BetterComplexions

Skin Whitening – These Products are Always Important!

Are you looking for the cost effective ways to lighten your skin? Well, in the market you can get some easily to avail skin whitening products but you need to offer more attention for such products that comprises of natural ingredients. This is a great way to avoid side effects that people use to come across while using low quality skin care products. Now, if you have decided to get a perfect and lighten skin, then its time to look for such skin whitening products that will offer you good results in less time while taking care of your skin. But before you use such products, it’s always important for you to know few things about natural skin lighteners.

• Almond oil: Almond oil has long been associated with skin care products and methods. And now this one is in use for the making of great skin whitening products. Almond oil can really remove superficial blemishes and the wrinkles from your skin effectively. You can use such products at night on your skin and allow it to work on your skin to make it lighten.

• Vitamin C: Vitamin C is another important ingredient that can be used to promote a quality skin care. It can keep the skin healthy as well as well nourished throughout the day. It often promotes a healthy skin and lightens it effectively. Now manufacturers for skin whitening products are offering more importance for the addition of Vitamin C. Skin whitening products comprising of Vitamin C can really lighten your skin in less time.

• Skin whitening products comprises of sandalwood and almond can also promote a quality skin tone and whiten it effectively. Such products can really remove the dark spots and the skin blemishes once you will start using it daily. These are the most vital ingredient that can be used to lighten your skin in less time. Most of the people do the wrong methods like laser treatments for lightening pelt that are very dangerous in long run.

• Skin whitening sits at border between the cosmetic procedures as well as dermatological ones. Example, in case, you have few brownish spots for treating, cosmetic salon and spa might do job very well, however in case, hyperpigmentation is been accentuated, you might want professional doctor take care of procedure & supervise that along the way.

Shaving When You Have Acne

Shaving is necessary in order to keep your face clean and free of excess oil and dirt, but it can be difficult to do when you have acne because you have to be careful not to shave over your pimples because this will make the acne worse. You can wait until you clear the acne before shaving again, but you may not have the time to do this so here are some steps you can take to ensure a safe shave while you have acne.

If possible, use an electric razor because it decreases your chances of shaving your pimples. If you can’t get an electric razor use a sharp disposable razor because a sharp razor will get to the hairs effectively without getting to the bumps on your face. You can get these razors at most drugstores and supermarkets. You’ll need to exfoliate your skin before shaving because this removes the oil and dirt buildup and dead skin cells which cause acne and it will make the shaving process easier. And before you shave wash your face with warm water. When you purchase shaving cream, look for a product that’s designed specifically for acne-prone skin and which contain moisturizing ingredients.

If you have severe acne and you need to get rid of facial hair, consider getting the hair waxed off your face as this is better than shaving on your pimples and causing them to bleed. When you visit the esthetician for your hair waxing, mention that you have acne and also ask for recommendations on how you can eliminate facial hair when you have a lot of pimples on your face. After the waxing moisturize your face with a good lotion and avoid acid-based or alcohol-based skin care products after the waxing because this will irritate your skin.

When you shave while having acne, don’t put too much pressure on the razor because you risk cutting yourself. Also don’t pop your pimples after you shave because the pimples need to go away on their own. Instead, use an acne facial cleanser that suits your skin type. Don’t use aftershave because this may cause itching and irritation to your skin. Instead use a cream that’s designed to moisturize your skin after shaving. To prevent future acne breakouts from facial hair, shave as often as possible so you won’t have to worry about shaving around the pimples. Drink plenty of water because this will hydrate your skin before shaving and clean out the toxins in your body that cause clogged pores. Switch razors from time to time because a dull razor is not very effective in eliminating the facial hair.

The Effectiveness of Phenol Chemical Peels

There seem to be a lot of talk about the issue concerning a phenol chemical peel. It is definitely the strongest of all chemical peels available, and there seem to be more talk about its side effects as compared to its good qualities. Phenol chemical peels differ from the average chemical peel as it is easily the deepest chemical peel available at a doctor, and it uses carbolic acid to exfoliate your skin. If compared to other chemical peels, phenol chemical peels are very effective for deep wrinkles around the chin and lips and is used for severe cases of photoaging and hyper pigmentation.

This particular kind of chemical peel works very well for fair skinned patients. Another advantage is that that the effects of the phenol peel lasts longer than the regular peel. It may even last you two decades, and you might still be able to tell the difference as to whether you have had a chemical peel at some point in your life or not. Results are quite dramatic, and most patients are very pleased after they see themselves. But as it has been said, phenol chemical peels are not for everyone. It is only suitable for application on the face, and is not at all recommended for dark-skinned individuals and definitely not for people with heart disease. It will dramatically lighten dark skin, changing it to a very pale white. Another factor that may cause you to reconsider a phenol chemical peel is that if you have a face covered in freckles, a phenol peel will remove them entirely.

