Lentigines is the medical term for age spots. Unlike what the name suggests, age spots have nothing to do with age. The primary cause for age spots is actually exposure to the sun. When exposed to UV rays of the sun, our skin tries to protect itself by producing melanin (pigmented skin cells), which causes the brown spots. To a lesser extent, age spots can also be caused by smoking, poor liver function, a poor diet or a diet that is rich in oxidised oils.
The first thing to do is to try and stay out of the sun as much as possible. Protect your skin with sun screen. Also avoid coming into contact with a chemical substance called psoralen before exposing yourself to UV rays. A naturally occurring substance, psoralen is found in foods like parsley, limes and parsnips. Research has shown that skin that has come into contact with psoralen becomes more sensitive to UV rays, and thus burns more easily. Always keep your skin protected from the sun as much as possible, be it with sunscreen of at least SPF 15 or clothes that cover more of your skin.
Musk and bergamot oil should also be avoided. These are commonly found in perfumes and body lotions, and they also make the skin more susceptible to the sun. Certain types of medication, such as tetracycline (a kind of antibiotics), diuretics and chlorpromazine (antipsychotic medicine) will cause the skin to be more sensitive to sun exposure. If you are on any of these medications, it is imperative that you take extra measures to protect yourself from the sun.
A diet rich in calcium, iron and carotene will also decrease your chances of getting age spots. Foods like green leafy vegetables, carrots and nuts will be good additions to your diet in order to lower your risk of developing age spots. Exercising to improve your blood circulation will also help to prevent age spots.
Don’t risk looking older than you with unnecessary age spots. Put on that sunscreen before you get out in the sun!
Sources:
http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/44/3.cfm
http://www.agespots.net/causes.aspx
http://www.ehow.com/how_2038900_prevent-age-spots.html
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Potentially Hazardous Ingredients In Many Skin Care Products
| Ingredient | Use | Dangers |
| Parabens | Heavily used preservatives in the cosmetic industry; used in an estimated 13,200 cosmetic and skin care products. | Studies implicate their connection with cancer because their hormone-disrupting qualities mimic estrogen and could disrupt your body’s endocrine system. |
| Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum | These petroleum products coat the skin like plastic – clogging pores and creating a build-up of toxins. They can slow cellular development, creating earlier signs of aging. They’re implicated as a suspected cause of cancer. Plus, they can disrupt hormonal activity. When you think about black oil pumped from deep underground, ask yourself why you’d want to put that kind of stuff on your skin… | |
| Sodium laurel or lauryl sulfate (SLS), also known as sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) | Found in over 90% of personal care products! They break down your skin’s moisture barrier, potentially leading to dry skin with premature aging. And because they easily penetrate your skin, they can allow other chemicals easy access. | SLS combined with other chemicals may become a "nitrosamine" – a potent carcinogen. |
| Acrylamide | Found in many facial creams. | Linked to mammary tumors. |
| Propylene glycol | Common cosmetic moisturizer and carrier for fragrance oils. | May cause dermatitis and skin irritation. May inhibit skin cell growth. Linked to kidney and liver problems. |
| Phenol carbolic acid | Found in many lotions and skin creams. | Can cause circulatory collapse, paralysis, convulsions, coma, and even death from respiratory failure. |
| Dioxane | Hidden in ingredients such as PEG, polysorbates, laureth, ethoxylated alcohols. Very common in personal care products. | These chemicals are often contaminated with high concentrations of highly volatile 1,4-dioxane that’s easily absorbed through the skin. Its carcinogenicity was first reported in 1965, and later confirmed in studies including one from the National Cancer Institute in 1978. Nasal passages are considered extremely vulnerable, making it, in my opinion, a really bad idea to use these things on your face. |
| Toluene | May be very poisonous! Made from petroleum and coal tar… found in most synthetic fragrances. | Chronic exposure linked to anemia, lowered blood cell count, liver or kidney damage…May affect a developing fetus. |
Thursday, February 26, 2009
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