Clearing Up Skin: We Answer Popular Skincare Questions

Your skin is the first point of call with anti-ageing wellness, and perhaps the first stumbling block. There are so many magic ingredients and new beauty therapies, it can be hard to determine the best thing to do for your wellbeing. In fact, just looking for your skin solution can just leave you with more questions than you had in the first place, so let’s take a look at some popular questions, as see if we can answer them.

 

1. How can I get rid of dead skin cells? Exfoliating is a good way to get rid of dead skin cells, but it’s up to you as to what you use for buffing. Generally a soft washcloth, spinning brush or a body scrub with synthetic beads will get the job done. If you have dry skin, you can probably get away with gently exfoliating once a week, but if your skin is oily, you may have to exfoliate twice weekly. However, if you have sensitive skin or acne, exfoliating may be irritating to your skin so speak to your dermatologist. No matter your skin type, exfoliating too much or too hard can irritate and thicken your skin, so be gentle. Some skincare products contain dead cell-removing ingredients, such as salicylic acid or retinoids. Look out for these ingredients in acne medicines and anti-ageing products. You can also slough off dead cells with microdermabrasion or a chemical peel, either at-home or at the doctors.

 

2. I have dark skin – do I need to do something different? Having darker skin means that you are more sensitive to the sun, as well as chemicals. Therefore, you need to have a skincare routine that’s simple and gentle, and includes daily use of a moisturiser and a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sun cream. You may not bother with sun cream because you never get burned, but this product is absolutely vital to protect your skin wellness from skin cancer, wrinkling, and dark spots.

 

3. Which nutrients are good for my skin? Just like the rest of your body, your skin needs good nutrition to be in tip-top shape. Research shows that nutrients can improve and protect your skin which, first and foremost, you need to get from foods. These meaning choosing foods that contain vitamins A, B3, C and E. It may also be a good idea to choose creams and serums that include vitamins C or E, as these may protect you against sun damage, while ones that have vitamins A or B3 may be able to correct the sun damage you have already.

 

4. Are organic products better for my skin? While “organic” or “all-natural” are appealing labels to see on your beauty products, there’s actually no scientific proof that these cosmetics are safer for your skin. In fact, organic products may irritate your skin, especially if it’s sensitive. Just because plant extracts are natural, it doesn’t mean they won’t cause rashes or other allergic reactions if your skin is so inclined. As with any skincare product, you need to first test organic cosmetics on a less noticeable area of your skin.

 

5. Do I need to have salon facials for good skin? While salon facials are relaxing and make your skin look smoother for a while, they’re not necessary for good skin care if you cleanse and exfoliate your skin properly at home. Moreover, in some people, facials may cause irritation or allergic reactions, which is obviously the opposite effect than the one you’re after. So if you find facials give you rashes or redness, it might be wise to avoid them.

Categories: allergic reactions, anti ageing, darker skin, dead cells, dead skin, nbsp, organic products, salon facials, skin, skin cells, Sun Cream

How is Vitamin D Useful for Good Bone Health?

We all know of the importance of calcium where healthy bones are concerned, but most people don’t realise that vitamin D is also vital for healthy teeth and bones. Most foods don’t contain a lot of this nutrient, unless you can source it in fortified bread and cereals, so it can be easy to become deficient in it without realising. Natural sunlight is our best source, but with the fear over sun damage in the past thirty years, this too has become a worry and many people now avoid exposure to sunlight.

A mild lack of vitamin D in the body can cause tiredness and a general feeling of aches in the body, but more severe problems result in rickets or osteomalacia in adults. The treatment for this is vitamin D supplements which are taken routinely to top up the body’s reserves. Your GP may advise these supplements if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding; if you’re over 65 years old; for children up to five years, and those who aren’t exposed to much sunlight. They may also recommend them for people with specific gut, liver or kidney diseases, and for certain people with darker skin. Vitamin D is often overlooked but it is a vital nutrient for good health. There are some foods which contain it, including oily fish such as sardines, trout and salmon, as well as fortified breads and cereals.

Ultraviolet B rays (UVB) in sunlight convert cholesterol in the skin into vitamin D – for people with fair skin, this amounts to around 20 to 30 minutes of sunlight on the face and forearms, around two to three times a week to make enough vitamin D. For people with darker skin, though, the time needed in the sun to make enough vitamin D is much more and this becomes dangerous, as sun damage can lead to other concerns. It’s important to remember that this isn’t the same as sun bathing though – the skin just needs to be exposed to the sun, not tanned or burned by it. Remember that the sun needs to fall directly onto the skin itself, not through a window.

For six months of the year, through October to April, most of western Europe and 90 percent of the UK, lies too far north to get enough UVB rays to make the sufficient amount of vitamin D for good health. The main purpose of vitamin D is to help calcium and phosphorus in the diet to be absorbed by the stomach. These are crucial for our bones and teeth to stay healthy and strong. It’s also been proven that vitamin D can help to prevent other diseases and ailments, such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. A deficiency in vitamin D can occur in three ways – either the body has a greater need for the nutrient, it’s unable to make the vitamin on its own, or there isn’t enough vitamin D in the diet.

 

Vitamin D deficiency affects around one in six people in the winter and spring in the UK, and a study showed that more than half of UK adults don’t get enough of this nutrient. However, most of these people don’t realise they are deficient, or simply have mild symptoms such as feeling tired more than normal. A simple blood test can diagnose this issue, and if a child is thought to be deficient they may be tested with an x-ray. Your GP can advise you of ways to improve your vitamin D count if you think you may be at risk.

Categories: body, bone health, darker skin, people, people don, skin, sunlight, Symptoms, vitamin, Vitamin D