Healthy Clean Skin

Despite the ever increasing pace at which the health and beauty market is being bombarded with a continuous array of new treatments promising miracle results, the good old microdermabrasion machine, which has been with us now for nearly ten years, is still proving to be one of the best all round devices for carrying out treatments to correct a diverse range of skin problems. In this article we explore the main issues surrounding the use of microdermabrasion machines and attempt to answer some common questions usually posed by potential patients as well as service providers.

Probably the single most impressive feature of microdermabrasion machines is that despite their simple design they are effective in treating a wide range of skin problems with a proven track record of providing great results.  Some of the common skin conditions for which microdermabrasion is a good treatment include age wrinkles, sun damaged skin, stretch marks and acne scars. The success a patient is likely to have with microdermabrasion depends on a few variables, the most important of which are usually the depth of the skin imperfection and how long they have had it. The longer a patient has had acne scars for example, the more imbedded in their skin it will be and consequently it will be harder to treat. This is especially so with microdermabrasion as it should be pointed out quite honestly that despite its effectives on a wide range of skin problems, these are mostly superficial, and in fact microdermabrasion machines are by and large built to be effective only on treating the superficial layers of skin.

There are literally dozens of microdermabrasion machines on the market these days with every skin care equipment producer wanting to cash in on the large demand for these devices.  Despite the fact that every machine manufacturer will try to differentiate their machine from the rest through various design features, the truth is that all microdermabrasion machines work in pretty much the same way and consist of the same main components.  The four critical elements that go into making a microdermabrasion machine are; the air pump, tube, wand & to a lesser extent the crystals. The wand is the part of the machine that the skin care professional holds in their hand and comes into contact with your skin. The tube is what connects the wand to the main machine, which is where the air pump resides and provides the air pressure to blast the microdermabrasion crystals onto your skin as well as suck away the spent crystals and dead skin.

Using a microdermabrasion machine is an uncomplicated and generally safe procedure. However, It is imperative that the treatment provider receive specific training as this is not something that can be learnt on the job.  Patients who want to know if they are receiving professional treatment should look out for a few things. The microdermabrasion wand should be 100% germ free immediately prior to receiving treatment. This is done either by steaming the wand or soaking it in disinfectant. As the wand is the part of the machine that comes into contact with patients skin its important that bacteria isn’t transferred from one patient to another. If performing diamond microdermabrasion there’s no need to worry about crystals, however as most machines still operate with them its important to know that the crystals are new and unused. When beginning treatment the provider should ask the patient how it feels; anything more than a slight tingling sensation means the velocity of the pump should be turned down to avoid over abrasion.

Microdermabrasion machines broadly fall into two groups. Spa grade machines are by far the most common and are those machines found in all beauty spas. The main limitation of these machines is power. These machines are deliberately built with limited power so as to not cause injury through over abrasion due to high velocity delivery of crystals to the skin. Despite this the machines are still perfectly fine to be used and very effective at treating a wide range of mild to intermediate skin problems. Medical grade machines on the other hand are much more powerful and have the ability to cause severe abrasion past the superficial layers of the skin. This can be highly dangerous unless under the supervision of a dermatologist who has made a comprehensive assessment of the patients skin and is carrying out strong microdermabrasion as part of an overall treatment course. For this reason these machines are only sold to doctors and should only ever be used by expert medical professionals.

For more detailed information check out this page on microdermabrasion machines.

Andrew Paine
http://www.articlesbase.com/skin-care-articles/choosing-a-microdermabrasion-machine-685758.html

It’s easy to treat dry skin cheaply, simply, naturally, and effectively at home. Natural treatments for dry skin are the best choice today rather than harsh chemical treatments.

The blood vessels in the dermis provide nourishment and waste removal to its own cells as well as to the epidermis. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. The dermis is structurally divided into two areas: a superficial area adjacent to the epidermis, called the papillary region, and a deep thicker area known as the reticular region.

dry skin can be caused by a deficiency of vitamin A, systemic illness, overexposure to sunlight or some medications. Dry skin can also be a sign of an underactive thyroid. Forced-air furnaces may make skin even drier than it already is.

Certain drugs, including diuretics, antispasmodics, and antihistamines, can contribute to dry skin conditions; check with your pharmacist or doctor and read the drug insert – you can get one from your pharmacist. Bathing or showering too frequently, especially if one is using harsh soaps, may contribute to dry skin. The symptoms most associated with dry skin are: scaling, which is the visible peeling of the outer skin layer, itching, and cracks in the skin.