If you haven’t ever had a phenol chemical peel earlier, do a patch test. It is a good idea to try it out in a small area before have it applied to your whole face. An individual can have an adverse reaction to a phenol solution resulting in scarring, bleaching, enlarged skin pores and an inability to tan in the rarest of circumstances, and you have to be extremely unlucky to be one of them. A phenol peel would work in the same manner as any other chemical peel, by removing the outer skin layers where the discoloration and wrinkles are. The difference with a phenol peel is that that it goes so much deeper and removes wrinkles and discolorations that a regular peel would never be able to. A phenol chemical peel would usually take anywhere between half an hour to two hours depending on the extent of your treatment. The cosmetic surgeon or your dermatologist applies the phenol solution to the area that is being treated and sensitive areas around the eyes, brows and lips are avoided.

No anesthesia is required for this chemical peel because the phenol solution itself will work as an anesthetic. After the treatment, your skin is neutralized with cold water. Your skin is then protected with petroleum jelly. During the period of recovery, avoid sun exposure, as the peeled skin is extremely sensitive. After the redness fades you will be able to see your incredibly radiant skin.

Phenol chemical peel costs can vary among dermatologists and are based on the area treated. You will have to use a sunscreen all your life.

Peels and Their Effects

There are three types into which chemical peels can be classified into. There are the light peels which involve alpha hyroxy acids. These occur naturally and can be found in fruits and other food. AHAs have been known to be effective in treating dry skin, liver or sun spots, lessening fine facial wrinkles, decreasing pore size, and improving skin texture. Light peels are usually done multiple times with a specified gap in the middle of a few weeks. The red glow on the skin which you get after the chemical peel lasts only for about a day or so.

Then there are medium peels which are generally performed with trichloroacetic acid. These peels need to be performed only once in a couple of years. Medium peels have similar benefits as those of a light peel but it can remove much larger wrinkles and precancerous skin lesions because of the much deeper penetration it possesses. Medium chemical peels make your skin look like it has had a sever sunburn for about a week or so. Medium skin peels usually require a person to stay out of the sun for at least a week to recover from the procedure. This particular type of peel is much better than liquid nitrogen treatment as it treats small precancerous growths which are too small to be seen by the naked eye.

Deep peels can get you rid of much larger wrinkles and solve a lot of your skin problems in a single sitting. And you can rest for decades basking in the glory of the chemical peel you once performed. These peels have a recovery time of more than a month. The results by this peel are as dramatic as getting a facelift, but taking care of it can be particularly cumbersome, especially if you are working.

There are a few side effects when you do a chemical peel. The first few days after the peel, your skin will appear red and swollen. It may have discharges and the skin is known to burn considerably. Such peels can often cause persistent redness of the skin even after you recover. Probably the most common side effect caused after a peel is a brown discoloration, which is reversible and can rarely be a permanent condition. That is why you must not expose your treated skin to the sun and must use a sunscreen whci is SPF 25 or higher if you have cold sores, a peel may cause them to flare up.

You must be precautious can discuss your problems with the doctor. Facial warts are something you must be cautious about along with a herpes simplex. If you had any previous reactions to a peel, let the doctor know of it. You ideally should not have sun allergies, and nor should you be pregnant or breast feeding. Therese should not have been a recent radiation treatment for cancer. You should talk to the doctor about your medical history to have a comfortable peel off which will last well.

Skin whitening: Dream of having white skin

The fascination of fairer skin extends beyond Asia and this epidemic spreads across the globe from countries like West Indies to Africa, from Latin America to North America and Europe. What skin whitening product do with one’s skin is something to be discussed to make his or her mind clear about the questions like: Is this right product? How this product works? Has this product any side effects? And other such commonly asked questions.

Our skin has three layers. The outer most layer the central one and the inner most layer. Each of them has different tasks to do. Like the external one is responsible for safety and security of your inner layers and to protect your skin from external atmospheric and environmental effects. The central layer is responsible for your inner most skin protection and to maintain and feed the small blood vessels providing feed to your skin.

The skin product that is suggested by dermatologists is the one that is affecting the outer most layer of our skin only. That is why it is suggested again and again to consult some specialists as he or she will refer the product that suits your skin best after having view and tests of your skin type.

