Can Vitamins Fight Acne?

Author: Haley Hensley
Source: ezinearticles.com

Are you one of the 100 million Americans affected with dry skin? Several years ago, I belonged in that category. If you’re suffering with dry skin, don’t fret, because I have done much research and experimented with many different creams for getting rid of dry skin, and I have compiled the following tips for you.

1) Bathe daily with warm, not hot, water — Short 5 – 10 minute showers or baths in warm water will add moisture to your skin. Be wary of using hot water as it will strip away the natural oils in your skin, drying your skin out faster. These natural oils are what lock in moisture and prevent your skin from absorbing bacteria and becoming infected.

2) Moisturize after your bath or shower — Always, always remember this point: Creams for getting rid of dry skin do not add moisture to your skin, but rather they lock-in the moisture that is already there. Therefore, rubbing on a good moisturizing cream while your skin is still damp is important, because it traps the moisture in your skin. Try to do this within 3 minutes of your bath or shower.

3) Avoid “un-natural” ingredients in your moisturizing cream– Seek out natural topical creams for dry skin. Notice I said “natural”, because “un-natural” ingredients will sabotage your moisturizing efforts.Avoid the following:

Avoid fragrances — Fragrances are synthetic chemicals and can irritate dry skin. Look for the words “fragrance free.”

Avoid alcohols — Alcohols, like fragrances, are irritating to skin and strip away your skin’s natural oils, making you vulnerable to bacteria. Stay away from ethanol, ethyl alcohol, methanol, benzyl alcohol, isopropyl and SD alcohols.

Avoid parabens — Natural topical creams for dry skin should never contain parabens. Parabens (methyl, propyl, butyl, and ethyl) are very widely used as preservatives, especially by big name companies, but studies suggest they may be dangerous. A study published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology (Darbre) in 2004 detected parabens in breast tumors. So the lesson here is to stay away from them as they may cause cancer.

4) Avoid moisturizing agents that clog pores — When investigating creams for getting rid of dry skin, you’ll likely come across mineral oil and petrolatum (petroleum jelly). Many companies use these as moisturizing agents because they’re cheap, and they really do lock in moisture.

However, you, as an informed consumer, will now know to avoid products that contain these two ingredients, because they clog your pores, not allowing your skin to eliminate harmful toxins. As a result, blemishes, acne, and scarring can appear. Mineral oil and petrolatum also can result in brown spots and premature aging.

5) Seek out natural moisturizing agents — The best moisturizing ingredients are those that exist in nature. Keep in mind, these substances still must go through a little processing just to be used in products.

However, the best natural topical creams for dry skin will contain natural ingredients whose effectiveness and quality have not been compromised by processing. Remember that whatever we rub onto our skin can be absorbed into our bloodstream, so we want products with ingredients pure enough to eat.

Here are a few of my favorite, natural ingredients:

Phytessence wakame — Wakame is a product of the Japanese sea and is eaten by the Japanese, both fresh and dried. In addition to containing vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, sodium, iron, potassium, and calcium, phytessence wakame is important in preventing the breakdown of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is important for smooth, moisture-rich skin because it helps the skin hold the water in.

Jojoba oil — If you want a cream that will make your face feel velvety, choose one with jojoba oil. It is a vegetable oil (like a wax) that is very similar to human sebum (the oil produced by human skin). Its benefits include treating acne and psoriasis, and if you have oily skin, it helps balance your skin’s production of oil, reducing oiliness. It prevents water-loss through the skin by forming a non-greasy layer.

Shea butter — Shea butter is a fantastic ingredient that contains natural moisturizers that are virtually identical to the ones produced by our own sebaceous glands. Therefore, creams for getting rid of dry skin that contain shea butter are wonderful moisturizers. In addition to moisturizing and softening your skin, shea butter can also help eliminate scars, blemishes, brown spots, wrinkles, and inflamed skin. Specifically look for shea butter that has been extracted without chemicals and prepared by the cold-press method.

Nature has provided us with many great moisturizing ingredients, but these are just a few of my favorites that can be found in natural topical creams for dry skin.

Your goal now is to do your research and find that quality natural cream to help you combat dry skin. I hope my tips have been informative and helpful.

Haley Hensley is passionate about natural skin care and quality skin care products. Visit http://www.your-favorite-skin-site.com to learn about the quality skin care products she recommends after extensive research: http://www.your-favorite-skin-site.com

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