Black Skin Care

Nothing says youthfulness and good health like glowing, fresh skin. Some people are born with it, some can thank their family genes, but for the rest of us beautiful skin takes some work. What you may not realize is that it is easier than you think to have skin that glows. These seven tips will help you get the skin that you have always wanted.

1. Eat Healthy

If you want beautiful skin, it is important to maintain a healthy diet. You need plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats and dairy in order to have a healthy body and healthy skin. You want to steer clear of processed foods and canned foods because these have a great deal of sodium and ingredients that can cause your skin to become dry, oily or just malnourished. Do your skin and body a favor and only eat fresh foods. Broccoli is a great food to eat if you have acne and fish is great for your skin in general. If you are eating the good foods, your skin will show it.

2. Drink Plenty of Water

It is important to drink lots of water to keep your skin supple and moist. If you do not drink enough water, your body will begin taking water from various minor organs in order to feed the major organs. One of the minor organs that is affected is the skin. When the water is drawn from the skin to take care of major organs, you may notice that your skin is very dry and even flaky or it is extremely oily. Drinking lots of water, though, combats that and keeps your body balanced.

3. Cleansing Matters

Cleansing should be a vital part of your daily routine. You should remove your makeup each night and thoroughly cleanse your face each morning. The products that you use are also important. Whether you opt for a brand name, drugstore brand or a natural brand of skincare, you should cleanse your face daily and do it the right way: Using lukewarm water (not hot, not cold), splash some on your face. Put some cleanser on your fingertips and work it into a lather. Using a circular motion, rub the cleanser on your face, jaw line and neck. You don’t want to scrub, be gentle. Rinse your skin by splashing lukewarm water on your face and neck until the cleanser is gone. Pat your skin dry with a clean towel.

4. Exfoliate

Exfoliation is a great way to get a quick glow. The trick is to get an exfoliator that is gentle but effective. You don’t want a very coarse grit because you don’t want to overwork your skin. Use a fine grit and make sure that it is gentle. You can use it each morning prior to applying your makeup for a glow that will last all day. To apply, splash your face with lukewarm water. Apply the exfoliator with the pads of your fingers in a circular motion. Avoid your eye area and don’t scrub hard. Rinse well and pat dry with a clean towel.

5. Sleep

A good night’s sleep is one of the best beauty tools you can have. While many people believe that sleep deprivation causes dark circles under your eyes, this is not true. When you miss too much sleep, fluid can collect under your eyes, making them puffy. If you are prone to dark circles, which is a concentration of blood vessels just under the skin, then the puffiness will make the dark circles more prominent. This can add years to your look. Plus, your body repairs itself while you sleep so if you don’t get enough sleep, it can not repair itself adequately. So take the time to get a good night’s sleep.

6. Your Makeup Means a Lot

Your makeup can mean the difference between great, glowing skin and acne or dry flaky skin. The mineral makeup that is gaining popularity lately is actually a makeup that is good for your skin. Some versions have certain minerals, though, that certain skin types react to so you may need to try a couple of different formulations until you find the one that is best for you.

7. Relax

Stress can wreak havoc on your skin so it is important that you take time to relax. Meditate, take a warm bath (not hot! Intense heat can harm your skin) or just talk with a friend. Classes such as yoga and Pilates are great stress relievers. If you take the time to relax and relieve your stress, your skin will thank you.

If you follow these seven simple steps, you’ll soon have softer, younger looking skin, and you just might start getting unexpected compliments, but of course.

By: Black

Acne does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race or color of skin. It can happen to anyone at any time. Though genetically defined, this problem can occur even if your parent or grandparents have never had to face it. It can surface on the neck, face, arms, back and can afflict those who have a fair skin or black skin alike. Even though everyone gets stricken with a bout of zits at some time or the other, the amount of competition has increased so much that companies sell their products on dubious differentiation.

Recent research has shown that in real terms there is no difference between the treatment required for black skin and white skin. The difference does exist in the way acne manifests itself. Black skinned people tend to have dark scars and blemishes while those with a fair complexion tend to get red inflammations as a result of acne. Different treatments are required depending on whether you have oily, dry or combination skin type but tat is equally applicable to black and white skin both.

One normally visits a dermatologist when has severe acne and resorts to self treatment and home remedies at the initial stages. We try and cure the scars and try and avoid getting more of the bane that pervades all society. There also needs to be an attempt to reduce the mental torture and tension caused by appearing in a social gathering with a large zit on the nose.

Many over-the-counter and prescribed topical treatments are available today which claim to be especially for black skin today. Benzoyl Peroxide is one common acne treatment which diffuses in the skin and kills bacteria that causes acne in the first place. It dries up the wound and cures in a matter of hours. Other such treatments include salicylic acid, sulfur and resorcinol. Though extremely effective, each of these options comes with its basket of side effects be it redness, dryness or itchiness.

The market is abounding with creams, cleaners, face packs and lotions for acne treatment. There are cures in alternate medicines like homeopathy and ayurveda also. With so many options it is not surprising that we generally need the help of an expert to advise us as to the treatment which will suit us the best.

By: Scotie Keithlow

Sun rash isn’t the technical medical phrase and it can point to a few different rashes. One rash that is referred to as sun rash has to do with sun poisoning. Sometimes it’s also called photodermatitis. It can have blisters and be quite red. My friend during my childhood that had red hair and freckles was prone to this problem. Some of the blisters has a watery fluid inside of them. She said she was allergic to the sun and this seems to be the case.

My childhood friend had to wear hats and sunglasses and avoid the sun during peak hours. She also developed skin cancer in a mild form in her thirties due to her sensitivity to the sun. I remember when we were kids that if she was in the sun too long she would coat herself with calamine lotion for relief. Other treatments that are recommended include using oatmeal baths and corn starch. The condition may require antibiotics if the red rash spots open up. You also may get a sun rash poisoning if you take certain medications. Read the warnings on medications as they will indicate if you should avoid the sun. We tend to not read labels, but this is important to prevent a burn.

Another way people use the phrase sun rash is to refer to a sweat rash or heat rash. This results in red pimples or  small welts in areas that perspire. It can happen after working out , extensive time in the sun or a propensity to sweat. Technically, this is not what is usually referred to as a sun rash since it usually means photodermatitis, A heat rash will generally resolve in five days and can be treated with oatmeal baths, cool compresses and corn starch. For sun rashes that are due to photodermatitis, be aware that even a few minutes in the sun can result in a skin reaction.

By: Dee Cohen