Skin whitening products are used to make someone’s color fair, glowing and white. The target iachieved by cleaning the pores of skin, removing dust and other particles present their. Cleaning the pores make your skin looks fresh and the paste that is applied will have more frequent results. Also the dead cells of your skin are removed from your skin making skin color white and fair. Interesting information that I want to share is that science says skin periphery is reproduced or regenerated naturally after every 27 days.

There are skin whitening capsules available as well, but a huge risk is involved in using such products. They have vitamins, minerals and chemicals for fulfilling the natural deficiency, but if already one’s skin is healthier then making them overdosed for fairer complexion and results. They involve huge risks. Using such products among pregnant women and aged people may b fatal. They may have direct effect on kidneys and respiratory system.

So the result concluded is that one may use skin whitening products but only after the suggestion of dermatologist. As there is a famous quote which quotes “Those who know how to think need no teachers”. But the thinking must be in right direction to ensure the achievement of desired goal. Desires never end so do the thinking to develop new much safer methods to fulfill them. So think right and share it with others if you think that your thinking and experience may help others or may save them from severe results.

Before, During and After

You need to start working on your face sometime around two weeks before your actual peel. You should apply Retin A or alpha hydroxylacid lotion to the area that will be treated, which can be done before you go to sleep. You should stop using exfoliating sponges around three to four weeks before your first peel. That applies to hair removal too, and that is something very important. Doctors often prescribe acyclovir or famciclovir tablets to be had two days before the treatment. You must have a completely cleansed face when you come to get your peel done and that means that no cologne, after shave, or cosmetics should be applied. Shaving should be avoided on the day of the peel.

The doctors usually review the possible side effects of a chemical peel with the patient before it is done and a final consent is usually taken. Acetone is applied to clean it and degrease it completely. Jessner’s solution is applied to one area of the place to be treated and that is left on the skin for several minutes. The skin does burn and tingle a little bit. The doctor then applies the main chemical peel, which is trichloroacetic acid in most cases. The burning is quite intense when this is done. Cool compresses are finally applied followed by maybe polysporin to help you feel a bit comfortable. It definitely does help quite a bit.
You need to treat your skin gingerly for quite some time after the peel is done. You need to clean your skin with warm water and proper soap. The skin is very sensitive at this time and so and abrasive substances should be discouraged immediately. You must not peel, pick, and scrape of scratch the skin, as it may result in scarring. You need to be quite regular in applying the ointments and in having the medicines the doctor has prescribed for you. Sun exposure must be avoided completely. This can lead to a brown discoloration of the skin. In the case of trichloroacetic acid peels, scarring and brown discoloration of the skin is quite unlikely unless you go to a tanning salon or lie out in the sun after your treatment. Daily sunscreen usage should continue indefinitely to prevent any photo damage from happening.
You can begin wearing your makeup after a week of having finished your treatment as long as you do not have any tenderness or crusting on the area. If there is any persistent redness of the skin, it may lead to brown discoloration, so contact the doctor in case you experience this at any time. A brown discoloration may occur and you may end up having a scar if it isn’t treated soon.

And for at least a month, hair removal should be avoided at all costs as it can cause severe irritation of the skin. Hair removal while using Retin A can cause scabbing on the skin, which isn’t pretty. Accutane should be avoided too. It is better to be safe than sorry. So follow your doctor’s instructions to the tee.

An Introduction to Chemical Peels

Chemical peels use chemical solutions to better and smoothens the texture of the face by cleaning all the outer layers present. People who have facial blemishes, wrinkles, or somewhat uneven skin pigmentation derive particular benefits from it. Various chemicals are used for this purpose. Phenol, trichloroacetic acid (commonly known as TCA) and alphahyroxy acids (AHA) are commonly used for this purpose of chemical peels. A chemical peel maybe performed along with a facelift surgery, it can never be a substitute. Chemical peels don’t slow down or stop the aging process, they are just one way of not showing the effects of aging.

