Lets Talk About skin Care, Beauty And Health Tips

Seriously, why do women spend so much money on beauty creams? For example, my Cosmo magazine is advertising eye gels for $95 dollars. Aren't people smart enough to realize that wrinkles are caused by exposure to the sun and pollutions? The best way to avoid skin damage is by wearing sunscrean and a hat! Exposure to the sun is like cooking in an oven. It will make you nice and brown, but you will dry up and wrinkle. Miracle creams are not going to reverse sun damage.
Be smart ladies, realise that skin care is basic. Keeping out of the sun,away from solariums is the best thing you can do to prevent wrinkles, not by buying a $90 miracle gel.
Sami - that's so true. Multi Million Dollar Cosmetic companies make money out of uneducated people.

Answer
bandwagon mentality. if 10 women saw Angelina Jolie in a commercial of a beauty cream, mostly, 7 out of 10 would buy the product just because of Jolie's presence. they'd be like, "hey, Angelina's using it, so I'm using it too!" get my drift?

What can my friend do to reduce the size of her pores?

She's tried scrubs for blackheads, three-step skin care (cleanser, toner, oil-free moisturizer) from the department store, extraction, masks, pore strips... nothing seems to help. It's especially noticeable on her nose.

Answer
Do see a dermatologist to remove blackheads. They have the tools and the knowâhow to safely remove blackheads without causing scarring or infection. If you have just a few blackheads, use a comedone extractor, available at a beauty supply store. It's best to remove blackheads after a warm shower or bath, when your skin is soft. And always disinfect any tools with rubbing alcohol before you use them on your face.

Don't pick at dark skin. Picking can leave dark spots on the skin that can take a while to fade away. It can also cause keloid scars.

Do wash your pillowcase every night and always use clean face towels if you have acneâprone skin. Dirty towels and pillowcases can harbor bacteria and germs that can make acne worse.

Don't pick, pop, squeeze, or otherwise mess with your skin. Squeezing blemishes or whiteheads can lead to infection or scarring. It almost always makes the acne you have worse. You should never tangle with a whitehead as they'll go away on their own in a few days anyway. If you have a pimple with a yellow, pusâfilled center and you must pop it,
see How to Pop A Pimple â (On the same page)
http://www.teenmag.com/aboutyou/beauty/articles/0,,639404_643054,00.html

⢠Gently wash the face twice daily with mild soap and pat dry. Do not scrub.Scrubbing irritates the skin
⢠Use "noncomedogenic" cosmetics and toiletries.
⢠Avoid things that aggravate acne such as grease or oils.
⢠Allow acne products enough time to work. With some treatments, it may take as long as 8 weeks for a show improvement.
⢠Some acne products increase the skinsâ sensitivity to sunlight. Use protective clothing and sunscreen.â
http://www.continuingeducation.com/pharmtech/acne/acne.pdf

This site goes on to recommend many of the products I have posted further along in the answer.
http://www.dermadoctor.com/pages/newsletter90.asp?WID=%7B504AFEA9-1308-4646-A67C-33F444424F7E%7D

Large Pores
The first step is to keep the area clean. Daily cleansing and toning are a must. A clay mask once a week will also help to deeply cleanse and tighten the skin (use the time to "think" your pores smaller)!

The good news is skin-care companies are getting the message. http://magazines.ivillage.com/redbook/experts/expert/qas/0,,284485_293192,00.html

There are a few other ways to reduce the appearance of your pores. We recommend that youâ¦
- Eat plenty of fresh fish, vegetables and fruit â especially berries and melon.
- Reduce the amount of processed foods in your diet. Choose âgood fatsâ like avocado over saturated fats.
- Swap your usual moisturiser for one specifically designed for minimising the appearance of pores. Iâve been using Neutrogenaâs Pore Refining Cream for 3 months and the large pores around my nose have definitely become less noticeable.â
http://www.nzgirl.co.nz/articles/3397

Products and Treatments:
Retin-A (tretinoin, a form of vitamin A) or alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic)This helps to unblock pores and decrease the formation of blackheads (comedones) and spots. It may take six to eight weeks before definite beneficial effects on the skin can be seen.â http://www.tiscali.co.uk/lifestyle/healthfitness/health_advice/netdoctor/archive/100002258.html
http://www.nreagan.com/merchant/education/answers_and_advice/skincare/

Glycolic creams are very highly recommended for blackheads removal. It helps in skin peeling, effectively unclogging the pores and smoothening the skin surface.â
http://www.ultimate-cosmetics.com/beauty/skin_disorders/blackheads.htm

When looking for an product containing AHA, keep in mind that it may go by the following names(see the link).
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-aha.html

Some AHA products:
http://www.drugstore.com/templates/brand/default.asp?brand=8227&aid=336064&aparam=xsp76888
http://skincarerx.com/aha.html?x=44.0.30

Other products
âBenzoyl Peroxide, Resorcinol, Sulfur, Azelaic Acid, Alcohol, and Acetic acid are some of the treatments discussed on this site. Prescription remedies are covered as well.â

I recommend you visit a good dermatologist who can prescribe the correct therapy for you. Your doctor may recommend oral antibiotics for a time, or even birth control pills, to be taken along with a topical treatment.
http://www.continuingeducation.com/pharmtech/acne/acne.pdf

âAcne treatments work by reducing oil production, speeding up skin cell turnover, fighting bacterial infection or a combination of all three. http://www.continuingeducation.com/pharmtech/acne/acne.pdf

http://skin-care.health-cares.net/blackheads.php

âHere are ways to loosen the blackheads:
1. Steaming the Pores
Steaming can be done as often as twice a week but for no longer than 10 minutes at a time. This is a great way to clean out pores and loosen blackheads.
2. Combine 1/4 cup boiling water with one teaspoon of Epsom salt and three drops of iodine.
Let mixture cool until it's comfortable to the touch.Saturate a cotton ball with this mixture and dab on blackheads.This will allow them to loosen so they can be easily squeezed with a gauze pad.
3. Combine equal parts baking soda and water in your hand and rub gently on your skin for 2 to 3 minutes. Rinse with warm water.â

Professional Treatments:
âIf the acne does not respond to home and over-the-counter treatments after two months, it is a good idea to see a dermatologist before the condition produces scarring and/or takes an emotional toll.Dermatologists have numerous prescription medications and procedures available.
·Retinoic acids.Available as creams and lotions, these vitamin A acids can help unblock pores and reduce the skin's bacteria.
·Topical antibacterials or antibiotics.These creams and lotions can help reduce acne nflammation and skin bacteria.
·Oral antibiotics.Though not usually the first course of treatment, oral antibiotics such as tetracycline are often used to help reduce the inflammation of acne.
·Birth control pills.Women who use oral contraceptives may notice that their acne improves significantly. In fact, the FDA has approved one birth control pill specifically for acne treatment.
·Isotretinoin.For severe acne that does not respond to other treatments, your dermatologist may prescribe isotretinoin. This medication must be used with care,however, since it can cause birth defects.
·Surgery.It is never a good idea to remove blackheads or whiteheads (both called comedones) or pimples on your own. A dermatologist has the proper equipment to extract them without leaving scars.â
http://www.skindoc.net/acne.html

Additional Information:
Here is a home remedy to try:
http://wiki.ehow.com/Make-a-Natural-Large-Pore-Treatment