It’s quite possible you have taken care of your skin your entire life, never had acne, never overexposed yourself to the sun and wore moisturizer everyday.

It is also possible that you are one of the millions of Americans who suffer from skin disorders, frequent acne and overexposure to the sun.

Did you know that regardless of how well you have taken care of your skin and how well you continue to take care of your skin, you are still at risk of suffering from more than half of the ten most common skin problems of our time?

Here we have broken down the ten most common skin problems you may face in your lifetime and what you need to do if you are victim of one of them.

1. Acne

Acne affects millions upon millions of people every year.

Acne is not just a skin issue that affects awkward teenagers; in fact thousands of adults suffer from adult onset acne even when they never experienced acne problems in their teen years or through puberty.

If you suffer from an occasional pimple, blackhead or whitehead you may want to skip the trip to the doctor and treat it through diet and maintenance of your facial skin through proper cleansing and moisturizing techniques.

If you are suffering from extreme bouts of acne you should seek advice from a professional such as your dermatologist. A dermatologist has the knowledge and skills to treat extreme acne through medication and other techniques.

2. Skin Allergies and Skin Rashes

Skin allergies and allergy rashes are the second most common skin problems people are facing today.

Usually if you are allergic to something external such as cats, pollen or dust, you will sense it through your skin as well as sneezing and wheezing.

Many people develop ‘allergy bumps’ which are tiny bumps along the skin usually on the arms that indicate there is an allergen nearby.

Other people are literally allergic to things like bee stings or latex and suffer skin allergies that can be as severe as hives and will cause severe itching and discomfort to the person.

If your skin rash and allergy rashes are not severe and you wish to treat at home you can buy an over-the-counter anti-itch medication that will alleviate the discomfort until the allergen passes.

However, in many cases, people take the situation to their dermatologist. The dermatologist will then determine what caused the allergic skin reaction as well as treat the rash with the best treatment regime for that specific case.

3. Eczema and Psoriasis

Eczema and Psoriasis (also referred to as dry skin) is extremely common among people and rarely denotes a trip to the dermatologist.

For dry skin and even extreme cases of dry skin such as Eczema and Psoriasis you can go to the pharmacy and buy over-the-counter ointments, creams and lotions;

remedies that contain biologics, cyclosporine and retinoids, which are quite effective in treating dry skin.

There are also some very effective lotions on the market. They may be somewhat pricey but you will get what you pay for in treating your dry skin.

4. Skin Cancer

Skin cancer can appear at any age. Make sure you are constantly checking any moles or areas on your body and skin that may change shape or color.

If you have a mole or other skin defect that changes in color, size or shape you should see a dermatologist immediately.

5. Hair Loss

Hair loss is actually a skin issue did you know that? If you are suffering from a particular kind of hair loss called Alopecia this is caused from an iron deficiency in the skin.

In cases of hair loss due to Alopecia it will be necessary to see your dermatologist.

6. Warts

Warts are caused by the HPV virus. Warts are contagious which very few people know. It is possible to contract warts through towels and clothes used by the infected person.

Treatments for warts can vary from surgical removal to topical ointments and creams. They are not harmful or fatal even though they are rather distasteful to look at.

7. Nail Fungus

Nail fungus is also considered a skin problem as it is caused by an infection deeper than just the nail or the nail bed.

If you are experiencing nail fungus you can purchase over-the-counter anti-fungal creams or contact your dermatologist for further recommendations.

8. Rosacea

Rosacea affects mainly Caucasians and no other races. This skin disorder can affect both men and women and most commonly affects them in their 30s to 60s.

Rosacea has become very well known as of lately as an unsightly redness and puffiness of the face oftentimes appearing on the forehead, and cheeks.

If you are suffering from Rosacea the cause has not yet been determined; however consult your dermatologist and be patient; it takes up to two years to treat the average case of Rosacea.

9. Herpes

Herpes affects one out of four people. That is 25% of the population is carrying the Herpes virus and very few people realize it is that common! Herpes is extremely contagious during an outbreak

Herpes can come in two forms; the oral form which appears on the face and mouth and the genital form which appears in the genitals.

