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Skin Care Ingredients That Can Cause You Harm

When looking at the marketplace today, you will find that many skin care products use similar ingredients. What many people do not realize is that some ingredients used in these products are selected because they are cheap or increase the shelf life. In some cases, they can even cause damage. You need to understand which components can do harm. The following list can be used as a guide to help you in your search.

The first item to be concerned about is Dioxane, which comes from coconut products, and can be easily absorbed into the skin. One of the most common forms of dioxane is named as a cancer causing agent by the State of California! You will have to look at the fine print on the ingredient list to find this one.

Another area where people have sensitivity is in the area of fragrances. It’s true that people like to smell nice, and fragrances can help with that. However, many fragrances are made from ingredients that are harmful if absorbed widely in the body. Since the skin is the largest organ in the body, you will be well advised to avoid selecting a product with perfumes or other fragrant substances.

Many good skin care products include natural oils to reinforce the skin barrier and improve moisture retention. One way manufacturers cut costs in by using lower quality oils such as mineral oil. The drawback to this approach for you is that this product prevents the movement of air between the skin layers. Once the movement of air has been stopped, the skin can begin to deteriorate and experience aging symptoms. Be on the lookout for this common ingredient.

Cancer causing agents would seem to be a likely category to avoid. However, not all skin care companies pay attention to research which indicates a potential for this risk. Again cost cutting is the primary motivation. One example of this is the use of parabens. These products have been studied extensively and shown to have a cancer risk, as well as contribute to allergies and rashes. While companies like to use this as a component, you should avoid it.

A key feature to look for are moisturizing ingredients that nurture and support the skin. Unfortunately, certain cleansing products are prone to using alcohols which can create drying and irritation issues. Once the outer layers get dried out, this opens you up to a chance for disease to creep in.

Hormones are another area of potential concern. The body produces many hormones which are vital to normal body functions, but some manufacturers add artificial hormones to try and reproduce the health effect of normal hormones. If you are susceptible to hormone imbalance, keep an eye on this.

Emollients are used extensively to provide reinforcement for the skin barrier, which in turn improves the retention of vital moisture. The pitfall here is that many emollients are oil based. If you have an oily skin condition, using oil based emollients will aggravate your condition. If you have an oily complexion, be aware of this issue.

Now you are more aware about the potential pitfalls that await you in skin care products in the marketplace. Use these guidelines as a way to take measure of the creams and lotions you find at the drugstore or department store, and become familiar with the good brands and ones to avoid. In a short time, you will have a list of products that you can use with confidence.

Posted by on January 4th, 2012 No Comments

3 Common Reasons for Stretch Marks

If you have never had stretch marks and want to avoid them, it may be of some help to know about the most common causes. From there, if certain factors wind up in your life, at least you can take steps to mitigate the development of stretch marks as much as possible. This may involve using special ointments or even slowing down your progress on a fitness goal until the deeper layers of skin have a chance to accommodate the changes.

Pregnancy

As you may be aware, the vast majority of women that suffer from stretch marks get them during pregnancy. Typically, these marks will develop along the lower abdomen and thighs. If you want to avoid or reduce these marks during pregnancy, you will need to make use of skin moisturizers. As long as your skin in these areas remains elastic, you will have a better chance of preventing the dermal layer from tearing. Unfortunately, if creams don’t work, you may wind up with these marks that turn into permanent scars before the baby is delivered.

Rapid Weight Gain and Loss

Regardless of your age, putting on excess weight too fast will also lead to stretch marks. In fact, this is the main reason why children and teens wind up with these kinds of scars. Aside from using stretch mark creams if you are gaining weight too quickly, you should also make it your business to try and control weight gain as much as possible. At the very least, you can talk to your doctor in order to find out why you are gaining weight. For example, if you have a thyroid condition, or need to obtain access to a sensible diet, your doctor can easily direct you to appropriate sources of information.

Muscle or Body Building

Oddly enough, many people fail to realize that expanding muscles will also require rapid expansion of skin to cover them. Even if you are overweight, trading fat for muscle will put stress on regions where muscles are increasing in size. Therefore, if you are planning to take up a body building regimen, you should ask about methods for reducing stretch marks. Without a question, if you want to look good on the beach, or in any other location, preventing stretch marks is bound to be very important.

Many people who have these marks find themselves wishing they could have found a way to avoid getting them. While these same people would not give up their children or a muscular physique, they would most likely take advantage of creams, massages, and other methods to help make the skin more elastic. Therefore, if you are thinking about having a child, increasing muscle mass, or find you are gaining weight too fast, you should consider using stretch mark creams that have good comments and feedbacks from users. At the very least, if you can prevent larger skin tears from occurring, you will have a better chance of getting rid of the scars later on with other treatment methods.

