Hello, Mao!
Thanks for letting me proceed with my answer. I believe I have touched
on all the topics you raised in your question. Please note that the
majority of skin care regimen sites on the web are designed to promote
particular products. I tried my best to stay away from such sites
since they have an underlying agenda. The following references are
quite general in nature and should provide you with a very good
overview of skin types and general skin care advice.
*********************
DETERMINING SKIN TYPE
**********************
Skin types are generally described under five different catagories.
Normal
========
Normal skin is soft, supple and smooth. It is fine-textured and free
of blemishes. Normal skin has a nice glow and never feels oily or dry.
http://www.mamashealth.com/skincare/type.asp
"If you?ve never had problems with oily skin or dry skin, it?s likely
that you have "normal" skin. The pores of normal skin are small and
the overall skin tone is even. If you?ve never given a second thought
to your skin before, your skin type is probably normal."
http://www.dibdabdoo.com/health/skincaremen.htm
Dry
=====
"Dry skin has a fine texture and is transparent looking. It feels
tight and drawn without moisturizer and tends to have fine lines
around the eyes and mouth. Dry skin feels especially dry after washing
and may have whiteheads around the eyes and dry patches. This type of
skin needs proper care because it shows signs of aging early."
http://www.mamashealth.com/skincare/type.asp
"Dry skin characteristically feels tight and itchy. Winter is
especially rough on this skin type. Dry skin is usually thinner than
normal skin and may even be slightly rough to the touch. If you have
dry skin, you may have noticed that your skin is also easily
irritated." http://www.dibdabdoo.com/health/skincaremen.htm
Oily
=====
"Oily skin has a greasy, sallow and course complexion. Oily skin has
large pores and tends to have pimples, blackheads and whiteheads.
Within hours of washing the oiliness will reappear and makeup is
usually absorbed quickly."
http://www.mamashealth.com/skincare/type.asp
"As its name implies, oily skin is slightly to moderately greasy. If
you have oily skin, your pores are medium to large in size and prone
to blockage. You probably have problems with pimples, blackheads,
whiteheads, and acne cysts. Oily skin is usually thicker and firmer
than normal skin and it?s less sensitive to environmental damage."
http://www.dibdabdoo.com/health/skincaremen.htm
Combination
=============
"Combination skin is oily in the T zone and the rest of the face is
dry. The T zone is the forehead, nose and chin. The T zone requires a
separate cleaning routine from the rest of the face."
http://www.mamashealth.com/skincare/type.asp
"This skin type is used to specifically describe facial skin that has
both dry and oily patches. Most commonly, combination skin exhibits an
oily "T-Zone" (forehead, nose and chin) with dry skin on the cheeks
and around the eyes. It is not uncommon for these oily zones to be
reversed. If you have this skin type, you will need to purchase skin
care products made especially for combination skin."
http://www.dibdabdoo.com/health/skincaremen.htm
Problem or Sensitive Skin
==========================
"Problem skin is usually oily, has a course texture and is subject to
acne. Problem skin has large pores, blackheads, red blotches and may
become more irritated under stress. People with problem skin should
consult a dermatologist." http://www.mamashealth.com/skincare/type.asp
"Men with sensitive skin are usually the ones who actually know their
skin type. Sensitive skin is prone to rashes and breakouts from any
kind of irritants such as sun, perfumes, shaving cream, temperature
extremes, and even soap. Be very careful about the skin care products
you choose if you have sensitive skin. Avoid products with dyes,
perfumes, or unnecessary chemical ingredients that may irritate your
skin."
http://www.dibdabdoo.com/health/skincaremen.htm
****************
SKIN TYPE TESTS
****************
If you would like to take a few online tests to determine your skin
type, please see the following sites:
A quiz to determine your skin type can be found on the care2 website:
http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/self/1769
Personal Skin Type Test for Men
https://www.cosmetics.com/exmsktst.htm
****************
MEN'S SKIN CARE
****************
"Men have approximately 15% oilier skin and significantly larger pores
than women do. Basically, this means you get dirtier. It is very
important; no matter what skin type you have, to clean your face every
day. Deep cleansing is important. It keeps pores clear, skin healthy
and you looking good....
"See Skin Care Tips," by Michele Probst
http://www.beststuff.com/articles/1517/
==
"A man's skin is approximately 20% thicker than a woman's, and is
typically firmer because it's richer in collagen and elastin. However,
because of more active sebaceous glands, men's skin tends to be much
oilier. It is also more prone to dehydration because of daily or
regular shaving Basically, this means you get dirtier. It is very
important; no matter what skin type you have, to clean your face every
day."
"In general, male skin is oilier, with larger pores, a richer blood
supply, and an increased a tendency to "sweat." Men are less prone to
wrinkling than women, and may require deep cleansing daily. The skin
aging process is the same for men and women, but for men it occurs
later and is more marked.
"Daily shaving can dry men's skin out. To combat this, look for
shaving foams that are specifically designed to treat your skin type,
whether it's sensitive skin, dry skin, or skin prone to imperfections.
