Flawless Skin (dermHA) to DivaScribe: THANKS Millie!

Flawless Skin (dermHA) to DivaScribe: THANKS Millie!: "OK...it's been a while been a while since you last heard from me, but first I have to give a big thanks to Mildred Bell first. Millie - I fe..."

Managing Dry Winter Skin

Dryness, Acne & the Winter Blues...

It's particularly challenging to manage acne during the winter months.  The outdoor cold coupled with dry heat from homes, businesses and cars cause moisture loss and skin becomes tight and dry.  This dryness stimulates the oil glands to produce more oil.  The excess oils subsequently accumulate and solidify in the pores, mixing with dead cells on the surface to form waxy plugs.  Add bacteria and you've got blackheads! 

An acne breakout can take the form of blackheads, pustules, cysts or any combination of those.  It can negatively impact a person's life by lowering their self-esteem and changing the way they are perceived by others because of their altered appearance.  But you can battle winter dryness and the acne associated with it by following a simple skin care routine and changing some basic lifestyle behaviors.

Daily cleansing and hydration is crucial in winter months.  Look for products without major irritants like fragrance, alcohol, lanolin, dyes and propylene glycol.  Use an exfoliating cleanser that's gentle but effective. Wash and rinse your skin in cool water, not hot, because hot water tends to dehydrate skin even more.  If you are using a topical prescription, you might want to try a gentle cleanser without exfolients and use a tonic with ingredients like multi-fruit acids, zinc and non-alcoholic witch hazel after cleansing. 

Hydration is the most important part of your winter regimen.  Use a water based moisturizer with hyaluronic acid (they should be the first and second ingredients listed to ensure high concentrations of both) and apply a thin film dail in the AM and PM to keep skin healthy and hydrated.  An enzyme mask used once or twice a week is a gentle way to lift dead cells and dried surface skin without dehydrating or irritating the skin underneath.

Other tips for battling winter dryness and acne:

• Use a humidifier to keep moisture in the air of your bedroom
• drink 8-10 glasses of water a day, every day
• Don't rub skin and avoid tight turtlenecks and scarves, because friction causes pimples
• Keep hair out of your face
• Wipe your cell phone often to remove oils and bacteria
• Don't use topical or oral steroids since its known to aggravate acne
• Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, especially ones that have zinc

If you do get a pimple:

• apply a dot of pure tea tree oil on pimples or pustules to kill the bad bacteria but not the good
• Dont touch the affected areas unless your hands are clean
• Don't squeeze the skin beneath!

Don't let winter dryness and acne get you down, follow a winter regimen like the one above to keep your skin healthy and hydrated.  If you are not already using it, dermHA's enzyme mask is a perfect addition to your winter skin care regimen.  Go to http://www.dermha.com/ to learn more about our other hydrating products. 

Stay Beautiful,
Millie

Introducing...

www.facebook.com/dermha

One Man's Shaving Victory: Banishing Ingrown Hairs

My name is KG and dermHA has changed the way I shave and view skin care forever. I have gone from hating to shave to looking forward to it because it gives me an additional opportunity to utilize one of my favorite dermHA products, which seems to make my skin smoother every time I use it.


I am 32 years old and most of my shaving life I have had tremendous battles with razor bumps and ingrown hairs. For several years I tried products like bump stopper products and like most African-American males that I know, I still found myself plagued by razor bumps and ingrown hair. I also tried a product called Tend Skin, and I rotated between shaving with razors and with machines manufactured for shaving. I was told I was doing it wrong so I tried using a warm towel before I would shave, and I applied well known cleansers like Noxzema. I even tried very harsh exfoliating products which left my skin raw and feeling like an open wound. Everthing I tried ended with frustration. My relief eventually came when I was introduced to dermHA almost four years ago.


I first started using the dermHA cleansers and therapeutic creme, and I saw a tremendous decrease in the amount of razor bumps and ingrown hairs that shaving produced. Then I began using the product that I now simply cannot live without, the dermHA gentle exfoliating creme. Since I have been using it my battle with razor bumps and in-grown hairs is over. My in-grown hairs and razor bumps are now a thing of the past. Now, every day after shaving, I use the dermHA rejuvenating cleanser, then I apply the gentle exfoliating creme. After that dries, I apply the dermHA therapeutic creme, which also helps to prevent that dry, rough, and raw feeling that seemed to come with my irritated skin. I am convinced that the dermHA gentle exfoliating creme by itself is the ultimate "bump stopper", but these three products in combination seem to have reversed the damage done to my skin before I found dermHA. It seems to have reversed the clock of my skin's age...


Grateful,
KG

Jana's Journey...

My skin care challenges go back to my teen years. In high school I went to doctors and took medications and managed to get it somewhat under control. However, during college, my skin went haywire. I went to tons of doctors, had numerous medical grade skin peels, changed my diet, took medication and anything else people told me might help change the appearance of my skin. I keep my hair in my face as much as possible to block people from seeing my skin. I eventually even stop trying to put myself together, what did cute clothes and shoes matter, once people saw the pimples, bumps and discoloration of my face, I knew that would be all they saw. It really hurt my self-confidence and when my skin was at its worse, I retreated from the social world. Eventually my dermatologist put me on accutane for almost ten months, which finally cleared up the acne. However, I was still left with splotchy discoloration on my face and neck.


I had my acne under control for a while when I was introduced to dermHA and Millie, but I was still bothered by the discoloration that had not receeded. I tried all of the time to scrub off the dark marks, but it never worked. Millie gave me one on one attention, wanting to learn everything about my skin care routines, skin care needs and ultimate goals. She had such a thorough knowledge of skin health and skin care and was able to tell me what my skin needed to achieve my goals. After an extensive evaluation and treatment session with Millie, I made a conscious decision to 'listen to Millie' from then on because I knew that her knowledge and her desire to provide others with beautiful skin would help me achieve my skin care goal of clear, healthy skin. I had been to some of the best dermatologists in the country and never got the kind of personal attention that Millie gave me. The regimen and behavioral recommendations were specific to me, my history and my needs. Millie did a great job of explaining the whys of everything. She knew about products, not just her own, ingredients, skin care tools and everything connected to skin health and beauty.


I immediately noticed that my skin felt different. From the day I meet Millie, I made the commitment to wash my face every morning and every night and to use sunscreen and moisturizer. Now, I will not leave my home in the morning without using the dermHA HA Therapy Plus. It doesn't feel greasy or heavy. I've been using it and the other products Millie recommended for six months and the discoloration is fading and my tone is even. I think I have a glow now and my skin looks healthy. I no longer feel that I have to put foundation on my face to be presentable, I can just put on my moisturizer to refresh and I feel ready to go!


Feeling beautiful,

Jana


Jana is a teacher, wife and mother and eats healthy and exercises to complete her healthy living goals. Jana is also the coordinator of the REVHS AVID program, an innovate education program that helps promote academic achievement and college readiness for low to moderate income families. Jana has won numerous awards for her work with AVID and is an incredible role model and community leader. For more information about the AVID model go to http://www.avid.org/