Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Thanksgiving Tips for Beautiful Skin


Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your feast, we certainly will, but keep in mind that rich creamy sauces, candied foods, breads, stuffing and decadent deserts overwork your digestive system. When digestion and elimination are sluggish and backed up, it can wreak havoc with your skin. Dark circles and puffiness appear under eyes, pores work extra hard to eliminate excessive wastes along with sweat and oil and to top it all off, your energy can plummet!


Start each morning with a big glass of water spiked with lemon to help cleanse your system. Walk at least 30 minutes a day to keep things moving, and cleanse your face AM and PM to keep pore congestion to a minimum. Remember, the holiday season just started, there are lots of pictures still to be taken and posted, be smart and pace yourself.


Stay beautiful,

Millie

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

The Notorious Winter Itch, Oh that pesky W-itch!



The notorious winter itch rears its annoying head once cold weather arrives. Skin often feels dry, tight and itchy, especially right after a bath or shower. The accumulation of dry cells makes the skin look ashy. Winter itch can occur at any age, although its more common as we get older. That's because older skin develops tiny cracks allowing moisture to escape, making skin even dryer. Add that loss of moisture to the heat and low humidity found in homes, schools and offices... and winter itch can pose quite a challenge!


Personal care products can also play a part in aggravating winter itch. Soaps or shower gels with fragrance, harsh cleansing agents or deodorants, even body depilatories that were fine in warmer weather, can suddenly become irritating. Fragranced body lotions and cremes can also add to the itch. Unfortunately, the more you scratch, the more you itch.
When skin gets really dry, even skin that is typically considered 'normal' begins to itch. Skin with eczema, psoriasis or other skin diseases are especially prone to winter itch and the scratching associated with it can cause welts, swelling and blisters. When skin becomes broken or severely cracked, it is more susceptible to infection and it may need the help of a physician.
Here are a few dermHA tips to help keep the pesky W-itch at bay:
  • A long hot bath feels good, but pulls moisture from the skin. Keep baths and showers short and water warm, not hot.

  • Lower room temperatures at night, open a window slightly and/or use a humidifier or a pan of water on radiators to keep moisture in the air.

  • Use hydrating bathing and personal care products with no fragrance, alcohol, lanolin, dyes or propylene glycol to prevent irritating already dry skin.

  • Use non-greasy moisturizing cremes after a bath or shower--especially on arms and legs because they have fewer sweat glands than other parts of the body.

  • Keep toasty in cold weather, but eliminate itchy wools and synthetics garnished with glitter. Prevent further moisture loss by layering light weight items.

  • Switch to fragrance free detergent and stop using fabric softeners on sheets, pillowcases, wash clothes and towels or anything that comes in direct contact with your skin.

When you are a victim of winter itch, that pesky W-itch, take time to investigate what your skin is telling you. Cortisone cremes are a quick fix, but they thin the skin and aren't recommended for daily use long term. Winter skin needs increased hydration. Check out dermHA's products http://www.dermha.com/ to see which ones would be best to help you fight winter dryness! You can also call dermHA directly at 610.269.7009 or 877.933.7642 for advice from one of our skin care experts.

Stay beautiful,



Millie



Sunday, November 7, 2010

dermHA's Dry Skin Help Series: The Importance of Hyaluronic Acid in Skin Care



Hyaluronic acid (HA) is one of the most amazing ingredients in skin care. It is safe, versatile and effective. HA has the ability to hold 1000 times its weight in water and is the most powerful natural moisturizing ingredient known to science. HA's unmatched hydrating ability plumps the skin, resulting in an increased smoothness, softening and a decrease in wrinkles. Any skin care formulation targeting anti-aging and the restoration of damaged tissue should include this valuable ingredient.


Hyaluronic acid is found naturally in our bodies in connective tissue and it contributes to the elasticity of the skin. Medical grade HA is used to replace fluid in joints and is commonly used in cosmetic injectibles to fill in wrinkles. As our skin ages, hyaluronic acid dimishes, resulting in a loss of elasticity that leads to the formation of wrinkles. However, HA can be applied in order to provide anti-aging assistance. When applied topically, hyaluronic acid holds water onto the surface of the skin while allowing the skin to breathe.


In the article, 33 Secrets to Perfect Skin on MSN.com's Lifestyle page, Dr. Shimamoto emphasizes the importance of HA. "Your skin needs its daily dose of water, which is more than your intake of H2O, " says Dr. Shimamoto. "Sodium hyaluronate, more commonly know as hyaluronic acid, helps balance your skin, bringing it to a normal pH level. Balanced skin is optimal for all healthy skin functions. When this ingredient is used in cosmetic formulations at a high concentration (check the ingredients list and make sure it is some where in the middle or toward the top of the list), it will leave your skin plump and dewy looking."


All of dermHA's products include this miracle of nature and science, helping you create healthy, beautiful skin. Go to our website http://www.dermha.com/ to find which products will be most helpful in achieving your skin health goals!
Stay beautiful!
Millie