ES Skin Care

The Best Hand Cream

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:30:08 +0000

As the weather turns colder hand are more likely to become chapped and more and more people will attempt to find a suitable hand cream. The difference between hand cream and hand lotion is subtle. Hand lotion has a low to medium viscosity (thickness) while hand cream has a higher viscosity. Hand creams also have ingredients specially designed to combat some of the abuse that your hands undergo such as, chemicals from cleaning products or dryness from putting your hands in and out of water frequently. Also, the thickness of hand creams could cause skin in other areas of your body to break out so only use it on your hands or other excessively dry areas such as your elbows.

There are many hand creams available. Here are listed only a few of the most popular among hundreds. We attempted to compile ingredients, list the average price and give a summary of customer reviews.

Shea Butter Hand Cream: Shea butter hand cream is very popular. Many companies offer hand creams with shea butter ingredients. One of the more popular is L’occitane shea butter hand cream: Contains honey, almond and coconut oil in addition to shea butter. It is advertised as penetrating quickly to avoid leaving your hands feeling greasy. The majority of reviewers gave it 4-5 stars out of 5. Some commented that their hand still felt smooth after washing. Many comments also included the pleasant scent and its ability to heal cracked hands. Cost is around $23 for 5 oz. Other companies also make shea butter hand cream such Lollia ($24 for 4.25 oz) but is was difficult to find reviews of the lesser known products. Other companies offer different ingredients such as lavender for relaxation or avocado oil for additional moisture. Plain shea butter can also be used it is less expensive and at tub could last for years. Shea Butter is found in three types of extractions: raw or unrefined, refined, and highly refined. You should attempt to find either unrefined or refined shea butter. Highly refined has lost many of it’s healing properties.

No Crack Hand Cream – In existence since 1942 and mad by the Dumont company. It is designed to “soften, moisturize and protect dry, cracked and chapped hands, feet and elbows until natural oils return”. Their target demographic is people who work hard with their hands such as construction workers, factory workers, farmers etc. But is also beneficial to the general public as well. The product runs around $14 for 16 oz. Out of 65 reviews, all gave the product 4 or 5 stars out of 5.

Glysomed Hand Cream – Can get unscented for those who are sensitive to smells. Usually runs around $8 for 5 oz. Contains glycerin- silicon and chamomile. Most reviewers loved this product as well the only complaint by some was that it was a little too greasy.

Some people find a hand cream that works for them and cling to it for decades. For example, the popula, pacquins hand cream was discontinued recently and there are many online email and phone campaigns to bring the product back. In summary, the best hand cream for you will be determined by your budget, ingredient preference and taste, but know there are a lot of great products available.

Why You Need Hand Lotion

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:28:56 +0000

Most women wash and apply moisturizer to their face daily but many neglect the rest of their body. However, the rest of our body, especially our hands can give away our age just as quickly as a lined and dry face. To avoid rapidly aging skin it is important to keep it moisturized. With the plethora of products on the market though it can be a daunting task to try and determine which products will work for your particular skin type and climate, not to mention that it must keep your skin healthy after repeatedly washing it, touching chemicals etc.

In general there is very little difference between hand lotion and body lotion. The ingredients are basically the same although body lotion may have a higher amount of some ingredients than lotion specific to the hands. For example, body lotion often has a higher concentration of sunscreen. If your hands are a problem area and you often find them dry, cracked or chapped it isn’t a bad idea to invest in some good hand cream (which is thicker than lotion). For the daily grind though a general hand and body lotion should work well for all areas. As stated above though your skin type may play a part in your hand body lotion choice.

Oily Skin: This can be tricky. Many people with oily skin feel like they don’t need to moisturize, but there skin may still have some surface dryness. Most likely those with oily skin will benefit from a hand and body lotion designed for them. There are some important things to remember. Make sure that oil isn’t listed as an ingredient. Look for labels indicating that the product was made for oily skin. Look for the word “balancing” meaning that the products balance the oil, keeping the skin dry and soft. Ask a cosmetologist for samples to try at home.

