Skin Care Tips From BARE Skincare

The following is a synergy of good health advice and cosmetic tricks to maintain a healthy lifestyle and beautiful, lustrous skin.

Don't over-moisturize. 99% of "sensitive skin" is due to moisture abuse. Over moisturizing can cause you to break out, and can even give you milia, the tiny white spots that are formed when dead skin cells get trapped.

Take Melatonin. Sleep is important. It allows your body (including your skin) to recuperate from daily activities. Skin cells are some of the most rapidly rejuvenating cells in the body. Take away adequate rest, and they suffer.

Eat Food, Not too much, mostly vegetables. In grocery stores, shop at the periphery for natural foods, and avoid the processed foods in the center. Foods like salmon, herring, and trout provide our skin with oils that lubricate cells and reduce inflammation. They are also heavy in omega-3 fatty acids, which play a key role in keeping our skin smooth. And salmon 2 times a month cuts heart attacks by 50%.

A Mediterranean diet full of fish, fruit, vegetables, olive oil, and tea provides the skin with the good omega fatty acids. This diet also has the antioxidants your skin needs to maintain a healthy glow and reverse sun damage.

Don't smoke - the most negative thing one can do for health in general and your skin in particular is smoking.

Alcohol dehydrates the skin (which causes wrinkles) while inflaming tissue. It decreases Vitamin A levels, causing the skin to be dry and flaky. Inflammation is considered the main component in the aging process. You are better off not drinking, or drinking in moderation.

Start a good skin care program by age 30 - collagen starts to decrease by age 30-35, so it needs an assistance to prevent wrinkles and other signs of aging

Women should take bio-identical hormones as soon as menopause starts, if not medically contraindicated.

Reduce stress with meditation or other forms of relaxation. But meditation is the best. Your health and appearance are positively influenced by increasing your emotional and mental well-being.

Exercise regularly 3-4 times per week. Clicking the TV remote is not exercise, nor is walking to your car.

Wrinkles:

Frown lines - treatment; don't frown. Concentrate on keeping your muscles relaxed, including your facial muscles. Also avoid squinting from the sun by using sun glasses - it will protect your eyes and keep them younger, even as you age. Sleeping in certain positions may result in sleep lines, according to The American Academy of Dermatology. After a while, these lines can turn into deep-set wrinkles, lay on your back to start out sleeping.

Skin care programs from Bare Skin Care: for problems like wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, melasma, acne, oily skin and scars.

Cleanser - removes dead cells, bacteria, and harmful oils that can lead to acne.

Toner - hyrates, clarifies, cleanses, and corrects skin pH. It helps other skin products to penetrate into the deeper skin layers - essentially acts like a key that unlocks the cell membrane to allow deeper absorption.

Retinoids - Retin-A (prescription), retinol, and retinaldehyde. Bare Skin uses retinaldehyde, which is more effective than retinol and less irritating than Retin-A. It is also available without a prescription.

Anti-Aging Serum - best all around product for the skin. Very high in antioxidants, which are proven to be extremely important as an aging preventative. D-boldine Extract, Resveratrol, Polydatin, Green Tea Extract, Grape Seed Extract, Vitamin E, Spin Trap - all antioxidants in Bare Skin Care Anti-Aging Serum.

Elegant Enhancer - an excellent exfoliator which removes dead skin cells which can cause dull complexion and therefore effect ones appearance. Exfoliate with a well-formulated alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) or beta hydroxy acid (BHA) product—AHAs are generally best for dry, sun-damaged skin while BHAs are best for acne- or blackhead-prone skin. An exfoliator can increase smoothness, tone, and decrease wrinkles.

Topical vitamin C can increase collagen production, protect against damage from UVA and UVB rays, correct pigmentation problems, and improve inflammatory skin conditions. The key, however, may be the type of vitamin C used and also the pH. Too strong Vitamin C can cause burning, and if not stabilized correctly it will be ineffective. At Bare Skin Care, after extensive testing, we developed Revive C Serum, containing three Vitamin Cs. 

Sun Blocks - physical sun blocks with zinc oxide or titanium reflect the sun's UVA and UVB rays better than chemical ones. And always remember other physical blocks, like hats and long sleeves. The sun's rays cause photodamage, the main cause of wrinkles. The best sun block I have found and personally use is DNA Sun block, which has a 40 spf and will not burn the eyes - available at Bare Skin Care. Don't forget to use sun block on your hands; besides the face, these show the most obvious signs of aging. Remember to reapply sun blocks at least every two hours while in the sun; they do not last longer than this. And use a sun block lip balm in the sun - actinic chelitis, a precancerous condition, occurs because there is not as much melanin in lips.

If you're driving a long distance, keep applying sun block on your hands, face, and neck. Glass doesn't filter UV rays.

Talking on a cell phone for hours can lead to breakouts and rashes along your jaw line and cheek. Keep antibacterial wipes handy to swipe your phone clean and help your skin stay clear. Also make sure your pillowcase is clean. Clean makeup brushes which can harbor bacteria and cause acne breakouts. Make sure you remove any makeup before bed to prevent clogged pores, acne breakouts, and other bacterial infections.

Residue from hair products can end up on your face. When appling hairspray, cover your face with a clean towel to protect your skin. Also, use a sweatband when exercising to keep the products from dripping down when you begin to sweat.

Don't pick pimples. Popping and picking at the skin on your face will push dirt and bacteria deeper into pores, which only results in more breakouts and is the most common cause of scarring. The best skin chemical peel for acne is a 30% salicylic acid peel. It has no "down time", cleanses the pores and kills bacteria.

Hydrate your skin with water. This is the best moisturizer. And remember, too much caffeine can cause the skin to be dry - don't overdo coffee, tea, and soft drinks.

 If you have a concern with skin sensitivity, you can test products first on the inside of your forearm to see if they cause irritation or redness.

Supplemental multivitamins and minerals are important, as most of us do not get enough in our diets. Omega-3s and Omega-6s in the diet help the skin to remain plump and smooth. Foods high in zinc are very good for the skin. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is also important in the anti-aging process. Ground flaxseed not only provides the Omega-3 fatty acids, but also helps prevent constipation and bowel cancer.

Finally, at bareskincare.com web site you can use SEARCH on the menu bar at the top to find any topic that Dr Bollmann has blogged about, including anti-aging. For instance, If you put "anti-aging" in the SEARCH on the bareskincare.com web site, all Dr Bollmann's blogs about the subject can be seen.