How Skin Tone Triggers Fine Lines
November 29, 2007 by RLuve
Filed under Eye Wrinkles
Skin tone undoubtedly impacts the appearance of eye wrinkles. In fact, your skin color controls your ability to resist sun damage and recover from irritation or inflammation. It also dictates the type of treatments used to effectively eliminate or reduce wrinkles.
Fair skin. Fair-skinned people are far more susceptible to skin damage, fine lines and wrinkles caused by sun exposure. While cosmetic procedures such as a face-lift can dramatically improve the skin’s firmness, it can’t improve the skin’s texture. All a facelift will do is pull lines and wrinkles into a new position.
By contrast, antioxidant therapy can help improve the actual health of the skin as well as slow the development of fine lines. A good antitoxidant therapy includes high potency products such as alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and vitamin-C-ester. Topical vitamin-C-ester, an antioxidant, can help increase the skin’s production of collagen, thereby helping to thicken the skin.
Brown Skin. Brown skinned people are less likely to sustain sun damage and more likely to remain smooth and wrinkle-free longer. Some evidence suggests that brown skin is more elastic and tends to stay firmer longer. Brown skin best tolerates treatment with alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), a group of natural acids derived from fruit, milk and other natural substances that work as a gentle exfoliant. Equally important to note is that surgical procedures on brown skin may cause uneven pigmentation. Products such as Retin-A (an acidic form of vitamin A) and Renova (which contains the Retin-A molecule but in a very mild base) that work well to fade lines and wrinkles on fair skin, can discolor brown skin if not used in the right strength.
Light Brown or Yellow Skin. In the middle of the color spectrum lies light brown or yellow skin. These skin tones are more resistant to sun damage than fair skin and are susceptible to fewer wrinkles.
A regimen of alpha lipoic acid cream containing DMAE with 15% vitamin-C-ester can reduce wrinkles and puffiness around the eyes for medium-skinned people. Adhering to a healthy diet that hydrates the skin is helpful in avoiding problems with sallow skin tone. Specificallly, drinking 8-10 glasses of water per day and eating plenty of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables are important for healthy skin.
Popularity: 7% [?]
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5 Ways To Prevent Eye Wrinkles
Sun damage is the leading cause of wrinkled skin. In fact, many experts agree that wrinkles are the direct cumulative result of decades of unprotected sun exposure, rather than aging itself. Ultraviolet (UV) rays penetrate the skin, invading the normally sturdy layers below and eventually destroying collagen and elastin. Collagen makes your skin firm and youthfully plump. Elastin gives skin resiliency and keeps expression lines from forming into creases and wrinkles.
No matter what your age, you can help prevent further sun damage by using a strong sunscreen, that absorbs ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) rays. UVB, the burning rays, are more prevalent in the summer and strongest at midday. UVA rays reach the earth year-round and in greater amounts. La Roche-Posay Anthelios SX is currently one of the most effective sun protection creams on the market because it contains Mexoryl SX, an active sun filter.
To get the most from your sunscreen (see product review for Athelios SX), use the following guidelines:
- Stay away from midday sun. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest.
- Put sunscreen on early. Apply a sunscreen at least 30 minutes before you go out to allow it to penetrate your skin’s top layer, and 15 minutes before you apply makeup.
- Don’t be stingy. Use an amount about the size of a marble to cover your entire face.
- Hide your eyes. Wear sunglasses that block as much ultraviolet light as possible.
- Go undercover. Stay in shady areas, wear a brimmed hat to protect your scalp and further shield your eyes.
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Oprah On Skin Care
If you haven’t already heard, last week Oprah revealed her favorite things for 2007. Among the list were the following skin and body care products:
- Claus Porto Soaps from Lafco New York
- Kai Body Butter & Body Buffer
Of particular note is the CLARISONIC Skin Care System which is touted to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. For further information, check out the full product review.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Antioxidants: Your Armor Against Aging
When it comes to aging, free radicals are public enemy number one. Our cells use oxygen to produce energy. In the process, they generate free radicals - unstable oxygen molecules created during basic metabolic functions as circulation and digestion. Free radicals are also produced by sunlight, by toxins such as pesticides, and by cigarette smoke and air pollution. Most free radicals encountered in our bodies, however, come from oxygen. They are an unavoidable by-product of daily living.
Free radicals can damage virtually every part of a cell, including the nucleus, where DNA, the body’s unique genetic blueprint, is produced. If they connect with collagen molecules in our skin, the result is that the collagen becomes damaged. When the collagen becomes damaged, the skin gets discolored and stiff and loses elasticity. The end result is that free radicals sap our skin of its youthful appearance.
Fortunately, our bodies have developed a defense system for fighting free radicals. This defense system is powered by antioxidants. Antioxidants join with free radicals to prevent them from latching on to the various components of other cells. Essentially, antioxidants work by making the free radical harmless.
The most power antioxidants are vitamins such as E, C and beta-carotene. Others, however, occur naturally inside the human body. Our inability to fight free radical damage occurs when our bodies are out of balance. In other words, when free radicals are produced in circumstances such as prolonged exposure to sunlight or ingestion of toxins such as cigarette smoke, the body’s antioxidant system can be overwhelmed and the free radicals move about unchecked. Known as oxidative stress, supplementing the body’s supply of antioxidants can, however, keep this situation to a minimum, or at least slow it down considerably.
What we eat is the first step in keeping an adequate supply of antioxidants in our body. Include an array of colorful, pigmented fruits and vegetables in your diet every day. Recommended vegetables include broccoli, spinach, kale, brussel sprouts and other dark, leafy greens. And recommended fruits include blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, blackberries, and goji berries.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Cosmetic Surgery At Its Worst
November 15, 2007 by RLuve
Filed under Cosmetic Surgery, News
It saddens my heart to hear of the death of Donda West, mother of superstar recording artist Kanye West, following cosmetic surgery. Donda West was a 58 year old former chairwoman of Chicago State University’s English department, who had been managing her son’s career since 2004. She recently released a book entitled Raising Kanye: Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip-Hop Superstar.
On Friday, November 9, Donda West underwent surgery for a tummy tuck and a breast reduction. Although reports claim that surgery was not a factor, she stopped breathing the following day and was transported to the hospital where she was later pronounced dead. While there is much speculation regarding the cause of death, it is difficult to ignore what likely caused her complications. Incidents similar to this one are routinely reported year after year, yet there appear to be no signs that elective cosmetic surgery has gone out of style. Or, more importantly, that the risks are deadly. Instead the process is glamorized and brings about the likes of reality tv shows and other mediums designed to provide a false since of hope, at best.
One medium, however, has responded. The Discovery Health cable network has pulled the series “Plastic Surgery: Before and After” from its lineup. The show was hosted by Donda West’s surgeon, Dr. Jan Adams. But wait, the final episode of that show aired back in June, after a five year stint. Gee, that was a novel idea.
Now many of you may be thinking that the risks of cosmetic surgery are too low to spark major concern. For some, that may be true. But why play russian roulette with your life? This becomes particularly disturbing given some of the areas people elect to have cosmetic surgery on. Take a listen to the folks over at The View.
Bottom line: life is about choices. Whether a tummy tuck or removal of wrinkles and fine lines, surgery is surgery and comes with risks. Before making that choice, consider alternatives that work from the inside out. Proper diet and exercise are always a good start. And, there’s nothing wrong with working with what your mama gave ya….
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