The development of brown spots (age spots, liver spots, sun spots, freckles) on the skin are produce by an over production of melanin in the effected areas of the skin. As the spots clump together the they grow in size. Over exposure to the sun’s ultra violet rays can be a culprit. But the sun is not the only perpetrator. Age spots commonly appear after the age of 40. There is a tendency for the body to increase its melanin production as we age. Hyperpigmentation (brown spots) can be caused by birth control pills, hormones and medications.

Solar lentigines (past severe sun burn) have been used as markers to single out those at greater risk of developing a skin melanoma. Skin spots can vary in coloration from red to brown or even be black.

Typical age spots are not a health risk. But because of their unattractive appearance are troublesome. There are ways to treat liver/sun spots that help to remove or fade them.

Treatment can be from over the counter, home made remedies or professional office visits.

Over The Counter And Prescription Cream Remedies

1. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
2. Retinol (Vitamin A helps reduce melanin production)
3. Hydroquinone (for fair to light skin)
4. Kojic acid (for darker complexions)
5. Alpha-hydroxy acids
6. Alpha Arbutin (helps break down melanin)
7. Hydrocortisone
8. Tretinoin

Home Remedies

1. These can consist of lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide that helps fade brown spot marks on skin.
2. Apply castor oil to spots and take vitamin E
3. Blanch and grind 2 almonds mix in with an egg white and a half teaspoon of lime juice. Apply to face let dry then wash with warm water followed by cold water.

Medical Treatments For Brown Spots

1. Chemical face peels with glycolic acid help to fade spots. Skin may ooze.
2. Microdermabrasion- tiny crystals scrub and remove the top layer of skin causing spots to fade.
3. Freezing with liquid nitrogen may sting or burn and require up to 3 treatments. Treatment helps remove age spots. Skin may become swollen along with blistering or scabbing.

Fraxel Laser Treatment

There are three types of Fraxel laser treatments.

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What is oily skin? It is an over production of oil from the sebaceous glands. Oily skin is the flip side of dry skin. It is definitely one of the more troublesome skin types. Oily skin a mile away because of the greasy shine it leaves on the face especially around the nose and forehead. The only benefit for those that have oily skin is that the skin ages at a slower rate. But usually it can be the source of problem skin like blemishes, acne, pimples and blackheads. Oily skin can be caused by the onset of puberty, heredity, pregnancy (because of hormonal imbalance), hot weather (humidity) and diet.

One important thing to do when the skin is oily is to keep it clean. Depending on how oily your skin is this can be about three times a day. Do not over wash to prevent excessive oil production in the skin. Use

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The sun dries can dry the skin and cause wrinkles especially when over exposed. A sunscreen can protect you from the harmful rays of the sun. If you are going to use a sunscreen without a moisturizer, then apply the sunscreen first and let it absorb into the skin for about 15-20 minutes. Afterwards apply a moisturizer. Many doctors recommend wearing a moisturizer with sun SPF (sunscreen protection factor) built in to protect against the sun’s UVA rays which are a danger year round. Too much sun can not only cause wrinkles but broken skin vessels.

Finding The Best Sunscreen

Choose a product that contains at least one of the following ingredients:

1. Mexoryl (ecamsule, mexoryl sx, mexoryl xl)
2. Avobenzone (parasol 1789)
3. Zinc Oxide
4. Titanium Dioxide

Mexoryl protects against the full/broad spectrum of UVA and UVB rays and is the latest FDA approved sun protection ingredients.

Avoid alcohol based sunscreens if you already have dry skin because they may exacerbate the problem and may burn. If you do use an alcohol base sunscreen be sure and hydrate (moisturize the skin).

Using Sunscreens

Be generous and apply a liberal amount about 1- 2 ounces of course this will vary with body weight

Using sunscreen is not an apply it once leave it and forget it activity be sure and re-apply every 2 hours to continue protection.

Remember to check the expiration date on all sunscreen products before purchasing.

A few spray-on sunscreens that have ranked high in consumer reports like “Consumer Reports Health Magazine” are:

1. Aveeno Continuous Protection SPF 50
2. Banana Boat Sport Performance SPF 30

The American Academy Of Dermatology recommends a SPF (sunscreen protection factor) of 30.

Do African Americans Need To Wear Sunscreen

The answer is yes. It is a myth believed by many in both the black and white community that having dark

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If your babies scalp is dry one of the first things to consider is how often you wash your baby’s hair. This may be one of the reasons for dryness. If you are washing too frequently you may be stripping the scalp of natural oils and moisturizers faster than they can be replenished. Try washing less frequently, about every three days and see if it remedies baby’s dry scalp. For babies less than 6 months old be careful not to over hydrate your baby by giving them too much water. Some mothers will do this believing that scalp dryness is caused by lack of enough water in the diet. This can be a mistake causing a baby that is breast feeding not to feed normally because of a full tummy. Too much water can interfere with how nutrients are absorbed from breast milk or baby formula. In unusual cases water intoxication occur resulting in coma, seizures or death. If you are concerned about water in your baby’s diet, discuss it with your pediatrician.

