Winter SkinCare Tips for Dogs

Here’s another one of those items that I just couldn’t let slip by.

Picked up today from the Skin Care & Beauty Blog.

With winter comes snow, mud and dirty dogs! Take care of your pet’s skin and coat with the following winter care tips from the American Humane Association:

1. All dogs (except for the truly hairless breeds) require frequent brushing regardless of coat type. Brushing is very important to your dog’s health and happiness. Brushing stimulates the skin by removing dead skin flakes, encourages natural oil production, removes irritating debris and encourages blood flow to the skin. It also uncovers skin and coat troubles, such as dandruff, parasites or dry or brittle fur, which may indicate an illness. Failing to brush your dog regularly may result in mats, which breed bacteria and infections and can be very painful for your dog.

2. Dogs should be bathed regularly. Brushing before a bath is recommended, as it breaks down dirt, grime and debris so the shampoo will clean more effectively (and it might also relax the dog). Don’t wash dogs outside; the frigid water from a garden hose is extremely uncomfortable and can make them sick.

3. Treat your dog to a visit with a professional groomer periodically. Dogs with coats that need regular trimming — such as poodles and Shih Tzus — can be professionally groomed every four to six weeks. Many mixed-breed dogs and those with multi-length coats — such as golden retrievers, many spaniels and sheep dogs — can get a professional grooming every six to 12 weeks. Dogs with uniform-length coats — such as Labs, and beagles — can visit a professional every 12 to 16 weeks, but can get by with home brushings. A professional can identify and remove mats safely. In addition, nail clipping, ear-hair removal and anal-sac expression are safer when performed by a trained professional. Professional groomers also have the tools and experience to safely cut and style your dog’s coat.

4. Inspect your dog’s ears frequently. Clean inside the ear only when you see dirt, wax or debris. Use an unexpired canine ear-wash solution and cotton balls to clean the ear (do not use cotton swabs). Squirt the solution into the dog’s ear canal and massage the base of the ear canal for 20 seconds. Then use cotton balls to remove the wax, but only as far down as you can see. Stop immediately if your dog cries, bites or exhibits any sign of pain.

5. Perform inspections of your dog’s skin and coat. Because your dog is covered in fur that can hide medical and grooming problems, you should inspect every inch of the skin and coat with your eyes and fingers. Regular brushing will make the inspection easier because dirt, mats and tangles won’t get in your way. Look for any changes or abnormalities, such as bites, parasites, injuries, lumps or changes in the skin’s color or texture.

6. Remember, it’s cold outside! Dogs with short hair and dogs that get cold easily should wear coats or sweaters while on a walk to keep them warm. You can also cover their feet with booties to protect their pads from salt or chemical de-icers. Wipe off any salt that might get on their stomach to keep them from licking it off.

Why Use Dead Sea Mineral Components in SkinCare?

The skin is a semi permeable membrane that responds to osmotic pressure by either absorbing moisture or releasing waste. The minerals in Dead Sea water can act as important catalysts in the numerous metabolic processes involved.

The careful inclusion and exploitation of Dead Sea Minerals in Skin Care formulations can be used to encourage these metabolic processes to behave in an optimal fashion for the benefit of the skin. The concentration range required to activate need only be small. At 0.5%, or even less, they can support cell functioning and enhance these metabolic processes.

And, why use Dead Sea mineral components in oily acne skin care?

There is no life in the waters of the Dead Sea. This means it is capable of killing microorganisms. If correctly used, Dead Sea water, mud or salts offer excellent potential as natural antimicrobials for acne prone skin. To achieve this however, the presence of Dead Sea raw materials does need to be a little more substantial.

A good SkinCare formulator makes highly effective use of Dead Sea Minerals, but only where their use is appropriate!

So, tell me about Dead Sea Minerals, Osmotic Pressure and SkinCare?

Inside the body there is a physiological fluid which has a typical salinity of 0.9% (just like the saline solution that is often used in hospitals to compensate for fluid loss).

On the surface of the skin (the outside of the membrane), we can use either a higher salt concentration and create a “HYPER-tonic” fluid, such as Mediterranean see water or Dead Sea water or, the opposite, a “HYPO- tonic” medium such as a completely salt free gel.

The effect on the surface membrane is also opposite. The skin has a permanent tendency to try to even out the salt concentration on either side of the membrane. This creates an osmotic pressure to “get things moving” around the skin.