Dry Skin: People with dry skin often have very dry hands making hand lotion very important. Make sure that the hand and body lotion contains sun-block, apply the moisturizer right after showering to seal in the moisture Cetaphil and Eucerin are recommended often for moderate dry skin. For severely dry skin use oil followed by a cream. Again read labels and find one that says it is specifically for dry skin

Normal skin: These people can use pretty much any hand lotion. It is best to avoid those targeting oily or dry skin specifically as either end of the spectrum can clog pores if your skin doesn’t require those specific ingredients.

Many people are concerned about germs with the recent outbreaks in diseases such as the swine flu. Antibacterial gels can dry out the hands, so if you are in the habit of using antibacterial products often it isn’t a bad idea to invest in some antibacterial hand lotion as well. There are also many natural hand lotions out there, meaning that only natural ingredients are used – no chemicals for those that are environmentally conscious.

There are a so many products on the market. My best advice is to figure out your skin type and then ask around for recommendations. If you have a friend (and you think this friend has nice skin) that likes a particular product then it may be right for you as well. Lastly, if you have a specific skin issue then it can be wise to buy more high end lotions, but otherwise drug store hand lotion can be just as effective. There are also many recipes that can be found online for making your own hand and body lotion. These recipes typically contain all natural ingredients and may even save you money.

Tattoo Removal Before And After The Procedure

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:38:42 +0000

When looking to remove tattoos, you can expect a lot from tattoo removal before and after the procedure. Laser tattoo removal has become the most popular form of tattoo removal for several reasons, with the main reason being the increased effectiveness of the procedure during the last several years. Some basic information you should consider about tattoo removal before and after deciding on the procedure is:

• Laser tattoo removal can take anywhere from 2-5+ visits. Each time the laser will be able to penetrate farther into your skin, but each time the risk of skin damage increases.

• How it works—a laser uses different wavelengths of light to target and breakdown the pigment in the tattoo. After breaking down the pigment into very tiny particles, your immune system clears away the tattoo.

What to expect from tattoo removal before and after the procedure

BEFORE

Before you undergo the procedure, be sure to study as many tattoo removal before and after pictures. Try to find pictures of someone who not only has the same color tattoo, but also has the same skin type and skin color, as both these will influence the effectiveness of the procedure. By studying laser tattoo removal before and after photos you will have a good idea on if the procedure will be effective for you. Also, it is recommend to study tattoo removal pictures of before and after the procedure from several different doctors so you can get a good idea of the doctor’s skill and effectiveness.

Before and after the tattoo removal you should not need anesthesia. However, some patients do request a general anesthetic before the procedure to help with the pain that can be caused by the removal process.

What to expect from tattoo removal before and after the procedure

AFTER

After the procedure you can expect that the tattoo is removed. The effectiveness of the removal will depend on several factors, including:
• Your skin color and the color of the tattoo. A black tattoo will absorb any wavelength of light and will be most effectively removed (generally speaking)
• Amount of treatments done
• Skill of the doctor.

As mentioned previously, you should study tattoo removal pics before and after before you undergo the procedure so you can see first hand the effectiveness and skill of the doctor.

You will have some pain, and your skin will be sensitive after the treatment. Make sure you follow your doctor’s recommendations in terms of topical antibiotic creams, sunscreen usage, and bandaging for the treated areas of your skin.

The Best Anti Aging Clinics

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:35:47 +0000

Anti aging clinics can be a very helpful as long as you choose the best anti aging clinic for your needs. There are several different types of anti ageing clinics, with many varying degrees of treatments—from some proving ‘holistic’ treatments which try to help your overall health, to other clinics that target specific areas of your body, such as the skin on your face.

Holistic Anti Aging Clinics

The ultimate value that holistic anti aging clinics offer has been debated somewhat in the medical world. However, with a good clinic you can receive very good, helpful anti aging treatments that help you not only look younger but feel younger as well. Some types of treatments you can expect to receive at such a facility include:

• Hormonal treatments. Over time, your body has as much as 15% of its hormones depleted. Many anti aging clinics will help you replenish these hormones with the goal of making you feel as if you were 25 years old again. These treatments purportedly help with:

o Depression
o Sex Drive Loss
o Sleeping problems
o Weight control problems
o Fatigue
o Overall Health

• Nutritional Counseling. While some people might question the effectiveness of anti aging hormonal treatments, no one can argue with the benefits of nutritional counseling. Poor nutrition can account for much of the negative aging symptoms that develop as you get older, and a good anti aging diet and health plan can get your body back on track to where it should be.

