How Facial Masks Work

Even though they may make you look scary for a little while, masks are a great way to treat your skin to a once a week spa type of treatment. You can find masks for any skin type with a variety of different ingredients. There are mud masks to help to smooth your skin as well as some that are specifically designed to help with acne problems. All masks are good for your skin and help to tone and sooth your skin.

A mask for your face should be applied once or twice weekly. You don’t want to use them too frequently as they can upset the balance of your skin. The way that most facial masks work is that you put them on your face and wait for a specified period of time until you feel it dry and your skins starts feeling a little tight. Don’t freak out, this is a normal part of the process and it is not taking over your face! After this you usually will give it another few minutes and then rinse your skin. Some people choose to use water by itself and others like to remove the mask with a wash cloth, it’s entirely up to you. Afterwards you should dry your face totally and moisturize it because masks remove some moisture from your skin. This is why I sad earlier not to use them too frequently.

There are also full body masks available that can treat all of your skin at the same time. These work in exactly the same way as the ones for your face and they can help renew the look of your skin all over. It is not possible to do this properly at home so you will have to have one of these applied by a professional. Thankfully, there are many full service salons that offer this service and it is a real treat to have done. When you schedule yourself for one of these be sure to drink lots of water before and after to help remove toxins, help replace lost moisture, and re-hydrate you body. Water is crucial because just as with a facial mask these also remove moisture but on a much larger scale.

Educating yourself about different types of lotions and masks will help you keep your skin clear and give you the healthy glow you want. Water is a beauty secret that many women overlook. The key to beautiful clear skin is adequate hydration and water is crucial in this process as it not only helps your skin hydrate itself but also helps to remove toxins. Utilize what you have learned here and you will have beautiful and radiant skin that others will envy.

Facial Mask at Home

Spending a bomb to buy a facial product with claims of having all natural ingredients for beautiful skin and having drastic results on its usage is very depressing for any beauty conscious woman. We see wide varieties of cosmetics available in supermarkets, department stores, health food stores as well as internet and TV.

Not everybody has the same skin type. What product works on your friend’s skin, might not work for you and vice versa. If you buy a product for your skin type, it could have adverse effect as there could be some chemical or ingredient which could cause a reaction on your skin. Moral of the story - “Not all cosmetic products work well for everyone’s skin”.

Cosmetics labeled as having “natural ingredients” do contain some amount of artificial chemicals or elements. With over priced cosmetics made from natural ingredients, many people have started preparing beauty products at home. Making a facial mask at home with all the ingredients available in the kitchen is quite easy and inexpensive.

- Create a salon like atmosphere while doing a facial at home. Ideally they tie your hair in high ponytail or make you wear a band around head. Choose to do what ever you feel comfortable about.

- Start by splashing tepid water all over your face. Massage your face gently with water. Repeat it twice or thrice and let your face air dry.

- While your face is still damp, massage vitamin E on your face. Let your face soak the oil for 5 minutes or so. Use a mild soap to remove the oil from your face.

- Again splash your face with water at room temperate. Repeat it for 2 or 3 times. Avoid towel drying your face.

- Next make your facial mask. Blend 1 egg white or fresh Aloe Vera juice of same quantity, 2 tsp vegetable oil and 1 tsp pure apple juice in a clean bowl.

- Dip your hands in the facial mask and apply the mask to your skin. Start with your chin, move upwards and then outwards skipping the area around the eyes and lips.

- Now you have to just sit back and relax. Cover your eyes with wet cotton balls or cucumber pieces. The mask has to dry completely. An ideal time for a small nap.

- Mask takes anywhere from 20 - 30 minutes to dry. You feel your skin tightened when the mask is dry. Splash water all over face and gently remove the mask with light massage strokes on your face. Continue doing this till your face is cleared of the entire home made facial mask. Let your face air dry.

Use this home made facial mask once or twice a week or depending up on the time you have on hand. You will feel fresh and have much younger looking face all the time.

Sun Protection

The skin has evolved to protect us from the harmful effects of ultraviolet light. Sunscreens were first developed to prevent sunburns by blocking UVB; they allowed us to prolong our time in the sun, but that resulted in increased exposure to UVA. Modern sunscreens attempt to block the whole spectrum of UV light, so are called broad spectrum. Not all so-called broad spectrum sunscreens protect skin from the whole range of UVA.

Negative Effects on the Skin:

Most of us know that sun exposure has immediate positive and negative effects on the skin. The positive effects include a sense of warmth and pleasure and Vitamin D production. The medium and longer term effects are negative and must also be recognised.

