Shaving 101

Your legs must be wet for at least two to three minutes before applying your cleanser or scrub. That way the hair is soft and pliable, easier to cut. Don’t use soap, it just dries out your legs and makes for a poor shave.

Make sure you have the right tool. There are various styles of shavers, but not all legs or hair growth are the same. Triple blades work well, but no matter the blade type you use, change it frequently – but be careful with sharp edges – if not done carefully, shaving can irritate the skin, the hair follicle, and the oil gland, which causes a rash. Ingrown hairs also pose a chance of infection. See a dermatologist for the right solution.

Choose a shaving cream or gel that contains emollients for a hydrating effect, and one that is fragrance free to avoid irritation to your skin. So steer away from products that contain irritants including alcohol, menthol and peppermint. Find yourself out of shaving cream? Hair conditioner or body cleanser works just fine.

Apply even pressure and shave against the growth of hair. Follow up with a moisturizer to keep your skin moist and supple. (Read about Skin Moisturizers), but avoid creams with AHAs because the glycolic acid can irritate freshly-shaven skin.

Are there shaving alternatives?

Indeed there are. While temporary hair removal can be done by shaving, waxing or by epilation (electrolysis and thermolysis) another method is removing hair with a laser.

What is laser hair removal?

Light energy produced by a laser is targeted at the pigment in hair. This causes destruction of hair follicles while sparing surrounding structures (i.e., the skin). Total temporary hair removal, which lasts for several months, can be done in almost all patients. However, total permanent laser hair removal is not commonly done. Stable permanent hair removal may be possible in some cases and usually requires multiple treatment sessions. You can read about Laser Hair Removal frequently asked questions

Who benefits from laser hair removal?

Almost anybody, however, this process works well for light-skinned, dark-haired individuals. There is no laser treatment yet that is effective for white, blond or red hair.

Be aware of some cautions if you go this route; such as dealing with existing bacterial or viral infections, psoriasis, or if you are on certain medications such as Accutane®. See your dermatologist for more details if you are considering laser hair removal.

Laser hair removal facts

• The process can be mild to moderately uncomfortable.
• Most patients require three to six treatments. Long-lasting results depend on hair color, type of laser, and location treated.
• Complications are rare if performed by an experienced physician.
• Expect some pain, swelling and redness around the hair follicle after each treatment session.
• Check with your dermatologist about pre-operative care concerns.

Folliculitis alert

Shaving can also cause a condition called folliculitis, which is an inflammation or infection of hair follicles. It most often appears in areas that become irritated by shaving, the rubbing of clothes, or where follicles and pores are blocked by oils and dirt. Ask our dermatologist about solutions such as Bactroban© ointment to help heal these irritations. (Read more about Bacterial Skin Infections)

What to watch for:

• a reddened rash
• raised, red, often pus-filled lesions around hair follicles (pimples)
• itching at the site of the rash and pimples

How to prevent it:

• shave with an electric razor instead of a blade razor
• keep skin clean
• avoid clothing that rubs against the skin, damaging hair follicles

Acne Scar Prevention

It’s estimated that nearly 80% of people under the age of 30 deal with acne. It may appear in different forms with varying levels of severity, but nearly everyone experiences it. Some people are fortunate; the acne goes away without leaving the slightest mark or blemish. Others are less fortunate. For them, acne can be severe, often persisting and leaving unsightly scars in its wake. Read more

Natural Acne Scar Treatments

Hormonal changes and overly active sebaceous (oil) glands that commonly occur in adolescence usually cause acne, however acne can still affect adults as well. Zits, pimples, acne, cystic skin eruptions, blackheads and white heads all fit into the acne skin malady category. The temptation to squeeze the spots and remove the infected matter, albeit tempting, will not reform your skin to its natural radiance. In fact, secondary infection by bacteria being pushed back into the deeper layers of the skin can cause more pain, inflammation and most likely future scaring. Once the bacteria have been released, it can re-infect the surrounding skin. The facial scars are actually remnants of the bacterial infection caused by ‘procedure.’

The unfair fact is that adult acne will affect 25 percent of men and 50 percent of women in their adult lives. We know that identifying hormonal changes as the main cause of adult acne aren’t entirely proven. There isn’t just one cause. Acne in adult women can be linked to cosmetic use, some hair products and can frequently be brought on by the hormonal fluctuations associated with pregnancy. Certain types of prescription medications can also cause adult acne. Some strains of acne, such as Acne vulgaris, don’t typically show up in adults until midlife. Adult acne also forms differently, whereas adolescent acne begins on the forehead and cheek area, adult acne tends to show more on the chin, jaw line and neck.

With all this new adult acne erupting (pardon the pun) more than before, natural acne and scar treatments are gaining more acceptance as consumers want to make healthier more sustainable choices for their skincare. Your skin has an amazing natural ability to regenerate itself and a new layer of skin growth will generally cover any scarring, but in the rare cases where this does not occur then a more advanced scar treatment is in order. Always consult with your doctor or dermatologist before beginning any facial treatments to be sure you are not causing further damage.