Sensitive skin may be characterized by redness, a burning sensation,
and a tendency to experience razor burn. Dry skin may feel tight and
lacking in elasticity. Skin prone to imperfections may be
characterized by pimples, razor bumps, and ingrown hairs. After
shaving, skin should be soothed with a moisturizer or an after-shave
balm. Men's skin should also be protected from the sun for optimum
health. Look for sunscreens or moisturizers with an SPF of 15 or
higher for best protection. Shaving gel is a much better option than
shaving cream, which has air pockets that can lead to nicks. Gel
should be applied clear, as lathering produces the same effect as a
cream and can also be drying to skin. A swivel-head razor will
decrease nicks, as opposed to a disposable razor."
Read entire article.....
"Men's Skin Care."
http://skin-care.health-cares.net/mens-skin-care.php
******************
NATURAL SKIN CARE
******************
The 1stholistic website has some excellent articles concerning natural
remedies and diet therapy for various skin types. I have provided the
links according to skin type and problem areas so that you can read
through them. There is simply too much information to excerpt here!
You might need to take some notes!
Natural care for normal skin
http://www.1stholistic.com/Beauty/skin/skin_normal.htm
Natural care for dry skin
http://www.1stholistic.com/Beauty/skin/skin_dry.htm
Natural care for oily skin
http://1stholistic.com/Beauty/skin/skin_oily_skin.htm
Care for Sensitive skin
http://www.1stholistic.com/Beauty/skin/skin_home.htm
Care for Chapped Skin
http://www.1stholistic.com/Beauty/skin/skin_chapped_skin.htm
Care for Wrinkles - Withered Skin
http://www.1stholistic.com/Beauty/skin/skin_wrinkles.htm
Care for Sallow Skin
http://www.1stholistic.com/Beauty/skin/skin_sallow-skin.htm
Care for Acne
http://holistic-online.com/Remedies/acne.htm
==
Another comprehensive overview of cleansing and care tips by skin type
can be found in the following article:
"Skin Types, Characteristics & Product Use."
http://members.tripod.com/trepanrr/id35.htm
==
The Pioneer Thinking site has numerous recipes for homemade skin care
products recommended for skin type. See the skin mask recipes,
cleansers and scrubs, toners and skin cream.
http://www.pioneerthinking.com/lotions.html
==
For Men:
See "Keep Your Face Looking Great With Moisturizer," by Chris Rovny
http://www.askmen.com/fashion/fashiontip_150/192_fashion_advice.html
********************
BASIC SKIN CLEANSING
********************
The Right Way To Wash Your Face
1. Moisten your face with water. Work up a lather by rubbing
the soap between wet palms. Using your fingertips (not the
bar of soap), massage the lather into your face and throat.
2. Rinse thoroughly with a washcloth or with splashes of
water. Take three times as much time for rinsing as compared
to what you took for lathering. The important thing is that
you remove all of the soap so any caustic it contains won't
burn your face.
3. Blot dry with a soft towel; vigorous rubbing with coarse
material aggravates and tugs at your skin.
* See article for recommended soaps or facial scrubs
http://1stholistic.com/Beauty/skin/skin_cleaning-the-skin.htm
==
For a more extensive overview, see:
"10 Steps to a Perfectly Clean Face," By Shreelata
Suresh. http://www.pioneerthinking.com/ss_cleanface.html
********************
CLEANING THE PORES
********************
Steaming is a natural and effective method for opening and cleaning the pores.
See "The Home Spa: Steam Facials More Body Care Solutions," by Annie
Berthold-Bond. http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/self/189
"Steam opens the skin's pores while deeply cleansing and rejuvinating
all the skins layers. Using herbs in facial steams is a wonderful way
to nourish your skin. All you need to make your own natural facial is
a pot of water, a method of heating the water, and a towel.
Therapeutic herbs can be infused in the water so that their healing
benefits will become part of the steam and reach deep into your pores.
How to Make Your Own Facial Steam
1. Place a handful of herbs in a pot of water. Bring to a boil, then
reduce the heat and simmer for 5-10 minutes, adding water as needed.
2. Secure your hair back from your face.
3. Wash your face as usual.
4. Place the pot with the steaming water on a trivet or potholder on a
table or countertop. Make a tent over your head with a towel, and hang
your head over the steaming pot. Make sure not to lean close enough to
the steam to scald
yourself.
5. Keep your face in the steam tent for about 5 minutes.
6. Rinse your face with cool water.
7. Follow with an astringent (for example, witch hazel) to close the pores.
*** See article for recommended herbs
Also read "At Home Facials Step by Step," by Donna Maria
http://www.womentodaymagazine.com/beauty/facial.html
BLACKHEADS
===========
http://skin-care.health-cares.net/blackheads.php
"Blackheads are caused by partially blocked pores. The "black"
appearance of them is not caused by dirt, but by the oxidising effect
of air on the sebum (oil) in a blocked pore and the melanin pigment
from the dead skin cells. The best way to remove blackheads is to
remove the cause of them -- excessive sebum (oil) and dead skin cells.