So, dipping into the salty sea means that the body fluids want to go out of the skin. From an osmotic point of view, you may say that the fluids from inside “want to go out and reduce the salinity on the outside”. This does create a slight drying effect (which you may feel shortly after swimming) but it is also energizing, because all the waste removal is also increased and the metabolism is enhanced.

Thus, the “careful” use of Dead Sea Minerals in Skin Care products produces the same effect. Osmotic pressure helps to clear impurities and promote a healthier skin. “Careful” is an important consideration however. Just adding a heap of Dead Sea Minerals to a Skin Care product can have negative effects and cause new problems, not the least of which is overdrying the skin.

For completeness, we should also describe the the opposite osmotic effect. In cases where a very hydrating effect is required, which is very useful after, for example, “a burn”. During a burn, the heat causes contraction of the skin cells and the pores. They close and do not allow the permanent evaporation to take place normally – which may mean, at a time of a more serious burn – the formation of a blister. In this case, a salt free gel will try to enter through the skin’s membrane and even out the salinity on the inside. It creates a “plumping effect” on the skin, which softens and becomes hydrated. The pores “open up” and evaporation is enabled again. The blisters do not form and the cooling effect of the gel (which acts as an artificial sweat, especially if a ventilator, or better still, an air conditioner blows cold air in its direction) means little or no pain is felt and the discomfort of the burn may very quickly disappear.

What are the Minerals found in The Dead Sea?

All together the Dead Sea contains over 21 minerals which have been proven to beautify the skin and keep it healthy and youthful. Even plants growing along the shores of the Dead Sea have a high concentration of vitamins, minerals and valuable oils which are used in dermatology cosmetics and medicine.

The major minerals found in Dead Sea water or mud are actually those which are essential for the proper functioning of skin cells, making a significant contribution to maintaining a healthy, beautiful skin

Magnesium – A therapeutic mineral which helps the healing of skin tissue, acts as an antiallergenic agent on the skin, improves cell metabolism, stimulates protein synthesis and facilitates energy production.

Bromine – Soothes your skin with anti-inflammatory properties, calms and relaxes muscles and calms skin nerves.

Iodine – improves functioning of the thyroid gland and helps the skin cells’ metabolic exchanges.

Sulfur – Is a known therapeutic mineral. It contains certain essential vitamins and is a natural disinfectant and antibacterial agent – thus making it effective against acne. It has also been shown effective in helping relieve symptoms of skin disorders such as Psoriasis and Eczema.

Potassium – is a key moisture regulator and helps preserve a neutral skin environment. Signs of potassium deficiency include abnormally dry skin and acne as well as flare ups of Psoriasis.

Calcium – is the building block for corrective tissue under the skin’s surface and plays an important role in cell protection. It regulates cell membrane permeability (absorption and oil production) and normalizes skin cells’ differentiation.

Sodium – this Dead Sea mineral improves the skin cells metabolism, relieves muscle cramps and stiffness while maintaining a neutral environment within skin cells.

Zinc – This mineral is important for the natural regulation of cell growth and regeneration. It also facilitates cell renewal and stimulates collagen and elastin synthesis (renews skin). A great antioxidant this mineral is a free radicals scavenger. It also improves sebo-regulation (anti-acne properties), anti-inflammatory properties and is a natural UV ray blocker.

Strontium – has effective anti-itching properties, reduces the signs of irritant contact dermatitis (a common problem for those with sensitive skin who regularly use cosmetics)

Manganese – Well known for powerful antioxidant properties out of all minerals. It also increases skin microcirculation (which promotes better anti-aging effects) and improves the condition of connective tissues.

Lithium – this Dead Sea mineral increases the effectiveness of bath salt treatment for psoriasis.

Boron – replenishment of the Boron mineral helps to relieve the symptoms of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

New Year, New Attitude ….. New Skin!

Many people today are just plain confused by the sheer number of skin care products and options on the market. There are a few folks, the lucky ones, who are blessed with a beautiful radiant skin. Having been born this way, they are the people who could never even wash their skin and yet it would still look perfect. For the rest of us, this is just not a reality, go just one day without washing your skin and by the next morning the whole world will be able to see the results of your neglect!

While, for most of us, a perfect skin seems like some kind of fairy tale, you definitely can achieve changes to your skin. Whether you have oily, dry, sensitive, or mature skin, there are products out there to help you cope with what you were born with.

