First, many stretch marks will just fade over time, making them much less noticeable, and some people can live with them this way. You can also use makeup especially for that purpose to cover up the stretch marks. For those who want to do better than just covering them up, laser therapy is a promising option. The color of the stretch marks that need treatment will determine the type of laser a surgeon uses. One type stimulates production of cells that make pigment, another type reduces the color of stretch marks.

Another form of laser treatment actually stimulates collagen production to restore elasticity in the stretch marks themselves. It is the skin's being stretched past its limit that causes stretch marks in the first place. This can happen when a person grows rapidly such as during puberty. It can also happen when a person gains weight rapidly such as during a pregnancy. The damage is actually done in the skin's middle layer, the dermis. (The skin has three layers: the other two are the outer layer, called the epidermis, and the innermost layer, called the subcutaneous layer.)

Another treatment for stretch marks is through blue light therapy, something that can be helpful in treating acne too. It is a combination of gel and light, used to remove stretch marks.

An older, low-tech treatment is to use creams to help moisturize skin, repair collagen and elastin growth. They commonly contain combinations of cocoa butter, wheat germ oil, lanolin and vitamin E. But actually, these creams are most effective if used while your skin is being stretched to help keep it soft, supple, smooth and elastic. So prevention is a good idea for those most susceptible to them. If you haven't applied creams while the skin was being stretched, the sooner you begin afterwards, the better.

Who has to worry most about stretch marks? People who are genetically disposed to them, that's who. And it turns out people with darker skin tend to be less susceptible than those with lighter skin.

There isn't one fail-safe, 100 percent way to prevent or get rid of stretch marks, but a combination of some of these therapies will dramatically reduce their appearance or eliminate them. One thing to keep in mind about stretch marks is that they pose absolutely no health risk. They're more of an imperfection than a health threat.

For those seeking the most advanced acne scar removal procedure on the market today, you'll want to think about laser scar removal treatment. This new-age process involves literally burning away dead layers of epidermis, and allowing a smoother complexion to be revealed. Naturally all of these acne scar removal treatments can only be accomplished with the assistance of a professional. Remember to contact a local spa or dermatologist to get your youthful glow back.

Both the teens and adult suffer from acne.  While everybody will experience the occasional zit outbreak, for the most part, acne is preventable.  Well, listen up, follow this advice and see if you don't get the results you want.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if you didn't have a raft of blemishes show up just about the time you're going to a party? Nutrition is all important in the fight against acne spread. The best vitamins for acne conditions treatment are found in natural fruits and veggies.

Excess oil in the skin is a major culprit for those zit. This doesn't mean that avoiding fat altogether is the answer. There are good and bad fats. Fats should comprise about 20% of your total intake of calories each day. Generally, animal fats and trans fats are the ones you want to avoid. Olive oil is the best and is also healthy for your cardiovascular system.

Now, to keep outbreaks to a minimum, lets take a look at those good  vitamins for acne. Vitamins A, C, E and zinc should be in good supply in your daily diet. This means lots of fruits and veggies. Include lots of salads. A variety of greens, fresh parsley, all of the citrus fruits and red, orange or yellow vegetables are all high in vitamins A and C. Avocados are loaded with vitamin E. The ready to drink vegetable juices supply many of these vitamins. If you don't care for the taste, try a squirt of lemon juice or one of the spicy versions, ice cold, as this beverage is so beneficial to the health of your skin.

When you make a salad, which makes an excellent lunch or dinner, make it a chef's style with healthy additions like sliced chicken breast or salad shrimp. Vary your selection of dark green, leafy vegetables in your salads so you don't get bored with this meal. Spinach, mesclun or spring mixes are good choices. Dice in a sweet red or orange bell pepper for a good dose of beta-carotene, the most beneficial form of vitamin A. Organic, locally grown fruits and vegetables also contain more of these nutrients than veggies that have been picked in an under ripe state and shipped hundreds of miles. Look for salad dressings made with olive or soy oil.

With summer here, a fruit smoothie makes a great, quick breakfast that's filling and good for your skin.

Teens especially need these vitamins for acne treatments in greater abundance as compare to adults. Talk to your doctor to see if vitamin supplements are a good addition to your healthy eating program. Remember too, that caffeine washes all these vitamins, particularly vitamin C, out of your system before your body can readily absorb them.

