Skin Care | Beauty and Fashion Tech

Feb 19, 2013

The Five Best Ingredients to Treat Melasma

February 19, 2013 By Carleenp Leave a Comment

Melasma is a common skin condition that mainly occurs in women during their reproductive years, though it may affect men in smaller numbers. It is characterized by excess pigmentation that results in irregular brown spots on the face, particularly on the cheeks, upper lip, forehead and chin.

Several treatments exist to treat melasma. The most common treatments are topical ointments. This article will discuss the most effective ingredients to treat melasma. Dermstore carries a number of products with these ingredients.

1. Hydroquinone

Hydroquinone, a chemical compound, is the most commonly used treatment for melasma. Hydroquinone works by inhibiting the growth of abnormal pigmentation. At the same time, it also lightens the abnormal pigmentation that is currently present. Concentrations range from 2-5 percent; it is recommended that the lowest concentration be used to prevent side effects. Side effects can include dermatitis, dry skin, and ochronosis, which is a dark-blue pigmentation that can occur in those with darker skin tones. Ochronosis may be permanent once the application of hydroquinone is halted. Because of that, many people shy away from using the ingredient. Its use has also been banned in some countries.

2. Azelaic Acid

Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring acid that was originally used to treat acne. It was discovered to also inhibit the excess pigmentation found in melasma. The most effective concentration for results is 20 percent. In addition, it has been found to selectively target the abnormal pigment cells found in melasma while sparing the normal pigment cells. It is as effective as hydroquinone but without the side effects. However, it does still carry a risk of side effects, such as mild redness and burning.

3. Kojic acid

Kojic acid was created by combining several species of fungi. It affects melasma in a similar manners as azelaic acid: it inhibits the growth of abnormal pigment cells. It also serves double duty as a potent antioxidant. Kojic acid is effective at concentrations of 1-4 percent. However, while as effective as other melasma treatments, kojic acid may cause more incidents of dermatitis. It is generally used when other treatments are poorly tolerated.

4. Tretinoin

Tretinoin is in the retinoid family. It is effective in treating melasma because it increases cell turnover in the skin, which results in a gradual fading of the melasma as the skin renews itself. Recommended concentrations for melasma are 0.025-1 percent. Tretinoin can cause side effects, such as dryness and dermatitis.

5. Glycolic acid

Glycolic acid, an acid derived from fruit, promotes skin cell turnover and also inhibits abnormal pigment cells from forming. Effective concentrations are 5-10 percent. The most common side effect is skin irritation that can be easily remedied with face moisturizer.

While melasma may be a common condition, it is also a treatable condition with topical ointments being the most common treatment. Someone suffering from melasma only needs to look to one of these ingredients to find an effective solution.

Learn more and buy melasma treatment products at Dermstore

Disclosures: Beauty and Fashion Tech at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page

Filed Under: Melasma Treatment, Skin Care Tagged With: Melasma Treatment, Skin Care

Feb 11, 2013

The Best Rosacea Treatments

February 11, 2013 By Carleenp 7 Comments

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that generally affects the face. It begins as a generalized redness, but can progress to include dilated blood vessels, and small bumps and pustules, especially on the nose. It is often accompanied by a burning or stinging sensation, and sometimes affects the eyes.

So if you're afflicted with rosacea, what are your best options for treatment? Here are a few ideas to look into. You can also look for treatment products in the rosacea section at Dermstore, who has a particularly nice selection of products.

1. Oral Antibiotics

Doctors often prescribe oral antibiotics for patients dealing with redness and bumps or pimples. Among the most common antibiotics prescribed are doxycycline, minocycline and tetracycline. Physicians also often prescribe topical antiobiotic creams to treat the skin condition. Drugs containing azelaic acid or sulfur are often prescribed for cases of rosacea that don't respond to antibiotics.
While oral antibiotics are typically very successful at treating rosacea, the condition often returns when the medications are discontinued.

2. Natural Anti-inflammatories

Certain herbal ingredients are believed to calm the inflammation of rosacea. Green tea, feverfew, lavender and licorice all have natural anti-inflammatory properties that may work to ease the redness and stinging of rosacea. Many rosacea sufferers also find that sandalwood oil applied topically brings them relief of symptoms.