However, be assured that there is no panacea, no one miracle product out there for everybody. What may work wonders for one skin may do nothing for another. Our skin is very unique and different, and although many people may suffer from the same condition (for example acne, seborrhea, hyper-pigmentation) one product may react completely different from one person to the next.

Self diagnosis is seldom the most successful approach. You need the help of a Skin Care professional. If you haven’t been for a while, make this your first New Year Resolution.

If you own a car, you know that it needs a professional service from time to time. And, it invariably seems to drive better when you get it back. The same goes for the skin you own. Go treat yourself and have a wonderful facial with an experienced esthetician. They will examine your skin and recommend the products in their spa that best suit you. In most cases the skin care products they recommended will work just great. But again, not everything works for everyone. You may still have to search for the right product that works best with your skin. But don’t give up, that beautiful skin you envy so much is not totally unattainable!

However, remember that if you want to ensure the health of your skin for the years to come you must treat it well.

Too many people take for granted this precious organ we call our skin. Everyone washes their hair, conditions it, and trims or styles it if it is looking shabby. So, how could we then neglect our skin so much? Not wash it, don’t exfoliate and just let our skin thicken and form comedones, or let it bake in the sun without protection so it can start looking nice and crispy!

And then we wonder, why am I getting all these fine lines, pigmentation, and blackheads … wrinkles!

Get the point? Our skin needs regular attention just like the rest of our body. Make that time to give your skin the daily care it needs and it will reward your efforts. You will never regret paying attention to it!

George Burns once said: “I look to the future because that’s where I’m going to spend the rest of my life“.

Look to your skin, its your future!

Smile for an Express Face-lift, Free of Charge and then ……

I openly admit that I found this somewhere else (just don’t remember where), but the advice is just too perfect not to repeat!

As the years go by, it’s inevitable that our skin becomes more sensitive, dull, and dry. Fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin start to worry us more and more each time we face the mirror. With that in mind, there is no doubt that anti-aging skin care treatment is an essential part of our skin care portfolio.

Below are the top 10 tips to live by for the youthful skin everyone desires:

1. Avoid sun exposure; it’s your skin’s number one enemy! Forget tan lines, as too much sun can burn your skin and may even cause skin cancer. If you really need to be outdoors, then apply a broad spectrum sunscreen 20 minutes before exposure, preferably those with sun protection factor (SPF) 15 or higher. Re-apply as needed. Also, always be ready with an umbrella, hat, and sunglasses to shield your skin against the sun’s blazing rays.

2. Drink lots and lots of fluids. Keeping your skin regularly hydrated with water and fresh fruit juices will give you a healthier and firmer looking skin. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day also washes out harmful toxins in the body, which can cause premature skin aging.

3. Eat healthy food. Proper nutrition plays an important role in anti-aging skin care treatment. Gobble up more on fresh fruits and vegetables, and fiber rich foods. Avoid desserts, junk foods, and fried foods as much as you can, as these sweets and greasy treats can cause skin breakouts, making your skin look old.

4. Take skin vitamins. Start taking anti-oxidants and supplements that are truly advantageous to skin. Vitamins A, C, and E, beta-carotene and lycopene are great anti-oxidants. They can protect your skin from harsh free radicals that can ultimately damage cells and cause diseases.

5. Move that body. Don’t you just love how your skin glows right after working out? Exercising at least 3x a week will guarantee a healthier and more toned skin. If you find the gym boring or scary, you might as well engage in sports that interests you. Or do some brisk walking in the morning, or walk the dog—anything that keeps your blood pumping!

6. Select your skin care products sensibly. Use a firming cream or moisturizer at night and a quality broad spectrum sunscreen during the day. Choose anti-aging products that contain key ingredients, such as collagen, Vitamin A, retinoids, Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids (AHAs and BHAs) to have a clearer and more youthful complexion. Exfoliate weekly to remove dead skin cells to reveal a fresh looking skin and further prevent wrinkles.

7. Go to bed early and sleep like a baby. Depriving yourself of sleep or sleeping late can ruin your skin and make it look old—not to mention it can cause those panda-like dark circles and eye bags. Plus, skin regenerates best while you are sleeping, so get that much needed beauty rest.

