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

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/

AGELESS BEAUTY: Behind the Scenes with Millie

Mildred Bell, Founder of dermHA

dermHA Founder and Co-Owner Mildred Bell knows that beautiful skin is a constant work in progress and is diligent about her skin care routine and habits. Read on to hear Millie's skin care challenges and how she conquers them to remain an ageless beauty...

"My skin care challenges change a little with the seasons and as I get older they seem to magnify. My skin has always been sensitive to the cold and the heat. Winter weather packs a double whammy as I go from the frigid cold to high heat in my car and home. Luckily, my regimen of gentle cleansing and super hydrating keeps my skin glowing!

In winter months, I cleanse my face daily with dermHA's Cleansing Lotion. Although you need water to activate the lotion, it doesn't lather. But that doesn't keep if from gently and effectively cleaning off make-up, dirt and oils. I combine a pea sized amount of cleanser with a little water and massage it over my face in circular motions. In addition to cleansing, this stimulates circulation and helps with lymph drainage. After cleansing I rinse with cool water and then take a damp cotton pad or clean, wet washcloth and wipe away the residue. If I've used heavier make-up that day, I sometimes follow my cleansing with a cotton ball dampened with dermHA's Rejuvenating Tonic to make sure all traces of makeup are removed.

My night time cleansing is followed by a thin application of the dermHA Vitamin C Therapy all over my face and neck. I then apply a dot of dermHA Eye & Neck Creme from the outside area of each eye inward, being careful not to get it too close to my lower lash line. I also massage the Eye & Neck Creme onto my neck and I apply a dot on my lips as well to keep them soft and lubricated. A quick application of our luscious Moisture Creme Plus all over my face tops off my nightly routine to keep my face glowing.

In the morning, my mature skin lacks oil as well as moisture. In order to keep those precious natural lipids from being washed away during the winter, I often skip my morning cleanser and just rinse my face several times with cool water. After blotting dry, I reapply my Eye and Neck creme and my luscious Moisture Creme Plus. After waiting two minutes, I apply my sunscreen and makeup and I'm ready to start my day.

Because cellular turnover slows as you age, I occasionally use the dermHA Lactic Acid Exfoliating Gel to speed the removal of dead surface cells. And once a week, every week, I use the dermHA Enzyme Mask to nurture and polish my skin.

I know that it is important to take care of not just the skin on my face, but my whole body. dermHA's Hand Creme is a staple in my glove compartment, desk drawer at work and my purse. After every bath or shower, while my skin is still damp, I quickly massage the dermHA Therapeutic Creme all over my body. A moist body allows a small amount of the creme to liquefy and glide smoothly over the body, quickly absorbing into the skin. Because feet (and elbows and knees) can become especially rough and/or dry, before popping into bed, I apply an extra coat of the Therapeutic Creme to keep my feet silky soft.

Taking the time to nurture my skin each day is a must, and I challenge you to take that time for yourself!"

Stay beautiful,


Millie

...to learn more about the dermHA products Millie uses or to order, go to http://www.dermha.com ...

Behind the Scenes at dermHA

Carletta Williams, co-owner of dermHA

How Carletta Stays Fabulous...

Carletta Williams, mother, grandmother, businesswoman, community leader and one of the co-owners of dermHA, has one, no excuses, beauty rule: wash your face before you go to bed. Carletta remarks, "when I started washing my face before going to bed, that really made a difference in my skin. I can tell that extra step has helped my skin stay clearer, softer and supple."

As a woman on the go, and one who is frequently in the public eye as the Director of Sales and Marketing for dermHA, maintaining a healthy glow starts from the inside with a healthy diet, vitamins and holistic health practices. Carletta's commitment to her health and beauty gives her confidence and energy, and allows her to keep up with her active life and active family.

Carletta's dermHA skin care regime includes:

rejuvenating cleanser, moisture creme plus, therapeutic creme, vitamin C, lactic acid exfoliating body gel and the enzyme mask.

Carletta shares her routine:

-I use the rejuvenating cleanser morning and night. I love the way it lathers and removes my makeup.

-After a shower I use the lactic acid body exfoliating gel to keep feet, heels, elbows and other hard to hydrate areas soft and exfoliated. It also helps keep ingrown hairs at bay from shaving. I follow with therapeutic creme because it contains arnica and calendula, two ingredients with great healing and soothing properties. The therapeutic creme is great for all over body moisture.

-I hydrate my skin morning and night with our moisture creme plus, it's full of botanicals and anti-oxidants.

-I use vitamin C at night, it's great for anti-aging.

-Once a week I use the enzyme mask to rejuvenate and exfoliate. It gives my skin a nice rosy glow and I feel good about taking that extra 10-15 minutes to pamper myself!


~Stay Beautiful!


For more information about dermHA skin care products or to order Carletta's regimen, go to www.dermHA.com or call 877.933.7642. You can email Carletta directly for more information about her regimen or her healthy living regime at cwilliams@dermha.com

Women, Hormones and their Skin

Many of the changes you experience in your skin are a result of hormones. Hormones are crucial to the healthy functioning of your body. they fluctuate throughout your lifetime and are responsible for both physical and emotional changes that we feel. When your hormones are out of wack, skin problems can occur...most notable, acne.

During puberty, acne occurs due to an increase in oil production in glands. During menopause, the loss of estrogen results in the body having more androgens (the male sex hormone), so hair growth on the chin and jaw line along with adult acne becomes more common in women.

Breakouts occur when pores become blocked with a sticky combination of dead cells, sebum and bacteria. This accumulation can be as small as a pimple or it can become as large and painful as a cyst. The severity of the acne breakout is determined by a variety of factors including heredity, diet, environment, and the way that you care for your skin. No matter what the cause, acne can be a wake up call to take better overall care of your health.

Tips for improve your overall health:

• Exercise daily to stimulate circulation, healthy sweat and oil secretions, metabolism, as well as those feel-good hormones.



• Drink plenty of water so toxins can be flushed from your body through the kidneys and liver



• Eat a diet full of colorful veggies and fruits and switch to organic meat if you can afford it.



• Eliminate sugar and sweets, caffeine, and sodas.



• Dairy is a suspect in contributing to acne and should be eliminated for a month to see if the condition improves.



• Cleanse and hydrate your skin daily and exfoliate when needed.



• Look for a hyaluronic acid based moisturizer to keep skin hydrated without blocking pores. A hydrated skin functions better by keeping skin soft and allowing for the transfer of oils. Dry, tight skin constricts pores and solidifies sebum, trapping it and causing pores to become congested.
  

As we age, women lose precious hormones. Visible changes occur in the bones, muscles, hair and skin. Skin and hair may begin to thin and skin loses elasticity, gets dry and begins to form wrinkles. Aging skin also becomes more vulnerable to infection and often more sensitive. Irritants such as fragrance, alcohol, lanolin, dye and propylene glycol should be avoided in skin care products. Hyaluronic acid, found in dermHA products, is the most powerful natural moisturizing ingredient known to science and a key ingredient in keeping aging skin healthy and younger looking.

Understanding the affects of hormones as they relate to unwelcome changes in skin during puberty and menopause, and every stage in between, can help you make healthy choices in diet, lifestyle and daily skin care. Learning to incorporate proper skin care into your daily routine is essential for improving the health, appearance and integrity of your skin.

Stay beautiful!

Millie