Not all Breakouts are Acne - Part 2

Here is a brief list of some of the most common “acne imitators” and their identifying characteristics.

Keratosis Pilaris
Appearance: Usually on the upper arms - mulitple red bumps that may be worse certain times of the year than others. Area may be dry and red.

Cause: Hair follicles that become clogged with excess skin cells and as a result become inflamed.

Treatment: Use ingredients like Glycolic Acid that also contains hydrators and anti-inflammatory agents to gently exfoliate excess skin cells and reduce redness and irritation.

Psuedofolliculitus Barbae
Appearance: Red, irritated bumps in areas where you shave or wax.

Cause: May be more predominate in areas where the hair naturally curls. Excess skin cells may cover over the hair follicle opening and as the hair re-grows can naturally curl back into the skin. Commonly known as the dreaded ingrown hair.

Treatment: Keep the area exfoliated with ingredients such as Glycolic Acid to clear excess dead skin cells and surface debris, Neem to help soothe irritated skin and Tea Tree Oil to fight bacteria and promote healthy skin.

Peri Oral Dermatitis
Appearance: Smal, red bumps in clusters around the mouth, nose or even the eye area. The tiny bumps may or may not have a pin size head of pus. There may be mild stinging or itching.

Cause: More commonly seen in women (not often seen in men or children) and may be due to fluoride toothpastes, topical or inhaled steroids or could be a possible indicator of rosacea.

Treatment: See your dermatologist for proper diagnosis and treatment. Your skin cuold benefit from hydrators such as Hyaluronic Acid, anti-inflammatory agents such as Licorice Extract and antioxidants such as Vitamin A and E.

Rosacea/Acne Rosacea
Appearance: Red, inflamed skin in the central region of the face - forehead, nose, cheeks, chin and eyelids. You may notice spider-lik blood vessels, skin eruption that look similar to acne and swelling. Acne Rosacea will have papules (no blackheads or whiteheads) in the central region of the face alon with the common redness.

Cause: Unknown. A chronic condition seen more often in women than men. Men may have a worse condition. Common in fair skinned individuals and those who blush or flush easily. May have a stinging or burning sensation and possibly bloodshot, irritated and watery eyes. a red, bulbous nose may be present.

Treatment: See your dermatologist for proper diagnosis and treatment. Your skin could benefit from skincare ingredients that contain anti-baterial agents such as Triclosan along with hydrating and anti-irritants such as Goji Berry Extract, Pomegranate Extract and Peppermint Leaf Extract. Another key ingredient is anti-inflammatory agents like Licorice.

Not all Breakouts are Acne - Part 1

It’s a bump and it doesn’t itch. It’s red and inflamed. It may or may not have a little white center. It may be painful or just unattractive to look at. It could be on your face or somewhere on any part of your body…then it must be real acne, right? Wrong!

There are many “acne imitators” that may look like acne, but aren’t. Let’s take a closer look at some of these imposters and you may discover the culprit is an “acne imitator”.

First, let’s determine where the bumps are. Are they on your face, neck, chest or back? If so, it may be acne. These areas are common for true acne breakouts. There are two types of acne, non-inflammatory (blackheads/whiteheads) and inflammatory (papules, pustules, nodules and cysts). Inflammatory acne is red and inflamed and may be uncomfortable if touched. It may be just one or many breakouts. It may happen once a month - you women know what I’m talking about..the dreaded “once a month, under the skin, never comes to a ‘head’ big red bump”! And ouch, it hurts!

But what if this looks a bit different than what we have discussed above? Here is a brief list of some of the most common “acne imitators” and their identifying characteristics.

The Murad Food Pyramid

Murad’s Food Pyramid provides the ultimate anti-aging dietary guidelines to help you look younger and feel healthier. Based on the science of the Cellular Water Principle, this Food Pyramid is specially designed to provide your cells with the raw materials necessary to maintain optimal cell function, providing you with firmer, more hydrated, youthful tissues throughout your body.

