Health Products Report » skincare

Majority Of Skin Care Products Purchased On The Net Harm!

blogauthor — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 02:31:23 +0000

Skin care is big businesses these days, with massive amounts of companies all competing for visibility and market share. New companies are popping up all the time and lots are finding relative success by selling online and not having to spend money on expensive shops. This has caused a few issues in terms of quality control however, as experts from Norway claim that around half of skin care products available on the net have negative effects on the skin.

A cross section of products were taken from across the net, which included a complete range of prices, ingredients, sources and consistencies. The total number of tested products came to 355. There were both facial care and also hand care products sampled, and they were all tested extensively on various types of skin and measured on their effectiveness, ease of use and side effects. There was also a control group who used no products at all.

The findings of the study gave some shock results and gave a clear indication of just how many poor quality products are available on the internet. Not only did 70% of the products have no measurable benefits, but 50% actually caused negative effects to the skin of participants. There were many side-effects recorded in the study but some of the worst were skin peeling, spots, blistering, server itching and dryness.

Another finding, which may not come as so much of a surprise, was that those products at the top of the price range benefited the skin most. Interestingly, there were only positive effects recorded from the products that featured in the top 20% in terms of purchase cost. The overruling advice from this research has to be to do your research and only buy the highest quality skincare products you can. Also make sure you only buy from reputable companies you know. Skincare brands such as Dermalogica and Aesop for example are highly trusted brands. On a final note, always patch-test new skin care products first on an area of skin that is not usually visible, not too sensitive and does not come into contact with other skin.

Hormonal Acne In Women

Trish Williamson — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:28:05 +0000

You are probably aware that HORMONES are the start of the cycle- For millions of women, it happens like clockwork every month: cramping, bloating, mood swings, and acne. Experts know that acne is influenced by hormones, but research on the subject has been relatively limited – until now that is!

Recently a study conducted by dermatologist Alan Shalita, MD, confirmed that nearly half of all women experience acne flare-ups during the week preceding their period. This is known as hormonal acne. Hormonal acne may fail to respond to traditional therapies, such as topical retinoid and systemic or topical antibiotics.

Here are several hints or physical evidence which can help your doctor identify hormonally-influenced acne: Acne flare-ups preceding the menstrual cycle A history of irregular menstrual cycles Increased facial oiliness Hirsutism (excessive growth of hair, or hair in unusual places) Elevated levels of certain androgens in the blood stream. Any one of these is possible evidence of Hormonal Acne.

While hormonally influenced acne typically begins between the early to mid twenties, it can also strike teens and mature women as well, and is most persistent in women over the age of Thirty. Patients usually experience lesions on the lower face, especially the chin and the jaw line. Some may have breakouts on the chest and back, most have blemishes exclusively on the face.

Hormonally influenced acne is usually very moderate and limited to inflammatory papules and small inflammatory nodules as well as occasional comedones. So how does it start? Well, Puberty is where it all begins. Starting sometime before adolescence (around the age of nine or ten) the adrenal glands begin to produce dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), an androgen. Other androgens – the “male” hormones at work in a woman’s body – such as testosterone and dehydrotestosterone (DHT), join in at the onset of puberty. These hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands to secrete more of the skin’s natural oil, or sebum. This is why oily skin and acne are so prevalent among teenagers. Naturally, since boys have more “male” hormones, teen acne tends to be more severe in males.

Acne treatment in teenagers can be very challenging. This is because their hormones are in a constant state of flux. They may initially respond very well to first-line treatments, such as topical retinoids and benzoyl peroxide, perhaps accompanied by an oral antibiotic. As their bodies develop, however, they may undergo severe hormonal shifts – and stop responding to the current medications. Courses of acne treatment may need to be adjusted more often with teenagers to accommodate these hormonal changes.

