Skin Pigmentation: Coloration or Discoloration...

  

Pigmentation means coloring. Skin pigmentation disorders affect the color of your skin. Your skin gets its color from a pigment called melanin. Special cells in the skin make melanin. When these cells become damaged or unhealthy, it affects melanin production. Some pigmentation disorders affect just patches of skin. Others affect your entire body.

If your body makes too much melanin, your skin gets darker. Pregnancy, and sun exposure, use of bleaching agents found in creams can make the skin darker or discoloured. If your body makes too little melanin, your skin gets lighter.

Severe Forms of Skin Pigmentation

 Vitiligo is a condition that causes patches of light skin. Albinism is a genetic condition affecting a person's skin. A person with albinism may have no color, lighter than normal skin color, or patchy missing skin color. Infections, blisters and burns can also cause lighter skin.

Why are brown spots, melasma and other pigment problems so hard to treat?

Pigment (melanin) in the most superficial layer (the epidermis) is the easiest to treat because as the skin renews itself, the pigment will slough/shed (example –brown/black spots after acne). But when the pigment drops deeper down into the dermis, the renewal process is much slower and treatment cream/lotions don’t reach it.

Possible causes of brown spots, melasma and other pigment problems:

• Too much sun.   This can be at any point in your life including childhood
• Pregnancy, oral contraceptives and hormone replacement
• Acne
• Ageing
• Various facial rashes and any skin irritation
• Your genes
• Rarer causes like overuse of hydroquinone creams, adrenal gland problems, etc.

General Information On How Different Pigment Problems Are Treated

Hyperpigmentation 

One of the most common pigmentation problems in darker-skinned individuals is hyperpigmentation (or the darkening of the skin). 
Usually the result of some type of inflammation or injury to the skin, such as a cut, burn or scrape,  use of harsh chemicals in lightening creams; hyperpigmentation produces darkened areas of the skin that can last months or years. Even healed acne lesions can leave permanent dark spots in darker-skinned people that, in some cases, can be more distressing than the original acne. 

Dr. Breadon (American Academy of Dermatology) noted that treatments for hyperpigmentation are based on whether or not the dark areas are confined to the surface of the skin or if they have penetrated to the deeper layers of the skin. For superficial dark spots, a prescription topical medication consisting of hydroquinone, retinoic acid and mild hydrocortisone can be effective in fading skin discoloration. Deeper dark areas require an in-office surgical procedure, such as dermabrasion, chemical peels, or microdermabrasion with an infusion of hydroquinone solution. In patients with lighter skin, intense pulsed light (IPL) or one of the pigmented lasers could be considered. 

(Ensure that you see a highly certified dermatologist (skin specialist) before you decide to go for ANY laser treatment)

Melasma 

Often referred to as the “mask of pregnancy,” melasma is a skin condition marked by brown patches on areas such as the face, neck and arms that most often affects dark-skinned people and women during pregnancy. Many dermatologists have long believed that there may be a hormonal component to melasma, and a recently published study found that there were an increased number of estrogen receptors in areas where patients developed melasma. 

According to Dr. Breadon,  patients with melanoma should consider stopping oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy due to the large amount of estrogens in these medications. Regular sunscreen use is vital to protect the skin from further hyperpigmentation. 

Here Are The Dos And Don’ts:

• Don’t scrub or exfoliate too much.  This can be irritating and make the pigment worse.
• Stop any skincare product that is irritating you or making the pigment worse.
• Use your doctor’s medications as directed – more is not better. If it’s getting worse, then stop the product and call the doctor.  Also understand that medications may take several months to work.
• Be very wary of any product sold on the internet.  Many of these companies prey on the frustration and desperation of women and men with pigment problems.
• Don’t overuse hydroquinones.  With too much, they may make pigment worse not to mention that they may cause mutations in DNA if overused.   
• Use a good sunscreen every morning that blocks Ultraviolet‑A (UVA) and UVB radiation with at least zinc oxide 10% or a zinc/titanium combination that is at least 10%.  Double sunscreen by using a cream or 
• Wear a wide brimmed hat whenever outside.
• Stay out of the sun especially midday, and if you are on vacation, sunscreen again every time you get out of the water.

The information provided above is based on a research I found on www.skintour.com  and American Accademy of Dermatology website www.aad.org 

XOXO

Product Review: For Dry & Thirsty Skin Plus Hair!

The Product Review Column is a new innovation on the blog this new year. This space will be about reviewing great products and the "not-so-great" ones too! 

