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The main thing to remember during the winter months is that your skin needs to be constantly protected against a lack of moisture. This might be very obvious while you are outside as cold, dry air tends to cause more immediate skin woes, but the need for protection is actually just as important inside. Heating systems, unless coupled with an effective humidifier, sap just as much moisture from the air as cold weather and can leave you with dry skin even if you never set foot outside.

There are a few different steps that you should take when caring for your skin during the winter, with proper cleansing being the first one. Use the most gentle of cleansers so as not to take away any extra moisture from the skin. Also, exfoliation can be of help because it clears away the old skin cells and leaves the skin healthier and in better shape. During the cleansing routine, it is also a good idea to use products that contain plenty of anti-aging and nutritional ingredients such as vitamins A, C, and E.

The next step for winter skin care is to use a moisturizer. You are probably already used to doing this if you tend towards dry skin all year round or if your skin is normal. However, even if you have oily skin, using a moisturizer is essential. Though this seems like an oxymoron, a moisturizer will actually help protect the skin against acne and other oily-skin problems. The trick is to use the right moisturizer. A product that is formulated for acne prone skin and that also contains benzoyl peroxide for daytime use can help control acne and give the skin essential moisture. Also make sure that, whatever skin type you are, you use sunscreen during the day. Even winter sun can cause damage and you need to protect yourself against that.

Proper cleansing and using moisturizers will take care of most of your wintertime skin needs, but there are a few other things that you should also do. For one, you need to protect your skin every time you go outside into cold air but wearing hats, gloves, scarfs, and other proper winter clothing. And though the thought of a long hot shower seems especially nice on a cold, wintry day, you should limit your showers to just a couple of minutes. Any longer and your skin will get stripped of its protective oils. Finally, nourish your body from the inside by drinking enough water and eating proper foods. When you take the care to keep your skin healthy during the winter, you will feel better all around.]]> Skin Care http://www.advancedskincaretalk.com/index.php?itemid=57 Wed, 21 May 2008 14:19:00 -0400 http://www.advancedskincaretalk.com/index.php?itemid=56
The main thing to remember during the winter months is that your skin needs to be constantly protected against a lack of moisture. This might be very obvious while you are outside as cold, dry air tends to cause more immediate skin woes, but the need for protection is actually just as important inside. Heating systems, unless coupled with an effective humidifier, sap just as much moisture from the air as cold weather and can leave you with dry skin even if you never set foot outside.

There are a few different steps that you should take when caring for your skin during the winter, with proper cleansing being the first one. Use the most gentle of cleansers so as not to take away any extra moisture from the skin. Also, exfoliation can be of help because it clears away the old skin cells and leaves the skin healthier and in better shape. During the cleansing routine, it is also a good idea to use products that contain plenty of anti-aging and nutritional ingredients such as vitamins A, C, and E.

The next step for winter skin care is to use a moisturizer. You are probably already used to doing this if you tend towards dry skin all year round or if your skin is normal. However, even if you have oily skin, using a moisturizer is essential. Though this seems like an oxymoron, a moisturizer will actually help protect the skin against acne and other oily-skin problems. The trick is to use the right moisturizer. A product that is formulated for acne prone skin and that also contains benzoyl peroxide for daytime use can help control acne and give the skin essential moisture. Also make sure that, whatever skin type you are, you use sunscreen during the day. Even winter sun can cause damage and you need to protect yourself against that.

Proper cleansing and using moisturizers will take care of most of your wintertime skin needs, but there are a few other things that you should also do. For one, you need to protect your skin every time you go outside into cold air but wearing hats, gloves, scarfs, and other proper winter clothing. And though the thought of a long hot shower seems especially nice on a cold, wintry day, you should limit your showers to just a couple of minutes. Any longer and your skin will get stripped of its protective oils. Finally, nourish your body from the inside by drinking enough water and eating proper foods. When you take the care to keep your skin healthy during the winter, you will feel better all around.]]> Skin Care http://www.advancedskincaretalk.com/index.php?itemid=56 Wed, 21 May 2008 14:19:00 -0400 http://www.advancedskincaretalk.com/index.php?itemid=55
Generally, skin types are divided into four categories: dry, oily, normal, and combination. Dry skin is obviously skin which does not retain enough moisture and tends to have problems such as flaking, peeling, and scaling. Oily skin is something that most people are familiar with from their teenage years and is the skin type most associated with acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. Oily skin tends to retain moisture, but excessive oils cause other problems. Normal skin is the ideal that we all strive for. With normal skin, the correct amount of moisture is retained and there is enough oil to keep the skin protected but not enough to cause blemishes. Finally, combination skin is any skin type that combines two or more of the others. If you have an oily nose and dry cheeks, for instance, your skin could be considered combination.

