Natural Anti Aging and Rosacea Blog

Natural Anti Aging and Rosacea Blog keeps readers informed about new products, ingredients and treatments to help in the war against ageing and skin problems. Articles include all aspects of skin health and home care.

VITAMIN A IN AGEING AND ROSACEA

Monday, September 06, 2010

TOPICAL VITAMIN A IN ANTI AGEING AND ROSACEA CARE

Vitamin A is a favourite ingredient in many skin care products. It is also used in prescription only creams and gels to treat acne and Rosacea.

There is some confusion about Vitamin A and the many forms and strengths available so we will attempt to explain in simple terms.

Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin which has many important functions in the body. It assists cells to reproduce, is essential for eye health and plays an important role in the immune system.

The role Vitamin A performs is essential for maintaining and repairing skin tissue by promoting the building of new cells and fighting free radicals.

Part of the confusion stems from the fact that some people believe vitamin A is just a topical treatment for acne, which can have side effects. This form of vitamin A is called tretinoin. It is an acid form of vitamin A, available only by prescription.

Tretinoin cream was originally used to treat acne, and it is still used for comedonal acne, a form with many whiteheads and blackheads;

The first studies on sun-damaged skin were done by an American dermatologist more than 30 years ago. These showed that tretinoin, used as a cream, could also reverse some of the signs of ageing.

Those who suffer from Rosacea  generally have a chronic deficiency of Vitamin A so the addition through skin care is a good first step. The inclusion of Vitamins C and E in a product will boost the result.

Names of various forms of Vitamin A:

• Vitamin A. A fat-soluble vitamin essential to the human body.

• Retinoid: A collective term for ingredients derived from vitamin A.

• Retinoic acid: Also known as tretinoin, this is a prescription only vitamin A derivative commonly used to treat acne. Side effects include irritation, dryness, redness, peeling and light sensitivity.

• Tretinoin: Another name for retinoic acid.

• Isotretinoin: A prescription only retinoid derivative used to treat severe acne. Side effects include dryness, sun sensitivity and sometimes eczema.

• Retinol: A retinoid used as a skin revitaliser to treat acne, rosacea and signs of ageing. It can cause dermatitis when used on sensitive skin for a long time or in too high concentrations.

• Retinyl palmitate: A retinoid and skin conditioner which is milder than retinoic acid and has fewer potential side effects.

• Retinaldehyde: A mild retinoid which increases skin thickness without causing irritation.

• Vitamin A palmitate: An antioxidant and skin "normaliser" which helps skin to stay plump, boosts collagen and improves thickness and elasticity.

Vitamin A is keratolytic which means it will remove plugs that block follicles and lead to pimples and acne.

While Retinyl palmitate and Vitamin A palmitate (the 2 forms used by MiSMo) are not as strong as the other forms described above they are still active and deliver visible results. They are also very gentle and do not cause reactions even in sensitive skin types.

The correct mix of Vitamins A, C and E in skin care is ideal because it is skin friendly and penetrates cells. The total combined results far exceed using just one or two vitamins.

PLEASE NOTE: Caution should always be exercised using prescription Vitamin A creams and gels. They are not recommended during pregnancy. Please follow your doctor's advice.

Over the counter skin care products are far milder than prescription lines.

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Anti Aging Serums What's the difference from a Moisturiser

Monday, March 08, 2010

ANTI AGEING/AGING SERUMS

You might wonder why there is a need to use a Serum as well as a Moisturiser and what is the difference?

Serums should do their work below the skin where Moisturisers work in the top layers of the skin and seal in the serum.

Serums come in various forms, water based gels, oils, creams. They are concentrated formulations aimed at targeting specific problems, usually lines and wrinkles, but it could be acne, dry or oily skins.

All Serums should contain at least one "active" ingredient. An active ingredient will be a concentrated specialty ingredient that actually does something to improve your skin. Better quality serums often contain 2 or even 3 of these special additives.

The price of Serums is usually high due to the cost of specialised active ingredients.

I'm fascinated by the ads on TV and radio recently selling an anti aging serum that removes lines and wrinkles within about 3 minutes - for about 8 hours. Boy this is Cinderella in real life. I bought one of these products a year or so ago but find it unpleasant to use - it makes my skin itch really badly.