Eating fruits that are red or orange in color will help improve you skin health and help to prevent acne. Eat high-fiber snacks like raw nuts, raw seeds, fresh fruit or dried fruit like dates, and figs. Drink freshly extracted carrot juice, if you can, every day; carrot juice is an excellent cleanser for the liver, great for the skin and contains a great deal of nutrients, all beneficial for dry skin, eczema, acne, zits, pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, and other breakouts.

Cosmetics should be used carefully because they may dry out the skin or cause allergic reactions like contact dermatitis; read the labels. Only use mild cleansers or mild soaps if you must use a soap or cleanser. If you use moisturizers, use the thick, oily-type which work better for dry skin.

Use coconut oil to remove your make-up at night, like I do; it leaves a fine layer of oil to nourish your skin all night long; but better yet, apply more coconut oil. To see what coconut oil can do for your skin fast, apply coconut oil several times a day and at bedtime. Use a thin layer of coconut oil under your make-up, if you wear it, to moisturize and soften your skin throughout the day.

Apply coconut oil daily to your skin to heal, moisturize and soothe it. Coconut oil is the best healing, soothing, and moisturizing treatment I’ve found for dry skin; in fact all types of skin conditions, skin eruptions, pimples, acne, milia, irritations, cuts, burns, fungus, etc.

The skin is subject to constant attack from without; it can be affected by many conditions, diseases and ailments. The skin must be regularly cleaned or it’ll become cracked or inflamed.

Call your skin doctor if dryness and itching are preventing you from sleeping. Continue using coconut oil and you’ll see the benefits in good, clear skin, free of dryness and other skin conditions. Make sure to call your skin doctor or dermatologist when you have any open cuts or sores from scratching that won’t heal.

Helen Hecker
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/dry-skin-care-natural-treatments-that-work-140493.html

Looking for an effective dry skin relief lotion that is also safe and natural?  Here’s a look at what you will normally find in dry skin lotion and what you might want to look for, instead.

Inexpensive lotions contain petrolatum and mineral oil, derivatives of crude oil.  They do not actually provide moisture.  They may help to hold moisture in, but they can also clog the pores and cause blemishes. 

In more expensive dry skin relief lotion, you will find glycerin, a naturally occurring substance that improves the skin’s moisture content by about 5%.  In some of the newer lotions, you will find silicone oils, which have been shown to improve the skin’s moisture content, as well.

In some cases, you will find products that combine several of these different ingredients.  They are basically safe substances that are considered inert, but there have been instances of contamination with cancer-causing substances, due primarily to the manufacture processes that some of the companies use.  Although there have been cases where the poisonous compound DEG (diethylene glycol) was purposefully substituted for glycerin, because it is cheaper and chemically similar to glycerin.

Despite all of the “new and improved” products that you see on the market, we have had some of the ingredients for effective dry skin lotion for thousands of years.  They are vegetable and plant oils derived from foods, nuts and seeds.  It’s just that these natural oils cost more to include in a cosmetic. 

We have had lanolin for many years, as well, and it has always been a popular hypoallergenic dry skin lotion.  Lanolin is expressed from sheep’s wool.  It is basically sheep sebum or fat.  Another extract from sheep’s wool has recently been released.

The KERATEC Company in New Zealand discovered a way to isolate and extract the keratin, a protein, present in sheep’s wool.  The protein is very similar to the keratin that is found in the skin’s fibers.  It has been used to provide effective relief for dermatitis, a condition in which there is excessive dryness, redness and cracking.

When used as a dry skin relief lotion, it has been shown to increase moisture content by over 20% after the first application and the improvement remains constant a full 24 hours later.  Over 18 days, the dry skin lotion has been shown to improve the skin’s ability to retain moisture, as well. 

No adverse reactions have been reported and everyone that has tried the dry skin relief lotion has been happy with it.  It can be combined with other oils, such as grape seed and avocado, oils that are similar to the skin’s own.  So, they penetrate deeply and quickly, without leaving a greasy feeling.

Shea butter is another effective ingredient for dry skin lotion.  The night cream that I use on my face includes Shea butter, avocado oil and the keratin manufactured by KERATEC.  Over the years, I’ve tried one dry skin relief lotion after another and nothing worked like this one.

Visit my website today to learn more about the natural substances that are excellent for keeping your skin young looking and healthy.

Rachel Hammond
http://www.articlesbase.com/anti-aging-articles/dry-skin-relief-lotion-the-essential-facts-you-must-know-before-you-buy-715534.html