Author: Debra Schulenburg
Source: ezinearticles.com

Want to fall in love with your skin again? It’s all about exfoliation.

Dead skin is the enemy to healthy skin. It clogs our pores, combines with sebum and dirt to cause pimples, breakouts, or worse – acne.

It forms in layers upon layers on top of the skin, blocking any healthy moisturizers, toners, or medications we use to improve our skin – which leads to dry, flaky, and ultimately cracked and or bleeding skin.

It gives our skin a dull, sallow appearance. So, we put makeup on to try to look better, and the makeup looks ashy, streaky, and just, well, bad. And the makeup doesn’t last, about half a day, max.

For men, when shaving, dead skin causes the razor to skip and not glide smoothly, leaving you a not so close shave which can cause painful razor stubble and ingrown hairs.

Dead skin makes oily skin oilier, dry skin drier, and acne-prone skin have more acne. It’s something we can’t ignore, for it will only get worse.

Years ago we were told to use an exfoliating mask twice per week, and enjoy the “luxury” of a facial. Today, the skin care experts tell us, exfoliation is no longer a luxury for healthy, beautiful skin, it is a necessity. A daily necessity. So much so, that exfoliation ingredients are being added to all new formulations for cleansers now, and designed to be used twice per day. If your facial cleanser doesn’t have any physical or chemical exfoliants, then you need to switch. TODAY.

Microdermabrasion is a fairly new type of at-home product that is a more advanced form of exfoliation using tiny tiny granules to exfoliate skin, which can be used 1-2 times per week, and can be easily done at home. In my opinion it is the new “miracle product” for skin. It will revitalize dull skin, reduce large pores, erase fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars, reduce mild pigment irregularities (hyperpigmentation), stretch marks and age spots. Yes, it IS that good.

As a skin care product, microdermabrasion is going to cost you a little more than most exfoliants, but you’re not using it every day, and it is much less cost than a trip to a dermatologist for DERMABRASION treatments which are much more painful, costly, and involve stronger chemicals. Also, you will find after microdermabrasion that you use LESS moisturizer, and less makeup, and your makeup will last longer, so enjoy some savings there as well.

With all my clients, regardless of their skin concern, I recommend starting with a microdermabrasion product. Once we have the layers of dead skin cleared away, we know that the skin products we use to treat the skin will be much more effective.

Also, microdermabrasion is not just for the face. You can also find products designed especially for the skin on and around the lips, and also the skin on the rest of your body. Imagine being able to remove all the dead skin layers on places like your feet, heels, and elbows! Imagine a nice close shave under arms and on the legs. One treatment per week of microdermabrasion, and then you’ll be able to maintain smooth, soft body skin with a simple botanical moisturizing lotion.

Debra Schulenburg, skin care consultant with 20+ years experience. http://www.skin-care-blog.net

Author: Robert Kokoska
Source: isnare.com

Acne is the medical word used to describe a state in which the pores of your skin are clogged up and irritated. It effects people of all genders, ages and races. The majority of people who struggle with this condition are teenagers entering puberty. Acne can be found anywhere on the body but mostly effects the face, back, chest, upper arms and neck areas.

Although acne is not life threatening, it can have devastating consequences on a person’s self-confidence and social behavior. It can also lead to scarring even in the more milder cases. The good news is that there are many different treatments available to the acne sufferer. The treatment will usually depend on the skin type and severity.

The best place to start for people with mild acne and for those with black or whiteheads is with a cleansing program. It is recommended that you cleanse the areas effected with a mild soap that doesn’t leave your skin too dry after wards. After cleansing, you may want to try applying a little over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide product. This chemical has been shown much promise in treating mild acne and is usually quite cheap.

Products such as Clearasil and Benzac that contain benzoyl peroxide work by killing all of the bacteria that is known to cause acne. The only downside is that it can take several months to see decent results but will however, not create a resistance from the bacteria. Other common products contain salicylic acid and they help by breaking down blackheads and whiteheads.

Breakouts that are much more serious will most likely require a visit the your physician or dermatologist. More severe acne that creates nodules and cysts can leave behind horrible scarring and getting the proper medication can help to prevent future scarring by quickly reducing your acne.

Even if you choose to use strong medications, you should still remember to use a daily cleanser. Often with prescriptions from a doctor, you will be give very strong oral antibiotics to use. No matter how bad your acne is or how itchy it might get, you should never pop or pick at them unless done by a skin professional. Large zits might need to be cleaned or drained to prevent scarring or to clear up an infection.

Treating or curing your acne will take time and each person’s treatment will vary. What might work for your friends or even your parents may not work for you or your skin type. You need to give your skin plenty of time to heal and in some cases it might “get worse before it gets better”. One thing you might want to consider is taking a low-dosage birth control pill that will help to reduce flare-ups that are associated with a woman’s menstruation.

When you find something that works for your skin you should stick with it for several months. You should put into place a good daily routine of cleansing and treating. This will definitely reduce any future outbreaks of acne. If you already have acne scars, don’t worry, because there are also treatments now that can help to remove them. You will need to discuss these options with a dermatologist.

For most people, their cause of acne is internal due to hormones and other factors. Author Chris Gibson has created a unique treatment program that targets these internal causes that has seen as much as a 90% success rate on people who try it. If you suffer from acne you should definitely give it a try. It’s called Acne Free in 3 Days and you can read more about the program by clicking on this link: Acne Free in 3 Days