Short Term Effects:

• Sunburn, or tan
• Photosensitive rashes
• Drug and chemical photo toxicity and allergy reactions
• Light aggravated conditions

Negative Medium Term Effects:

• Photodamage
• Photoaging

Negative Longer Term Effects:

• Skin cancer
• Photoaging

A Comparison on UVA and UVB

UVA and UVB light have different characteristics.

UVA* (320-400nm)

• Levels are constant throughout the year
• Penetrates into the lower dermis
• Penetrates glass
• 95% of UVL is UVA
• May be important in causing melanoma
• Tans the skin
• Causes most of the aging effects seen in the skin
• Immunosuppressive
• Phototoxic reactions to drugs and chemicals
• Responsible for many photodermatoses

*It should be noted that sun-tanning beds use mainly UVA light. There is no such thing as a “safe” suntan. Recently the US FDA began investigating whether suntan beds should be illegal for anyone under the age of 18 years.

UVB (290-320nm)

• Amounts vary and increase in the summer, at noon, and on the equator
• Most only penetrates the epidermis
• Does not go through glass
• SPF of sunscreens only measures UVB blockage
• More carcinogenic than UVA
• Sunburns the skin
• Needed for Vitamin D production

Sunscreen Use

Key Points:

• Broad spectrum only should be used.
• SPF is only related to UVB protection and does not provide a reference to the UVA protection in the product.
• All sunscreens will have UVB protection, which is reflected in the SPF.
• If a skin sunburns in 10 minutes, a properly applied sunscreen SPF 15 means they will burn in 150minutes
• Physical screens reflect light whereas chemical screens absorb UV converting the energy into heat
• SPF15 blocks 87.5% of UVB and SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB.

Treating Cuts at Home in 5 Easy Steps

We all get cuts and scrapes from time to time, so here are some basic steps to make sure you are decreasing the chance of infection and minimizing scarring:

Step 1: Stop the bleeding

The first priority is to stop the wound from bleeding. This is done by applying firm pressure to the wound using a cloth or towel.

Step 2: Clean the wound

Cleaning the wound is important to minimize the risk of infection and scarring. First rinse the wound with clean water, removing any dirt, gravel or glass. Clean the wound next with sterile gauze.

Step 3: Prevent infection

The best way to prevent infection is to apply a topical antibiotic to the wound and cover it with a dressing. Studies show that applying a topical antibiotic can promote healing in eight days, as opposed to 13 days for wounds left untreated.

Step 4: Close the wound

You can promote healing and minimize the potential for scarring by covering the wound. Scientific studies show that keeping an injured area moist:

• Encourages new tissue to grow
• Decreases the chance of infection
• Reduces scarring
• Lowers the chance of further injury to the cut or scrape
• If the cut is small enough, simply cover the cut with a bandage or dressing after following steps Step 1 through Step 3

Options for closing wounds

There are many ways to close wounds, and the best option will depend on the type and severity of the wound itself.

• Skinstrips are tape—like strips that hold the skin together. These are appropriate for small cuts.
• Stitches (or sutures) are used for deeper cuts. The stitches are used to sew the edges of the cut together.
• Steri-strips are used to close wounds on the face in those instances where stitches may leave a scar. Steri-strips or butterfly strips are thin and sticky, and usually fall off after a few days.
• Skin glue is a special adhesive that sticks together the edges of the wound and seals the skin for protection. Skin glue is not as effective on areas where there is a significant amount of skin movement.
• A liquid bandage forms a seal over the affected area. A significant advantage is that it can be used in areas that are difficult for an ordinary bandage to stay on. The seal is waterproof, promotes healing and helps protect against infection.

Step 5: When to seek medical help

Call your doctor if:

• If the wound is deep, the edges are torn, if fat protrudes from it, if the wound is over half an inch long, if it’s a puncture or if it is a gaping wound, you may need stitches
• You are unable to remove dirt, debris, dead tissue, or stop the
• The wound is on the face, eyelids, lips, or neck as you may need medical attention to help prevent scarring
• A tetanus shot is required

By Richard Thomas, MD, FRCPC

Melasma Facts

Melasma is a common increase of pigmentation that occurs exclusively in sun-exposed areas, in particular on the face. (Read Sun Damage for more information.)

