2. Let it scab. A scab is essential to the healing process and crucial in protecting the new skin that is forming underneath. Do not touch your scabs or pick at. Doing this is a surefire way to promote scar tissue.

3. Do not soak your injuries in water. No matter how much you think it might be helping, too much water on an injury can actually prevent the healing process from taking place.

4. Use an anti-bacterial ointment or cream. This step should go hand in hand with keeping the wound clean. Bacteria causes infection which can lead to other, more serious skin problems. Make sure your anti-bacterial agent allows air in to the wound (in other words, not too thick).

5. Avoid irritants such as soaps, products with high amounts of fragrance, alcohol or citric acids. Irritated skin has a difficult time healing if too much blood is present due to inflammation.

6. If you feel the need to moisturize a skin injury, use pure Aloe Gel. This is preferable to brand moisturizers since it allows the wound to breathe and heal more efficiently.

Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA)

First introduced by Avon in the early 90’s, AHA’s are commonly used in skin care in the form of glycolic, lactic, malic, citric and tartaric acids. Glycolic and lactic are by far the most frequent since they have strong abilities to penetrate the skin as well as the most research history.

What these acids do is “unglue” the outermost layers of dead skin cells allowing them to be removed and also allowing new, healthier skin layers to take their place. This can improve skin texture and color, unclog pores and add to the effectiveness and absorption of moisturizers.

AHA’s are water soluble. Because of this, they do not penetrate the skin layers as deeply as BHA but are still an excellent choice when looking for a product to help with the appearance of sun damaged, wrinkled, dry or thickened skin.

Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA)

Beta Hydroxy Acid works in the same manner as AHA’s and is known by the name salicylic acid. There are over 400 studies proving BHA’s effectiveness. Because it is oil soluble, BHA is able to penetrate deeper into the pore and through the skin’s oil (sebum). This allows it to actually help remove debris and skin cells in the oil gland itself. As a result of this, BHA is also recommended for the treatment of blackheads and blemishes whereas AHA is better suited for things affecting the outer layer of the skin.

Both of these acids work through a chemical and not a mechanical process within the skin so they usually produce better results that most cosmetic scrubs and other anti aging skin care products that work on a superficial level. One other benefit is that there is a “falloff” rate and they will not remove healthy layers of skin.

Step 1

In a small bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons of heavy (whipping) cream and 2 drops of rose essential oil.

Step 2

Using a soft washcloth (important) dip into the mixture and apply to the skin on your face, chest and neck areas. Let sit for 5-10 minutes and then rinse with cold water. Gently dry the face.

Step 3

Apply a mild astringent or skin toner and follow up with your preferred moisturizer to a complete facial care treatment.

C02 laser skin resurfacing works by literally vaporizing the skin cells in the effective areas. This creates an actual burn on the skin which, like any other burn, will produce symptoms such as weeping and oozing. When this skin heals, the new layers of skin that are formed show fewer blemishes and wrinkles. Deeper wrinkles of course will require additional treatment.

What it Is

C02 Laser Treatments are an effective way to remove wrinkles (even pronounced ones), acne scarring due to rosacea or cystic acne, age spots and other skin discolorations. The C02 is usually more effective than using an Erbium or N-Lite laser since it penetrates on a much deeper level and can remove many layers of skin. This is also the laster treatment that usually requires the most recuperation.

What it Isn’t

C02 Laser Treatment is not a cure all for wrinkles or other skin conditions and discolorations. No current technology can permanently remove wrinkles, age spots or other conditions of the skin that result from age and excess sun exposure. They can certainly help to reduce the visible effects of these things but eventually, others may appear over time. C02 is also not a “one and done” procedure. Don’t expect to go in for half an hour and then come out looking 10 years younger. Many times multiple treatments are needed and, as mentioned above, you will need time to rest and heal after the procedure(s).

