Progressive or Quick and Dramatic Results

When selecting the appropriate chemical peel to treat a particular skin concern, downtime must to be taken into consideration.  One may not mind the significant downtime, redness and excessive flaking of nearly a week or longer. Downtime is their least concern in order to achieve the more dramatic results with a chemical peel such as a TCA. Another fact may be that one may have more time on their hands for the recovery. But one who is constantly on the run and has to face the public may wish to be more discreet about their peeling treatments thus a milder peel with no flaking or redness can be chosen such as Glycolic peel. This would be a more progressive approach but still very effective with longer period of time. In addition, if the skin concern is very stubborn then only effective treatment might be a deeper more aggressive peel.

Skin Care Routine for Men

 

Skin care is not just for women! A man’s skin needs attention and nourishment just as much. Before you start with a skincare routine, you’d need to find out your skin type: oily, normal/combination, dry, sensitive. Once you’ve figured that out, you might want to know what products to pick and how to use them.

Start by Cleansing            

If you are too lazy to do anything else, cleansing your face is the single most important thing you can do. Search for a good cleanser that your skin responds well to, and stick with it. If possible stay away from bar soaps as they often leave your skin feeling dry. But remember not to overdo it

To shave or not to shave

Hair growth in men is fairly regular. There’s no need  to shave daily. But whenever you do, ensure to choose a good razor and a shaving gel or cream that yields a close shave, kills bacteria, softens follicles and leaves the skin feeling smooth. Avoid using any shaving products that contain alcohol and parabens as they strip the natural oils from the skin leaving it dry and irritated

Exfoliation is essential

In order to remove dead skin cells and debris, exfoliation is a must. Moreover it stimulates circulation to add a healthy glow to your skin. A recent study proves that one of the reasons men’s skin looks more youthful than women’s is because men tend to exfoliate daily when they shave. Daily exfoliators with Glycolic or Salicylic acids are excellent. A deeper  chemical peel is highly recommended for a more dramatic results in your skin

Moisturize your skin

As men usually have oilier skin than women, they tend to wrinkle not as quickly. A light moisturizer and a nourishing cream is important to maintain moisture and prevent ageing. If at all shaving irritates your skin, try moisturizing your skin after a shave & ideally before going to bed

Sunscreen

Everyone is well aware that that sunscreen is the most important part of skincare regime. Sunscreen only works if you use it properly. SPF 15 is a good start but apply it half an hour prior to stepping outdoors. If you plan  to stay outdoors for longer, use SPF30

Taking care of your skin is perfectly normal and  looking your best just got easier

Benefits of Facial Massage

Let's treat ourselves and indulge in our favorite moisturizer with some very beneficial relaxing movements. Daily stress often results in tension building up in specific muscles. Foreheads furrow and lines form between the brows and along the lip line. Gentle, routine facial massage can help relax these tight and drawn muscles, decreasing the lines that they form. Massage combined with a hydrating moisturizer can also help minimize lines and dryness.

 

Facial massage has a lot of benefits. It has a soothing and relaxing effect to your skin. It gives a glowing, radiant and healthy looks on your face. It slows down the aging process when you regularly massage your face. Thus, massaging the face is an easy and important part of the beauty regime to keep wrinkles away, brighten up complexion as well as penetration of the moisturizer and serum. Besides softening the skin, another good effect of massage is that it stimulates blood circulation and removes dead skin. Facial massage is also known to tighten certain skin tissues that tend to go flabby and give the face a worn out look. So simply remove all traces of makeup, dirt and grime before massaging the face with your daily cleanser and exfoliator. Take your moisturizer/serum and perform a light, feathery touch with fingers. Stroking movements with your hands/fingers in an upwards and outward manner towards the temple. Fingers should move in a swift, light but firm way. You may use facial massaging to unwind at the end of our hectic schedules or use this as a wake up routine in the morning that will also aid with the pillow creases to vanish quickly. Whichever part of the day you choose you will love the way your skin looks and feels.

Enlarged pores and some solutions!

Almost all pores are microscopic openings in the skin that allow cooling perspiration and protective oils to reach the skin's surface. Some experts estimate that you have as many as one million pores per square inch of skin.

But sometimes pores become so enlarged that they create unattractive craters. Although it’s usually not a medical concern, enlarged pores can damage your self-confidence and self-esteem, and tempt you to empty your wallet on often-expensive and often-ineffective products that promise "guaranteed" results.

Fortunately, there are proven strategies for minimizing or concealing enlarged pores — and restoring even-looking skin.

Learn what causes enlarged pores, and how you can shrink or conceal them.

