Archive for December, 2008
I have been grooming…a Bichon Frise every week for nine years for her scratching and rubbing problem. I have tried almost every shampoo, but most didn’t do anything but give her a reaction…. [Is there help for pet skin care?]
Rhonda S., Pet Groomer
Having sensitive, difficult skin has been a huge “learning curve” for me. All traditional remedies I have tried for everyday, simple blemishes, pimples, blackheads, and just plain oily skin, not only exacerbate the outbreaks–they often actually worsen the surrounding skin, too. All the products that purport to remediate oily skin and blemishes actually BURN my skin–even those labeled “sensitive skin care” burn me. Help! Is there anything truly gentle and natural out there that would help someone like me?
Struggling with enlarged pores, particularly around one’s nose and “T-zone” area? After gently cleansing one’s skin (being careful not to over-cleanse, as that often produces more oil secretions, hence enlarging one’s pores even more), blow one’s face dry with a hair dryer or a fan on the “low” or “cool” setting. The air current not only dries off the remaining rinse water/moisture, but it allows the pores to naturally constrict and close–and, does so without exposure to bacteria and germs that can occur on hand towels as well as without toners or after shaves with their strong, sometimes damaging chemicals–all of which helps to keep a fresh, well-groomed appearance.
How to prevent pimples? Everyone gets pimples or blemishes occasionally, whether due to age, stress, diet, heredity, health or other physical factors. However, around the holidays, diet–not to mention, the accompanying stress–can wreck havoc in otherwise clear skin.
Some tips for holiday snacks and parties? Despite all the blame placed on the “usual suspects,” i.e., fried food and chocolate, there are is one food group that might be even more damaging and should be eaten in moderation, particularly when under stress: milk and cheese products, with their accompanying high milk fat content!
So, if the hors d’oeuvre tray is a “must do,” enjoy the pepperoni slices, the vegetables, the olives, the shrimp, the chicken wings, the crackers, the tortilla chips and salsa, and forego–or go lightly–on the cheese balls, the cheese slices, the pizza and all the creamy dips. And, as far as ordering off the menu at fancy restaurants, stay clear of the creamy soups, pastas, lasagnas, etc., and stick with salad, spaghetti with meatballs, steak, chicken or fish. If a holiday party invitation throws you a “cheesy pizza” without any options, just enjoy it moderation, knowing that “one mistake, does not a blemish make.” Just make up your mind to do better at the next festivity. With all the stress already inherent in the season, one less pimple to worry about allows one to remain calmer and more focused on what really matters: to be able to confidently enjoy the people and the activities the holidays bring.
This is the coldest winter we’ve had in…years! Help! What in the world can one do for dry, flaky hands, and skin in general? I need dry skin care and I need it NOW! Thank you.
I am an elderly, retiree close to 90. My skin is wrinkled, especially above my upper lips–so much so, that whenever my 8-year-old granddaughter used to come to visit me, she would delight in drawing portraits of me with all my wrinkles. She was fascinated by my skin.
Now, I didn’t mind my granddaughter’s drawings; they really even endeared me to her. I don’t really even want to remove all my wrinkles for vanity or anything, but it is hard to apply my make-up over my rough, wrinkled skin. Also, as I have had a small facial cancer removed several years ago, is there any anti-aging skin care that would be safe enough for my purposes?
Enlarged pores plague many people–from adolescents through adults. And, attempting to reverse this condition is often a double-edged sword. No matter what is used to “try” to close pores–witch hazel, toners, astringents–even rubbing alcohol–there are invariably mixed results. The very thing that is supposed to shrink pores–hence, to reduce excessive oil and preserve the skin’s ability to retain its natural moisture–is often so caustic as to actually burn one’s skin. This complicates and further damages the very condition one is trying to alleviate, even causing the skin to overcompensate for the over-drying by producing more oil: a seemingly hopeless, vicious circle, a truly “no-win” situation!
Thankfully, there are now more naturally derived and gentle products that do what these astringents could not do. The whole focus of “reducing pores” has finally been replaced by simply “cleansing the pores” more deeply and naturally then was once possible; and subsequently, allowing the natural act of “air drying” to do what chemicals and toners have failed to do: to close the pores, retaining the skin’s natural moisture, hence a clear, smooth, youthful and radiant appearance.
Since your skin is the largest organ of your body, it is important to take care of it just as you would your heart. While there are many approaches to skin care, natural skin care has become increasingly popular. The definition of natural skin care is based on using naturally-derived ingredients currently existing in or formed by nature, without the use of synthetic chemicals, and manufactured in such a way to preserve the integrity of the ingredients.
Some examples of natural skin care ingredients include jojoba, safflower oil, rose hip seed oil, Shea butter, witch hazel, aloe vera, and chamomile.
Don A.
Some people might go their entire lives curious about the acne on their arms, back, or chest and the reason it seems so impervious to removal. Though acne can manifest in these areas, a more common condition that can appear like acne is Eczema. Eczema is a skin condition that is often triggered by allergies, and is characterized by small red bumps on the skin. Eczema, like acne, appears in patches as opposed to covering the whole body with a rash like chickenpox.
Despite Eczema being an incurable skin disease, there are treatments to reduce the rash, dryness, and appearance of it. Treatment for eczema can be obtained over the counter, or through consulting a doctor or licensed physician, a person affected by eczema can obtain one of the substances designed to treat its symptoms.
For all those adults out there who feel like they should be well out of the teen years when the skin is prone to acne breakouts, I understand your strife. I had oily skin throughout all of my teen years, and then when I began to age I would still get acne breakouts from time to time. I had consulted friends and family for their solutions, but nothing seemed to work. I finally decided to see a dermatologist, and he provided me a better medical explanation for what was happening. It’s natural for some people’s skin to produce more oil, and until you address the production of oil, no amount of washing or cleansing will solve your acne problem.
Finding an acne treatment that addresses the oil your skin produces can be done without consulting a dermatologist. There are a few over the counter treatments that can assist in solving your acne problem, and also a number or products that can work well in tandem.