While there is no treatment for Herpes there are medications that can decrease the amount of outbreaks and the symptoms of the outbreaks.

10. Pigmentation

Pigmentation is extremely common, unfortunately so for women who are aging.

Many of us should have listened to our parents when they told us to get out of the sun because sun damage causes pigmentation which is also referred to as age spots.

The treatments for pigmentation and darker age spots are treatments that bleach the affected areas of the skin.

We hear them everyday; they’re the myths and facts and rumors floating around about acne and what causes it, what treats it and what to do about it. Being a teenager is difficult enough without worrying about acne breaking out all over your face.

Never mind the fact that when you turn 30 you’re already worried about a decreased metabolism, wrinkles and graying hair the last thing you want to have to think about it is acne.

Did you have any idea that 85% of teenagers and adults suffer from the symptoms of acne?

Additionally, there are several different types of acne. There are whiteheads and blackheads as well as red bumps.

Blackheads and whiteheads are commonly found around the whole body especially the chest, neck and face whereas red bump acne are the acne with pus inside them that are usually always found on the face.

Whether you are a teenager or an adult, the annoyance and self-consciousness that acne brings on are enough to deal with much less deciphering between all the myths and rumors surrounding the topic.

We have determined the top 10 acne myths and facts as well as the top 5 acne treatments. You do not have to be confused by acne any longer!

Top 10 Acne Myths

1. Acne is not caused by dirt. Acne is caused by hormones; mainly androgen and their effect on the oil glands in the skin. More specifically acne is caused by a disorder in the pilosebaceous units. The pilosebaceous units are found all over your entire body with the exception of the feet, lips and hands.

The majority of the pilosebaceous units are found on the chest, neck and face. In regards to whiteheads and blackheads the best treatment for these is consistent cleansing every night. Whiteheads and blackheads are not caused by dirt either so the consistent cleansing is to keep the dead skin cells sloughed off the blackheads and whiteheads.

2. Acne is for everyone; not just teenagers. Since acne is caused by hormones and their effect on oil glands in the skin it can affect adults as well as teenagers because adults have hormones too.

3. Treat the whole face not just the spot where the acne is. The acne that is showing is just a symptom of the underlying problem which is within the skin and the oil glands.

4. French fries, chocolate and other certain foods do not cause acne. Acne is caused by hormones; mainly androgen and their effect on the oil glands in the skin therefore food could not have anything to do with causing acne or acne breakouts.

5. Make-up is not the cause of acne; however avoid heavy make-up when sweating or working out. While make-up does not directly cause acne it is a very good idea to avoid heavy make-up period when you are sweating or working out.

6. Tanning and sun exposure does not cure your acne. The myth that oily skin causes acne therefore drying out your skin will make the acne go away is not accurate. Tanning oftentimes does make people feel better about themselves and their skin that may be one of the reasons people feel acne is treated through tanning and sun exposure.

7. Scrubbing and exfoliating your skin will not make the acne go away. Acne is not caused by dirt; therefore scrubbing your face raw to get rid of dirt will only irritate your already sensitive skin.

8. One of the acne myths is that stress can cause acne in a roundabout way.

9. While acne is not curable it is treatable.

10. There is no proof that toothpaste applied to acne will treat the acne and make it go away.

Now that you are no longer confused about the causes and myths surrounding acne, whiteheads and blackheads, lets clear up some of the preconceived notions about acne treatments.

We are going to tell you the top 5 acne treatments; so you no longer have to worry about trying out remedies you heard about on the Internet or through your roommate’s cousin’s mother. These are tried and true treatments for acne – for both, teens and adults!