Posted by on December 14th, 2011 No Comments

Best Treatment for Nail Fungus

If you have a toe nail fungus you are probably already aware of how difficult it is to treat. It can be a exceedingly obstinate type of fungal infection and, depending upon the severity of your nail infection, will necessitate a thorough treatment method, and a substantial amount of time and patience on your part. The following article will outline the top treatment method for curing your nail fungus once and for all. There will be a number of measures involved in a comprehensive, successful toe fungus remedy. These will consist of medication from your doctor, topical solutions, preventive actions to keep the fungus from coming back, and in a few severe cases, it may possibly include removal of the nail itself. Using this treatment regimen has almost a 75-80% success ratio. 1. Antifungal drugs (oral medication) will,in most cases, provide the greatest possibility of doing away with the fungal infection. There are a few drawbacks to taking this medication however. One is that it is really costly and is often not covered with insurance, because in most cases the insurance company will view it as a cosmetic treatment and not cover it. Terbinafine, itraconazole, and fluconazole are the most commonly used oral medications. The added concern with taking antifungal drugs is that they can have serious side effects. Your physician will want to carefully monitor you so you don’t endure from some of these possible side effects. There is a chance of liver damage and heart problems. Because of these concerns, physicians will usually prescribe oral medications in only the most severe and hard to treat fungal infections. 2. The use of topical medication is often used in conjunction with oral medication, or if the fungal infection is not severe, can be used on their own as an effective nail fungus treatment. Often times these topical solutions will be used for a considerable amount of time after the nail has healed to make sure the fungus does not return. Terbinafine and ciclopirox are two better known compounds that are used in these creams or ointments. You need to remember that these types of applications do a good job of clearing up the less severe forms of nail fungus, but do not perform as well in cases where there is a severe fungal infection. 3. Removal of the affected nail is reserved for very severe cases or in situations to where the nail fungus is causing a great deal of discomfort and pain. In most situations removing the nail is a last resort. Even with the nail gone, you still have to be sure to use a combination of medication and topical applications to ensure that the fungus does not return. Once you have stopped the infection and you have a healthy nail again, it is critical that you take steps to make sure it never returns. This would include: 1. Wash and dry your feet thoroughly after bathing and make sure you put powder on your feet. 2. Apply the recommended topical gel, ointment, or cream for a minimum of year afterwards. 3. Try to wear cotton socks as much as possible. If necessary change them a couple of times a day. 4. Wear shoes that “breathe” and avoid any footwear that does not ventilate your feet. 5. If you use a public shower or swim at the local pool, be sure to wear flip-flops or shower shoes of some kind. These places are notorious for picking up any number of fungal infections. 6. Use your own socks, shoes, clippers, and files and don’t share them with others. 7. If you should happen to injure or damage a nail, be sure it gets proper treatment. A nail injury is a very common predecessor of a nail fungus infection. An important thought to keep in mind is that when it comes to fighting nail fungus, you have to be patient. It can take months and some cases a year or longer before the fungus is completely eliminated. It will require persistence on your part to follow the practices listed above and not give up. With time, in most cases you will see a positive result. Last but certainly not least, be sure to consult your physician. He or she will be able to answer all your questions and put you on a treatment plan that will work best for you.

Posted by on December 7th, 2011 No Comments

Skin Care Tips To Prevent Premature Aging And To Prevent Wrinkles

Many people want to prevent their skin from premature aging. Even though some people have a complicated skin care routine, it really doesn’t have to be. The article below includes simple tips to help you prevent premature aging before it starts.

Avoid exposure to the sun at all costs. Harmful UV rays can cause premature aging, such as wrinkles. You should avoid tanning beds or any sun exposure that is excessive. If you must be in the sun you should be sure to wear a SPF to protect your skin. You can protect your skin with SPF clothing. You should be sure to wear sunglasses while in the sun because they will help prevent wrinkles in the eye area. You can also wear a hat to protect your face and eyes.

To help your skin stay moisturized you should use lotion. It is important to use lotion at least two times a day to help keep your skin glowing and healthy. For your skin to retain the best moisture you should be sure to apply lotion after a shower or bath. You should also use lotion before going to bed at night.

Learn to manage your stress effectively. Stress is something that many of us deal with at some point in our lives. It is important to look at things that stress you out and learn how to deal with them. You can deal with stress by doing exercises like yoga. You can also use another form of meditation to help keep stress under control.

Be sure to eat a healthy and balanced diet. Many people fail to realize that a healthy diet reflects on the way your skin looks. Make sure to eat a diet full of vitamins and minerals. If your diet lacks anything or you feel like you aren’t getting enough of them, you should try taking a vitamin to supplement your diet.

Make sure you drink enough water through the day. It is recommended that you drink at least eight glasses of water every day. When your skin is hydrated it will look youthful.

To keep skin looking healthy and toned you should be sure to exercise. Exercise is great for your body and will keep your skin healthy looking and toned. When skin is toned it will look more youthful.

Avoid smoking. Smoking can lead to many health problems and can also cause your skin to age prematurely. The harmful ingredients in cigarettes can cause your skin to wrinkle.

Get started early with your anti aging skin care regimen. There are many different products available that can help you prevent premature skin aging. These products are usually targeted to a specific age range and can help you prevent aging before it starts.

Even though there are a lot of skin care products available on the market today, skin care doesn’t have to be a complicated process. Just by following a few beauty basics included in the above article you will be on your way to preventing premature aging of your skin.

Posted by on November 29th, 2011 No Comments