Keratosis & Make Up

Keratosis is just one of the skin conditions that intend to ruin our appearances as we get older. It is mainly caused by overexposure to sunlight, particularly its ultra violet (UV) rays. However this sun damage does not happen overnight, instead it does so over an extended period of time spent in the sun. But can we really avoid the sun? No, we cannot.

Still, trying to prevent keratosis might be worth doing. You may not be able to hide from the sun but you can be smart. You should avoid being in the sun when it is most intense; between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Wearing sunscreen with an SPF factor of 30 or above is very important in protecting yourself against sun damage or keratosis.

Having someone stare at your keratosis can be quite uncomfortable. It can be found in the face, upper arms and back, and occurs when there is a build-up of keratin in the skin. Keratin is the structural component found in the outer layer of the skin. This component is important to having healthy skin, hair and nails. Keratosis appears slightly raised above the skin; rough and scaly in texture. If you ask me, this could really create a stare.

Nevertheless, since your keratosis may cause you some amount of embarrassment, you may want to cover them up. Though they are not contagious, in spite of their unsightly look, some may have this perception. But supposedly, you can’t afford the laser treatments right now, there some beauty fixes that will cover a birthmark, a tattoo or even your keratosis.

The secret my friends, is in the make-up, medical or corrective as it is sometimes called. This kind of make up is very thick and hence will be able to cover any scars or lesions which are raised above the skin, such as keratosis.  Although thick, it is easily applied and blends well into the skin. It is also long-lasting and will not rub off on your clothing. The best part, its waterproof; so if you have decided against treating your keratosis then covering it with make up is the next best option.

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Age Spots Removal

Age spots are small patches of pigmentation that occur on the skin as a result of exposure to the sun. The skin will develop colored spots on parts of the body that gets exposed to direct sunlight. This means that they can appear on the legs, arms, shoulders and the most common, the face. Thus age spots removal is the next thing in mind. The color of the spots will largely depend on the melanin levels in one’s skin though cases have shown that people with lighter melanin hue tend to get affected most. Dark skinned people rarely do suffer from age spots and if they do it is not that highly spread on the skin and again note very noticeable too. For the light skinned however, this is not the case. They do face this problem especially so for the ageing group of “40 plus years”.  This coloration does pose a challenge to those who seek effective ways of removing age spots.

Since these spots are medically known to be harmless and painless one should not result to measures of age spots removal that will cause damage to the skin. As harmless as they may be termed, removing liver spots is a medical procedure that should be checked and done under the supervision of a doctor. Going to see a skin specialist is usually the best thing one should do. The specialist will tell you what would be effective in ensuring that age spot removal from your skin is done and no harm befalls you while at it. This is very vital especially due to the fact that people tend to have different skin textures and types meaning that what ever method used in age spots removal on one person will not necessarily be effective on another. Upon identification of the skin type and texture, ways of addressing the age spot problem are much easier to be sort for.

Age spot removal methods usually fall under to classes: the modern medical method and the natural conventional method.  Modern medical age spot removal methods will see the use of creams that when applied will basically bleach age spots. There are also other more advanced modern methods that employ surgical technique of laser to remove age spots. The natural age spot removal methods are usually centered on food. Having a good knowledge of nutritional elements in certain foods or plants is what is used to determine remedies for age spots removal. Using natural method in dealing with age spots  or liver spots at they are also called, is by far a risk free affair as compared to the modern methods.  It is also a much cheaper age spots removal measure as compare to that of modern medicines.

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Pigmentation & Hydroquinone

Hydroquinone is a chemical found in many cream treatments for pigmentation problems. It is used to whiten the skin as a treatment of hyper-pigmentation. Hydroquinone is used as a treatment for darkened skin areas such as freckles, age spots, brown spots and melasma. It is also used by people with darker skin types to lighten the skin. Hydroquinone works by decreasing the production of melanin pigment in the skin cells. While hydroquinone is an effective lightening agent, it is also potentially harmful. The use of hydroquinone is banned in some countries, including South Africa, Japan and the member states of the European Union. In 2006 the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revoked its previous approval of hydroquinone, proposing to ban all over the counter preparations containing the chemical. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has also highlighted concerns. Potential side effects of the use of hydroquinone include exogenous ochronosis, in which blue-black pigmentation occurs to the skin. It may also be carcinogenic and may cause cancer athought this is not confirmed. Hydroquinone can cause skin sensitivity and can thin the skin.