• It is much more common in women between the ages of 20-40
• Melasma is less common in older women, and is seldom seen in women taking estrogen replacement therapy.
• Melasma rarely affects men.
• Melasma is more of a problem in people who have relatively dark skin to begin with, and because melasma is made worse by sun exposure it tends to be more of a problem in the spring and summer.
• Melasma can be a particular problem for people in the service industry, where personal appearance can affect the amount of tips earned and can also affect gross sales by servers.

Melasma usually causes three different patterns of symmetrical pigmentation on the face, affecting most commonly the central face (cheeks, forehead, upper lip, nose, and chin); or less commonly the cheeks and nose, or the cheeks and jaw line. Melasma also can cause patches of pigmentation on the forearms, but this is rare.

There is no special diet, health food, vitamin, “magic lotion” which is useful for the treatment of melasma or other forms of facial pigmentation, and time and money should not be wasted on those things.

Melasma usually improves - sometimes to a great extent - in response to the faithful use a high-SPF, broad-spectrum sunscreen like Anthelios® SPF60 every morning and Lustra® (the best of the fading creams) at night. Sun protection needs to be continued long-term in order to reduce the risk of relapse of melasma. Severe cases can be treated with a prescription for the mixture of 4 parts Anthelios® SPF60 sunscreen with 1 part Tazorac® 0.05% cream every morning, and Lustra® cream at night.

In some cases, improvement in melasma and other forms of facial pigmentation can be speeded up with intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments, in particular by the Cutera 600 IPL which is optimized for the reduction in unwanted facial pigment. Sun avoidance and using a sunscreen every day are essential steps to preventing melasma.

Dermabrasion Basics

Dermabrasion is one of three commonly used office-based surgical skin resurfacing and rejuvenation procedures. The technique takes its origin from ancient Egypt in 1500 B.C. where healers used a form of sandpaper to even out scars. Today the technique has seen over 3500 years of evolution.

Dermabrasion mechanically removes the most superficial layers of the skin and allows your skins normal healing properties to rejuvenate the skin itself. It is designed to reduce or remove moderate wrinkles, fine lines, skin blemishes, and uneven skin surfaces. In addition to wrinkle treatment, the technique has been used to treat acne scars, hide or camouflage surgical or traumatic scars and in select cases to remove precancerous lesions.

Microdermabrasion is not the same treatment as dermabrasion and will not be discussed further than this paragraph. Microdermabrasion is a much more superficial and thus a less dramatic rejuvenation procedure with little to no recovery period. Being a more mild procedure than dermabrasion, multiple treatments of micordermabrasion are often required and may never achieve the same degree of rejuvenation as traditional dermabrasion. Microdermabrasion uses a device that sprays a fine beam of aluminum oxide microcrystals to superficially peel the skin surface while simultaneously removing the tissue debris. As microdermabrasion is not as invasive a procedure, non-medical personnel offer this treatment through many spas and clinics.

Skin rejuvenation can also be performed with lasers or chemical peels. These modalities will not be discussed in this section. The use of fillers and Botox® will be discussed in other sections in the guide.

CAUTIONS

Patients with darker skin complexions (Fitzpatrick skin types III to VI) may experience permanent skin discoloration or blotchiness with dermabrasion procedures. Patients of African, Asian and Hispanic descent should specifically be cautioned about skin discoloration.

PRE-TREATMENT CARE

Patients with a history of oral herpes infections should be placed on oral acyclovir prior to this treatment to avoid a herpes flare or extension of the condition following dermabrasion.

THE PROCEDURE

Dermabrasion is performed in an out-patient (often office) setting under local anesthesia. Full-face dermabrasion is performed under conscious sedation or general anesthesia, often with the assistance of an anesthetist. A small motorized hand piece rotates a wire brush or diamond fraise at speeds of 15,000 to 30,000 rpm. Skilled manipulation of the rotating brush or fraise removes the upper layers of skin in the areas requiring treatment. This results in a raw, open, partial thickness (through skin) wound that heals by epithelialization of the surface of the skin in a relatively short period of time. Initially the small pinpoint bleeding of the raw wound may be alarming but will subside rapidly with appropriate wound care.

THE RECOVERY

The recovery following dermabrasion skin resurfacing is approximately 2-3 weeks. Early post-operative pain is controlled with prescription medications for the first few days. Most patients require only over-the-counter medications or are comfortable without pain medication within days of the procedure. The skin may weep for the first 10-12 days but eventually stops as the surface layers of the skin are restored. Redness of the treated area is a normal part of recovery and disappears within 3-4 weeks of the procedure. Complete sun avoidance on the treated area must be observed until the redness in the skin has disappeared. Remember good sun protection should still be observed well after the healing period, as it was likely the sun damage to your skin that has driven you to seek this form of treatment in the first place.