You need to decide along with a proper specialist as to which chemical peel is right for you. Chemical peels are also remove pre-cancerous skin growths, soften acne facial scars and even control acne. Health insurance may cover your peel procedure, but it varies greatly from company to company. So check up on it before you go ahead based on it.
There are alphahydroxy acid peels. These are the lightest and mildest of chemical peels and are based often on glycolic, lactic or fruit acids. They give you fairly quick and decent results without you having to spend too much time recovering from wither a TCA or phenol peel. AHA peels can also be applied in various concentrations weekly or over longer intervals to treat faces with fine wrinkling, areas of dryness, uneven pigmentation and acne. It is best to consult a doctor for such treatments.
Then there is the trichloroacetic acid peel. It is used mostly for medium scale peeling. Fine surface wrinkles, superficial blemishes and pigment problems are treated using the TCA peel which is usually a bit less cumbersome and a lot less effective than a phenol peel. It can be called an intermediate between an AHA and a phenol peel.
Phenol peels are the strongest are go to a fair depth. It works wonders on patients with coarse facial wrinkles, areas of blotchy skin caused by sun exposure, or pre-cancerous growths. It does lighten the skin tone, so your pigmentation levels are a determining factor as to whether phenol peels is right for you.
No matter how good a chemical peel is, there is always that element of uncertainty and risk which is involved. It is safe procedure when a certified expert performs the procedure of chemical peeling for your face. But there is a little bit of unpredictability no matter how good the treatment is. Infection and scarring, although uncommon, are quite possible. AHA peels cause a bit of redness and irritation. But as the region gets treated, the effects subside. TCA peels are effective, but you need to avoid sun exposure for months. There is a chance of causing unintended color change in the skin. Phenol peels stop the new skin layers from producing pigments. You have to really protect yourself from the sun. And they have small heart risks as well.

You need to consider a lot of things before you go ahead with the procedure of chemical peeling. If things go according to plan, which they always usually go, your skin will be glowing magically.

Beauty Tips!

When we were struggling through those awkward teenage years, when our hormones were wreaking havoc on our bodies and our skin, we were most likely inundated by advice from our mothers and grandmothers, and even our girlfriends, on what we should do to keep ourselves beautiful despite the storm of changes upon us and upon our bodies. Some of them sound sensible, while some sound totally absurd.

Beauty Myth #6: Applying beer on the skin before going for a sun tan results in a golden glow. No, not true. In fact, you should avoid sun tanning altogether, unless you are going to use a self-tanner. Applying beer before going for a tan does not do anything for the skin. Some people are just prone to getting a golden tan, while others naturally turn red as a lobster under the sun. It is, again, a matter of genetics.

Beauty Myth #7: Crossing the legs leads can cause varicose veins. Not really. The true causes of varicose veins are yet unknown, but again, some people are more prone to having them because of factors like heredity, age and weight. Crossing the legs will not cause you to have varicose veins, but if you already have them, it can make the condition worse.

Beauty Myth #8: Washing the feet when tired will make the veins swell. The veins in the feet really swell when the feet are tired. It is the body’s own automatic attempt to soothe the tiredness of the feet. In fact, it is indeed best to soak the feet in warm water to further increase the blood circulation to your lower extremities, so as to take the tiredness away.

But even if these pieces of advice sound really silly, there are some of them that we could not easily shake off. They seem to work for us, and why let go of a good thing if it is working somewhat?

Nonetheless, for curiosity’s sake, sometimes there is a need to ask. Do the beauty practices handed down to us by our mothers, grandmothers and girlfriends that we have religiously observed through the years hold a grain of scientific truth in them, or are they merely beauty myths spun by old wives? Lets find out.

Beauty Myth #1: Plucking white hairs yields more white hairs.

This is definitely just a beauty myth. Our hair whitens as part of the natural process of aging, and some of us see our hair start turning white earlier than usual compared to others. It only seems to us that we are having more and more gray hair after we see our first strand of white because our mind is now trained to look for the grays in our mane, and so we are now more likely to notice.

Beauty Myth #2: Shaving the hair makes it grow back thicker.

This is definitely another beauty myth as well. Shaved hair seems to grow back thicker only because when we shave, the razor cuts the hair off only on the skins surface. They were not plucked off directly from the follicle. Therefore, when the hair grows back, the wide part of the strand grows out, making the hair appear thicker.

Beauty Myth #3: Mayonnaise makes for a great conditioner.

No, this one is not a myth. Mayonnaise, as long as it is real, does make for a great hair conditioner. The oil and eggs that can be found in real mayonnaise is rich in fatty acids and protein that nourishes the hair.

Beauty Myth #4: Applying ice to the skin makes the pores smaller.

Nothing can make the pores smaller. The size of our pores is the result of genetics, not of temperature applied on the skin, so some people just have smaller pores than others.

Beauty Myth #5: Toothpaste can cure pimples

Well, yes. Toothpaste has menthol and other active ingredients that can dry up a pimple and make it heal much quickly than if left alone. However, the same active ingredients in toothpaste that can heal a pimple can also dry up and irritate the skin of your face, so it is better to use a pimple cream rather than toothpaste for your pimple.