The best way to determine which skin type you are is to do a simple, at home test. First you need to cleanse your face of all makeup, oils, and other residues. Do not apply anything to your face after cleansing, but wait a few hours before doing the test. When enough time has elapsed, take a tissue or piece of light colored paper and press it onto your face. After pressing it against each area of your face (cheeks, nose, forehead, chin), look at the paper and see if it looks oily. If it is oily on all parts of your face, you have oily skin. If it is only oily on a couple parts, your skin is combination. If this is the case, take note of which parts are oily because you will want to treat them differently in your daily regime. If you cannot see any oil, look closely in the mirror and see if there are any patches with flaking skin or if your skin looks or feels tight. If so, you are dealing with dry skin. If no parts of your face are dry or oily, you have normal skin.

Once you have figured out your skin type, you should choose products designed for your specific issues. For the most part, this should make your skin look and feel better than ever. However, it is possible that you will find that products designed for your skin type will not help. If this is the case, there are many possible explanations. Factors other than skin type can also affect your appearance and skin health- such as stress levels, hydration, nutrition, disease, or weather. Plus, your skin type can change with the seasons, hormones, or for many other reasons. For this season, you should do the skin test at least a couple of times a year to see what your most recent skin care needs are.]]> Skin Care http://www.advancedskincaretalk.com/index.php?itemid=55 Wed, 14 May 2008 14:18:00 -0400 http://www.advancedskincaretalk.com/index.php?itemid=54
With all of the things that your skin does for you, it deserves to be taken care of. Unfortunately though, most of us don't have a very good idea of what to do in order to take care of our own skin. In order to get an idea of what kind of care your skin needs, it helps to know more about what it's composed of and how it works.

Human skin is a collection of cells that contain proteins that provide elasticity while forming a fairly tough barrier between sensitive internal parts and the outside environment. It also contains lipids (fats) and water. Therefore, skin requires proper nutrition to maintain the lipids and proteins, as well as plenty of clean water for its overall functioning.

Providing skin with the water that it needs to stay healthy is relatively clear cut- you just need to drink enough clean water to allow your skin to maintain itself and flush out any toxins that it picks up from the outside environment. (These toxins can come from the air, rain, and even contact with clothes and cosmetics.) In order to maximize your skin's ability to flush out toxins, it's a good idea to drink the cleanest water possible. After all, why introduce more toxins in an effort to flush out toxins? In order to do this, getting a filter for your tap water would be a good move for taking care of your skin.

When it comes to giving your skin the nutrition that it needs, a combination of a healthy diet and the application of good moisturizers should do the job. A healthy diet with plenty of nutritious vegetables and fruits, along with plenty of protein will go a long way towards maintaining healthy skin. It's helpful to avoid alcohol and smoking as well.

The fact that your skin protects you from radiation means that it also takes the brunt of exposure to radiation. In order to take care of your skin, it's a good idea to minimize its exposure to radiation and that best way to do that is to take precautions in the sun. The component of sunlight that does the most damage to human skin is in the ultraviolet wavelengths. Fortunately, UV light as this type of radiation is called, is easy to block out with the use of protective clothing and sunscreen.

The fact that your skin takes such good care of you means that it deserves an equal amount of care from you.]]> Skin Care http://www.advancedskincaretalk.com/index.php?itemid=54 Wed, 7 May 2008 14:16:00 -0400 http://www.advancedskincaretalk.com/index.php?itemid=53
There are several different causes of dandruff including psoriasis and fungal infection. Psoriasis by definition is a condition where skin grows and is shed faster than normal. This excessive growth of skin can lead to raised patches of skin that have a layer of gray or white on top of them caused by dead and dry skin cells. While psoriasis can take place on other parts of the body than the scalp, psoriasis on the scalp often produces the collective set of symptoms that we refer to as dandruff.