8. Kick the habit. Generally, smokers look older than their real age and have more wrinkles than non-smokers. Smoking dehydrates the skin, which leads to skin cracking and breaking. So, quit smoking to not only prevent wrinkles and other signs of aging, but to also add more valuable years to your life.

9. Don’t go crazy with make-up. Wearing too much cosmetics can clog up your pores and cause many skin problems, which can contribute in old-looking skin. Light make-up like blush-on, lip gloss, and sheer foundation should be fine. Don’t forget to remove make-up traces before going to bed. Otherwise, you’ll greet the morning with an impending pimple or blackhead.

10. Smile for an express face-lift, free of charge. Many people forget how beneficial it is to smile—it effortlessly provides an instant blush to your face. Besides, it takes more muscles to frown than to smile.

Take off years and achieve a youthful complexion by following this anti-aging skin care treatment tips. Start today and you’ll surely be impressed with the results—younger looking skin that everyone will talk about.

Moisturizer, the second most important Skin Care product!

Your skin is under attack every minute of every day.

It is constantly being bombarded by elements in the environment and atmosphere that are damaging and harmful. Even more so for those that live and or work in higher risk areas.

Many but, unfortunately, still not all of us now realize that the sun is not necessarily our friend. And, we are not talking about global warming.

Much has been written, even within this very blog, about UVA and UVB rays and, while we may not fully understand what solar ultra violet radiation is all about, we now know it is out to get us! What is less understood about these rays is that they are always around, even on the cloudiest of days and even during the wintertime. They damage the cells on the top layers of the skin causing them to burn and die off. You may think that a suntan looks good but, in reality, any change in the skin’s colour after being in the sun is actually a sign of damage. Simply stated, its a burn!

But the sun is not the only thing out there that is taking a shot.

The cold and wind are also very damaging elements for the skin. They both sap moisture from the outermost layer and leave it vulnerable to damage. Moisture acts as an important protection for the skin and nourishes it as well; many of the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other important elements that the skin needs to stay healthy are contained in the moisture or hydration of the skin.

Pollution is another common irritant to skin, as are very high levels of dust and dirt. There is always dirt in the air and the skin is designed to collect and then rinse away any minor coating of dust. But, if you live or work in a very polluted or very dirty environment, your pores are going to get clogged with this dirt and you may be prone to breakouts and more skin irritations. The skin’s pores are designed to handle only so much dirt and pollution, and anything more than that is just going to sit on your face and cause damage.

And theres still more! The air around us is full of other things that are also enemies of the skin. Things such as chlorine, acid rain, tobacco smoke and so on.

If you can’t avoid these enemies, the next best thing to do is to at least try and defend your skin as best as you can. Moisture is a good barrier between your skin and all these attacking elements, both from within when you drink water (yes, you really should drink at least eight glasses a day) and from on top of your skin with a quality skin care product, especially one that also offers broad spectrum UV protection.

You may not be able to protect your skin from every harsh and damaging element there is, but you can help it along by staying hydrated and using a good, multi function moisturizer every day.

Is that really Bovine Colostrum in your new Skin Care product?

From Cosmetics Design-europe:

Prickly pear seeds, milk extracts, snail serum, bog myrtle and grape stem cells are just a few of the more unusual ingredients that have cropped up this year.

In recent years unusual ingredients launches have included extracts of snake venom and even a cappuccino-based anti-ageing ingredient, and this year has been no exception, with new launches throwing up some equally weird and wonderful options.

Milk extracts have featured as a basis for two launches – both for skin care products and both technologically advanced solutions.

The first is an anti-microbial milk protein-based ingredient launched by New Zealand company Quantec that targets both the skin care and supplement categories.

The company has been developing its Immune Defence Proteins for three years, claiming that it will impart both anti-microbial and anti-oxidant properties for skin care products.

Another milk-based ingredient was launched last month by US company PL Thomas and is derived from peptides found in the bovine colostrum, which is the first milk produced by a cow after giving birth.

The company claims that Nudremyl can be incorporated into topical products designed to reduce scarring and help skin heal after abrasive procedures, as well as anti-ageing formulations.

Still in the animal kingdom, snail serum is being proffered as the basis for a finished product that helps to treat acne scarring, launched by Andes Natural Skin Care.

The US company has launched a microdermabrasion product – BioSkinExfol – and a topical treatment – BioSkinForte – made from a serum secreted by a small mollusk snail from the Helix Aspersa Muller species.