Top 5 Acne Treatments:

1. Benzoyl Peroxide is commonly used in treating mild cases of acne. Benzoyl Peroxide can be used by both teens and adults and can be found in small dosages in many over the counter acne products such as Acanya gel and Epiduo Gel. Benzoyl Peroxide is more of a reactive treatment and not a proactive treatment. Benzoyl Peroxide treats acne that has appeared however does not work proactively to fight future breakouts.
2. Differin which comes in the form of a gel or a cream.
3. Accutane is a prescription acne medication that is used for very extreme cases of acne.
4. Tazarotene cream.
5. Retin A and Retin A micro.

However, the best routine to get into for healthy skin and overall complexion is to eat right; plenty of fruits and vegetables and drink plenty of water. Using a water dispenser could help you keep on your healthy skin track.

By getting plenty of exercise, you will also work out any toxins from your body as well as cleanse your pores.

You may try tons of anti-ageing and whitening creams but if you do not take extra care of the inside it will only last for a while and the real state of your health will eventually show on your skin.

How is this possible? The skin is the largest organ of the body that serves as the initial body defense against the outside environment. This involves millions of cells working 24 hours a day.

Other than protection, it also serves as a way of excreting body wastes and toxins through sweating via the sweat glands.

The body gets its primary nutrients from the food ingested, which is processed by the mouth and then the stomach.

After the process of digestion, the liver and the kidneys play an important role in the re-absorption of nutrients and its distribution to all body organs through blood circulation. The same organs separate the waste products and toxins which are finally excreted as urine or stool.

So how is the skin condition related to these organs? The skin condition is related to these major organs in the process of excretion of waste products.

If the liver and the kidneys are in perfect condition and are able to perform their functions, all the toxins are excreted out of the body, and this will manifest as a healthy, radiant looking skin.

But, if the liver and the kidneys are overloaded with toxins from the food eaten, the air breathed and the stress of modern day living; it begins to malfunction and creates a hormonal imbalance.

When this happens, toxins and waste products are not completely removed from the body and stay trapped inside the bloodstream.

As a result of too much toxins and hormonal imbalance the skin becomes oily, damaged and clogged. Several skin conditions and eruptions will appear and be seen all over the face and body.

What is the secret then to a young, beautiful and healthy skin? It lies underneath it, take care of your body by eating a balanced diet, having a regular exercise, have enough rest and sleep, get involved in stress reducing activities and have relevant food supplements needed. If you are able to do this, you will have not only a healthy skin, but, a strong body, a sharp mind and a positive spirit!

• Touching your face is anyway a bad idea; all kind so germs and bacteria which reside on the skin of your hands because you use your hands for so many different functions – can transfer to the facial skin and actually be a cause for pimples.
• Touching pimples could exacerbate already existing ones as well.
• Popping pimples or squeezing zits actually causes the skin to break in that area and damages it. It causes scarring that could be permanent and there are various different kinds of acne scars that won’t go away at all with time.
• Popping acne could also expose the infection to further exacerbation and make things worse by giving rise to new pimples. It could also push the bacteria deeper into the skin.
• As for blackheads and whiteheads the same applies, you can worsen the problem by spreading the bacteria. Also you could end up pushing the bacteria deeper under the skin and cause lumps there. This can also end up enlarging your pores making the problem worse.

When our skin weakens they tend to sag and cause wrinkles and skin discolorations such as age spots due to the fact that as we grow older we produce less collagen and elastin.

Skin firming is one of the treatments we have been accustomed to as of today.

It helps our skin reduce the wrinkles we have acquired throughout the years due to aging.

Being responsible of ones self can prove to help reduce the aging process by being aware of the effects of aging and researching about the different techniques for skin firming.

There are many ways to promote skin firming today. As people have become more aware of its aging and its effects, they have also sought skin firming as a resolve.

You can personally do your research about skin firming, yet listed here are some of the basic anti-aging treatments you can practice today:

1. Use anti-aging cream

These skin firming creams can be found in almost all beauty stores. They tend to be a little expensive given the fact that it is on high demand.

These creams have a substance called Retinol or Vitamin A that helps in reproducing skin cells by rejuvenating them. Such creams also contain antioxidants and other amino acids to help in skin firming.