The Causes of Enlarged Pores

During puberty, pores often enlarge to handle the increased oil output from sebaceous glands. In women, they often stay enlarged through menopause, when hormonal changes usually cause them to shrink to their original childhood size.

Unfortunately, enlarged pores are most likely to appear right where you don't want them: the T-zone, the area that runs between your forehead, nose, and chin. The nose is especially prone to developing enlarged pores because it contains more sebaceous glands than any other area of skin.

Enlarged pores tend to run in families. But factors other than heredity can foster their development, including:

• Improper skin care, including inadequate cleansing and wearing too much makeup.
• Oily skin and seborrhea, a common skin problem associated with a red, itchy rash and white scales.
• Smoking.
• Sun damage.

Home Treatments for Enlarged Pores

Although most experts recommend seeing a doctor or dermatologist before trying to treat enlarged pores on your own, some home treatments may help you minimize their appearance. These include:

• Topical treatments. Look for over-the-counter creams that contain alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids, or benzoyl peroxide, which help remove the excess oil and dead skin that accumulates around pores; or salicylic acid, which prevents pores from clogging and forming pimples and blackheads.
• Acne medications, especially those containing sulfur or resorcinol, or oil-clearing astringents.
• Vitamin A treatments. Products such as Retin-A, Renova, and Avage may help minimize the appearance of enlarged pores, and also unclog pores by speeding cell turnover and loosening blackheads.
• Tightening face masks. Used once or twice a week, such products can cleanse pores and promote smoother skin.
• Steaming. A weekly steaming can cleanse enlarged pores by loosening accumulated debris. For optimal results, apply a tightening face mask immediately after steaming.

Another strategy is to hide enlarged pores with cosmetics. Because foundation can pool in pores, making them more noticeable, it's best to use a primer containing ingredients such as dimethicone, which forms an invisible barrier between skin and makeup. Just be sure to use a water-based, pore-minimizing primer that's labeled "noncomedogenic," because these types of products are less likely to cause acne.

Medical Treatments for Enlarged Pores

Your doctor or dermatologist may be able to save you a lot of time and expense by recommending over-the-counter or prescription medications that are the best fit for your skin. He or she may also recommend cosmetic procedures such as:

• Microdermabrasion, a technique that rejuvenates skin with tiny microcrystal particles that remove excess oil and dead skin that accumulates in enlarged pores. This technique also stimulates the growth of collagen, which promotes healthy-looking skin.
• Laser resurfacing , which uses short, concentrated bursts of laser light to remove dead skin, layer by layer. This promotes the formation of tighter skin and the growth of collagen.
• Chemical peels, which are solutions that remove dead skin and promote "new" skin. They reduce the appearance of enlarged pores, as well as other imperfections such as fine lines, wrinkles, and brown spots.
• Deep pore cleansing treatments, which exfoliate, tone, cleanse, moisturize, and balance the skin's oil production. 

Almost everyone has some enlarged pores. But home treatments, medical treatments, or a combination of the two may help you banish these common beauty bummers.

Tea Tree Oil Benefits and Uses

Tea Tree oil is extracted from the leaves of a plant called Narrow-leaved Paperbark (Melaleuca alternifolia). The plant, native to New South Wells, Australia, is now cultivated commercially all over the world to fulfill the rising demands. The high popularity and demand is the direct result of the benefits of tea tree oil that scientists have discovered recently.
The use of this wonder oil is not limited just to curing acne but to a number of other diseases. One interesting fact about this oil is that its benefits are not limited to that, you can use it in household cleaning, in your aquarium and in many different ways.

 Antiviral Benefits and Uses

Some recent research results show that tea tree oil have some antiviral qualities especially against herpes, chicken pox, shingles, flu etc.
This oil can effectively cure hand warts. The antiviral abilities of the oil can heal warts in short time. Warts are the result of infection from HPV (human papilloma virus). Regular use of tea tree oil for 2 weeks is found to be enough to cure warts completely.

Tea Tree Oil to Cure Mild Acne

This oil can be used to treat mild to moderate acne effectively. A 5% tea tree oil gel is found to be more effective than common gels available in the market containing 5% benzoyl peroxide. Tea tree gel acts slowly but shows fewer side effects than other treatments. To prevent recurring acne problem, continuous use of this oil is recommended.

Antifungal Benefits and Uses

This oil is effective against a variety of fungal infections of skin and mucus membranes. Seborrheic dermatitis, which causes dry flaky patches on skin, can be treated with this ointment. You can use it as a mouthwash to treat bad breath, plaque and inflamed gums. 2-3 drops of the oil in a cup of lukewarm water will prepare the mouthwash for you. You can use it 2-3 times daily. Many Australian dentists prescribe tea tree oil as a mouthwash and use it for sterilizing cavities before filling.