• Exercise Counseling and Training. If you do not exercise properly, then your body will not function properly and you will ‘age’ faster. However, you should not overstress your tendons, ligaments, and bones, and having a good exercise coach train you in proper anti aging exercises can be very beneficial.

• Mental Health Therapy and Counseling. The best anti aging clinic will also help you confront your aging issues mentally and help your relax in situations that would normally create stress in your life.

As you can see, holistic anti aging clinics attempt to treat your whole body and mind, not just the wrinkles on your face. However, if you are looking for just getting those wrinkles taken care of, then consider a more traditional anti aging clinic.

Specific and Traditional Anti Aging Clinics

Many clinics will treat specific areas of your body (most commonly your facial area) with a variety of anti aging procedures, creams, and techniques that will help you look younger. Some such procedures you might find are:

• Anti aging vitamin treatments. Treatments that include proven anti aging vitamins such as Vitamin A, E, and C are very commonly used at such clinics and can be found in creams and other cosmetics applied by their technicians.

• Fat Transfer. This technique removes fat from one are of your face/body (where you don’t need it) and then transfers it to specific areas in your face where you can use a little more definition or plumpness.

• Face Lifts or Thread Lifts. These procedures, while different, both have the same goal—to help tighten up loose or flabby areas of your skin that have become so due to aging or other problems.

• Anti Facial Fillers. Fillers such as Hylaform are uses to help people who have slight wrinkles, thinning lips, or nasal labial folds. Such anti aging fillers help plump your skin, helping replenish the volume that gets lost over time as you age.

Remember, before you choose a clinic, be sure to read as many anti aging clinic reviews as possible, and discuss your options with your own personal doctor before making any major decisions or deciding to act on any of the above information.

How To Get Rid Of Baby Eczema

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:33:24 +0000

Baby eczema is fairly common in children from infants up to around three years. It is also called atopic dermatitis and is characterized by a red, rash. The rash can appear dry and scaly or it could be made up of little bumps that blister, ooze, and become infected. The rash always itches, and itching does cause the condition to worsen. If you’re unsure if the rash your child has is eczema there are many pictures of baby eczema online to help aid in your home diagnosis; however, always double check with the baby’s pediatrician. Most often eczema in babies will appear on the forehead, cheeks and scalp, but it is not uncommon to find it on the arms, legs, chest, and torso, and more rarely any other part of the body. As was stated previously baby eczema usually clears up by 2-3 years of age. In some children the condition will persist and then clear up in adolescence. For a lucky few the condition can be life long.

No one is certain what causes eczema. Sometimes the condition can be triggered by allergens in the baby’s diet, or in the mother’s diet if she is breastfeeding. Allergens such as cat dander, cigarette smoke, or dust can also be factors. Baby eczema flare ups can also be heat related or triggered by irritants that touch the baby’s skin such as harsh fabrics or chemicals in soaps, lotions, detergents etc. The cause or trigger of an eczema breakout can even be as simple as dry skin. There does seem to be a family factor. If you, your spouse, or a close member of either or your families has eczema, asthma, or some allergies your child is more likely to develop baby eczema.

However, babies with eczema can get some relief if not always a complete cure. Most of the solutions can be intuitively deduced from the triggers listed in the previous paragraph. Some suggestions for baby eczema treatment are:

Lubrication – If the baby’s skin gets too dry the condition can be aggravated. There are several eczema creams on the market. However, one that seems to be very popular is called Gentle Nature’s Baby Eczema Cream. It has received many positive reviews, mostly from those with babies who have severe cases of eczema. The more mild cases were put off by the thickness and oiliness of the cream. Just keep trying creams until you find one that works for your child.

Less frequent bathing – This baby eczema treatment has been debated slightly. However, bathing your child too frequently with soap will dry out the skin. Some experts suggest fewer baths, in luke warm water rather than hot. Other experts say daily bathing is not a problem as long as the water is luke warm. All agree that it is essential to use a mild soap and to promptly apply a liberal amount of lotion to seal in the body’s natural moisture.

Allow the babies skin to breathe and not become overheated by dressing her in smooth, natural fabrics.

