The 2 Biggest Skincare Concerns: Anti-Ageing And Acne, And the Most Effective Solutions

Author: Karen Armitage
The 2 biggest concerns most people face is acne, particularly adult acne, and wrinkles and lines that appear as we age. There has always been an interest by the majority of the population in skin care products to help maintain appearance and youthfulness.

An amazing amount of information on all sorts of problems can be obtained from the Internet. Everyone is an expert. But a lot of the information and recommendations sound remarkably the same. Lets sort the wheat from the chaff.
Acne Problems:
Whatever the age of the sufferer, acne is a distressing problem. Usually associated with adolescents, because of hormonal upheaval. The sufferer eventually outgrows the condition. But marks and scars often remain and it is the use of proper treatment that could prevent the aftermath of active acne problems. For some unfortunate individuals, acne can continue into their early 20s. Others suffer the occasional and random outbreak and this invariably happens before an important event.
An oily skin usually accompanies acne problems, and for this reason, proper cleansing is paramount in the acne skin care routine. A soothing wash for acne is to use cheesecloth or cotton bag containing raw rolled oats. Pure cotton handkerchiefs can also be used for this purpose. Soak in tepid water and rub over the affected area to cleanse and soothes the inflamed skin. Rinse the skin, and pat dry with disposable paper towel to avoid re-contamination. Apply a light, aloe vera based moisturiser sparingly to hydrate and protect the skin from environmental pollution.
Always use a laundered cloth and fresh oats for each wash to prevent re-contaminating the skin with bacteria removed by the previous wash. It is handy to have several cloths in rotation.
Harsh skincare products can dry the surface skin, encouraging the sebaceous glands to produce more oil to alleviate the tight feeling. This, of course, is counter-productive.
Mild, soothing skin care products are the best choice, as they will not aggravate. Aloe vera and essential oil based products are a great choice as the natural healing and moisturising plant base will encourage new cellular growth. Unlike mineral oils, that form a coating on the surface of the skin, essential oils will absorb into the skin feeding and nourishing the cells and helping with the healing process.
A Probiotic, taken daily, will help to improve and support the immune system, allowing the body to heal itself. A diet rich in antioxidants foods will also promote healthy skin. Fresh, unprocessed foods allow the body to absorb nutrients that in turn feed the skin. A Probiotic that it also contains super foods will provide a dual role.
Anti-ageing:
Cosmetic houses and manufacturers all have, what they claim, to be the latest, newest, breakthrough research to halt the signs of ageing. Antiwrinkle creams are heavily advertised and marketed, not only to women, but now, to men as well.
These creams usually work by puffing out the fine lines to create a smoother effect on the skin surface. Glycerin is usually the 2nd ingredient after water, on the ingredients list of the majority of anti ageing skin care products. This inexpensive humectant draws moisture from the deeper layers of the skin to be held on the surface by silicon or waterproof barrier. Unfortunately, this process eventually dehydrates the skin, while the waterproof barrier prevents the skin from breathing or eliminating toxins.
Moisturising is most important to obtain a wrinkle free complexion. The choice of a rich moisturiser without harsh chemicals is paramount in obtaining a plump, smooth skin. It is interesting that aloe vera works well here as well because of the plants superior cell renewal activity and moisturising effect.
Fine lines begin when the skin's natural collagen and elastin begins to break down. This is a natural ageing effect, and will be hastened by sun damage. But, beware of chemical laden sunscreens as they may create more problems than they solve. Some popular chemicals added to sunscreen have been shown to be hormone disruptors in laboratory animals. It is best to avoid sun exposure to the skin in the hottest part of the day, wear protective hats and clothing rather than smothering the skin with creams. We all need vitamin D, and this is best obtained from gentle sunlight rather than a pill.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/skin-care-articles/the-2-biggest-skincare-concerns-anti-ageing-and-acne-and-the-most-effective-solutions-5604181.html
About the Author
Karen Armitage has been in the beauty and hairdressing industry for almost 40 years. She was horrified to discover that 89% of ingredients used in cosmetics are not tested for safety by any independent governing body. For free reports on what many be in your skin care products: www.nochemicalcosmetics.com