Nearly 85% of people will have acne at some point of their lives. They will either get it on their face and/or somewhere on their body (e.g. chest and/or back). Acne usually starts during puberty, but the skin condition is not confined to any age group. Adults in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and even 50s, can develop acne. Several dermatologists and skin experts maintain that ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and retinol deliver the best results and are the most effective in fighting acne. All four ingredients work as peeling agents that will help clean and clear your pores of oil, dirt and bacteria. The sebaceous glands of your skin secrete an oily material called sebum, which can clog your pores…
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Reducing the Appearance of Dark Spots and Scars
Reducing the Appearance of Dark Spots and Scars Dark spots and scars were once considered permanent unwanted marks. You were just stuck with them and had to cope with them. However, with today’s technology and medicine almost all blemishes and indelible spots can be reduced to the point of nothingness. In some cases you could reduce the appearance of such unwanted marks and spots with mere topical treatments. Here’s how: 1) Always apply sunscreen with an SFP of 30 or higher that contains either titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. The sun’s harmful rays cannot only damage your skin, but it can also worsen the appearance of your dark spots and scars. Sun exposure will tan the dark spot or scar, making it look darker. Cover…
Acne Scars and Treatments
Acne is a terrible skin problem to deal with at any age, but sometimes after the acne is gone it leaves a scar in its place making you feel equally distressed. Your skin is the first thing most people notice upon initial encounter. We all want to look and feel our best at all times, but sometime our insecurities about our appearance can hinder such desires. MD Beauty Secrets is here to help and answer all your questions. How Acne Scars Occur Acne scars occur mostly because an inflamed blemish injures the healthy skin tissue in the dermis. The skin is made up of two layers, the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis is the layer closest to the outside world while the dermis is…
The Beauty Benefits of Vitamin C
Vitamin C is mostly marketed as a nutritional supplement or food that will kick your cold’s butt. In truth, the benefits of vitamin C go beyond the common cold; it will protect you against immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular disease, prenatal health problems, eye disease, and even superficial signs of aging. Young skin is full of Vitamin C. As we age our skin will naturally lose nutrients, including Vitamin C. Exposure to harmful UV radiation (i.e. sunbathing and tanning beds), cigarette smoke and other external pollutants will accelerate the decline of Vitamin C in our skin, furthering signs of aging. Vitamin C will help fight against the damaging effects of time, environment and bad habits. Vitamin C benefits your skin in two ways: 1) as an…
Why Glycolic Toner Is The Right Toner
Glycolic acid had for a while now been a popular ingredient in skin care. Glycolic acid belongs to the alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) family, which comes from sugary fruits such as cantaloupe, unripe grapes, pineapple, sugarcane, and sugar beets. It is a natural exfoliator. When used as a dermatological exfoliate, it reacts with the upper layer of the epidermis, diminishing the binding properties of the lipids that hold the dead skin cells together, to uncover your younger living cells that have been hidden underneath, leaving your skin with a smooth texture. Beneficial Properties When a glycolic toner is applied after cleansing it will remove excess makeup, dirt or impurities, as well as balance the pH levels of your skin. Furthermore, it prepares the skin for additional…
Why Do Men Age Better?
There are certain perceptions that are purely gender based; for instance, men are usually represented as thick-skinned and rough while women are portrayed as being more sensitive and soft. Whether these views hold truth is debatable, however, when it comes to each gender’s skin, they are indisputably correct descriptions. The reason behind why men have different skin than women can be attributed to the hormone called androgen (testosterone is the primary and well known androgen). Androgen stimulates collagen and elastin production, thus generating stronger and coarser skin mostly associated with men. Androgen also increases the rate of the cell turnover resulting in the thickening of the skin. What’s more, androgen increases the size and activity of the sebaceous glands that are responsible for the production…
What You Need to Know About Sleeping
It is usually during the middle of the week that we all start feeling a shortage of energy. Most of us think that we need the weekend to recover but believe it or not a few Zzzzs will do the trick, not just for your body and mind but your skin too! They call it beauty sleep for a reason, because without it you will look distressed, exhausted, unhappy and older. Lack of sleep causes blood vessels to dilate, creating the dark circles we all hate. When we sleep our body goes through recovery, a restoring and rebalancing process necessary for the whole body to function. The skin renews itself during this time. New skin cells grow and older cells are replaced. The skin recovers…
Skin and Health Tip: If you smoke…QUIT!
Skin and Health Tip: If you smoke…QUIT! Hundreds of millions of people around the world smoke. Some of us do it all the time while others are social smokers. Whether you do it regularly, once in a while or second-hand beware of the ramifications of cigarettes, including the damages done to your skin’s appearance and health. Smoking robs the skin of oxygen and nutrients, thus causing poor skin complexion and tone. It can also destroy collagen and elastin, causing sagging of the skin. Premature aging, such as fine lines around the eyes and mouth as well as age spots, is another side effect. Quitting smoking will improve your appearance. Once you quit smoking, blood flow will improve and your skin will start to receive more…
What You Need To Know About Green Tea
We have all heard or read about “the almighty green tea” and how it can do wonders from helping you lose weight to preventing cancer and reducing heart disease. A good portion of MD Beauty Secrets’ skin care products contains green tea. Thus, we want to educate you on why we chose green tea as a primary ingredient in our skin care line. Green tea has numerous important nutrients, some of which have powerful medicinal properties. For instance, green tea is rich with polyphenols that are powerful antioxidants. Such elements can reduce certain diseases as well as aging. However, the mighty element in green tea is the potent antioxidant known as Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG has been used in the following studies and treatments: HIV,…
Climate and Skin
We are a little over 2 weeks into the summer and the weather has changed dramatically, reaching scorching levels. Whether you live in a humid or arid climate, both climates generate their own set of beauty-based anxieties. It is important to take care of your skin during all seasons and to be aware of how your skin changes according to climate, and seasons and what it needs in response to such changes. Desert Heat In dry and hot climates, the air dehydrates your skin, removing most if not all of the moisture from your skin. As a result, your skin will feel and look rough, irritated and dull. When your skin reaches such a level it is imperative to repair your skin because it becomes…