There are many women pass into adulthood without “outgrowing” their acne. Others may not develop it until their twenties or thirties, experiencing persistent breakouts the week before their period. Why does this happen? During the course of a normal menstrual cycle (if a woman is not taking any kind of hormonal birth control pill), estrogen levels peak at mid-cycle, then decline as she nears her period. After ovulation, the ovaries begin to produce progesterone, another hormone which stimulates the sebaceous glands. And with the extra oil comes acne.

Hormones are also responsible for acne in a percentage of pregnant women. The sebaceous glands go into high gear during the third trimester, causing oily skin and frequent breakouts. There are some women who even experience acne after menopause, when estrogen levels begin to taper off and testosterone becomes the dominant hormone.

What is the best course of action? The “wait and see” attitude is particularly ineffective for hormonal breakouts: “Acne that worsens during a woman’s monthly cycle isn’t something that women will grow out of as they get older. Seeing your dermatologist to determine the best treatment plan for acne flare-ups is recommended for the most successful result.

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Top Beauty Salon Suggestions on Facial Skin Care

Serena Greene — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:13:45 +0000

by Serena Greene

‘Facial skin care’ is more a matter of routine than anything else. It’s also about using the top products that you can afford to gain a stunning complexion.

The top beauty salons can counsel you on the best beauty care products and regime for your skin type but here’s some tips to get you going.

A facial skin care routine is what you want ( and you must follow the facial skin care routine with complete seriousness ).

So let’s check what involves an efficient facial skin care programme.

Well, simply, a facial skin care routine can follow the following 4 steps :

* Cleansing * Toning * Exfoliating * Moisturising

Cleansing is the first thing in facial skin care programme. Cleansing assists in removing dust, pollutants, grease and additional oil from your skin, so preventing damage to your skin.

Just spot your neck and face with a good cleaning lotion or cream and gently massage it into your skin using upward movement. Use a soft face tissue or cotton wool to wipe your face in a delicate patting fashion ( do not rub ). Cleaning should be completed at least two times a day i.e. Morning ( as a part of complete facial skin care routine ) and evening ( on a standalone basis ).

Water-soluble cleaners are the best for inclusion in your facial beauty care routine.

Toning is the subsequent in a facial skin care routine. However, this is the optional part of the facial skin care routine. Often, proper cleaning can compensate for toning. Toning helps remove all traces of dirt, grease and excess cleanser. Instead of making it part of your regular facial beauty care routine, you can using toning often i.e. When you’ve been exposed to particularly tough environment/pollution.

Exfoliation is again, kind of, optional step in everyday routine for facial skin care. However, exfoliation is required at least once a week ( or twice, depending on the skin type and the environmental conditions ). Exfoliation finds its place in facial skin care routine because of the natural tendency of skin to replenish the skin cells each 3 or four weeks.

As a facial skin care methodology, exfoliation helps in removing the dead skin cells that clog the pores, therefore helping the skin in the natural process. However, excessive or vicious exfoliation can cause damage to your skin ; so you must balance it out.

The next thing in facial skin care is moisturising.

in reality, moisturising is the most vital part of facial skin care routine. Moisturisers stop your skin from getting dry. Dry skin is truly undesirable since it cause the higher layer skin to smash, leading to dead skin cells. Again, use light upward strokes to make the moisturiser better. Moisturisers work the best when applied on warm and damp skin.

So do not try and remove all the moisture in the prior steps of facial skin care routine.

Besides the standard facial skin care routine, you must also exercise the following for facial skin care :

* Use proper make-up remover rather than just washing it away * Pay heed to your skin type and the environment, when choosing facial skin care products. * Before you start to use a new facial skin care product, test it by applying it on a short patch of skin e.g. Ear lobes. * Never rub your skin too hard. * Use sunscreen lotions for cover against sun.

Easy steps that can make all the difference.

About the Author:

Serena Greene, a natural beauty consultant for more than 12 years, for the best information learn more at Beauty Salon Edinburgh one of the countrys best beauty treatment salons of excellence.