Avoid extreme changes in temperature.

It is important to help babies with eczema avoid scratching. Keep her nails trimmed and put mittens on her hands if she’ll let you. Cool compresses followed by lotion can help soothe the itchiness.

Avoid fabric softeners and use a mild detergent.

Breastfeeding may help.

Lastly, a new study was published in the May 2009 issue of Pediatrics that found that soaking in a diluted bleach bath fir 5-10 minutes twice a week was more effective in treating eczema than water. If you are interested in learning more about this treatment discuss it with your pediatrician.

If none of these treatments for baby eczema seem to be providing relief to your child your doctor can suggest using a mild topical steroid which are available over the counter. If that doesn’t work your doctor can write a prescription for a stronger steroid.

Baby eczema flare-ups can become a vicious cycle. When a flare-up occurs the baby will itch the skin causing it to become worse and more sensitive. Therefore it is important to follow the suggestions and keep the flare-ups under control. Eczema does tend to get less severe with age and research is constantly being done to find new baby eczema treatments.

A Great Cold Sore Remedy

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:30:40 +0000

Cold sores are a very common ailment. They are small, fluid filled blisters that are often painful; occurring primarily on the lips, gums or roof of the mouth. Cold sores should not be confused with canker sores (a bacterial infection characterized by white sores).

Causes:

They are caused by the herpes simplex virus and are highly contagious. Typically children come in contact with the virus and then the virus lies dormant except for occasional flare-ups. Different things seem to trigger cold sores including but not limited to stress, a cold, poor diet, and prolonged sun exposure.

Cold Sores Remedy
There are many hypothetical cold sore remedies available. Different ones seem to work for different people. The situations that tend to trigger cold sores for a particular person will affect which is the best cold sore remedy for him/her.

Cold Sore Home Remedies

When a cold sore shows up many people want the quickest, effective remedy that can be achieved with ingredients they already have lying around. Some home remedies for cold sores are listed below.

Petroleum jelly – Keeping the cold sore covered in jelly will protect it from infection and keep it hydrated.

Zinc –Taking zinc will boost the immune system

Change tooth brushes – Cold sores are a virus. Changing your toothbrush when you get a cold sore and then immediately after the sore goes away will help keep the infection from spreading.

Apply milk – Soak a cotton ball in milk and apply to the cold sore.
Protect from sun – Wearing sunscreen on you lips can prevent future break outs.

Don’t touch – Cold sores are extremely contagious and could become worse if infected by bacteria. Wash your hand constantly.

Take Tylenol or another pain killer if you are in pain.

Avoid triggers – If you are prone to frequent cold sores, keep track of what you were doing right before the break out occurred. If you can figure out what triggers cold sores for you, some precautions can be taken to avoid future break outs.

Licorice – A substance found in licorice has been found to help cold sores heal more quickly. However, make sure that it is real licorice – many American licorice companies flavor licorice with anise instead of real licorice.

Ice the affected area.

If these home remedies for cold sore treatment and prevention don’t help there are some other options available although we won’t go into the specific benefits and details of each option there are several natural remedies available including but not limited to lysine, lemon balm, peppermint oil, propolis and self-heal. Have all been shown to be effective cold sore remedies.

Important Whitening Cream Information

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:25:23 +0000

Most people will experience some darker spots on their skin as they age regardless of race. These dark spots can be a result of birth marks, age spots, sun exposure, uneven skin tone, freckles, acne marks, scars etc. As a result there are many whitening creams on the market. There are even whitening creams specific to parts of the body, for example there is a specific underarm whitening cream as that area tends to be darker than the rest of the body – the classic face whitening cream is still the most popular. There are as many reasons to desire a whitening cream as there are products on the market.

When shopping for a skin whitening cream it is important to be familiar with a few terms:

Hyperpigmentation – the darkening of an area of the skin caused by an increase in melanin. There are a multitude of causes. Hyperpigmentation can be epidermal, dermal, or mixed (referring to the layer of skin affected). Knowing the type of hyperpigmentation you have will help you in choosing a whitening cream.

Melasma – Just a general term for the darkening of the skin

Chloasma – generally describes skin discolorations caused by hormones.

Solar lentignes – dark spots caused by the sun.