In the United States, topical treatments usually contain up to 2% hydroquinone. If you choose to apply an over-the-counter bleaching cream containing hydroquinone to your pigmentation problem areas, ensure you use it only as directed. Otherwise, higher concentrations (up to 4%) should be prescribed and used with caution. Bleaching creams with a higher percentage of hydroquinone such as Glyquin, Lustra and Melanex are available in the USA with a prescription. However, some physicians do not recommend hydroquinone products to their patients. Some creams on the online market can contain 6% hydroquinone.

Be very cautious when using hydroquinone, as the condition of hypo-pigmentation –the loss of color the affected area – that can result from the use of this chemical can be more disfiguring and even harder to treat than hyper-pigmentation. Creams containing hydroquinone in any percentage should be tried on a small patch of skin first to see how it interacts with the skin. Hydroquinone is sometimes combined with alpha hydroxy acids that exfoliate the skin to quicken the lightening process. Products often contain sunblock to minimize sun exposure as well. Despite concerns for the safety of hydroquinone in the use of pigmentation disorders, recent clinical studies have found that using a hydroquinone based cream alongside a broad spectrum SPF sunblock daily can be a very effective, non-irritating method for effectively treating pigmentation disorders. However, the uncertainty as to the safety of hydroquinone has prompted an exploration of the use of other ingredients in skin lightening creams. Companies are now investing in research and development of new products that even pigmentation without the use of hydroquinone.

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Pigmentation On The Face

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Will Liver Spots Come Back?

Liver Spots is a skin condition that is mostly due to the prolonged exposure of the skin to the harmful ultra violet rays of the sun. This kind exposure normally leads to the uneven and irregular production of melanin in the skin and that is why this condition is most common in old people who have spent a large chunk of their lives under the scorching rays of the sun.

Liver spots can also be caused by infections to the liver. There are two main types of infections in this- bacterial and viral infections. The bacterial infections are mostly due to contaminated food or water and dark spots on the skin are a symptom of a damaged liver due to this. The viral infection, on the other hand, is usually transmitted through blood transfusion or via sexual intercourse. In this case too, brown spots on the skin are a symptom of a damaged liver due to this.

There are many ways to get rid of liver spots. In fact, most of the methods are very effective in completely eliminating all the blotches and dark spots on the skin. However, what most people are not sure of is whether the spots will actually come back.

So, you have successfully managed to get rid of liver spots, but will liver spots come back? The answer to this is probably yes, but this depends on a number of factors. The first one is the type of treatment used, it may be a simple case of requiring another top up treatment. There is a wide range of treatments like creams, light therapy, laser therapy, herbal methods etc that people can choose from. However, there are still a significant number of people who do not know the effectiveness of the individual methods and they end up using the less effective removal methods. Such methods, due to their inefficiency, may cause irritation on the skin and cannot prevent the liver spots from coming back. Alternatively, the reappearance of liver spots may be new ones – as the damage which causes liver spots is accumulated over many years once the damage is done it cannot be reversed and you will need to treat liver spots as they appear rather than prevent them.

It is therefore highly advisable to learn the pros and cons of each treatment method before employing it. This can be done by researching widely or better still, consulting a dermatologist.

The other factor that determines if the liver spots re-appear on the skin or not, is the care taken by the patient on the skin during and after treatment. Different treatment methods have different instructions or guidelines. It is important for one to strictly adhere to the instruction in order to completely remove the spots and prevent their re-appearance.

It is also important for people who have had liver spots in the past to take great care of their skin. This involves avoiding long exposure to the sun’s rays and the constant use of sun screen to shield the skin from the ultra violet rays.

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Treatments For Seborrheic Keratosis

Seborrheic keratosis is one of the most common types of noncancerous skin growths or infections and is common in older or middle aged adults. Although the infection may resemble skin cancer it is not cancerous. The infection usually appears in form of growths which range from brown to black and they grow on the neck, chest, back, trunk, head, shoulders, and the face region of the affected patient. The available treatments for Seborrheic Keratosis may either be natural home remedies or done in the hospital, by a professional. However they may require no treatment but you may consider having them removed due to various reasons like cosmetic reasons or your own body beauty, if they become irritated, and if they bleed because of being rubbed against by the clothing.

