrate deep enough into the skin to kill acne-causing bacteria.

Myth #5: Acne will improve by more cleansing.
Studies done on teens with acne have shown that face washing twice a day with a cleanser is better than cleansing once or not at all. The problem is that excessive exposure to facial cleansers can irritate skin. And general skin irritation looks very similar to the irritation that accompanies acne. So make sure your approach to skin care is balanced, and consider a daily skin care regimen that treats all your skin care needs holistically.

Is your skin sensitive?

Your skin is a complex organ and the largest on your whole body! The way it looks and feels isn't just affected by genetics and your skincare routine, but also by the way you live your life. If you suffer from sensitive skin, you know it gets irritated easily. It may react to ingredients found in some skincare products, to stress or even your environment.

Some people describe their sensitive skin as changeable, meaning its condition varies from day-to-day and reacts to just about anything. Others say their sensitive skin is just dry and delicate all the time. No matter what, all skin is sensitive in different ways and signs may range from a mild, transient tingling sensation and slight redness, to dryness. Not ideal when you want to look your best, but help is at hand...

Recognizing what is likely to irritate your skin

  This is the most important thing you can do to prevent the reactions that characterize sensitive skin – so make sure that you use products that are gentle on your skin

KEEP IT CLEAN

You need to make sure that you cleanse your face twice daily - It’s important to know that a build up of grime and dirt can cause sensitive skin irritation. To avoid that tight-skin feeling you can get after washing your face, we suggest using a gentle, moisturizing facial wash. Follow this up with a light soothing facial toner - a mild astringent will help to shrink your pores and freshen.

HYDRATION

The next step is to make sure that you apply the right moisturizer. Some moisturizing creams are too rich and heavy for sensitive skin and using the wrong product can lead to blocked pores, skin irritation, and breakouts.
A light, water-based moisturizer applied twice a day after cleansing is ideal.

WEAR SUNSCREEN

The final step to take care of your sensitive skin is applying sunscreen. If your skin is sensitive, it’s more prone to reacting to the harmful effects of the sun. You might find that going out without a decent application of SPF could lead to redness, burning, breakouts, and other damage, even after just a few minutes of exposure. So to be safe, apply a moisturizer with a SPF30 every time you leave the house.

Fusion by skin concern and skin type

Since Fusion Peel contains multiple ingredients, it is able to address numerous skin care issues for many different skin types.  Here is a synopsis of what you can expect from this peel according to your individual concerns:

Mature skin - most of those who fall into this catagory are a dry, dry-normal, or normal skin.  Fusion is fantastic for this group!  Because of its multi-faceted corrective action, mature users benefit with a restored skin glow, firmer facial contours, minimized fine lines, lessening of discoloration, and a reduction in skin slackening.  Fusion Peel, when use on a regular basis, will continually further the results seen in the first peel and gradually increase a more youthful appearance.

Discolored skin - discoloration, or uneven skin tone, can be present in all skin types (dry to oily).  If you have oilier skin, it is very important to be sure to use a skin defatting solution to get the best penetration of the peel.  The alcohol found at the drugstore will do the job just fine.  The longer you have had the dark spots, or uneven color, the longer it will take to reverse it.  Make sure you stick to the recommended schedule of every 2 weeks and continue with the peel until you get your skin tone to where you want it.  Your results are going to be a more monochrome skin color (less unevenness), brighter skin, restoration of luminosity, firming, and a younger looking appearance.

Acneic skin - its tough to have acne, especially when most products to treat the issue are usually designed for OILY acneic skin.  Not everyone who has acne also has oily skin.  This is where Fusion Peel can be a great help.  No matter what your skin type (if you are oily, make sure to use a gel cleanser and wipe the skin with alcohol before applying the peel), Fusion Peel will help address the causes of skin eruptions.  Hormonal acne - glycolic and fruit enzymes are your key actives.  Bacterial acne - you have salicylic and resorcinol on your side.  Cystic acne - every exfoliating ingredient is going to give you help.  You should see clearer skin, less frequent outbreaks, faster recovery from active lesions, and healthier skin.

Younger skin - why would a younger person want to use Fusion Peel?  Chemical peels can actually be an age prevention tool.  Very few people are born with perfect skin, especially during life stage shifts.  Moving from late teens to early adulthood can create chaos on your face.  Carefree days in the sun as a child, never a pimple in your life and now you get one or two a week, hormonal discoloration, or the stress of moving from home to independence - these can all have an effect on your outward appearance and Fusion Peel can help you counteract all of those changes.

Congested skin - some folks are just naturally prone to congestion.  This happens when the skin cells and/or sebum (skin oil) congregate in the small openings in the skin (hair follicles, sweat glands, and pores).  When mixed and allowed to accumulate, you can end up with conditions like millia, pimples, black heads, and keratosis pilaris.  Using Fusion Peel on a regular basis can prevent this from occurring by removing one factor - the excess cellular debris.  Keeping the skin clear of build up not only makes the skin brighter and less congested, it also improves the overall function of the epidermis.  Using Fusion Peel is kind of like getting the oil changed in your car - if you keep it running at optimal maintenance, you get the best performance.  

Can I use a body moisturizer on my face?

We always encourage clients to save money on skincare products and to keep products to a minimum. When it comes to moisturizer, however, more is better. You should have one for your body and one for your face. Here’s why:
Body moisturizers are generally heavier and greasier because they’re designed to cover large areas of skin that are less sensitive than your face. Applying body moisturizers to your face can lead to irritation, clogged pores, and acne.
Facial moisturizers, in contrast, are designed to be lighter, less greasy, and non-comedogenic (non-pore clogging). They’re best for people with sensitive or acne-prone skin and good for just about anyone else.
Most of the body moisturizer you will be ok with, but be careful when selecting one for your face.

What is Squalane Oil?

Squalane oil is used in cosmetics and skin care products to help heal sun-damaged, wrinkled, and discolored skin. Generally, squalane is a refined form of squalene — a substance that is found in shark livers, rice bran, olives, wheat germ, and some vegetable oils. It was discovered in the early 1900s by a Japanese scientist who was researching disease resistance by deep-sea sharks. Squalane oil is rich in antioxidants, can be consumed orally, and may increase the amount of oxygen delivered by the blood to the rest of the body. The amount of squalene in the body begins to decline when people reach their 20s.

Light, colorless, and odorless in nature, squalane oil is rich in antioxidants. Generally, it is suitable for all skin types in the form of cosmetics and skin care products. Regular use of it is said to help fade fine wrinkles, prevent skin pigmentation, lighten freckles, improve skin texture, make skin softer, and improve eczema. Studies reveal that squalane oil can also regenerate skin cells.

Consumed in the form of shark liver oil through dietary supplements, squalene is said to help the body fight off substances that can damage it, such as free radicals. Free radicals can break down body cells and cause premature aging, organ damage, disease, and cancer. Squalene is also said to increase the amount of oxygen that is transported by the blood to other cells in the body. It is reported to be able to boost the immune system and be a powerful antioxidant. Researchers have also found that certain carcinogens are neutralized when they are exposed to squalene over time.

Extra virgin olive oils typically have a high level of squalene and are considered to have a greater antioxidant effect on the body. Researchers speculate that squalene in olive oil may be the reason why there is a low cancer incidence rate in the Mediterranean diet. Before taking any supplement, it generally is recommended that a person consult with a physician. MedPeel Natural Squalane Oil is derived from olives and is a great addition to any daily anti aging skin care regimen.