Make-up can be used to cover the early skin discoloration once the skin has healed. Please ask your physician or surgeon for directions on when make-up can be used safely.

COMPLICATIONS

A discussion of potential complications is essential with every discussion about a surgical procedure. It is important to know that although complications from surgery are possible they are not common. Some possible complications associated with a dermabrasion are listed into both early and late complications.

Author: Dr. Bryce J Cowan BSc MSc MD PhD FRCS(C)
Plastic, Reconstructive, Mohs & Aesthetic Surgeon

Your Skin And The Effects Of The Sun

Sun damage of the skin, also known as photo damage can be either acute, as in a sunburn or more commonly, chronic, seen as gradual changes in the skin caused by an accumulation of sun exposure throughout one’s life. Chronic photo damage results in either a cosmetic change in the skin’s appearance called photo aging, or changes that are of medical and health concerns such as pre-cancerous lesions and skin cancers. The evidence is very strong that ultra-violet light is the cause of most of the changes that we consider to be associated with aging of the skin.

Sunshine, although essential for health and well being, is certainly a hazard for the skin. For many people it feels good to spend time outdoors and this makes it difficult to avoid excessive exposure to the sun. Most of the sun exposure we accumulate throughout our lives, is thought to be the effect of multiple short periods of time outside. If the ozone depletion continues this may also increase our lifetime exposure.

Those living in sunny areas are clearly at risk for photo damage, as are those with occupations that require working outdoors. Activities such as skiing, sailing, and gardening can contribute to chronic photo damage. Even one-time sun exposure, causing a tan, results in damage to the skin. There is no such thing as a ’safe’ tan.

Individuals with fair skin are clearly at greater risk although sun damage can occur in all skin types. Tanning studios are popular amongst many and this also adds to an accumulation of photo damage.

Smoking is another environmental factor that contributes to premature aging of the skin. Early recognition of sun damage will provide a better chance of reversal of the cosmetic appearance as well as reducing the number of skin cancers.

Is it Acne or Folliculitis?

Folliculitis is an infection of the hair follicle that is most commonly bacterial, but can occasionally be caused by a fungus. It can be either superficial in the follicle or deep in the skin.

There are also forms of folliculitis which are non-infectious such as those caused by tars, oils and greases that come into contact with the skin.

When, Where, And Who Gets Folliculitis?

Superficial staphylococcal folliculitis is quite common and is seen in people of all ages. It is probably more common in those who have eczema and diabetes. You might see it on your face, scalp, upper trunk, buttocks, or as a sty on your eyelids.

Deeper staphylococcal folliculitis is uncommon and may be seen as boil-like lesions in diabetics. There is also a condition called sycosis, which is a pustular folliculitis, particularly in the bearded area of men.

Gram-negative folliculitis is only rarely seen, usually on the face of those who have been taking antibiotics on a long-term basis for acne. Gram-negative folliculitis is most often seen in people who have been in a hot tub or whirlpool that has been contaminated by the bacteria pseudomonas.

Fungal Folliculitis:

Trichophyton folliculitis is mostly seen in women who shave their legs, presumably spreading this from their athlete’s foot fungal infection.

Pityrosporum folliculitis is usually located on the upper back and shoulder of young people. It is more common in individuals who are immunosuppressed.

Candida folliculitis can be seen on the scalp and in occluded moist areas, such as under the breasts and in the groin areas of people who are obese.

Lab Tests:

Swabbing the skin, then sending it to a laboratory for bacterial and yeast cultures will confirm the infection.

A skin biopsy may be required to confirm deep fungal of yeast folliculitis.

Blood sugar tests and/or HIV testing should be done for those who have repeated infections or an infection that does not have the typical symptoms

What Can I Do About My Folliculitis?

Self help:

Good hygiene with regular hand washing is a must to minimize the risk of staph infections. Keeping your skin healthy and avoiding factors that can over-dry your skin, causing it to crack should be avoided. Picking and squeezing the skin causes minor damage, which in turn makes it easier for infection to set in. A skin that is clean and intact with no abrasions or sites of friction or irritation is less likely to become infected. In some circumstances, there may be a role for antibacterial cleansers. Hot tubs need to be checked regularly for pH and antiseptic levels.