2. Have a healthy diet

A good way of promoting skin firming is through proper nutrition. Consuming foods that are rich in antioxidants have proven to work. Always keep yourself hydrated all throughout the day.

3. Exercise regularly

This helps in promoting elasticity due to constant movement of your muscles. It helps with proper circulation of your blood. Good exercise also promotes muscle growth that keeps your body firm and fit therefore accelerating skin firming.

4. Undergo steam treatment

This skin firming technique helps in moisturizing your face using steam that removes toxins from your face by flushing them out through your pores.

You can do this at home, or if you do not have the proper equipment for it, you can go visit the sauna found at your local gym.

5. Treat yourself to facial and body massages

These skin firming techniques also help in the circulation of blood and oxygen in your system. Massaging the wrinkled areas help in tightening the skin. Spas offer different massages and they tend to use specialized oils that are applied on your face or body to promote skin firming.

If you are serious about skin firming then solutions are always easy to find and it requires personal dedication on your part. Researching about other options for promoting skin firming is a start to a better and brighter look.

Before engaging in other techniques, perhaps it is also best to consult a skin professional for them to lead you with proper guidelines to follow to bring out the youth in you.

For just 99 cents this is an application worth getting for the following reasons:

• It lists all the ingredients listed on beauty and skin care products that you should be avoiding, so the next time you’re in doubt at the shelf of a drug store, check this app to see if the product contains anything that you may want to avoid.
• It explains what the labeling on groceries actually means. The labels on food products such as meat, fish and other produce may sometimes be misleading – the app gives you the real skinny.
• It has a red alert list (chemicals and ingredients to avoid altogether) and an orange alert list that tells to minimize and if possible phase out use of certain items.
• Tells you how to buy organic.
• Tells you about what is most effective in sunscreen and helps you avoid misleading claims.

Unlike plastic surgery, skin resurfacing deals with minor irregularities in your face like acne growths, chicken pox remains, wrinkles, and scars by burning the topical surface of the designated area with a laser light beam, allowing it to regenerate new skin. In general, that is the very essence of the treatment.

Anyone can be a candidate for skin resurfacing as it is as easy as visiting your dermatologist and inquiring about the treatment.

It is also popular because it has gained the reputation of being a bloodless treatment and does not take too much time at all.

All it takes is a few hours for skin resurfacing to be finished and can be conducted in your trusted dermatology clinic.

Skin resurfacing can be very interesting if you know what you are getting yourself into.

Before engaging yourself in this treatment, make sure to research and obtain the proper information about it. For those who are not quite familiar with this, here are the basic details you can expect from skin resurfacing:

1. Medical Background – it is important for your dermatologist to conduct a check on your medical history. While the dermatologist is conducting his research he will then know if you are qualified for skin resurfacing.
2. Treatment Assessment - you should inform your dermatologist of the treatment you wish to have. This is the time when you list down what facial imperfections you have and which ones can be operated upon. Pictures and proper planning will then follow soon after. Ask your dermatologist what results can be expected after the skin resurfacing operation to narrow down expectations.
3. Skin Resurfacing Operation – when you feel you are ready and you get the go signal from your dermatologist, the treatment may well be on its way. Before conducting skin resurfacing, you will be instructed to refrain from taking certain medications that may cause complications to the operations itself, so be mindful about it. Depending on the desired treatment, anesthesia will be applied to your face to eliminate the pain you may feel while your face is being partially burned. Larger doses of anesthesia may be required the deeper the laser beam has to penetrate your face. Anticipate that there will be slight discomfort even though anesthesia substances have been applied.
4. Post Operation - when the treatment has been successfully conducted and the imperfections you wished to be removed have been dealt with you may find that your face will still be pinkish in color. Do not be shocked at this since this is normal due to the skin resurfacing treatment itself. Proper prescription medicines will be given. Your dermatologist will also instruct you to refrain from direct sunlight as this may irritate your face.

There is nothing to be afraid of since skin resurfacing treatments have been very successful. With the technology available today, medical machinery such as the lasers for surface resurfacing treatments have proven to be very efficient and safe.