The following are the various treatment options that will clear the spots and give a fresh new look:

• Freezing the growths with liquid nitrogen otherwise known as cryosurgery. This is a very effective method of treating seborrheic keratosis; however it may not work on large and thick growths and may lighten the treated area of the skin a condition called hypopigmentation.
• Vaporizing the growths with a laser, a process commonly known as ablation. There are many and different types of laser treatments. Your doctor may apply pigment to the growth to assist him/her concentrate the laser light and be more effective.
• Using Hydrogen Peroxide. Hydrogen Peroxide with a concentration of between 23 to 80% can be used to help reduce the appearance of Seborrheic Keratosis spots. Use a small brush or a cotton swab to apply the solution directly on the spots, the solution will burn out the spots by first turning them white then pink and finally there will remain scabs on the spots. The skin area around the growth should be taken care of by being precise when applying the solution so as to prevent them from being burnt which will cause an intensive irritation. You may also apply lotion or a moisturizer to protect the area around the spot.
• Burning the growths with an electric current and this is known as electrocautery. The method may leave scars on the skin if it is not done properly or carefully, and it may take much more time as compared with the other treatment methods. It may be used alone or combined with a curettage which scraps off the growths from the skin.

If it is the first time you are using home remedy, it is advisable that you start by applying on one specific or a small section maybe the back. Do not apply the solution to the whole body. This method will give you a chance to assess how the solution works on your skin and its effects.

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Keratosis Home Remedies

If you are in the habit of checking yourself for anything abnormal, and finding something such as a spot, mole or blemish, you probably should check it out. You may have a skin condition called keratosis. Keratosis is a form of skin condition that is very common amongst persons of all skin types; though mostly found in fair skinned people. As a matter of fact, there are several forms of keratosis disorder: actinic or solar, pilaris which often resembles acne, hydrocarbon which is caused by exposure to certain chemical compounds, specifically ‘polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons’ (PAHs) found in primarily in coal and tar deposits, and seborrheic keratosis which is non-cancerous, harmless.

Persons with keratosis pilaris need not worry about dermatologist fees or even money for medicines; this disease sometimes clear up by itself. However, there are simple home remedies that you can use to treat the condition if you are not comfortable with the way it looks. Since pilaries is caused from a hypersentivity reaction to dry skin. It is important to take special care of the skin.

Moisturizing daily and using non harsh soaps can help the skin to keep hydrated and keep keratosis at bay. The use of cleansers with gentle exfoliated beads should help in sloughing off the dead skin cells, improve circulation and hydrate the skin.

Next, having a balanced diet is the key to preventing most skin disorders. After all, you are what you eat, and for that reason you should make an effort to increase your intake of important foods such as fruits and vegetables. Omega-3 foods such as salmon, cod, walnuts and flax seeds are also essential. Vitamin C which aids the growth and repair of tissue in the body creates an important protein which used to make skin, tendons and ligaments. Bear in mind keratosis occurs as a result of abnormal build-up of keratin, a key protein the formation of hair and nails, on the skin.

Vitamin D, which the body makes when the skin is directly exposed to the sun is also very beneficial to the skin and can be found in foods such as cheese, butter, cream and fortified milk. Be careful though, continued exposure to the sun can lead to the development of keratosis.

Whatever form of this skin condition you may have, there are some keratosis home remedies you can try to treat it or prevent it. But, whatever it is, it will not cost you anything extra.

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Age Spots & Lemon Juice

Age spots otherwise known as solar lentigines, are patches of brown or black discoloration on the face, arms and forehead; also on the scalp of men who are bald. They tend to appear anywhere after the age of 40 and particularly if you are over exposed to the sun’s UV rays. If you were always one to wear protective gear, then your age spots may not appear until long after or none at all. These blemishes are not contagious though they tend to look that way sometimes. Age spots are quite curable, even with natural ingredients such as lemon juice.

If you heard that you could use lemon juice to treat age spots would you believe it? Well, lemon juice is a popular household name, particularly as it relates to getting stubborn stains from your laundry. It is not a new phenomenon for it to be used as a skin lightening solution and it has been used for decades. More and more people today are discovering the natural abilities of organic plants and what it yields. In addition, treatments can be rather expensive.

Lemons are a common commodity at the farmers markets or supermarket. It is something that almost every household have on hand. Lemons are cheap and so can be bought in bulk.  Those who have used it for medicinal purposes have found it to be rather effective. The reason for its effectiveness is that lemons contain a substance called alpha hydroxy acid as well as Vitamin C. These ingredients are also found in expensive facial washes, peels and creams. The alpha hydroxy exfoliates while the vitamin C promotes the production of collagen and acts as an antioxidant.

Here are the instructions on how to use the lemon juice to treat age spots:

• Squeeze lemons to make juice, preferably organic lemons
• Saturate cotton ball with lemon juice and rub onto the age spots
• Leave this on for about 5 – 30 minutes. The maximum is recommended but if irritation occurs, try a shorter period.
• This may be done as often as you like. Night times are effective too as sometimes when the body is at rest more can be accomplished.