TCA Chemical Peels

Trichloracetic acid peels are considered to be medium depth to deep peels. They reach slightly deeper into the skin than alphahydroxy acid peels which thereby lead to a much better results. You can use it at various concentrations depending entirely on how you would want your results to be like. They are however, a lot milder than phenol peels.

These TCA peels have the added advantage of working well for most skin types, which include darker skin. To avoid any major discoloration due to uneven pigmentation, however, people with dark brown skin need to follow a pre-treatment regimen that may include treating the skin with alphahydroxy acid complexes to begin with.

TCA is a basically a skin-resurfacing treatment as it removes dead layers on your skin, and uncovers a new layer of skin that obviously appears a whole lot smoother and a lot more vibrant. As a result, it softens fine lines, minimizes superficial age spots and other skin discolorations you may have, and improves the tone and texture of your skin in general. TCA peels are also quite widely used for reducing the intensity of acne scars.

You may have to go for more than one TCA treatment for yourself. These treatments are usually spaced a few months apart. To increase the effectiveness, the chemical peels are often combined with other skin-rejuvenating treatments, such as microdermabrasion with work simultaneously to give you a better look. A TCA chemical peel generally takes under half an hour to complete. The length of treatment will depend on how many coats of the acid are needed to be applied to your skin to get the proper effect. Firstly, your skin needs to be cleansed and degreased. Then the acid can be applied. As soon as the acid reaches the intended depth meant for your treatment, your physician will apply a neutralizing solution to cool you off.

You’ll probably experience a slight stinging sensation during the few minutes the solution remains on your skin. It can feel as if your skin is burning considerably. Your doctor may use ice water or a fan to reduce any major discomfort. If the concentration of acid being used for treatment is high, you may also be given a medication for pain or for anxiety. It is best if you give yourself a few days to recover from a TCA peel treatment. Just after the procedure is completed, you can expect a little bit of skin irritation, redness and swelling. Within a few days, your skin will tighten and darken and then begin to crack and peel for the next few days after that, till a point when the tighter, smoother and more youthful looking layer of skin will emerge after the older, top layer peels off.

As your skin’s new layer will be temporarily more susceptible to sunburns, you’ll have to protect it with an effective sunscreen for quite a few weeks. TCA is a chemical peel which can change the look of your skin, and it doesn’t need to be administered by a specialist. You can do them yourself at home now.

Retinoic Acid Peels

Retinoic acid peel is a type of chemical peel which uses retinoic acid. At some point in their lives, women want to eradicate the skin problems they have. The retinoic acid peel is one way to do this without having to resort to more invasive correction methods.
Retinoic acid is derived from retinoids which is basically denatured vitamin A. It is chemically similar to Retin A, and has a very similar effect on collagen producing skin cells. Retinoic acid is actually so effective that it helps in active skin cell division.

Moreover, the retinoic acid peel helps seal the moisture in the skin even at the deepest level stimulating collagen production and behaves as an antibiotic as retinoic acid stops bacteria from growing. This peel is a very effective method of skin rejuvenation. The surface become a lot smoother, and evens the deepest lines and wrinkles are less visible, if not totally eliminated. This type of chemical peel goes a long way in preventing malignant skin problems.

The procedure of a retinoic acid peel is quite unique. This type of a peel helps restore the immune system, circulation and is quite beneficial to your health. Both young and aging skin can look to benefit from this. The big advantage of retinoic acid peels is that it is relatively painless compared to the other chemical peels. The retinoic acid peel can be performed on the face, neck, cleavage and on the hands. It requires no special preparation whatsoever and even the anesthesia used is very mild to keep you comfortable. A Jessner peel is applied to clear up your skin so that the retinoic acid peel can penetrate your skin deeply to show maximum effect. The doctor leaves the patient with the chemical peel solution on the face. The peeling process itself begins on the third day onward. There are no usual problems visible during the first two days. In order to really see a difference to your skin, you have to have a series of these peels. It is often recommended to have a retinoic acid peel done once in every three weeks for at least three times.

However, one must remember that even though this procedure is there, it isn’t for everyone to try out. These chemical peels cannot be held concurrently with radiotherapy, and they are not good at all for people who are suffering from severe aspirin allergy. Herpes, rosacea, warts, pregnancy and lactation are also not something you would have and still go ahead with a retinoic acid peel. It is advisable to go see your doctor before you decide to get one of these peels done on yourself. If you are looking for an easy way to quickly and effectively get rid of your pigmentation problems, pox or acne scars on your face, wrinkles, and improve your overall skin texture and appearance, a retinoic acid peel would be a really good choice to go for, as long as you keep a few considerations in mind.