Medical treatment:

If you think you have folliculitis, the most important thing for you to do is to see your doctor in order to confirm the diagnosis, so that you can seek folliculitis treatment. Ideally, the organism causing the infection should be identified and its sensitivity to antibiotics should be established.

Sometimes, your doctor will treat an infection based on his or her clinical suspicion, especially if the appearance is typical.

Bacterial folliculitis can be caused by the following bacteria

• Staphylococcus aureus
• Gram-negative bacteria

Pseudomonas (hot tub folliculitis)

• E. coli
• Klebsiella
• Fungal /yeast folliculitis
• Candida albicans
• Pityrosporum ovale
• Trichophyton rubrum

Topical treatments:

Topical antibiotics and antifungal creams to treat staphylococcal folliculitis:

The choice of folliculitis treatment will depend on the cause of the infection as well as how deep and extensive it is. Topical antibiotics should be used in the short term to minimize the risks of bacterial resistance.

Topical antibiotics can clear superficial localized infections. The affected area should be treated with the appropriate cream or ointment two or three times a day. Chronic staph can be carried inside the nose, and can be a factor if the infection recurs. In such a case, nightly application of the ointment inside the nose will clear the reservoir of the bacteria. Oral antibiotics will be required if there is an inadequate response.

1) Fusidic acid:

Fusidic acid is an antimicrobial that was isolated by Godtfredsen, et al, in Europe from the fermentation of Fusidium Coccineum. It was introduced into clinical practice in 1926, as an oral drug. About twenty years later, it was introduced in Canada as a topical drug.

How do I use this medication?

Fusidic acid is available both as a cream and as an ointment. You should apply it thinly on to the infected area 3-4 times daily.

How does it work?

Fusidic acid inhibits protein synthesis in the bacteria and without that capacity, the bacteria will die. The topical formulation penetrates a damaged, infected horny layer better than intact skin. It is related to the cephalosporin, an antibiotic produced by Cephalosporium, a genus of fungi.

Will there be side effects?

Side effects from the topical preparations are very uncommon. There have been no human tests done during pregnancy and lactation, but there have been no adverse reports.

Can I take other medications?

There are no interactions from the topical formulation of fusidic acid.

Which brands are available?

• Fucidin® 2% cream and ointment available as well as Fucidin HCl®, which is combined with 1% hydrocortisone acetate
• Fucidin Intertulle® - impregnated into a gauze
• IV, tablets and oral suspension (250mg/5ml) are available, IM and subcutaneous administrations are too irritating

2) Mupirocin:

A natural product of Pseudomonas fluorescens that has antibacterial actions against gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus and Streptoccus. It has some activity against gram-negative organisms. It is inactive against anaerobic bacteria chlamydia and fungi.

How do I use this medication?

Mupirocin is available both as a cream and an ointment. You should apply it thinly on the affected area 3 times a day for up to 10 days. It may be used on all ages except for in the USA where the Bactroban nasal ointment is not recommended for children under the age of 12.

How well does it work?

Mupirocin is easy to apply and is very effective against the common skin pathogens such as Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. It works well for impetigo as well as bacterial folliculitis. The incidence of resistance remains low. For localized impetigo it works as well as oral antibiotics in 90% of cases. It is not effective against Pseudomonas or fungi. It is useful in the treatment of chronic Staph carriage in the anterior nares (nose).

How does it work?

It is unlike other antibiotics in that it inhibits bacterial isoleucyl transfer-RNA synthetase blocking protein synthesis. It is bacteriostatic at low concentrations and bacteriocidal at high concentration. There is virtually no systemic absorption via intact skin and anything that is becomes metabolized to monic acid and quickly removed by the kidneys.

Will there be side effects?

Local:

Dry skin, swelling, burning pain itch and rash. The effects are usually mild. Allergic reactions are rare. Polyethylene glycol will be irritating if the ointment is used around the eyes.

Systemic:

Renal toxicity from absorption of the polyethylene glycol vehicle (ointment only) if large amounts are used in open wounds or burns.

Which brands are available?

• Bactroban ointment 2% mupirocin (polyethylene glycol base)
• Bactroban cream 2% mupirocin (oil-water based emulsion)
• Bactroban Nasal - for the nose and is in a white paraffin/glycerin base (not available in Canada)

What conditions are treated by this medication?

• Skin staphyococcal infections including impetigo, folliculitis, burns, and wounds
• It is also used to treat streptococcal infections

Acne and Ingredients to Avoid

Acne is not a new problem; people have been suffering from it for many thousands of years. In ancient Egypt for instance, oils were often used to soften and smooth the skin. It is only in recent times that people have begun to use acne creams made of chemical ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, among others. These can not only have unwanted side effects, like the drying of healthy skin or the bleaching of clothing, but can be very costly.