It is believed that many products contain chemicals called Xenoestrogens that are responsible for a lot of problems including exacerbating the symptoms of Pre menstrual Stress (PMS).

Xenoestrogens are those chemicals that imitate the effects of the hormone estrogen in the body.

They have been blamed for a variety of ills from early puberty to cancer.

The main sources of Xenoestrogens are chemicals such as Bishphenol-A, Parabens, and Phthalates which are found to be present in a number of products that we use each day. Plastics of many sorts have these added for clarity and shine.

They can be found to be present in a number personal care and hygiene products such as Shampoos[hair shampoo], Conditioners, Body Lotions, and even Perfumes.

In fact in the case of perfumes as well as other cosmetic and skin care products, the ingredient listed as the innocuous sounding term ‘fragrances’ may be a cocktail of chemicals that we may not be aware of.

So it its acute PMS you suffer from, consider changing your cosmetics.

What comes out of this concoction is a smooth moisturizer with a tinge of color or a smooth liquid foundation which also moisturizes the skin while adding a touch of color to it.

Advantages of tinted moisturizer

One major advantage of using tinted moisturizer is that they are able to cover up even the smallest of flaws and imperfections that regular make ups cannot.

And while it provides the perfect cover, you can still have a natural tone to skin and keeps it moisturized. Wearing make up everyday tends to dry out the skin and sometimes, this causes premature skin aging.

When a woman uses tinted moisturizer, the skin gets extra moisture which regular make ups take out.

It is very important to moisturize our skin everyday to maintain its healthy appearance and its overall well being.

Dry skin may cause irritations and itching, and for those who gets more sunlight or have worn a lot of make up over the years may experience dryness as well as premature skin aging. This will lead to tightening and wrinkling of the affected areas.

When we use moisturizers, the skins loosen up as some oils and moisture comes back. This is why it is very important to use tinted moisturizers to bring back the moisture and minimize the damage to the skin due to constant wearing of make ups while adding a bit of color.

These days, tinted moisturizers are not only limited to the use of artists and make up artists, many cosmetic brands and lines have developed their very own tinted moisturizer for everyday use.

These tinted moisturizers usually come in the same shade of liquid foundations or make up. Many women prefer using these products instead of liquid foundation as their base for make up application.

Tinted moisturizer means less make up

Tinted moisturizer makes it possible for women to wear less make up without feeling or looking bare at all. One can still look and feel great simply by choosing a tinted moisturizer that matches their skin tone and wear it as complete make up.

In some cases, women would opt for a slightly darker shade to give off a tanned and healthy appearance to their face. Sometimes, a blusher is worn over moisturizers, and sometimes, they are left as a stand alone product that leaves a polished look while keeping your face light with less make up products.

Buying the right tinted moisturizers

There are a lot of tinted moisturizer brands out in the market today, but the best way to get one that appeals to you is to mix your own. Choose the foundation that gives you the best coverage and the moisturizers that works best for your skin.

Then just mix these two together for a healthy and beautiful skin all the time. It is cheaper this way and you get only the best appearance because you’ve used the exact foundation shade for your skin tone.

• Firstly ask yourself if you really need the amount of shampoo, conditioner, body lotion etc that you use – Do you slather on too much? Is it more than you need? Try if less will work as well – this will help your skin care and beauty products last a lot longer.
• If it’s a body scrub you need, make one right at home – using coarse sea salt mix, 3 parts of it with one part sweet almond oil and then add about 10 drops of geranium or lavender oil – to make an cheap and effective homemade body scrub.
• Ditch the body lotion and body moisturizer in favor of simple sesame seed oil – unrefined is best. The smell could be less than perfect, and you can improve it by adding essential oil of your choice.
• Perform a manicure for yourself at home – use baking soda mixed with lemon juice to scrub your nails with. Then rinse off and apply Vitamin E oil on to the nails and let it remain for 30 minutes. If you’re going to apply nail polish wipe off the oil with a little acetone free nail polish.