• Have your dermatologist or esthetician perform a glycolic acid treatment on the facial skin to help fade age spots and other glaring reminders of sun damage. This can also help lessen the appearance of wrinkles.
• Use sunscreen daily (no exceptions!)
• Use moisturizer daily (on the whole body as well as the face)
• Keep a bottle of aromatic hydrosol nearby so that you can spray a fine mist on your facial skin whenever it feels overly dry.
• Use a moisturizing facial mask 2-3 times per week to help keep your skin vibrant. Clay masks should be avoided if possible due to their drying effects.
• Only use mild milk or cream cleansers unless you have extremely oily skin.
• If it falls within your budget, visit an esthetician monthly for a full spa treatment including a facial and massage. This can do wonders for the skin (inside and out).
• Get a skin analysis done once a year at your dermatologist’s office. Because aging skin may be more prone to certain diseases, this will help you tackle them quickly should they appear.

The active ingredient in most effective skin lightening is Hydroquinone. This substance is thought to reduce the production of melanin which is responsible for the darker tones used to blend and produce skin color. This ingredient can actually be made more powerful when used with tretinoin, another melanin inhibitor.

So Do They Work?

There is some evidence that hydroquinone can assist in reducing dark spots on discolorations onthe skin when used for a significant period of time. These effects however are likely to be subtle. It is thought aht topical solutions such as creams are unable to penetrate the skin far enough to have any significant impact on melanin production. Also, hydroquinone, when mixed into skin care products, becomes less stable and its effects can be drastically reduced by exposure to sunlight. For this  reason, it is important that the packaging be non-transparent.

If skin lightening (or skin bleaching) is being considered, there are more effective alternatives such as skin peels and laser skin treatments but these of course require a higher investment and recuperation time. A cosmetic dermatologist can help you make the right choice when it comes to these advanced approaches.

One thing to note with this comparison is that the same study has shown benzoyl peroxide to be much more effective in reducing the overall oiliness of the skin. However, it also had a much greater impact on skin irritation and dryness. Where tea tree oil maintained the skin’s balance in terms of oil, benzoyl peroxide use resulted in overly dry skin, stinging and irritation almost 2 to 1.

The main issue so far with using tea tree oil is that it needs to be used in a high enough concentration (5%) and few, if any products currently on the market contain this level. Nonetheless, if benzoyl peroxide is not right for your skin, tea tree oil can be a sound alternative.

Using a facial scrub or facial skin toner containing alpha hydroxy acid to remove dead skin cells is a solid first step in treating the skin and preparing it for an antibacterial. Pimples, acne and breakouts occur as a result of pores that become clogged with dead skin cells, makeup, pollutants and other debris and when the skin produces excess oil (sebum), bacteria can begin to grow. Some form of acne blemish is usually the result.

Benzoyl peroxide is perhaps the most researched and proven method for fighting the bacteria that causes acne. Adding a 2.5% solution (minimum) after exfoliating dead skin can provide the knockout blow to new blemishes on the skin. Though highly effective, it is not likely to do a complete job in all cases. If the maximum 10% benzoyl peroxide solution is not solving your problems, other more powerful prescription antibotics may be necessary.

It is believed that almost a quarter of all women who use skin care products reported some type of allergic or irritating response. Stinging is the most widely reported occurrence and like most other tests for allergies, they are diagnosed by a “scratch” test where the skin is subjected to allergens and irritants and the reaction noted.

Preservatives in skincare products as well as fragrances are the usual causes of allergic reactions in the skin. If you have dry skin, you may be more susceptible to these reactions since dry skin is likely to have some breakdown of the outer skin layer.

Since it is unlikely you will know if a product will cause skin allergies to flare up, test, test, test is the name of the game. Free samples are always a good route to go when finding the right products that won’t irritate your skin. Organic skin care products can also be a better choice if you’re experiencing skin allergies.

This skin condition can be localized or appear on most of the skin around the body. The most common areas to find Psoriasis are on the chest, knees, scalp and elbows. Psoriasis is estimated to inflict over seven million people per year in the U.S. alone although most cases tend to not be serious. If anything, it causes an unsightly appearance more than anything else.

The root cause of Psoriasis is currently unknown but it has recently been suspected that it results from a problem with the immune system that triggers inflammation. This in turn leads to the skin shedding its cells to quickly (over 3 or 4 days as opposed to the normal 30 days). To date there is no cure for this skin disease but both topical and internal treatments are available.

Psoriasis should be diagnosed and treated with the help of a physician or licensed dermatologist.