Hydroquinone – a key ingredient in many whitening creams. It is considered by dermatologists to be safe and as effective as lasers or deep peel treatments. However it has been shown to cause leukemia in mice. And can cause an allergic reaction in humans. As a result it’s not sold is concentrations of more than 2% in the U.S.

Arbutin – Often used as a replacement for hydroquinone although it is actually a derivative of it. Mitracarpus scaber, bearberry extract, mulberry, white mulberry, paper mulberry, all contain arbutin which inhibits melanin production.

Here we will quickly give a quick overview of some of the most prominent skin whitening creams.

Meladerm –Claims to lighten the pigment of the skin after approximately two weeks. It has natural ingredients and therefore can be used for months without negative effects. In other words it doesn’t contain a harsh bleaching agent such as hyrdorquinone. However, it only works on epidermal hyper pigmentation. Don’t confuse with another whitening cream called Melederm. Good on all skin types but expensive.

Skin Bright – “gently but effective natural ingredients” which includes arbutin. Works by penetrating deep into skin. It is also good on all skin types, but is most effective on epidermal hyperpigmentation.

Triluma – Takes approximately 4-8 weeks to take affect. This cream has been found to be very effective. When using this cream you can still use cosmetics and moisturizers. It is available as prescription only. Pregnant and nursing women as well as those over 65 are not able to use this whitening cream..

Nivea Whitening Lotion – Popular because it’s inexpensive. This cream has received mixed reviews. No dramatic results were noted, but some users noticed an evening out of their skin tone, lighter freckles etc.

Whitening creams can be very effective in minimizing unwanted dark areas on the body. When choosing a cream first determine what kind of spot you have, and if possible what caused it. If it is a large or deep area it is wise to consult with a dermatologist before purchasing a product.

The Detox Cleanse

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:23:13 +0000

The history of detox cleansing is long and ancient. It can be traced back to ancient Egyptian and Greek ideas of the four humours producing toxins that can hurt the body. Science in the 19th century supported this idea, but by the early 20th century the idea had fallen out of favor. However with the recent resurgence of alternative medicine the detox cleanse is back in vogue.

Proponents of detox cleanse products claim that it is necessary to occasionally participate in a body cleanse detox in order to restore the natural order of things in the body. In other words it will restore the body to its natural state. Our lifestyle can cause toxins to build up in our body as a result of eating the wrong food, stress, depression, and even pollution. According to them it is necessary use a detox cleanser to rid the body of these toxins. It can also help with energy levels, preventing various diseases, and weight loss by correcting metabolic disorders. Many detox cleanse products claim that participating in a cleanse will not only help you lose weight but keep the weight off as the body is restored to its optimal state.

There are also many ways to participate in a detox cleanse. There are actual physical treatments. For example, it is possible for a doctor to physically go in and wash out a patients colon with a detox colon cleanse. More popular, and less expensive though are detox diets (lasting anywhere between 2-10 days), and dietary supplements. The most well known is probably the Lemonade Diet introduced by Stanley Burrough. Some products will also target specific organs, such as the kidneys.

In general, scientists, dietitians and doctors generally judge detox as harmless unless a person participates too frequently or for too long and does not get adequate nutrition. Inadequate protein is a big concern in this area which can lead to muscle loss. Detox diets focus on water, fruits, and vegetables. In general, this group believes that toxins don’t exist, the body is amazing at cleansing itself, and that it’s not a safe form of weight loss.

There is not empirical evidence as to the benefits of a detox cleanse. However there are thousands of testimonials and anecdotal evidence. Scientists usually categorize these as the placebo effect – people see good results because they believe they are doing something healthy. The mere volume of believers though warrants a closer look.

In summary, there are many ways to participate in a detox cleanse. As long as you are wise there is little health risk and some possible health benefits. Be sure to thoroughly read all instructions and warnings before buying or using a kit and don’t make it your primary source of nutrition.

The Best Skin Care Routine

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:20:42 +0000

When it comes to the best skin care, you need to have a good, effective skin care routine that you can follow every day—your skin gets attacked every day by harmful agents and you need to defend yourself every day if you want great skin. Below is an example of a best skin care treatment you should go through each and every day.

