What are age spots and what causes them?
Age spots, also known as liver spots and sun spots, are skin blemishes that are brown in color. Age spots usually develop in older people, usually at the age of forty but could also happen to younger people in their twenties. Although age spots are natural, its discolored nature affects a person general appearance that treatments are sought. Age spots develop in the face, hands and neck. Age spots are caused by the ultra violet rays of the sun. With constant and significant exposure, the ultra violet rays will ultimately penetrate the skin and will induce the formation of the darker pigments.
Age spots though are harmless. Their development will always happen with exposure as they are natural reaction of the skin to the sun's harmful rays. These are benign and are not a cause or a symptom for the onset of skin cancers. However, they are still a blemish that must be remedied. Age spots could never be prevented as it will always naturally occur in time.
Treatment of Age Spots
Since age spots could never be treated, their early development could be prevented by less frequent exposure to the sun. If that cannot be avoided, application of creams is good. The following procedures for removing age spots are also commonly used as anti-aging treatments:
Laser Treatment
Laser treatments to remove sun spots are often done in conjunction with other anti-aging treatments. The intense heat of the laser beams will burn away the spots and restore a younger looking blemish free skin. Laser treatments though, as they involve several stages and usually require a number of visits to the physician, are generally costly. These procedures are very necessary if optimal results are desired.
Retinoid Treatment
Retinoid comes usually in the form of a cream that is applied topically to the affected parts. Retinoid is prescription medication that promotes healthy skin and fades away the spots. Retinoid also contains anti oxidants that are good for preserving skin cells and tissues. However, Retinoid dries the skin for the duration of the treatment.
Chemical Peels
The acidic agents in the chemical peel have proven to be effective method at removing sun spots; the method takes a while longer as the peels will happen little by little until the desired skin tone is achieved.
Age Spots Creams
Age spots cream usually works in bleaching the sun spots out. The result is a slow and gradual fading of the discolored portion of the skin revealing the skin underneath. Active ingredients that are commonly included that fade the sun spots out are the hydroquinone. Vitamins A and C are also active ingredients to promote rejuvenation and healthier skin.
Sun Block
Probably the most popular method of preventing the onset of age spots is by using the old reliable sun block creams and lotions. While sun block will not fade the age spots, its formulation prevents the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun from penetrating the skin. Sun block users also develop less sun spots in later years. It is also a good anti-aging treatment when it comes to preserving the skin's more youthful glow. Sun blocks have also demonstrated to reduce the development of skin cancers.
Like any anti-aging procedure, applying the treatments mentioned should as much as possible be consulted to a physician. Except for sun block and some chemical peels, application of these treatments could result to unwanted side effects.
Looking after your skin
Protect your skin by using: a hydrating serum underneath your moisturiser as this will penetrate deeper into the skin, nourishing the bottom layer of cells so when they come to the surface they will be hydrated, plumper and brighter.'
Sun protection is not just for the beach – the UV rays from sunlight damage skin collagen causing lines and wrinkles. Ultra violet light is present even during the winter months in surprising amounts so if you are concerned about premature ageing, invest in a moisturiser that contains sunscreens, or UV filters, and use it every day.
Treat your skin more kindly by turning the central heating down a degree or two. Central heating creates a low humidity environment that literally strips skin of its natural moisture, while low outdoor temperatures provide a harsh contrast, meaning skin can become more sensitive. It is important to maintain a degree of moisture in the uppermost layers of the skin.
Should the relative humidity of our environment drop below 60 per cent, our skin will start to become dehydrated. To put this into perspective, the average office building has a relative humidity of 40 per cent and an aircraft cabin has 10-20 per cent relative humidity. Central heating is renowned for drying the atmosphere and altering humidity.
You can counteract to some extent, the drying effects of your home or office central heating by placing a bowl of water near the radiator to put more moisture back into the air.
It's not just skin that suffers when it's chilly, lips also need looking after to ensure they stay super-smooth. To de-flake dry lips, massage with a generous amount of petroleum jelly. Allow to sink in for a couple of minutes, then gently rub lips with a warm, damp facecloth.
As the jelly is removed, flakes of skin will come with it. Then apply a good lip balm morning and night, and switch to a nourishing lip colour to prevent that unattractive parched look during the day.
'During the winter months you may need to give your skin a little extra TLC to combat the combined damaging and drying effects of the cold weather and central heating.Look for natural, organic face and body products containing oils rich in essential fatty acids to help replace lost moisture. Regular facial massage brings much-needed nutrients to the skin: try gently massaging seven drops of rosehip seed oil, and one drop of Frankincense essential oil into the skin morning and evening to restore smoothness and radiance.
Mineral Makeup vs. Traditional Makeup
Mineral makeup is entirely more popular today compared to how it was 20 to 30 years ago. It has become increasingly known in department stores, much seen in television and magazines. But with all this hype about mineral makeup, how are they different from the conventional makeup that we have used before.
Under the Microscope
If we would be talking about the contents of the mineral and conventional makeup, under the microscope, there would not be much difference. Mineral makeup would use titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, iron oxide, silk mica and hydrated silica. These minerals are also, surprisingly, present in traditional makeup.
What are the effects of these elements?
Titanium oxide is mainly a skin protector against harmful rays from the sun. Zinc oxide works along with titanium dioxide in protecting the skin against the harmful ultraviolet rays.
Iron oxide are present in mineral foundations, they are originally in red, orange and yellow colors. Meanwhile, silk mica and hydrated silica reduce the reaction of the minerals when they come in contact with the skin. Some mineral makeup have vitamins and other minerals. Whenever, you are using a new make-up, whether it is mineral or traditional, be conscious of its components. There are instances that these compounds can provoke and allergic reaction when in contact with the skin.
But cases of women who experienced allergic reaction to mineral makeup is not as many as those who have allergies with traditional makeup. There are also things missing in mineral makeup, they are chemicals, preservatives, talc and other fillers. These chemical components often trigger other people’s allergy.
Traditional powders tend to enhance the face’s wrinkles. But with mineral makeup, the fine lines were removed, giving the face a healthy glow. This health glow comes from the vitamins and antioxidants which hydrate the skin and would conceal the wrinkles naturally.
Above the surface
What’s good about mineral makeup is that it can be used on all the types of skin. But even if it can be used on different skin types, it is still important to identify what colors are suitable and at the same time the right formulation. But still, traditional makeup also serves that purpose. You just have to be conscious with the makeup that you choose, since there can be additives bad for your skin.
Mineral makeup are often considered more “breathy” for the skin. Traditional make-up tends to block or clog the pores. That is why some customers have a feeling of something heavy on their faces when they used the traditional makeup. Since mineral makeup is natural, there is natural feel to it when it is applied to the skin.
Another piece of good news for allergic people, is that it is hypoallergenic. Mineral makeup do not have bismuth oxychloride in their component making your skin free form chemical allergic reactions.
There are some skin treatments which would not allow you to use cosmetics afterwards. But with mineral makeup, the minerals serve as coolant to the skin and even encourage the skin to heal faster. While some mineral makeup users find that they can even sleep through the night with their make-up on, since it gets to last longer than traditional makeup and at the same time, it’s less allergic.
There are some who chose to use mineral makeup since it is more cost effective. Since, with mineral makeup you use less makeup with the same results.