Unlike the traditional food guide pyramid, the Murad Food Pyramid does not contain red meat or other high-saturated fat meat products in the protein group, whole-fat dairy products in the protein group, refined grains and carbohydrates in the grain group, or high-calorie refined sugars or unhealthy fats and oils. This is not to say that you can never eat a hamburger, a hunk of Camembert, or chocolate. But, as much as you can, substitute healthier, youth building alternatives. The more you follow the pyramid, the more successful you will be.

Recommended servings:

Fruits & Vegetables: 3 or more servings of fruits and 5 or more servings of vegetables per day

Whole Grains: 4-8 servings of whole grains per day

Protein: 4-6 servings of protein per day

Fats: 3-4 servings of fats per day

Supplements: Often our diets do not supply enough of the nutrients our bodies need to function at their optimal level. Taking dietary supplements helps to ensure that you receive enough antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, glucosamine, lecithin, essential fatty acids, B Vitamins and trace minerals.

Did you know?

Natural vs. Synthetic

For many people, the word synthetic gives rise to negative images. Natural, on the other hand, makes people think of products that are “pure” or “free of chemicals”. While it is true that many natural ingredients are used in cosmetic products, most must be purified, modified, concentrated, or preserved to make them more functional and viable over time.

All cosmetics must contain a preservative system to protect the formula from oxidation or spoilage (despite the manufacturer’s claim to the contrary). And though some products may contain antioxidants such as Vitamin C or E, these vitamins are also often synthetically derived.

Natural can be defined as arising from a state produced by nature without interference of humankind.

Naturally derived refers to a substance with a natural origin that is chemically or physically modified to make it more functional. This category may include extracts from herbs and flowers by concentration which aid in solubility or proteins broken down to create smaller peptide molecules.

Synthetic ingredients are human-made substances. Synthesis is the formation of a compound from elements or similar compounds. In fact, synthetic ingredients are often more functional than their natural counterpart.

Regardless of the ingredient origin, natural vs. synthetic, what’s more important is the final product safety profile and proven effectiveness.

Life is chemistry. Natural or synthetic, everything is composed of chemicals.

Want healthy, younger-looking skin?

Today, consumers are becoming more and more aware of how plant extracts and vitamins can help benefit both their health and their appearance. And, they are demanding genuine, effective ingredients that perform. Advances in technology now allow us to use the best that science and nature have to offer to provide results for both health and beauty.

Here are a few of the most innovative effective ingredients…

Tiger’s Herb

Long recognized in India for its healing properties, Tiger’s Herb (Centella Asiatica), is a plant found in tropical regions of the world such as Madagascar and parts of East Africa. The name Tiger’s Herb was established after the observation that Bengal Tigers cared for their wounds by rubbing against the plant and eating its leaves. In the mid-19th century this powerful herb began attracting scientific attention.

When used topically, Tiger’s Herb has the ability to restore tissue firmness and increase skin elasticity for a smoother, more youthful appearance. Recent studies have proven that this ancient herb also works extremely well in eye treatments, reducing the appearance of dark under eye circles.

You can find this powerful natural ingredient in: Environmental Shield products.

Vitamin C

As many as 50% of Americans take Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) at least occasionally, often to ward off the common cold. Due to the results of recent scientific discoveries, many people are now also using pure Vitamin C topically to counteract premature aging of the skin.

A large majority of the visible signs of premature aging are caused by exposure to sun, smoke, pollution and stress or what is otherwise known as “environmental damage.” Environmental damage is caused when free radicals attack the cells of the skin.

Independent studies have now proven that pure Vitamin C applied topically, is a powerful antioxidant, skin-brightening agent and an essential component in collagen formation—a must for anyone experiencing the effects of environmental damage. This powerful vitamin has also been proven to help protect against the sun’s ultraviolet rays, which can cause extensive damage (also known as photo damage) to the skin. Photo damaged skin results in dark spots, pigmentation or uneven skin tone, all of which can be improved by using products with high concentrations of Vitamin C. In fact, the application of 30% pure Vitamin C to the skin is clinically proven to increase skin elasticity, reduce the appearance of fine lines and improve uneven skin tone.

You can find this powerful ingredient in Vitamin C Infusion Home Facial Kit.