The product review space will be mostly about great products that I have used and products that work wonders on the skin (or hair) based on extensive research. Additionally, the space will give you, the readers, the opportunity to share not only great products that you have used, but also products that you have double minds about using. 

This is how we would go about this: If I discover a wonderful product, I will share and if you have a wonderful or a not-so-wonderful product that you want to talk about or review, please feel free to leave a comment and I will definitely review your product. Make sure to write the full name of the product.

(Leaving a comment on the blog is so easy as you are not required to type in any codes or sign up any names. JUST CLICK ON THE COMMENT BUTTON, WRITE YOUR COMMENT AND CLICK THE PUBLISH BUTTON!) 

Let's start...

So today's product review are on 3 great products that I have come to love because they have worked great wonders for my hair & skin. 

Product 1: Morrocan Oil Hair Treatment For All Hair Types

 This product brings dry, damaged hair back to life! Its unique and rich formula of Argan Oil instantly absorbs into hair to immediately enhance manageability, shine and deliver long term conditioning without leaving oily residue.

To Use: Apply a small amount on dry or damp hair and style as usual.

Verdict: Great five star product for a hair you love to care for, or desperately want to revive.

Product 2: Kiehl's Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter

This whipped body butter is absolutely to die for! Not only does it contain Shea & Jojoba Butters, which is absolutely amazing for moisturising; the smell is awesome. This luxurious air whipped body butter quickly absorbs to deliver rich hydration for an addictive experience! Using Kiehl's butter helps to restore, protect and soften any skin type. 

Verdict: This product is best suitable for dry skin, however, its double moisture for other skin types too and its great for MEN too. (Truth is a guy actually introduced me to this cream)

Product 3: Hydrating Morroccan Argan Oil by Organix  

The hydrating Morrocan Argan Oil by Organix has an exclusive moisture lock system made of a blend of pure Morrocan + Argan Oil to restore elasticity giving a radiant glow. Its also made of Sugar Cane + Willow Bark to soften dry skin and Rice milk + Bamboo Extract to make skin supple and lovely.

Verdict: Particularly great to use during summer/winter, for pregnancy and stretch marks.

Tip: Add drops of this luxurious oil into your bath water.

These products can be found in most skin care or hair care (ask professional stylists too) stores. 

The blog is definitely going to be filled with lovely products, home recipes and tips for skincare this  year. 

Imagine using blended fruits (smoothies) on your skin. Think of the radiance from all the vitamins that fruits have to offer. The recipes will be on my next post! Until then, stay beautiful...

xoxo

   

SkinCare 2014! For Flawless Skin In 2014...

Welcome to the first beauty post of the year! Last year was such a great year filled with unexpected events and interesting turn-outs. This year is going to be even greater.

Hopefully, I will blog more regularly. However, the truth is I do not feel the need to put up a post if it does not bring quality to you, my readers. So I will blog with a purpose (regularly, I hope!!) lol.

Today's post is just to prepare us for the new and exciting things to expect concerning your skins on the blog this year. I will be researching on the Latest Beauty Trends, the Best Skincare Products, the Newest techniques in Skin Care Management and of course Going Green in Skincare!

Beautiful skin should not just come as a result of what you splatter on it. Glowing skin must come as a result of what is within. Your skin needs firstly understanding followed closely by tender care.

For  flawless skin in 2014, I want to re-emphasise the importance of understanding your skin type (Dry, Oily, Normal or Sensitive) and taking care of your skin through simple steps including Cleansing, which usually starts with an oil or cream to remove make-up. For Deep Cleansing, use cleansing soaps for the appropriate skin type. This cleansing step is followed by a Clarifying Lotion (also known as toner) to prepare the face for absorption of the magic step, which is Moisturising.

For flawless skin in 2014, learn how to let your face "breathe". This simply means going somedays with NO make-up! Apart from you looking better than you think, going few days without make-up allows your skin to work on itself through natural regeneration and repair of cells. If you absolutely must wear make-up, try something really light like using an eyeliner and lip-gloss. You will be surprised at how young lighter make-up makes you look.

Lastly for flawless skin in 2014, please ditch the creams that promise to lighten, whiten, or in the real word bleach your beautiful skins. The first step is to LOVE YOUR SKIN irrespective of colour. If you feel darkened as a result of the harsh weather conditions, etc, there are loads of great products that can protect your skin from heat or cold. DO your research on anything you want to put on your skin this year! Better still, ask me on the blog by leaving a comment. I will be so happy to give you feedback on any product. All I need is the name of the product...