Another common cause of dandruff is a low level fungal infection on the scalp. While every human being has a certain number of fungal organisms living on their skin, the physiology of people with this kind of dandruff creates a more favorable living condition for these fungal organisms. In addition to an individual susceptibility to infection by this variety of fungus, people who suffer from this form of dandruff produce a greater amount of skin oils that feed the fungus. The body reacts to the increased presence of these fungal organisms by producing more skin cells that die off and produce the flaks that we associate with dandruff.

The treatment of dandruff depends largely on its cause. For example, if the cause is psoriasis, then any treatment for psoriasis can also improve the dandruff situation. While the presence of hair can make the application of creams and other topical treatments impractical, swimming in the ocean and greater exposure of the scalp to sunlight can help to alleviate symptoms.

When dandruff is caused by a fungal infection, there are actually more treatment options, bu they can be tougher to implement. Generally, fungal dandruff can be treated by antifungal chemicals. These chemicals can come in the form of over the counter and prescription shampoos, but there are a number of home remedies as well. For example, washing one's hair with baking soda or tea tree oil are both supposed to alleviate the condition.

There are also several ways to treat dandruff regardless of its origin. For example, more frequent washing of the hair will rinse away the flakes, thereby providing some measure of control of the condition. Exposure to sunlight will also help to control dandruff whether it's caused by psoriasis or fungus. The UV light in sunlight will decrease the excess growth from psoriasis and create an unfavorable environment for the growth of fungus. It should be pointed out though that in order for UV light to be of help, the hair should be relatively short and a hat should be avoided. (Steps to prevent sunburn and protection of the rest of the body from excessive sunlight should be taken into account too, however.)

Regardless of the type of dandruff one is confronted with, the condition can be treated and controlled.]]> Skin Care http://www.advancedskincaretalk.com/index.php?itemid=53 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:15:00 -0400 http://www.advancedskincaretalk.com/index.php?itemid=52
Because of the nature of how calluses form, they're extremely common on the hands of manual laborers who use tools for long periods of time, but they can also appear on other parts of the body for other reasons. For example, in parts of the world where people don't wear shoes, calluses are vital for protecting the soft tissues of the feet from sharp rocks, heat, and other potentially injuring features of the environment. Calluses can also occur on the hands of weightlifters and participants in other kinds of sports such as baseball and tennis when they don't wear gloves. Dancers, runners, and hikers can also build up calluses on their feet even when wearing shoes.

Sometime a callus can be evidence of some kind of problems. For example, calluses are often caused by ill fitting shoes. For example, if a shoe is too short a callus can form on the end of a toe. Sometimes hard nodules of dead callus tissue called corns can occur on the tops of feet where the skin rubs against the material of a shoe or where skin on a toe is pinched between a toenail and the material of a shoe. Having a corn on the top of one's foot can be alleviated by stretching the shoe material so that it doesn't apply as much pressure to the foot and trimming the corn away. The condition where a corn is created by being pinched by a toenail is more difficult to deal with because it's more difficult to change the growth of the toenail.

In addition to corns, normal callus tissue can also be something of a nuisance when they grow excessively or in inconvenient places. For example, pressure placed on elbows can stimulate the growth of calluses even though the elbow can be an uncomfortable place to have a callus. Also, calluses can grow excessively on the feet and interfere with the fitting of shoes.

Fortunately, calluses are relatively easy to remove. Thick calluses can be shaved down with knives although care must be taken not to slice entirely through the skin. A safer alternative to remove calluses is to soak the calluses and then rub them off with a wash cloth. Soaking calluses in water will work, but there are a variety of other substances that can be added to the water in order to produce faster results. A mixture of iodine, bran, and borax in water is one possible alternative. Another option that doesn't involve soaking is to rub the callus down with a stone made of pumice.

Sometimes calluses can hide a deeper health issue. For example, callus like tissue can be the result of an athletes foot infection. Calluses can also be subject to other kinds of infections as well.

