Cosmetics and Skincare News: July 2008

by Angela Myers

The sebaceous glands, located in the dermis (middle layer) produces oil which helps to keep the skin supple and moist. So oil production in the skin is completely natural With that said, however, the sebaceous glands can produce excessive oil which leads to oily skin. Oily skin is not only located on the face but the neck, arms, shoulders and back can be oily too.

How Do You Know If You Have Oily Skin?

Nearly all teenagers have oily skin because their hormone production is in full bloom. For those who are no longer teenagers, determining whether your skin is oily or not is easy to do. When you look in the mirror is there a sheen on your skin? Check your T-Zone which is located starting at the point between your eyes and goes vertically down your nose to your chin. (The T-Zone also goes horizontally across your nose, beginning and stopping at the center point below your eye.) Your sheen may be unnoticeable during the day, so you want to check again immediately after waking in the morning. If there is a sheen, you probably have oily skin.

Look at your hair while standing in front of the mirror. If it is oily, this is another sign that you most likely have oily skin. If your make up fades and wears off after only a couple of hours, this is also an indicator of oily skin. In addition, frequently patting your face with a handkerchief or powder is another indicator. Although sometimes caused by stress and other factors, the presence of blemishes is also a sign of oily skin.

Caring for Oily Skin

You may feel that the best way to treat oily skin is to remove the oil that is clogging your pores. Removing all the oil is not the answer. The oils produced by your sebaceous glands are a natural moisturizer which helps to keep you skin supple and moist. So rather than removing the oil, you should try to keep it under control.

It’s important that you keep your skin clean so that your pores remain clear. If not, dead cells, dirt and bacteria will clog your pores and cause pimples to pop up. DO NOT use harsh soaps to strip away oil. Your glands will instinctively replenish lost oil and will increase their oil production. This could make your problem worse.

Your skin is delicate so you should use a gentle cleanser and warm water. Weekly exfoliation with a non-abrasive product will help to remove pore clogging material. Use a toner that does not contain alcohol and moisturize in moderation. Make sure your cosmetics and sun screen are oil free.

Angela Myers is a staff writer at http://www.beautytipsdigest.com/ and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including http://www.acne-journal.com/.

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Labels: oily skin, oily skin care tips, Skin Care Tips

by David McEvoy

Incredible though it sounds, fish oil containing eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA, appears to slow down the ageing process and help us to look younger by protecting the skin and inhibiting the chemical processes that take place when our skin is exposed to damage-inducing stimuli, like the sun for example. Evidence suggests that aside from all the other documented health benefits of EPA, it can make our skin more resistant to sunburn, improve skin elasticity and tone and helps to prevent saggy skin and wrinkles from forming.

Most of us know that UV radiation from the sun is public enemy number one as far as the skin is concerned. Overexposure results in premature ageing and wrinkles as well as reduced immunity to disease, and possibly even skin cancer. When our skin is exposed to a lot of sunlight we produce abnormal elastin that causes the skin to stretch and collagen fibres begin to break down. In response to this we produce a large number of enzymes called metalloproteinases or MMPS. This would normally be a good thing as these enzymes try to repair the damage, but it is inefficient and over time, MMPS produced as a result of UV radiation actually results in a break down of collagen and finally wrinkles appear.

A study published in 2005 in the Journal for Lipid Research investigated the effect that EPA had on MMPS arising as a result of ultra violet radiation from the sun in human skin and found that EPA inhibited overproduction of MMPS and reduced the amount of damage to the skin. The researchers Kim et al concluded that EPA could possibly prevent as well as treat skin ageing. Then more recently in 2006, Drs Black and Rhodes found that EPA offers protection against sun-induced damage to skin cells by making the skin more resistant to the sun's rays in the first place. Participants taking fish oil showed a higher 'minimal erythemal dose'. This basically means that the lowest amount of radiation needed to produce erythema (an inflammatory effect on the skin or sunburn) was higher for those taking fish oil. These studies show that EPA not only protects the skin, it limits the damage too, but these are not the only benefits of EPA.

The properties of EPA

EPA is known to have powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic properties, both of which help to slow down and minimise the effects of ageing and wear and tear on the body. From the moment we are born, we are subjected to a number of environmental pollutants that put pressure on our skin. Oxygen-free radicals from pollution, for example, are everywhere and result in a process known as oxidation. Oxidation leads to an increase in inflammatory responses and too much can cause premature ageing and wrinkles as well as contribute to the development of many skin conditions. The anti-inflammatory properties of EPA can inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory chemical messengers responsible for these inflammatory responses.

Increasingly as we grow older, our skin starts to thin out and stretch as collagen fibres lose their elasticity, the skin starts to lose its ability to repair itself and can no longer retain moisture as well as it did. Consequently, many people begin to rely on external lotions and potions to keep the skin moist and supple. EPA can help the blood to flow more efficiently throughout the body and contribute to healthy and radiant looking skin. It is interesting that a lack of Omega 3 fatty acids in the diet manifests itself most noticeably as skin problems.

Signs of Omega 3 fatty acid deficiency

• Dry and flaky skin
• Dandruff
• Hard and cracked skin
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Acne
• Poor wound healing
• Dull and lifeless looking skin

Most of us are also well aware that stress and anxiety can speed up the ageing process resulting in 'worry lines' as well as more serious conditions and threats to our health. The amazing thing is that EPA has demonstrated considerable success in alleviating depression, anxiety and stress so not only does it help us to remain healthy and look younger with better skin and fewer wrinkles, but it has a 'feel-good' factor too which helps keep those worry lines at bay.

Conclusion

All this is very exciting, particularly when we consider the amount of time, money and effort spent on the ever-increasing number of products available to help keep us healthy, young and beautiful. The implications are that we can do the same job naturally through diet by taking fish oil supplements containing EPA and benefit not only from healthy more youthful looking skin and all the other documented health-giving properties of EPA but possibly gain a new lease of life too.

Dave McEvoy is an expert in EPA with over 20 years experience; for more information about fish oil and how it can help come and visit. http://www.mind1st.co.uk/

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