Lets also learn to smile, lets learn to be happy, lets learn to love and lets learn to receive love as these acts radiates from within to reveal a glowing skin.

Keep checking out previous post because there's is always something new to learn! Till the next post...

xoxo.

Merry Xmas! A Face To All the Post Y'all Been Reading

Its 4 days to Christmas. For everyone, its almost the end of the year! Its a happy time (for most, I hope), a time to relax and reflect on past happenings in our lives. A time to show love, receive love and hope for a better future..

Its been a great year for the blog as well. So I want to say thank you for reading my posts, thanks for leaving comments, thanks for sending emails and thanks for refreshing the pages over and over again..

As you go into the next year, take time to understand and learn from whatever mistakes you have made, and how to turn the negatives around you into positives! Learn how to grow spiritually, learn how to be positive, to take risks and to aim higher. Learn how to forgive and love genuinely for the right reasons. Learn how to be more sensitive to people around you, never judging, and always happy for others. Learn how to pray and talk to God like He is your best confidant and friend (this, He actually is!) 

And finally as we age gracefully, learn how to love your skin... This blog of course will help you through this particular task all through next year, lol.

Merry Christmas and Lets glow together.

xoxo!

Best Natural Oils For Achieving Beautiful, Even, Glowing Skin

Using natural oils is a big trend in the beauty industry today. However, natural oils as a beauty and skin regime were used over 3000 years ago! This beauty therapy was used by Greeks, Egyptians and Romans.

Using oils on your skin has some incredible benefits. Natural oils contain properties which help in not only healing and soothing damaged skin, but also revitalising and rehydrating the skin to produce a shiny glow! From reducing stretch marks and minimising wrinkles to anti-ageing therapy and deep hydration, the key is to figure out which oil caters to your skin type.

 Today's post will help you discover different types of oils, including the most suitable for all skin types.

Some of these oils are inexpensive and free of chemical. They also help with the treatment of the skin, making it silky smooth to feel while adding a glow. Oils can be used as skin conditioners, make up removers, deep moisturisers, and even to revive dull/ damaged hairs!

Argan Oil (Great for Anti-aging): 

This oil is created by extracting oils from argan tree nuts. Its referred to as the "liquid gold" and comes from Morroccco. Its well known for its anti-ageing and restorative powers. Rich in Vitamin A and E, its also contains Omega-9 used for revitalising and de-stressing the skin.

                                                     Coconut Oil (Deep Moisturiser)

Coconut oil is one of the best and healthiest oils amongst natural oils. Apart from its deep moisturising qualities, it also contains protein required for healthy, glowing skin. Coconut oils fights against wrinkles, stretch marks, uneven skin tone and also tightens loose skin. 

Black Currant Oil (Repairs Damaged Skin):

Great to treat damaged skin as a result of using bleaching creams, eczema, post laser treatment, sun burns, etc. Its rich in vitamins, antioxidants and essential fatty acids, which also helps slow down the skin's ageing process. Its great for healing scars as well. (This oil can cause allergic reactions, therefore try out on small portion of skin before use).  

Chamomile Oil (For Sensitive Skin)

Chamomile oil is a natural skin soother and contains calming effects great for skin irritations, redness, burns and bruises, including other skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, rashes, etc. Do try a skin test to make sure your skin is not allergic to chamomile oil.

Top Recommendation: I totally love this Body Treatment Oil by Clarins

Feel free to share any of my posts on Facebook, twitter and google+ by clicking on any of the icons below. Its easier for me to answer questions on the blog, its so much easier to write a comment, but keep the mails coming too!

xoxo

Getting A "Fairer" Complexion Naturally... Think ORANGES

I am an advocate for women being comfortable in their skin, whether fair or brown or black! However, this does not take away the fact that over 80% of Nigerian women and even some women in other parts  of the world crave fairer skin. The unfortunate truth is everyone wants to be fair, even the fair ones want to be white! Ironically too, the white ones go for a tan to get "darker". Its a crazy world we live in.

Most times I get asked the same question over and over again. Both by fair and dark skinned people alike, "How do I get my skin to look lighter?"I am always at cross roads, as my answer will continually be that fair and dark skins are beautiful equally and that both skins can glow and radiate beauty and health only if you care for it!

And because of the continuous mails and questions i get on how to lighten up naturally, today's post shows you how to get a fairer look, without worrying about side effects. Simple home remedies can be made and used to achieve a fairer skin naturally without the dark/discoloured knuckles, knees and feet.

Include Loofah in every Bath...

