A Plan For Your Pores

By Wendy Lewis, Beauty/Skincare Columnist – HealthNewsDigest.com

(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Every woman thinks she has large pores. It is a very common lament. The younger you are, the less noticeable your pores will be because skin is tight and firm and plump. As you age, your skin gets slack and lazy and everything loosens up, including your pores.

Pores can often seem enlarged when they get blocked with oil and debris, so working to reduce that oil blockage may result in the appearance of smaller pores. Keeping pores clean is a good place to start. Regular exfoliation transforms clogged and enlarged pores. When cell production speeds up, the epidermis becomes thicker. Since open pores are exposed to the air, the oil inside them becomes oxidized and turn dark or black (as in blackheads) which makes them more noticeable. Exfoliants such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic or beta hydroxy acid work by dissolving the bonds between cells on the top layer of the skin so cells shed more easily and evenly. Apply a mild alcohol-free toner after cleansing to close pores, or you can slap on some cold water in a pinch. Various forms of Tretinoin such as Retin-A Micro available by prescription can be an excellent long term skin product for helping to minimize the appearance of pores. … read more »

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We get more questions from our loyal BEAUTYINTHEBAG subscribers about acne than almost anything else – except maybe what to do about wrinkles. So we will be bringing you a 3 PART SERIES – PIMPLE PLAN. The first installment covers Acne Meds, then we will move on to Acne Treatments in the Dermatologist’s office, medspa or clinic. Finally, we will cover some of the best and most effective Acne Skincare Brands.

… read more »

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Red-faced? Frequent flushing and blushing? Acne-like pimples around your nose and cheeks? You could be suffering from rosacea. As Rosacea Awareness Month comes to a close, we present part II in our rosacea series: treatments that will help you fight the flushing and blushing year round.

Redness is actually a sign of aging and skin thinning – tiny red veins peek through the skin that creates blushing. The hallmark of rosacea, also called “the curse of the Celts,” is facial flushing in response to sun exposure, red wine, spices, smoking, and steam heat. The exact origin is often related to the blood vessels; most people have some broken capillaries and redness around the nose, cheeks, and chin. Hormones play a role in rosacea, and flare ups are more likely during your monthly period or with menopause.

The National Rosacea Society (NRS)  estimates the number of Americans with rosacea is 16 million – which does not include millions more who may be in temporary remission.

Rosacea typically begins between the 30 and 60 as redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead that comes and goes.  Over time, the redness tends to become ruddier and more persistent, and visible blood vessels may appear.  Left untreated, bumps and pimples often develop.  Rosacea is more common in fair-skinned individuals – but almost anyone can have it.

LIFESTYLE TRIGGERS:

• Sun exposure
• Hot or cold weather
• Wind
• Alcohol
• Spicy foods
• Hot drinks
• Humidity

WARNING SIGNS:

• Redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead
• Small visible blood vessels on the face
• Bumps or pimples on the face
• Watery or irritated eyes

TOP TREATMENTS TO GET THE RED OUT

Early diagnosis and treatment are key to controlling rosacea. Treatments range from topical prescriptions, to prescription medications, and laser and light based therapies or a combination. Flushing and spider veins can be treated with a small electric needle, a laser or intense pulse light therapy. Usually, multiple treatments are required for best results and treatment does not prevent new veins for showing up.

TOPICAL CREAMS, GELS, LOTIONS:

PyratineXR Lotion or Cream - Clinically proven to relieve redness, soothe irritation, increase moisture and repair damaged skin. Pyratine XR contains cytokinins, plant-based growth factors that can help regulate the skin’s inflammatory response.

Finacea – Finacea gel is an azelaic acid that helps the skin to renew itself more quickly and therefore reduces pimples and bacteria that causes rosacea.

Azelex Cream - Topical azelaic acid based antibacterial that fights bacteria.

Noritate, Metrogel, Metrocream, Metrolotion, Rozex – This category of topical antibiotics is called Metronidazole and fights the infection caused by rosacea.

Klaron Lotion – Sodium Sulfacetamide lotion is also used to control inflammation.

ORAL MEDICATIONS:

Oracea – The first and only oral therapy that targets the bumps and pimples of rosacea and help get your condition under control, it is taken once daily.

Doryx Delayed-Release Capsules – Tetracycline antibiotic pellets.

Doxycycline, Minocycline, Amoxicillin, Tetracycline – These antiobiotics may all be prescribed to treat rosacea.

LASER & LIGHT BASED SOLUTIONS:

Cutera Laser Genesis – By gently heating the upper dermis below the skin’s surface, Laser Genesis simulates collagen regrowth and additional heat is generated in dilated capillaries to reduce redness. A series of Laser Genesis treatments can help keep vascular lesions under control.

Before and After photos depicting treatment results with Cutera Laser Genesis

(results depicted are 3 months after 3rd treatment)

Photo Credit: David Goldberg MD

Cutera CoolGlide Xeo - The CoolGlide Xeo targets the lower layers of the epidermis to treat rosacea and other skin conditions that cause redness. CoolGlide XEO combines two types of laser energy : pulsed light for treating pigmented lesions and long-pulsed Nd: YAG.

Candela V-Beam - Pulsed dye laser and intense pulsed light are the gold standards for zapping the redness of rosacea. V-Beam is a pulsed dye laser that works best for thicker blood vessels, while intense pulsed light treatments work nicely for fine vessels.

Syneron eMatrix Sublative Rejuvenation - Using a combination of Bi-Polar Radio Frequency (RF) and high-power Diode Laser energies for effective treatment of vascular lesions.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) – PDT uses Levulan (aminolevulonic acid), a topical photosensitizer liquid that is applied to the skin and a blue light to activate it.

If you think you have rosacea, visit www.rosacea.org, or call 1-888-NO-BLUSH.

NOTE: READ PART I OF THIS SERIES FOR TIPS ON COSMETICS AND OVER THE COUNTER SKIN CARE PRODUCTS

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