Main Uses of Tea Tree Oil

• To cure acne
• To cure fungal infections, especially toe nail infection
• To cure Yeast infection
• As a general antiseptic to treat Wounds and infections
• To Treat ring worm, athlete’s foot
• As a household cleaner
• To keep the scalp free of bacterial and fungal problems.
• And to keep head lice away

List of diseases treated by tea tree oil

• Acne
• Athlete's foot
• Thrush
• Periodontal disease
• Boils
• Head Lice
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Yeast infection

Now, that almost sums up all the benefits of this wonder oil. But, not finished yet! This oil is also used to treat bacterial and fungal infections in aquarium fish. It is effective for almost all kinds of aquarium fish except Goldfish. Tea tree oil Have some analgesic effects, can reduce pain and inflammation. You may find it as an ingredient in many burn ointments and lotions.
Regular use of products containing tea tree oil will strengthen your immune system and keep you away from a number of minor and major diseases.

Back Acne

Acne is a problem not only on the face, but also on chest and back too.  Are you one of those people who doesn’t take their shirt off at the pool party because you have chest acne or back acne? Good news , there is a solution for that.

Acne on back and chest can be managed by using body wash containing glycolic acid or salicylic acid. Use the body wash in the shower daily, and you will see a significant difference in as little as few weeks.

Back Acne Scars-Cause

Back acne scars are caused by acne on the back. Acne usually starts on the face, and some people get acne on chest and back. The cause of back acne is the same with face acne. Excessive sebum production and dead skin cells clogs the pores on skin and with bacterial growth on this are causes acne breakouts.

Back Acne Scars – Prevention

Even though clothes do not cause acne on back, wearing clean clothes will definitely reduce the change of bacterial growth on the skin. Sweating is also a factor for acne breakouts on body, thus showering everyday, especially after exercising will prevent acne breakouts. Once acne is gone, they usually leave something to remember them by. Acne scars. Squeezing or pressuring the acne is a big cause for acne scars. If you have acne on back, avoid wearing tight clothes or back packs.

Back Acne Scars – Treatment

Back acne scar treatments are not different from face acne scar treatments. For mild cases, chemical peeling will be enough to get rid of back acne scars. After chemical peel, the top layer of skin will be gone and new skin cells will grow. Redness and sensitivity may occur after the treatment.

Microdermabrasion can be used for moderate acne scars. This technique is essentially sanding down the skin. The principle is the same with chemical peeling, but instead of chemicals a sandpaper or a similar equipment is used.

Laser treatment is the most popular and the most effective way to treat acne scars. Laser treatment is used for severe cases of acne scars. Laser treatment will resurface the skin on your back after a few sessions and you will get a scar-free, smooth skin on your back.

Chocolate Sunscreen?

If you have a "bit of chocolate a day" habit, you might already have heard of some of the research surrounding the health benefits of chocolate, which in its purer forms has been tied to heart and metabolic health, and it's also a source of antioxidants. Now it turns out that it might be a skin protector too. 

 

A study in the Journal of Nutrition indicates that high-flavanol cocoa protects skin from UV rays. No, not when you slather it on the skin, but when you consuming it (a much more delicious option). 

 

According to the journal article summary, "One group of women ingested 326 mg/d of high flavanol cocoa, rich in the antioxidants epicatechin and catechin, and another group consumed only 27 mg/d over a 12-week period. At the end, the high flavanol group showed decreased sensitivity to UV light, increased cutaneous and subcutaneous blood flow, skin hydration and thickness, as well as reduced roughness and scaling."

 

This means that those who consumed the chocolate drink with higher amounts of flavanols suffered less significant burns than those who had a drink with less. For those of us who are dedicated to the use of foods rather than drugs for healing, this is another drop in the bucket of research indicating that pure, healthy foods can keep us healthier for longer. 

 

What this information does not mean is that eating a Kit Kat or Snickers bar every day is advisable. Processed chocolate candy that you find in the bodega, corner store or gas station contains very little cocoa, and what is there is low-quality chocolate grown in monoculture systems that are doused with fertilizers and chemicals. Not great for the Earth or your waistline, since it is then mixed with a lot of extra sugar, unhealthy fats and artificial flavors. 

 

What this does mean is that seeking out and enjoying a small to moderate quantity of organic, fair-trade (and raw, if you can find it) dark chocolate may very well assist your skin in protection and self-repair. While you will notice that this chocolate is a little more expensive (if you buy in bulk when it's on sale, it only ends up costing about 10-20 percent more than conventional, processed candy), you need less of it and it lasts quite a while.