Did the doctor tell you to apply the eczema creams and moisturiser and also to avoid scratching?  And if you have chickenpox and acne scar on your body, is there an eczema diet cure for all these?

Assume your eczema is endogenous - in other words, it is not the result of an allergic reaction to something that you have come into physical contact with in your environment.  As endogenous eczema has strong genetic predisposition, it has no cure.  Nevertheless, it can be adequately treated and controlled.

Diligent use of a fragrance-free moisturizer is essential in the management of eczema, as it replenishes your skin barrier (which is defective in people with endorgenous eczema).  Applying a steroid cream to the eczema areas will also help to clear the inflammation and reduce itch significantly.

Please consult your doctor for an appropriate steroid cream.  Though scratching relieves the bothersome itch associated with eczema, it is prudent to refrain from scratching as it may actually exacerbate the eczema.  Antihistamines may help to relieve the itch.

If you itch in the middle of the night, you should consider taking a sedative antihistamines (such as hydroxyzine) at bedtime as the side effect of drowsiness will help you sleep peacefully.

There is an extensive range of treatment for acne and chickenpox scars.  For scars that are shallow or look cylindrical, a variety of laser may be used.

Some lasers are ablative (the outermost layer of the skin is ripped off in a controlled fashion), whereas others are non-ablative  (one such device heats up the collagen layer of the skin while preserving the outermost layer).  The latest non-ablative laser creates tiny microscopic holes in the skin and, in so doing, directly stimulates the collagen layer while minimising the damage to the outermost skin layer.

There is also a microneedle roller that may be used with a similar intention.  Microdermabrasion is a mechanical process akin to sandpapering the skin.  A regime of chemical peels (using a strong acid) may also be advocated.  For a few isolated scars, minimally invasive surgical treatment may be performed to 'elevate' the scars.  Acne scars that look like ice picks, unfortunately, can only be satisfactorily treated by surgical excision.

Tags: skincare, acne, eczema

Like facial rosacea there is no known cure for ocular (ophthalmic) rosacea, or rosacea of the eyes, which affects close to 50 percent of those that suffer from rosacea. Rosacea of both the eyes and face is not only visible because of the red color of the sufferer's eyes and face, but it can also be very painful.

Ocular rosacea symptoms include:

Redness

Dryness

Blurred vision

Photosensitivity

Itching

Tearing

Pain

Swollen eye lids

This condition should be treated by a doctor-specifically an ophthalmologist or a dermatologist-in order to relieve the pain and discomfort associated with rosacea. Rosacea is not life threatening and although it is rare, ignoring it could lead to impaired vision, even blindness and cornea damage.

Rosacea is associated with your vascular system or the flow of blood throughout your body. Typically a doctor will prescribe both an internal and an external form of treatment for severe cases of ocular rosacea, which includes an antibiotic like tetracycline along with eye drops and/or a skin cream that will fight bacteria. These treatments don't eliminate rosacea from your body, but it will eliminate the bacteria present to reduce the symptoms.

On top of the treatments prescribed by your doctor, identify what it is that triggers your rosacea. Cold weather, spicy foods, and stress are common triggers, for example. Modify your diet and routine once you recognize the triggers to avoid an increase in your symptoms. Also, search for products that are made specifically for people with rosacea and sensitive skin.

About the Author:

The author Sara Musfeldt developed SkinFitnessFacts.com to help people achieve fit skin. The website has info on acne, rosacea, ocular rosacea, and alcohol related rosacea.

The medical term for white spots is Tinea Versicolor or Pityriasis Versicolor, common referred to as white spots. It is a superficial fungal infection of the skin.  This is caused by an overgrowth of the fungus Pityriasis ovale, a type of yeast found commonly on human skin.  Hence, it is not contagious.

Common symptoms include the growth of small, scaly patches of discolored skin that are either a lighter colour (white or pink) or reddish brown.  This results in small areas that are lighter than surrounding skin and do not darken under the sun.  The infection, which is most common in warm, humid temperatures, usually affects the back, chest or upper arms and causes mild itching.

White spots can be treated with oral or topical medications.  Topical anti-fungals include tolnaftate, terbinafine or typical azoles like clotrimazole, micronazole and ketoconazole.  After cleaning the affected area, a think layer can be applied twice daily, usually for 14 days.  Continuing to apply medication for another week after infection appears to have cleared may reduce the chance of recurrence.  Oral prescription medications like ketoconazole, fluconazole and itraconazole are also effective for tinea versicolor.