A healthy, well-balanced diet plays a large role in helping your body and skin to regenerate itself to its optimal condition. Many dermatologists recommend a diet high in natural minerals. These minerals are to maintain the health of the skin cells, which in turn should prevent a further outbreak of acne and repair damaged tissue. Diets, which include plenty of green vegetables, un-cooked vegetables such as carrots, spinach and cucumbers, have also helped many to maintain smooth, blemish-free skin. The idea is to try to create a new fresh layer of skin so that the scars reduced or eradicated.

Are you drinking enough water?

By consuming a regular amount of water daily, you can improve the look of your skin. The average human body is comprised of 60 percent water. Drinking more water, instead of sugar-laden sodas or energy drinks will keep the skin moist and smooth; it will also clear away the dead skin cells, flush toxins and aid in the regeneration of new skin cells. Mixing water with natural ingredients like citrus, fruit or vegetable juices, can also be helpful to exfoliate the skin.

With a proper nutritious diet, vitamins and plenty of water, most see results within a few months. It can take up to a year for acne scars to heal completely. Acne scars do not show up overnight and removing them can take the same amount of time if not more. It takes patience, but with the proper motivation for beautiful, glowing skin, it will be well worth the wait. Of course, some scars may be so deep as to require dermalogical treatments such as lasers or painful acid peels. Try the natural methods first, as theses procedures can be quite costly. Any effort you make to regenerate your skin naturally will only help the dermatologist’s treatments even further.

Always remember to gently cleanse and moisturize your skin everyday as well. Applying harsh, drying chemicals to your acne will usually cause further inflammation and breakouts. One natural treatment that had shown good results is to mix pure sandalwood oil with rose water, apply it to your scar(s) and leave on the skin overnight. Cleanse face as usual in the morning.

Natural Acne Scar Treatments

Hormonal changes and overly active sebaceous (oil) glands that commonly occur in adolescence usually cause acne, however acne can still affect adults as well. Zits, pimples, acne, cystic skin eruptions, blackheads and white heads all fit into the acne skin malady category.
The temptation to squeeze the spots and remove the infected matter, albeit tempting, will not reform your skin to its natural radiance. In fact, secondary infection by bacteria being pushed back into the deeper layers of the skin can cause more pain, inflammation and most likely future scaring. Once the bacteria have been released, it can re-infect the surrounding skin. The facial scars are actually remnants of the bacterial infection caused by ‘procedure.’
The unfair fact is that adult acne will affect 25 percent of men and 50 percent of women in their adult lives. We know that identifying hormonal changes as the main cause of adult acne aren’t entirely proven. There isn’t just one cause. Acne in adult women can be linked to cosmetic use, some hair products and can frequently be brought on by the hormonal fluctuations associated with pregnancy. Certain types of prescription medications can also cause adult acne. Some strains of acne, such as Acne vulgaris, don’t typically show up in adults until midlife. Adult acne also forms differently, whereas adolescent acne begins on the forehead and cheek area, adult acne tends to show more on the chin, jaw line and neck.

With all this new adult acne erupting (pardon the pun) more than before, natural acne and scar treatments are gaining more acceptance as consumers want to make healthier more sustainable choices for their skincare.

Your skin has an amazing natural ability to regenerate itself and a new layer of skin growth will generally cover any scarring, but in the rare cases where this does not occur then a more advanced scar treatment is in order. Always consult with your doctor or dermatologist before beginning any facial treatments to be sure you are not causing further damage.

A healthy, well-balanced diet plays a large role in helping your body and skin to regenerate itself to its optimal condition. Many dermatologists recommend a diet high in natural minerals. These minerals are to maintain the health of the skin cells, which in turn should prevent a further outbreak of acne and repair damaged tissue. Diets, which include plenty of green vegetables, un-cooked vegetables such as carrots, spinach and cucumbers, have also helped many to maintain smooth, blemish-free skin. The idea is to try to create a new fresh layer of skin so that the scars reduced or eradicated.

Are you drinking enough water?

By consuming a regular amount of water daily, you can improve the look of your skin. The average human body is comprised of 60 percent water. Drinking more water, instead of sugar-laden sodas or energy drinks will keep the skin moist and smooth; it will also clear away the dead skin cells, flush toxins and aid in the regeneration of new skin cells. Mixing water with natural ingredients like citrus, fruit or vegetable juices, can also be helpful to exfoliate the skin.

With a proper nutritious diet, vitamins and plenty of water, most see results within a few months. It can take up to a year for acne scars to heal completely. Acne scars do not show up overnight and removing them can take the same amount of time if not more. It takes patience, but with the proper motivation for beautiful, glowing skin, it will be well worth the wait.

Of course, some scars may be so deep as to require dermalogical treatments such as lasers or painful acid peels. Try the natural methods first, as theses procedures can be quite costly. Any effort you make to regenerate your skin naturally will only help the dermatologist’s treatments even further.

Always remember to gently cleanse and moisturize your skin everyday as well. Applying harsh, drying chemicals to your acne will usually cause further inflammation and breakouts. One natural treatment that had shown good results is to mix pure sandalwood oil with rose water, apply it to your scar(s) and leave on the skin overnight. Cleanse face as usual in the morning.

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