Protecting Your Skin

If you want good skin care, then it doesn’t always just mean you need to go out and by the best products from the best skin care line. While this is part of a good routine, it is not the most important part—the most important part is preventative skin care.

Really when you think about preventative skin care you should think about how you can keep your skin from being exposed to the harmful UVA and UVB rays that come down from the sun and attack you each and every day. To protect your skin, you should always were at least an SPF 15 sun screen. Many cosmetics, including skin care creams and makeup include such levels of SPF sunscreen. However, do not think for one minute that this will protect you if you are exposed for any significant length of time to direct sun rays (i.e. you can’t go to the beach even for 45 minutes and think this will do the job). When you are exposing your skin to UV rays for prolonged periods of time (think outside playing tennis, swimming, going to the beach, or anytime where you will be constantly exposed to sunrays), you need to protect your self with a good sun cream. A good sun cream will protect you against both UVA and UVB rays. This is important, as many sun screen will only protect against UVA Rays.

Washing, Moisturizing and Exfoliating

The next step to the best skin care is what most people are concerned about – washing, moisturizing, and exfoliating your skin. However, this is something that most people actually do more than they should. Most people will recommend washing only twice away, and when you wash you should be as gentle as you can. Many times people will go out, buy the best skin care product they can find, then scrub their face down as hard as they can in trying to remove all the old dead skin cells, dirt, and oil from their face. This can actually CREATE skin problems.

For the best facial skin care, simply wash your face twice a day with whichever best skin care product you choose, but try to use just your hands and don’t irritate your skin too much!

The Daily Facial Treatment

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:18:52 +0000

Over time, your skin is exposed to countless harmful agents. The UV rays from the sun, pollution, acne, aging and even smoking wreak havoc on your facial skin. Because of this, for healthy skin, you will need a daily facial treatment to replenish your skin and reverse the affects of aging.

A good daily facial treatment is a well-rounded treatment that includes facial treatments for problems caused by acne, aging, and the sun. Most of this treatment will occur in your own home with many facial treatment products that you buy OTC.

Home Facial Treatment

A good daily home facial treatment starts with proper washing of your skin. You need to wash carefully and you the correct products. Be very careful not to be abrasive when washing. You want to be as gentle as possible so you don’t irritate your skin. To accomplish this, use your hands to wash (not a washcloth) and use a neutral pH based cleanser.

You should wash your face twice daily, once when you wake up and once before you go to sleep. Try not to over wash, as you are more likely to end up just aggravating your facial skin and causing problems. Where this can be hard is if you are an athlete and work out during the middle of the day. Obviously, you will need to shower afterwards, so just be sure to be extra gentle when washing.

Par of your home facial skin care treatment will be taking care of and preventing any acne and preventing/treating wrinkles. While good acne care is obviously most important for teenagers, acne can and will reoccur throughout everyone’s lifetime—and everyone needs to be conscious of how they are taking care of there skin in order to prevent wrinkles later on in life. Fortunately, there is some overlap in both an acne facial treatment and a face wrinkle treatment. Certain Vitamin-A extracts are effective treatments for both acne and wrinkles. These products are retinol and tretinoin (the latter being a prescription drug while the former can be purchased OTC).

Of course, if you have more severe cases of acne, then you are probably going to be more concerned about that and will want to use certain facial treatment creams to get rid of acne first. These creams will usually include some type of benzoyl peroxide cream.

Finally, a good facial treatment cannot be missing a good moisturizer. Many people will use a good moisturizer cream that also can help prevent wrinkles and replenish the skin, making it smooth, silky, and beautiful.

Facial Scar Treatment

Unfortunately, skin treatment creams and other measure may not prevent all facial problems, such as scarring and other permanent damage. For these cases, laser facial treatment may be a good option that has been growing in popularity since the late 1990’s. Laser facial treatments are generally done using very specific lasers (usually a CO2 or an Er:YAG laser) to resurface your skin. When done properly by a trained and experienced doctor, laser scar treatments can be very effective at removing older layers of skin and allowing newer, more beautiful skin appear and minimize the appearance of older scars.

Summary

As you can see, a good facial treatment involves more than just using a good facial cream. In addition, each person will require different treatments, which is why it is always much more effective if you talk with your dermatologist before starting any such facial treatment process This should be done before implementing any of the above information into your own treatment program.