Age spots are also not malignant. Nevertheless, if the blemishes on your skin look abnormal in its size and color, you should seek the advice of a dermatologist. He or she will through observation determine if you need a skin cancer screening.

Now that you know there is something in your kitchen to treat your age spots, you don’t have to live with them anymore, if you don’t want to. If you are not a fan of the idea of using lemons, there are still some other home remedies or over the counter medicines that can be used. Note, however, lemon juice can be used for a variety of reasons so you may want to stock up.

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Pigmentation On The Face

A range of pigmentation problems can occur on your face as result of various conditions, but if they are minor discolorations they can be concealed quite easily with the use of a few make-up tricks. Melasma is a form hyper-pigmentation that manifests as dark pigmentation on the forehead, cheeks, bridge of the nose and upper lip area of the face. This can occur due to a change in hormones, if you are pregnant or taking a high-dose birth control pill. It is common in women with fair skin. Melasma can also affect women who are not pregnant or taking birth control pills if they suffer from a harmless hormone imbalance. A range of pigmentation irregularities can also affect women for other reasons. While dark brown spots can manifest anywhere on the face, common areas of pigmentation are under the eyes and on the upper lip. Dark circles under the eyes may be caused by smoking or fatigue. These dark circles may be hereditary and are usually more noticeable in people with dark skin. Dark pigmentation on the upper lip is another common problem cited by many women. Concealing these problems can be done relatively quickly and simply through make-up tricks.

The best treatment for dark circles under the eye is concealer. Concealers offer a thicker coverage than foundations and some concealers are formulated specifically to provide coverage of irregular pigmentation. A number of concealers are available on the make-up market.  Products you may wish to try include Colorations, L’Oreal Dermablend and MAC Select Cover-Up. These concealers will cover dark circles under your eyes with surprisingly little effort.

For coverage of pigmentation on your upper lip, avoid using make-up that is heavy, as it may stick to the hairs in this area. Instead of using concealer, try mineral make-up that can offer good coverage and coloration without looking unnatural. Mineral make-ups contain natural minerals such as zinc. Jade Iredale is a brand recommended by cosmetic surgeons, dermatologists and skin-care professionals. This has algae extracts to prevent moisture loss and protect from UV radiation. Apply several layers of your chosen make-up onto your skin to gain extra coverage.

Another trick that may work include the use of a self-tanner made specifically for your face. Put it on before you go to bed and you will wake up the next morning looking radiant with less noticeable pigmentation. As a precaution, test a small patch of skin to find out the results of the tanning lotion before you apply it to your entire face. This is suitable for occasional use and should not be used every day on an ongoing basis.

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Diagnosis Of Liver Spots

Diagnosis involves the act of identifying or establishing the nature and causes of liver spots by health care professionals to rule out other skin diseases, like skin cancer. There are diverse evaluation techniques available, such as visual inspection, skin biopsy, etc.

Skin visual inspection is the simplest diagnosis of liver spots. The physician establishes the nature of skin lesions by simply looking at them. For liver spots, the spots are usually flat, light brown irregularly shaped, and always have defined borders but Lentigo maligna type of cancerous skin disorder, are extremely dark pigmentations with irregular borders.

In addition to that, liver spots are usually painless and harmless, but cancerous growths may redden and bleed showing signs of malignant growths. Seeking a doctor’s diagnosis at this point is highly advisable in order to determine the skin condition.

Skin biopsy is also an effective way to clear any doubts of the presence of other skin conditions that appear similar with liver spots, namely moles, seborrheic keratoses, and lentigo maligna. In skin biopsy, the physician takes a tiny sample of the skin for microscopic examination.

Genuinely, liver spots mostly appear on areas vastly exposed to the strong ultra violet rays. The most common parts developing skin growths are forearm, cheeks, forehead, back of the hand, and shoulders.

Fortunately, there are simple methods to determine whether the skin condition is cancerous or other skin conditions without having to drive for miles to meet the skin specialists in person. Have you noticed rapid change of the size, feeling of itching and skin tenderness? For liver spots, they develop gradually and without any itching, unlike cancers that itch.

Liver spots are different from Seborrheic keratosis. They mostly appear on light fairly skinned individuals compared to the dark skin textured. This feature makes it easy in identifying liver spots.

Age of the individual also plays a central role in the diagnosis of liver spots. The age spots immensely develop who are more than 40 years old. But if uncertain about the spots’ appearance, especially showing closely combined colors, microscopic analysis of the skin should be taken to establish whether the skin condition is benign or not

If you are worried about the skin lesions, book an appointment with skin experts to determine the nature of the skin condition, since they may be harmful cancerous growths. After proper diagnosis, the correct and effective treatment should start immediately.

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