3. Cosmetics Choices

When your face is red and inflamed, it's natural to want to cover the condition with cosmetics -- but using cosmetics is a particular danger zone for those with rosacea. Many cosmetic preparations can actually inflame the condition, so you must take care to choose hypo-allergenic cosmetics only. Try using any new cosmetics on a small patch of skin before spreading them over your entire face, and make sure you have no reactions, since use of the wrong cosmetics can actually make your condition worse.

Make sure to read the labels of any product you put on your face. Cosmetics and skin care products containing alcohol, clove or eucalyptus oil, various fragrances, menthol, salicylic acid, or witch hazel have all been shown to exacerbate rosacea flare-ups.

4. Lifestyle Changes

Rosacea is sometimes triggered by stress, which can release hormones, adrenaline, and other chemicals into the body's system. Avoid stressful situations as much as possible, and drink plenty of water to help flush the negative chemicals out of your system.

Sugar, soda, coffee and cigarettes all contain stimulants which can enlarge blood vessels, and thus pose a special danger for those with rosacea. In addition, about one-third of rosacea sufferers react badly to aspartame, so it should also be avoided.
Sunlight is a trigger to rosacea outbreaks for many people, so make sure you wear a hat in the sun, and find a sunscreen that your skin can tolerate easily.

Finally, some people find that food allergies or sensitivities trigger outbreaks of rosacea. Some believe that allergies are not the cause, but that rosacea outbreaks can be a result of overly acidic foods in the body. Pay careful attention to what you're eating and to whether it seems to be exascerbating your condition, and avoid those foods that make your rosacea worse.

5. Laser Treatments and LED Light

While laser treatments can't treat the underlying condition of rosacea, they are often effective at dealing with the cosmetic problems that rosacea can leave behind. Lasers can be used to reduce redness on the skin, to remove visible blood vessels, and to treat bumps on the nose. Your dermatologist will know the best choice of laser for your specific condition. Meanwhile, LED light therapy has become increasingly popular for treating rosacea. In particular, the Baby Quasar red light has gotten good reviews for use with rosacea at home.

Looking for more? View rosacea treatment information and products at Dermstore.

Filed Under: Rosacea Treatment, Rosacea Treatment, Skin Care Tagged With: Baby Quasar, Rosacea, Skin Care

Jan 24, 2013

Origins A Perfect World for Eyes Review

January 24, 2013 By Carleenp Leave a Comment

This is a reader review of Origins A Perfect World for Eyes Firming Treatment. Thanks Amber Stamps for the review!

In the quest to find an anti-aging skincare product that truly provides noticeable and lasting positive results, immense disappointment and frustration can develop. Yet, there exists an eye cream on the market that is suitable for even the most sensitive skin and reduces the appearance of wrinkles as well as puffiness and dark spots. The Origins A Perfect World for Eyes Firming Moisture Treatment with White Tea is a rather thick eye cream, but it is silky smooth and certainly could be used underneath make-up during the day if you have dry skin. As is the case with most Origins skincare products, there is virtually no scent to this cream. No immediate nor long-term negative skin reactions, such as stinging, peeling, pimpling nor rash, were caused by this cream. Its potent, natural ingredients effectively soothe and firm the skin with noticeable improvement within only about two to three weeks.

Origins A Perfect World for Eyes Firming Treatment produces a slight cooling effect when massaged into the skin, which makes it a welcome addition to any beauty regimen. It can be applied morning or night on freshly cleansed skin. In the summer, it may feel too oily for women with combination-to-oily skin, especially those who reside in humid areas. However, it does not give the face an overly oily look nor a slippery feel to the touch. It is packed with vitamin A and white birch extract, both well-known to soften fine lines and quicken skin cell renewal, and consistent use of this cream produces more glowing skin thanks to the inclusion of maca root powder. The powerful antioxidant, resveratrol, contained within the skin of red grapes, is included for its ability to minimize skin sagging and dryness. With this product, even if you feel exhausted, you certainly won't look it.

The true star ingredient in this cream is the white tea extract. Studies show that compounds in white tea block enzymes that destroy the skin's elastin and collagen; therefore, white tea is extremely beneficial when preventing or reducing wrinkles is your goal. After only three weeks of use, it became obvious that when smiling, the skin around my eyes looked more supple and smooth. Of course, this realization gave me even more reason to smile. This is indeed a product to try if you seek a gentle formula to slowly but surely unveil firmer, brighter, softer and smoother skin.