Taking Care of Your Skin

So what is the secret to great looking skin?
Simple, stay out of the sun and away from tanning beds. While the sun is the giver of life, sun damage from prolonged exposure can age your skin before its time, as well as carrying serious health risks.

Unfortunately, most teens today think that a tanned body is a symbol of health and beauty. But please do not buy into the hype and allow let advertisers fool you! Tanned skin is not healthy, in fact it is the opposite. It is damaged skin. Years of tanning can put you at higher risk of cellular level damage, early wrinkling, age spots, and skin cancer, which includes the most serious type of skin cancer, melanoma.

It is extremely vital to understand the dangers of sun damage, regardless of your actual skin tone. New findings show there is a rise in skin damage and skin cancer in younger adults, attributing the increase due to frequent sunbathing and use of tanning beds.

A sunburn is not just painful and unattractive, with its visibly parched, reddened skin and oozing blisters, it is also very dangerous. Other than keeping the skin moist and avoiding more sun, there is no real treatment for it.
What people do not realize is that sunburned skin is sun-damaged skin, and this damage is not just at that one occurance, it accumulates over time. It is estimated that more than 90% of all skin cancers reported are the result of overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the not only the sun but tanning beds as well.

The best way to prevent sunburns and protect your skin is sunscreen. Ultraviolet radiation includes both
• UVA, which is believed to be the cause of skin aging
• UVB, the ultraviolet ray which is primarily responsible for sunburn and skin cancers.
Between the hours of 10am and 4pm is when sun’s rays are the strongest, so it is recommended that you stay indoors during this time. If you do choose to go outside, remember to protect your skin with both clothing and sunscreen.
SPF (sun protection factor) in sunscreens is the measure the ability to prevent burns from sun exposure. If you are looking to prevent sunburn and sun damage choose a sunscreen with the appropriate SPF inside. If you are not sure which one to use, check with your dermatologist to determine which SPF is correct for your skin type. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher be used for most people. If you have fair skin or burn easily, increase your SPF to 30 or higher.

Dermatology Las Vegas would like to provide you with the basic skin care tips. Since there are so many topics to choose from, we are providing for you skin care treatments from A-Z.
• Aging Skin
The thickening skin textured that is associated with middle age is caused by cellular build up. Aging skin responds very well to mild or gentle, abrasive daily cleansing with beauty grains such as finely ground corn meal, ground sun flowers or almonds. Massage gently to cleanse and stimulate cellular development.
• Beautiful Skin
It is best to work on beautiful skin from the inside to maintain beautiful skin. Eating healthy and the right kind of food can do more good for your skin than any medicine, and it will also go a long way in helping your body’s own healing energies. It is recommended that you eat a well balanced diet that includes plenty of raw foods, plenty of yellow and orange vegetables because they contain beta carotene which is a precursor to vitamin A, and foods that are high in sulfur such as garlic, onions, asparagus and eggs. You should also include plenty of fruits, seeds, grains and nuts.
• Dry Skin
The most recommended treatment for dry skin is to combine together one ounce safflower oil, one ounce avocado oil and two ounces of sesame oil. Apply this mixture to your dry skin areas.
• Skin Care Tip on Facial Mask
A recipe for an excellent facial mask that can be easily made but provide excellent results. Simply stewed and mashed apricots. Apply to your freshly cleaned face and leave on for at least 20 minutes. Rinse away with warm water, and blot dry. One application will help sallow, dead skin tones, but applying this 3 or 4 times a week will do wonders to your skin and you will see the results in just about a week or two.
• Tea Tree Oil for Fungal Infection
Tea tree oil is the most effective natural anti fungal for nail fungus infections. Simply apply to the nails and surrounding area and skin twice daily, recommended first thing in the morning and before bed.
• Using Honey Treatments
If you are suffering from an ulcer or burn, place honey under a dry dressing every two or three days to help promote rapid healing.
• Itchy Skin
The best home remedy for itchy skin is to take a compress made with either skim or powdered milk. You could also soak the area in a colloidal bath made with oatmeal, corn starch or baking soda.
• Homemade Skin Lotion
Mix one teaspoon on honey, one teaspoon of lemon juice and a half a cup of water. Take the mixture and massage into your skin after bathing.
• Rashes
Corn starch can provide relief from most rashes, whether they are diaper rash, diaper rash, chicken pox, hives or insect bites. You can either rub the cornstarch on as a powder or for chicken pox and measles add a handful to a bathtub of water.
• Softening Your Skin
To soften your skin, use avocado oil regularly because it is rich in vitamins and minerals.
• Teenagers
To help avoid embarrassing skin problems, it is recommended that very they take supplements that contain Vitamin A and zinc.
• Ulcers
If you develop a leg ulcer due to poor circulation or other medical conditions, you can speed healing by applying vitamin E oil to the sore and bandage it with a sterile gauze paid, which you should change daily until it is healed.
• Vitamins and Your Skin
Vitamins A, B, C and especially E are essential to the health of your skin.
• Winter Care
If your house gets to dry during winter conditions, you can add humidity to your home making it more comfortable and better for your skin by putting a tea kettle on to boil. Let it cool, and it will continue to steam for 10 to 15 minutes adding the moisture to the air.
• Zinc for Acne
Eat foods high in zinc (soybeans, whole grains, sunflower seeds, and a small amount of raw nuts) to prevent and treat acne because Zinc has antibacterial activity and is a necessary element in the oil producing glands of the skin.

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