It’s no mystery that our grandmothers seemed to know best. When it comes to health and skin, the more natural the ingredient, the better. Of course, there are times when natural remedies may not be as effective and that is Ok. However, just be aware of the natural options you have first, before you waste a lot of money on another product that doesn’t work. Many people today discovering the old-world secrets in caring for their bodies more naturally, and are turning to natural and herbal remedies, such as the following simple ‘kitchen cures’.

Acne Remedy #1: Make a paste of nutmeg powder and milk, and apply to your face in a thin layer. Leave on for up to an hour, or even overnight.

Acne Remedy #2: Take an orange peel and leave it to dry, and then grind it to a powder. Mix with water and apply directly to the pimple.

Acne Remedy #3: Applying garlic directly to a pimple can also be a great remedy, as garlic is a natural disinfectant.

Acne Remedy #4: Mix a spoonful each of fresh lemon juice and cinnamon. Apply to the acne overnight for several nights in a row to be effective.

Acne Remedy #5: Take fresh leaves of fenugreek and grind to make an acne remedy that is also said to be effective in reducing wrinkles. It should be left on for only fifteen minutes.

Acne Remedy #6: Papaya juice, which is high in natural enzymes, makes a wonderful acne solution all on its own.

Acne Remedy #7: Boil a cup of milk, and then allow to cool to room temperature, and add a spoonful of limejuice to make a acne face wash.

Acne Remedy #8: Mix rosewater, cucumber juice and lime juice in equal amounts. Apply to clean face and leave on overnight.

Chemical skin care ingredients you should avoid if you are acne-prone or have oily skin in combination with acne:
• Butyl stearate
• Cinnamon Oil
• Isotearyl isostearate
• Cocoa butter
• Jojoba oil
• Coconut oil
• Decyl oleate
• Myristyl myristate
• Myristyl propionate
• Octyl palminate
• Octyl stearate
• Peppermint Oil
• Isopropyl stearate
• Isopropyl, isostearate, myristate or palmitate

Try several of these natural remedies and see which one is best for you, be aware that it can take several days to have an effect. Make sure you use clean spoons and dishes to mix your remedies, and remember to wash your face as usual in between treatments.

Do Facials Help With Wrinkles?

You may have seen an infomercial on television or come across an ad on the internet that claims their product will completely diminish your wrinkles. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If a product really had the capability to get rid of deep wrinkles 100%, you would hear it all over the news and it would probably be on Oprah.

This is not to say that absolutely no wrinkle treatment will ever work. You just need to remember that there is no magic treatment. The best way to have great skin is by preventing. Protect your skin from the sun and take care of it both inside and out. Think about it, what if you had put on SPF 30 sunblock every 2 hours everyday of your life since the day you were born? You would probably look years younger and possibly have not a wrinkle in site!

Now I’m sure you haven’t put on that much sunblock. Chances are since you’re reading this article, you already have wrinkles and aging skin and you are looking for something to help get rid of them. You want to know, do facial wrinkle treatments really work? Some treatments work, some don’t. Some treatments do what they say, some don’t. You want to find the treatments that don’t promise the world and that deliver.

Next to daily SPF, the next best thing you can do for your wrinkles is moisturize. You should use a moisturizer with an SPF of 15 or higher in the morning and use a night cream in the evening. Another important way to keep your skin hydrated is by drinking enough water. You hear it time and again to drink enough water because it’s important and helps so many things.

In addition to washing and moisturizing your face, you can add an occasional peel. A peel removes the dead skins cells from your face and a layer of skin to reveal your most beautiful skin possible. It will give you a glow if you have a quality product. If a peel seems too expensive or harsh, you could use a facial scrub, but you won’t get the same effect. If anything, I would suggest a less frequent peel supplemented by scrubs. Also, don’t go crazy with peels because they are abrasive.

Finally, there are all the “Anti-Aging” products. You can find lotions, serums, toners, and just about anything that claims to diminish wrinkles. Some products work for some people and not others. You really need to do some of your own experimenting. If you have dry skin look for a nice moisturizing anti-aging lotion. Stay away from things you know you are allergic to and keep an eye on ingredients that don’t work before buying another product. Give every product at least a week or two, unless you are reacting badly to it, before you give it up and move on. It takes some time for most products to produce results.

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