Discolouration of skin may persist, even after successful treatment.  This persistent discolouration often leads people to think that the fungus is still present long after it has been eradicated.  Though it may require several months for the skin to recover, it does not lead to permanaent discoloration.

Tags: white spots, fungus

The main draw to Bare Minerals cosmetics is that they are supposed to be free of additives and are supposed to be natural. If you have sensitive skin, this might be just what you are looking for. However, before you invest a lot of money in Bare Minerals cosmetics, you still want to start with a sample to make sure they don’t cause any problems. Even natural products can irritate some of the most sensitive skin, so give it a trial run first. If you don’t know where to get a sample, try visiting some web sites to see if they would send you one.

Besides being natural, Bare Minerals cosmetics are supposed to be very good for coverage. I have never personally tried them, but I have a friend that swears by them. She was tired of buying product after product only to find that none of them gave her the coverage that she needed, and that most types of cosmetics would leave her with a very even tone all over her face. That might sound good, but in reality our faces are defined by the cheekbones and other curves, and when they are washed out, you look washed out too.

She says the Bare Minerals cosmetics have allowed her to get good coverage without covering up or hiding the natural contours of her face. She doesn’t have the whole line yet, but she says that she wishes to buy more. Her testimony has almost convinced me that I should try the Bare Minerals cosmetics line as well. I looked them up online, and though the prices are not as low as some of the make up items you can get in the drug store, they certainly aren’t bad. If anything, if they work as they are supposed to, the price would be a bargain.

Until now, it has been impossible to avoid old age. As we age, many changes begin to occur, including wrinkles. A face which was once considered beautiful can turn into a face that people can't stop looking at for the opposite reason. Youth is associated with health and life, while old age brings lines and creases.

Most women would agree that being beautiful is worth a lot to them. The prevalence of artificial perfection we see every day on TV and Ads every constantly reinforces that feeling. Many of those beautiful people in ads are selling a wide variety of anti aging products.

The beauty we seek is tied inextricably with perfect skin whose lack of flaws screams health, vitality and personal attraction. This perfect skin deteriorates with age. In fact, aging means wrinkles in the minds of many women. Why does this happen? There are a variety of reasons.

Do a search for anti aging products online and you will quickly be overwhelmed with choices. Without even hitting the web, tv and magazines will give you a dizzying array of products promising to reduce wrinkles.

How can we know what wrinkle cream works best without understanding where those wrinkles come from in the first place. The simple answer is that as we age our body produces less of two key proteins - Elastin and Collagen. Without these proteins our faces lose that youthful look and develop wrinkles instead.

In addition, there are some factors that we can control. For example, exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays (namely UVA and UVB) from the sun also contributes to the development of wrinkles. Stress is another factor in wrinkle appearance. This along with other factors also increase the likeliness that wrinkles will develop.

Skin protection is key to the wrinkle fight. The best anti wrinkle cream would therefore be one which not only tones up the skin and reduces the fine lines on it gradually, but also one that includes sun screen. Your skin type should also be considered when choosing any skin care product. Do not use a product if there are undesirable side effects such as breakouts. If a product is not very popular, there is probably a reason, so it would be a good idea to steer clear.

Research is the key. Whether you take the time to read up and gradually test product samples yourself or choose to go to a licensed dermatologist for expert insight - understanding what causes wrinkles and how different products works with your specific physical makeup and lifestyle is the key to success. Don't forget alternative products in health food stores, as they are often quite good. Use this information to find to find which of the many wrinkle cremes is the best one specifically for you.

About the Author:

Geoff Hopkins has worked in the eye wrinkle cream industry for years. He maintains websites about eye wrinkle cream and wrinkle remover creams. Don't reprint this exact article. Instead, reprint a free unique content version of this same article.