Now it is a great dinner party amusement. Apply on the men because they have no makeup on and it has to be applied to clean skin. Years disappear before your eyes. If you are going to an event that lasts only a few hours you will get away with the youth but how embarrassing when the lines reappear as the day goes by!

Now the "Real" serums will work on your skin all day and night and you will notice the improvement in your complexion.

Active ingredients to look for are:

Hyaluronic Acid
Vitamin C in oil form VCIP (Ascorbyl Tetra Isopalmitate)
Matrixyl 3000 (not Matrixyl - it's not as potent these are peptides)
MSM
Vitamins A and E

Each of the above active ingredients work in different ways to improve your  youthful looks.

How your skin will benefit from Anti Ageing serums:

  • A more plumpled, smooth, firmer appearance
  • More elasticity
  • Less pigmentation
  • Clearer skin tone
  • Diminishing of lines and wrinkles
  • Healthier skin
A good Moisturiser imparts nutrition which works more on the upper layers of the skin and enhances the effectiveness of Serum. Moisturiser also seals in the Serums which penetrate deeper than Moisturizers.

Layering skin care products is an accepted practice by beauty therapists and it takes very little time. The effort is certainly worth it.

You will know your skin care is working when friends and relatives comment and they do take notice!





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Serums and their Anti Aging Benefits

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

SERUMS AND THEIR ANTI AGING BENEFITS

Looking after your skin can be a complex affair. To give your skin the best possible outcome, treatment goes beyond the usual cleanse, tone and moisturise regime of the past.

There is a huge range of skin care products on the market today and we will try to help explain the best way to choose your star items.

Serums are the latest additions to the beauty world and offer all sorts of tempting improvements from smoothing wrinkles to reducing pigmentation marks. Can this really happen you ask? Yes they can go a long way towards these goals.

An important point to remember is that serums are not moisturisers. Serums usually contain concentrated, active ingredients designed to perform specific tasks. Small molecules are selected to ensure deeper penetration and  absorption.

A good serum is an excellent bonus to add to your skin care routine especially if you have a particular area of concern. Serums are generally used after cleansing and need to be sealed by a moisturiser. They are another layer of skin care well worth the effort and a little extra expense.

The many benefits of serums are they can deposit nutrients, vitamins and minerals deeper in the skin so problems such as dull, lined, uneven skin tone and dryness in the complexion can be addressed. More intense treatments can be given very easily.

Ingredients or features to look for in serums include Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamins A, C and E and Peptides.

Hyaluronic Acid is top of the list and is known as the King of Hydrators. Skin is very commonly dehydrated especially as we start to age. As collagen and elastin deposits reduce, lines form. This is where Hyaluronic Acid comes to the fore, plumping skin, adding moisture lost  from environmental damage and aging. HA is the missing link of elastin and collagen. Now you can provide that ingredient topically.

Vitamin C and Vitamin E are antioxidants critical to use for protection from free radicals during the day. Vitamin C can help reduce pigmentation and prevent further development. Vitamin C also helps strengthen capillaries and even skin tone.

Vitamin C is best used in an oil form because it is very stable and non irritating. Many soluble  forms of Vitamin C oxidise quickly and lose their efficacy. They can also be irritating on some skins.

Retinol and Vitamin A stimulate natural cell renewal and thickening of the epidermis.

When purchasing a Vitamin C serum the best formulations contain Vitamins A, C and E in an oil form.  Your skin then receives maximum protection and sun damage can be improved. Uneven colour tone and light pigmentation will also improve.

Peptides are a new generation in anti aging actives. They are synthesised from Amino Acids and are readily accepted by the skin. Several peptides have been developed to carry out different jobs but Matrixyl 3000, a signal peptide seems to have the best results at this time. These tiny peptides signal the skin to stimulate the growth of collagen and elastin, hence smoother skin.

Hyaluronic Acid and Matrixyl 3000 work well together and give excellent results quickly. It is not just the combination of ingredients but percentages and molecule size that is vital in formulating serums.

For best results look for all the ingredients listed above and a more youthful appearance can be expected.

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