Moving into the plant world, British beauty retailer Boots has launched a line of botanical-based skin care products based on an extraction derived from the leaves of bog myrtle, otherwise known as Sweet Gale.

After many years of research and development, Boots has discovered that the oils of the plant have a high anti-oxidant content, which efficiently combats the bacteria known to cause blemish-prone skin.

The prickly pear fruit that grows on cactus plants found all over southern Europe and North Africa is a common sight, but is now starting to appear in a host of beauty products thanks to its high anti-oxidant and anti-ageing properties.

French brand Les Sens de Marrakech, recently launched a skin care line that features an extract from the seeds of the prickly pear, which is claimed to be the first skin care brand of its type to use the resulting essential oil, sourced in Morocco.

And finally, although grape extracts have been used in beauty products for many years, Swiss company Mibelle claims to be the first to manufacturer an ingredient that is based on stem cells from a rare red grape variety.

Called PhytoCellTec Solar Vitis, it is derived from the Gamay Tenturier Fréaux grape variety originating from the Burgundy region, which the company claims can help protect human skin stem cells from UV damage.

Foot Oh-Dour!

A pair of feet have more than 500,000 sweat glands and can produce more than two pints of sweat a day!

Most of us have a friend or relative who has the capability to clear a room when they take off their shoes. And, even the nicest smelling person can do a great job of stinking up a pair of shoes just by running a few miles in them.

So why do your feet have a stronger odour than the rest of you?

The main thing that feeds foot smell is sweat. With more than 250,000 sweat glands each, your feet are among the most perspiring parts of your body. In one day, each foot can produce more than a pint of sweat! Sweat is basically just salt and water, so it doesn’t have a distinctive smell of its own. The smell is actually caused by the bacteria on our skin that eat the sweat and excrete waste that has a strong odour. It’s perfectly normal to have bacteria on your skin, and it doesn’t ordinarily produce a noticeable smell, but sweat attracts bacteria and gives them a whole lot to feed on.

Of course we sweat all over. Our hands have a comparable number of sweat glands, for example, and most of the rest of our body is not particularly odiferous (the armpits, perhaps, being a notable exception). So what’s different about our feet? The answer is our socks and shoes. The sweat our feet produce can’t easily escape into the air like the sweat from our hands. It all collects on our skin and in our socks. The bacteria love this dark, damp feast and have a sort of feeding frenzy. When you take off your shoes, the smell that hits you is all the bacteria excretion that’s collected on your feet and in your socks and shoes.

The main reason some people’s feet (or more precisely, some people’s socks and shoes) smell worse than others is that some people sweat more than others. This is just one of the many variable physiological qualities of human beings. This is also why, sometimes your feet smell much worse than at other times, it all has to do with how much you sweat.

Tips to Reduce Foot Odour:

So, since foot odour is caused by bacteria digesting sweat, there are two main ways to reduce the stink.

You can:

decrease the amount of bacteria on your feet

decrease the amount of sweat that collects on your feet and in your shoes

Reducing the level of bacteria is really a matter of cleanliness. To control the bacteria population on you feet, you should:

wash your feet with strong anti-bacterial soap

wear clean socks

don’t wear the same shoes everyday – give a pair of shoes 24 hours or more to air out before wearing them again

To reduce the amount of sweat that collects in your shoes, you should:

wear well-ventilated shoes instead of very constrictive shoes, such as boots

always wear socks, preferably made of cotton or other absorbent materials that absorb a lot of the sweat so the bacteria can’t feed on it

change your socks a few times a day

buy some absorbent Odor-Eater type shoe inserts

apply an antiperspirant to your feet, preferably foot specific

If your foot odour is really bad and these solutions don’t help much, then you should probably see a doctor. There are a also number of prescription drugs that can treat serious foot odor, some by killing bacteria and some by reducing foot sweat.

But try the foot antiperspirant first.

Blondes have more ……….. hair!

Blondes may, or may not, have more fun, but they definitely have more hair. Hair color helps determine how dense the hair on your head is, and blondes (only natural ones, of course), top the list. The average human head has 100,000 hair follicles, each of which is capable of producing 20 individual hairs during a person’s lifetime. Blondes average 146,000 follicles. People with black hair tend to have about 110,000 follicles, while those with brown hair are right on target with 100,000 follicles. Redheads have the least dense hair, averaging about 86,000 follicles.