While calluses are a natural process of the human body, like many others they can get out of control. Therefore its important to be able to tell the difference between useful calluses and calluses that get in the way.]]> Skin Care http://www.advancedskincaretalk.com/index.php?itemid=52 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:13:00 -0400 http://www.advancedskincaretalk.com/index.php?itemid=51
Family history is often a major predictor in whether a person will suffer from dermatitis as both this specific condition and the immune problems that go along with dermatitis normally run in families. In addition to this genetic component, certain environmental conditions tend to make the problem worse. For instance, allergies to certain foods, chemicals, and other irritants can cause a flare up, as can stress or climatic conditions. Dermatitis is often at is worst in hot, humid climates where sweat builds up on the skin and causes a reaction.

Though the exact causes of this condition are not yet known, there are some theories that are currently being explored. Among the more likely theories are that people who suffer from this disease have high immunoglobulin E levels or that these people’s T-cell functioning is abnormal. Though the cause of the disease is not yet known, it is known that people are more likely to have problems with the disease when exposed to allergens, irritants, or skin damage.

Three types of dermatitis make up the majority of known presentations of this condition and include contact allergy, contact irritant, and atopic. These are general classifications of this disease and people can suffer from more than one. In fact, for many people, all three of these classifications are valid in explaining their form of disease.

A person is said to have atopic dermatitis when the condition is genetically controlled (as evidenced by family history and other factors). While atopic dermatitis is genetic, it may cause most problems when environmental factors come into play.

Contact allergy dermatitis occurs when a person is allergic to a certain substance and the allergy manifests itself in the form of a skin reaction. This can be a very common condition and can come and go throughout a person’s life.

Contact irritant dermatitis is much like contact allergy dermatitis, except that no allergy needs to be present to form the condition. This condition will occur when a substance that is extremely irritating to the skin comes in contact with the skin and causes a reaction. Because no special sensitivity or allergy needs to be present to cause this condition, a substance that causes contace irritant dermatitis in one person is likely to cause it in another.

While the causes of dermatitis are only partially known, there are treatments for the condition. How much treatment you seek will depend on how severe the problem is and how often you suffer from it. Often just removing the irritant or allergen from your environment is enough to solve the problem. If you need further treatment, medicated creams and lotions are often the next step.]]> Skin Care http://www.advancedskincaretalk.com/index.php?itemid=51 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:11:00 -0400 http://www.advancedskincaretalk.com/index.php?itemid=50
Stretch marks appear in the form of white, parallel lines that occur across the area that was stretched. They actually look like many parallel scars, which, in effect, they are. Just as with any other scar, stretch marks are pretty much permanent once they are formed. Though the appearance of these marks can be diminished, they can never completely disappear.

Because stretch marks are not attractive, most people who suffer from this problem want to find a way to get rid of them. The fact that the marks are colored differently from the rest of the skin and even have a different texture make the extremely obvious. Since so many people have these marks and pretty much everyone wants to get rid of them, many companies have started to capitalize on the market of stretch mark removal creams. Though you can find creams and lotions that promise to completely eliminate stretch marks in record time, the truth usually is that these creams don’t work very well. You can shell out hundreds of dollars for a jar of one of these miracle creams, but you are likely to be disappointed. This is not to say that you won’t see any improvement, but the chances of your stretch marks disappearing are very small.

The creams that are most likely to improve your stretch marks are the ones that include proven ingredients such as retin A, collagen, elastin, and vitamin E. All of these ingredients have been shown to have beneficial effects on the skin and are likely to help reduce the appearance of your marks. Using a vitamin E containing oil is also a good way to prevent new stretch marks from forming and to soften the appearance of older ones.

Prevention of stretch marks is also a worthwhile pursuit. While you cannot prevent all causes of stretch marks (such as pregnancy), you can reduce the number and size of these marks and their later appearance by taking good care of yourself at all times. Watching your weight and what you eat can decrease the chances of sudden weight gain that can cause marks, and making sure to ease into any exercise program slowly is also a good idea. Eating well with plenty of nutrient dense foods and lots of water also gives the body what it needs to keep its skin in top condition.