Tags: skincare, skin care, skincare cream

Camels and humans share a very important survival trait. This shared trait causes a lot of us to suffer from puffy eyes and dark under eye circles. No matter how hard you try to get rid of your puffy eyes and dark under eye circles, until you learn about this, you are spinning your wheels. Ready for the secret? Here we go - the one trait we unfortunately share with camels is - water retention. You see, when the body is dehydrated, it acts just like a camel's hump; storing water for the long haul across the desert. Of course, instead of a camel's hump, you'll develop water reserves around the eyeballs, which shows up as puffy eyes and dark under eye circles. In addition to water, toxins will also form under your eyes if you don't drink enough water (that's why you look slightly puffy eyed if you've been drinking the night before, as alcohol dehydrates). In time, without proper regular hydration, your eyes will start looking aged. The solution is very simple: Keep yourself adequately hydrated - drink water! When you do, your body isn't put into survival mode and won't puff/darken up under your eyes. For a noticeable difference in your skin, drink eight or more 10-ounce glasses of water per day. It sounds simple - almost too good to be true; drink water and dramatically reduce puffy eyes and dark under eye circles - but it really isn't. It's just that most people don't have the discipline to do this, so they never reap the wonderful benefits it offers. They start off great, but as the weeks go by, their dehydrating habits return, along with their puffy eyes and dark under eye circles. A great solution is to use what I call the rubber band technique. Here's what you do: pick up a pack of rubber bands and a 20-ounce standard size water bottle at the store. Every time you finish a bottle, wrap one rubber band around it. Do this until your bottle has 4 rubber bands on it. That way, you'll know that you have consumed exactly 8 ten-ounce glasses of water in a day. The drawback? The bathroom will see a lot more of you:-). The advantage? The person staring back at you in that bathroom mirror will be smiling wider and wider, as your puffy eyes and dark under eye circles will fade as the weeks go by.

About the Author:

Visit: your puffy eyes for more of Tommy's suggestions to dramatically diminish your puffy eyes and dark under eye circles. This and other unique content 'puffy eyes' articles are available with free reprint rights.

Tags: puffy eyes, eye bag

We all dream of getting a miracle in a bottle. And so much ad copy leads us to believe it exists: An instant facelift. Zero pores. Paper smoothness. But our obsession with being flawless is absurd. Wrinkles happen — adding character and depth to the face. Other changes occur as well — features can become more pronounced and bone structure can become more angular over time. We get scars. We get freckles. And other dings and dents. Are these catastrophes? Or merely a map of our lives? Certain products can help to offset all this, but aging is a natural (and beautiful) process that happens to all of us. And acceptance, not denial, looks better on everyone.

A lot of product lines have gotten way too complicated — aside from being costly, they take up too much time. You can keep it simple, and just as effective. Many of us overindulge our skin anyway — if we're dry, we tend to overmoisturize; if we're oily, we tend to overstrip.

Here, my top 10 skin tips: Protect your skin from the sun — use sunscreen and avoid direct sunlight between the hours of 10 and 2.

Don't smoke. Your skin is a large organ and it needs lots of circulation. Smoking impairs that dramatically. That's why smokers' skin looks dull and gray. Instead of having oxy-generated blood delivered to the surface of the skin, they're getting poisons and oxidants.

Get plenty of rest and nutrition.

Protect yourself from stress — both emotional and environmental stresses.

Wash your face twice a day and put on the proper treatment product. I'm amazed when women tell me they don't wash their face in the morning. A lot of icky stuff collects overnight — dead skin cells, dirt, and dust!-Remember every night when you don't wash your face it adds 5 days to the aging process!!!

Don't neglect certain areas of the skin prone to dryness. Elbows, heels, neck, and decolletage need moisturizing, and your scalp and the tops of your feet need sun protection.

Touch your face less and wash your hands more! Don't get too surgical on yourself. It's very tempting to pick, poke, squeeze, and scratch in front of the mirror. But the more you traumatize the skin, the greater your risk of scarring. Apply treatment products and let them work.

Keep your makeup clean. Replace the sponges in your compact on a regular basis. Now and then, toss the whole works and start fresh — the average shelf life for cosmetics is 6 to 12 months.

Exercise moderation. More is not always better. Moisturizer, for example, is the most overused product in America. We've been bamboozled by cosmetic companies into thinking every square inch of our body has to be slathered. And it's simply not true. Exfoliators are another thing to be careful with. Used too often, moisturizers will overacidify and irritate your skin.

Beware of counter girls. If it were up to them, you'd be in the bathroom for two and a half hours each morning — putting 80 layers on your face. Keep your regimen simple. And when you do add a new product, do it gradually so your skin has time to adjust. Each skincare or makeup product has an average of 20 to 40 ingredients which means that you're introducing 20 to 40 potential allergens to your face every time you try something new.

About the Author:

CLICK HERE FOR GREAT DEALS This article is available as a unique content article with free reprint rights.

Tags: skin care, skincare