If washing less frequently does not a aid with dry scalp try applying a little olive oil to your fingers and massage into babies scalp let sit for about 15 minutes then brush through hair to help loosen dry patches. Apply mild baby shampoo to hair let sit while bathing baby. Then wash out shampoo. You can also use

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 Dryness under the eyes has many causes. The skin around the eyes tends to be very sensitive. Irritation can come from bacteria, allergic reactions to chemicals, makeup, shampoos, cleansers, food and hair dyes.

Another culprit is household dust mites that can trigger an allergic reaction in those that have a sensitivity. Dust mites are small microscopic organisms that live in carpet, pillows, dust, bed linen, curtains and mattresses. They thrive in moist and poorly ventilated homes. This species of mite do not transmit disease but some do.

Remedy

1. Wash bed linen frequently in hot water (129 degrees Fahrenheit).
2. Vacuum and clean dust weekly from carpets, curtain and floors. Use a vacuum cleaner specifically design to remove mites and allergens from carpet.
3. If you have an allergy to mites be careful as they disperse through the air when changing linen. Use a  dust mask to cover the face and reduce exposure even when vacuuming.
4. Use mite resistant covering on top of bed linen.
5. Simple household cleaners may not kill mites
6. Keep your home dry
7. Use air purifiers with a HEPA filter to help control mites.    

Demodex Mites

The human demodex mites (demodex folliculorum, face mites, tiny mites) are most prevalent on the nose, face, chin, forehead and chin. But also dwell anywhere there are oil glands (sebaceus) and hair roots like eyebrows, eyelashes and scalp. They can cause itchy dry eyes, red scaling eyelids and even blurred vision. Symptoms may not always be apparent.

This form of mite live on pets and humans unlike household mites which do not live on the body. Ironically the mite normally lives on the human body. It is not until they start to reproduce uncontrollably (due to a weakened or suppressed immune system) that a problem arises. These critters have been linked to blepharitis (inflammation of the eyes) and rosacea.

Rosacea often mistaken for acne effecting caucasians with fair skins the most. It is characterized by red or pink patches small red bumps and pink or irritated eyes; normally effecting the central regions of the face like the nose, chin and forehead.

Rosacea is a chronic condition that can be controlled but not cured effecting those between the ages of 30-50 most. The condition typically tends to worsen with age. In advanced cases of rosacea the eyes can be effected (ocular rosacea) causing dryness, burning, grittiness and light sensitivity.

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One of the things that we often forget is that nails need moisture too; without it nails can become cracked and brittle. Very often we for the sake of beauty we expose our nails to chemicals that can have a drying effect. This is evident when it comes to an overuse of nail polish remover. How many times have you been to the beauty supply store and found that nail color you just had to have and tested new shades of nail color. Sometimes you purchased new nail color to match a wardrobe or jewelry set. As you increase the frequency with which you used nail polish remover you may have been increasing your chances of getting problem dry and brittle nails that crack, chip away or split.

Nail polish removers can contain anyone of the following substances that dry nails and dehydrate the skin.

1. Acetone
2. Alcohol
3. Butyl acetate
4. Ethyl acetate
5. Methanol(highly toxic)

Some removers even though acetone free may be more dangerous because they substitute the chemical methanol which is more toxic than acetone even in smaller concentrations. Methanol inhaled has all the toxic side effects of acetone plus coma, blindness, vomiting including death.

If you are going to be using nail polish remover remember to moisturize frequently to reduce drying.

Two really beneficial moisturizing treatments are petroleum jelly (Vaseline) and olive oil.

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One of the first warning signs of diabetes may be dry skin. This is especially important in Diabetics because of high glucose levels that rob the skin of moisture particularly on the elbows, legs and feet. Once dehydration occurs cracking, peeling and infection can follow. Infections are high risk if occurring on the feet because diabetics often have nerve damage (loss of sensation) and cannot tell when blisters or wounds occur. That is why it is necessary for diabetics to pay close attention to and frequently inspect the condition of the feet and properly address any wounds that occur. Poor circulation will further add to the problem because sweat glands do not function at all or are to slow. Sweating that would normally help keep the skin moist do not occur often enough to prevent drying.

What is Diabetes Mellitus? It is the inability to produce or process insulin properly. There are three types of diabetes.

1. Type I – failure to produce insulin
2. Type II – inability to use insulin properly, deficiency may also be present (often connected to genetics and overweight). This type of diabetes more common in African Americans, Asians, Native Americans and Latinos.
3. Gestational Diabetes – A form of temporary diabetes appearing in the second trimester and disappearing after the birth of the baby. Those most at risk for this form of diabetes are moms over 35 years of age. Family history of type II diabetes and those with high blood pressure. Also at risk are those mothers who in previous pregnancies delivered children over 8.5 lbs.

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