Of course, plastic surgery is always an option for stretch marks that just won’t go away, but it should be a last resort. Considering the cost and the risk involved in any type of surgery, it is well worth asking yourself if your stretch marks really merit surgery or if they really aren’t that bad.]]> Skin Care http://www.advancedskincaretalk.com/index.php?itemid=50 Wed, 9 Apr 2008 14:09:00 -0400 http://www.advancedskincaretalk.com/index.php?itemid=49
Stretch marks appear in the form of white, parallel lines that occur across the area that was stretched. They actually look like many parallel scars, which, in effect, they are. Just as with any other scar, stretch marks are pretty much permanent once they are formed. Though the appearance of these marks can be diminished, they can never completely disappear.

Because stretch marks are not attractive, most people who suffer from this problem want to find a way to get rid of them. The fact that the marks are colored differently from the rest of the skin and even have a different texture make the extremely obvious. Since so many people have these marks and pretty much everyone wants to get rid of them, many companies have started to capitalize on the market of stretch mark removal creams. Though you can find creams and lotions that promise to completely eliminate stretch marks in record time, the truth usually is that these creams don’t work very well. You can shell out hundreds of dollars for a jar of one of these miracle creams, but you are likely to be disappointed. This is not to say that you won’t see any improvement, but the chances of your stretch marks disappearing are very small.

The creams that are most likely to improve your stretch marks are the ones that include proven ingredients such as retin A, collagen, elastin, and vitamin E. All of these ingredients have been shown to have beneficial effects on the skin and are likely to help reduce the appearance of your marks. Using a vitamin E containing oil is also a good way to prevent new stretch marks from forming and to soften the appearance of older ones.

Prevention of stretch marks is also a worthwhile pursuit. While you cannot prevent all causes of stretch marks (such as pregnancy), you can reduce the number and size of these marks and their later appearance by taking good care of yourself at all times. Watching your weight and what you eat can decrease the chances of sudden weight gain that can cause marks, and making sure to ease into any exercise program slowly is also a good idea. Eating well with plenty of nutrient dense foods and lots of water also gives the body what it needs to keep its skin in top condition.

Of course, plastic surgery is always an option for stretch marks that just won’t go away, but it should be a last resort. Considering the cost and the risk involved in any type of surgery, it is well worth asking yourself if your stretch marks really merit surgery or if they really aren’t that bad.]]> Skin Care http://www.advancedskincaretalk.com/index.php?itemid=49 Wed, 2 Apr 2008 14:07:00 -0400 http://www.advancedskincaretalk.com/index.php?itemid=48
Dandruff affects all segments of the population, though it seems to affect young adults the most, possibly because of hormonal changes. The flakes of dandruff are caused by dead skin cells being shed at an abnormally high rate, which causes an excess of skin cells to be shed at any time. While normal scalps also shed skin cells, the rate is much lower and the shed cells are not as noticeable.

One of the reasons that a person may suffer from dandruff is due to fungal infection. If a fungal infection is present, the scalp will shed much faster than normal. Hormonal changes can also cause dandruff and is one of the main reasons for dandruff to become more prominent after puberty. In addition, allergies may also cause dandruff. Especially when allergies to hair products are present, a person may suffer from a reaction that includes excessive skin growth and itchiness.

When dandruff is present, the main symptoms will be white flakes appearing on clothing and in the hair and an itchy scalp. While dandruff is not a health threat and does not require treatment, most people choose to treat it in order to prevent embarrassment and to relieve itchiness. Fortunately, dandruff can be relieved and, in some cases prevented, through better hygiene and the use of specially formulated dandruff products.

Though each person is different, the best course of action to try initially when trying to rid yourself of dandruff is to start using herbal and organic hair care products. This will help you determine if your dandruff is caused by an allergy or sensitivity to the chemicals in other products. If this does not make any difference, look into the dandruff shampoos on the market to see if any of them are able to help with your condition.

In addition to special hair care products, you should make a few other changes. First of all, make sure not to share your hair care instruments with other people so as not to spread any fungus or other germs. Also, a change in diet to whole foods with lots of fresh foods and plenty of water can help your body be better balanced and thus more likely to fight off the causes of dandruff. If after doing all of this, you dandruff does not seem to be improving, you may want to consider asking your doctor about remedies. Especially if you have a fungal infection, your doctor may be able to give you something that will treat the cause of the condition.

While dandruff is annoying, it is treatable and manageable.]]> Skin Care http://www.advancedskincaretalk.com/index.php?itemid=48 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:03:00 -0400