Exfoliation is the main thing in any skin lightening regime. The loofah (sponge) is a good exfoliating tool. By scrubbing off dead skin cells, the skin's pores become unclogged. a clean skin easily absorbs nutrients of cleansers, toners, masks and moisturisers.

Simply squeeze your body wash into your loofah, wet the loofah and use in circular motions. Use loofah daily and know when its time to change your sponge!

Natural Skin Lightener.

Do you usually throw your orange peels away? Bad move for fair skin lovers! lol. Simply collect the peels of oranges, dry them in the sun till crisp. Then grind them into a fine powder and store in an air-tight container. 

This orange peel powder makes an excellent base for your skin lightening recipe. This home made powder can lighten your skin in a most natural and glowing way. Lets learn how:

For Oily Skin: Mix 1 teaspoon of orange peel powder with rosewater. Apply to face, leave on for 15 minutes and wash off with cold water. You may feel a tingling sensation but this totally normal because of the citric contents.

For Dry Skin: Citric fruits are acidic in nature. Therefore, for dry skin, add honey to your orange peel powder to make a thick paste. OR add yoghurt +1 teaspoon of olive oil to the orange peel powder. The yoghurt and olive oil is for moisturising, while the peel powder does the lightening.

Extras: Masques For Double Glow.

Using a masque in a natural skin lightening process retains natural moisture, provides nutrition and adds glow to your skin. 

Make your own masques using Almonds and Pawpaws.

For Oily skins, blend paw paw and apply puree on your face. Paw paw is another natural skin lightener that gives a glow

For dry skin, soak almonds (high in Vitamin E) in milk, blend and apply to skin.

I still stand by my thoughts on bleaching creams: THROW THEM IN THE BIN!

xoxo...

Great Ways Of Using Bananas On Your Skin!...

Most of us only think of bananas as a fruit to eat. But in reality bananas are a great skin enhancer. Its packed full with vitamins that not only moisturises your skin, but also improves its glow and complexion.

Bananas are exceptionally healthy and contain vitamins A, B, C and E including minerals such as potassium, zinc, iron and manganese. These nutrients are essential for the skin. Vitamin C and B6 plays a great role in maintaining the elasticity of the skin. Additionally, the large amounts of antioxidants and manganese found in banana protects the body from damage caused by free radicals (harsh temperatures, sun, pollution) found in the environment, which lead to premature ageing. Therefore, bananas can definitely give you younger looking skin. Banana also helps hydrate the skin as it has about 75% water content. This prevents skin dryness, dullness and peeling.

Banana As A Great Natural Moisturiser/ Facial Masque.
The Vitamin A in banana restores lost moisture and repairs damaged, dull, dry skin.
To instantly restore a dry and tired looking skin, mash up a ripe banana and apply to your face. leave on for 20 - 25 minutes, then wash with lukewarm water. Skin will instantly feel and appear supple and restored!

Extra tip: Add honey to mashed banana for extremely dry and flaky skin. Mash banana + honey and apply to face for 20-25 minutes. Rinse well with warm water.

Banana As a Great Scrub!

Banana is full of anti oxidants and when mixed with some natural ingredients, can become a lovely skin scrub, which helps to get rid of dead skin cells and also to rejuvenate and energise your skin.
Mash banana and pour in some brown sugar or white sugar. Rub into skin in circular motion and rinse with warm water. Banana serves as the moisturiser, while the sugar removes dead skin cells.

Banana As a Great Anti-aging Agent.

Nutrients found in banana help to fight off wrinkles and keeps the skin smooth and youthful. To make anti-ageing facial masque, mash a ripe banana with 1/2 avocado.

Leave on skin for 25 minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water. The Vitamin E in the avocado and banana will help repair damaged and aged skin to reveal a more youthful glow.

So the next time you think about throwing away that over ripe banana, think of all the goodies your skin can benefit from this delicious food. Even the peel is so useful in the treatment of stubborn acne and wrinkles. Here's how to use a banana peel:

Simply cut a small part of the peel, apply the inner part on the affected area, rub on for about 5 minutes, leave to dry then clean the skin with lukewarm water. Repeat this process at least 3 times a day. Pimples will subside within 7 days.

Extra tip: To get rid of wrinkles, apply fresh peels on the affected area for 15 minutes everyday. Noticeable changes will be seen in few weeks.

I love and appreciate all feedbacks. its so easy, just write your comments/questions and press the publish button. I would also like to know if this post helped you in any way. Share your thoughts and ideas and lets glow together...

xoxo!