Use only products made with natural ingredients that are not too
astringent. Harsh products can strip the skin of oil, causing it to
produce more sebum which leads to more blocked pores. Don't
be afraid of using cleansing products containing natural oils, such as
jojoba or coconut oil to cleanse the skin. These oils are close to our
natural oils, so they don't block the pores. Use a gentle exfoliator
every day to remove
dead skin cells so they don't block pores. Just remember to be very
gentle, over exfoliation can exacerbate the problem. Avoid products
containing the following: alcohol, isopropyl mystate, lanolin, sodium
lauryl sulphate, sodium laureth sulphate, propylene glycol, mineral
oil and parabens."
"Do not to try and extract them forcibly, either using your fingers,
fingernails or a comedone (blackhead) remover. This can cause
permanent damage to the pores and stop them working properly for ever.
You may squeeze some of the blackhead out, but you could also force
some of it even deeper into the skin, which may lead to infection
(large spots, pimples or even cysts) or permanent damage. Touching
your skin should generally be avoided to prevent cross infection."
==
Also read "Acne - Blackheads & Whiteheads," From Heather Brannon, MD,
http://dermatology.about.com/cs/acnecomedones/a/comedones.htm
**************************
PHOTOS OF SKIN CONDITIONS
**************************
Blackheads
http://adam.about.com/encyclopedia/2087.htm
http://adam.about.com/encyclopedia/2088.htm
Acne
http://adam.about.com/encyclopedia/2085.htm
Acniform eruptions
http://www.dermnet.com/moduleIndex.cfm?moduleID=1
See photos of Chloasma
http://dermnetnz.org/colour/melasma.html
"Chloasma, also known as melasma, appears as a blotchy, brownish
pigmentation on the face that develops slowly and fades with time.
Chloasma usually affects women but occasionally is seen in young men
who use after-shave lotions, scented soaps, and other toiletries."
***********************
TREATING INGROWN HAIRS
************************
See "Avoid Unsightly and Painful Ingrown Hairs," From Daniel Billett
http://mensfashion.about.com/od/groomingface/a/ingrownhairs.htm
"Ingrown hairs (also called razor bumps) are unsightly and painful.
They result when the shaved hair gets trapped inside the follicle or
grows back into the skin. It can cause scarring, redness and swelling
(its medical term is Pseudofolliculitis Barbae or PFB)."
Read article for treatment recommendations....
************************
DEALING WITH ACNE SCARS
*************************
The following 3-page article offers some good recommendations for
treating early acne scars.
See "Treatment of Acne Scars," From Heather Brannon, MD,
http://dermatology.about.com/cs/acnescars/a/acnescars.ht
****************************
OTHER FACIAL SKIN PROBLEMS
****************************
"Telangectasias are blood vessel lines and blotches that occur on the
face, neck, and upper chest. These are caused frm sun damage, flushing
or blushing, some skin diseases such as adult acne (acne rosecea) and
excessive use of
cortisone-type skin creams. Other activities which greatly increase
the blood flow to the face such as vigorous exercise, hot spicy foods
and drinks, alcohol, hottubs, etc. may aggravate this problem. It may
be possible to prevent telangectasias due to flushing by using a cold
damp towel on the face during vigorous exercise, during use of hot
tubs or at other times when there is marked facial flushing."
"Brown blotches occur on the skin with age. These include freckles,
liver spots (lentigines), and uneven pigmentation (melasma) which
usually occurs in women because of a combination of sun exposure and
estrogen type hormones
either naturally or in birth control pill....Laser treatment,
dermabrasion (skin sanding), chemical peels, and liquid nitrogen
freezing can also improve these pigmented blotches. These procedures
are performed by dermatologists
and plastic surgeons."
"Waxy scaling yellow, brown bumps (seborrheic keratoses) and fleshy
tags (skin tags) occur with age and make the skin look older. Enlarged
oil glands and small cysts commonly appear on the face with age. These
small skin lesions are
easily removed by a dermatologist using simple office surgical
procedures, liquid nitrogen freezing or lasers. A clear complexion
without all of these little distractions, gives a much younger look to
the skin."
(Read further on Skin Care RX - http://skincarerx.org/ )
*********************************************
DIET STRATEGIES AND NUTRITION FOR CLEAR SKIN
*********************************************
Several specific vitamins and minerals are noted for adding to overall
skin health - Vitamin A, Biotin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium and
Zinc. See the following chart:
http://chealth.canoe.ca/channel_section_details.asp?text_id=3070&channel_id=2003&relation_id=11996
=
Antioxidants are also considered to be vitally important. See
"Antioxidants and Skin."
http://au.health.yahoo.com/041101/25/1uz3.html?r=967673065
=
A more extensive article on the role of nutrients - both internally
and topically - and skin may be found on the following link:
See "Nutrients for Healthy Skin: Inside and Out," By Colette Bouchez
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=50505
"There is a lot of important new research showing tremendous power of
antioxidants in general, and in some specific nutrients in particular
that can make an important difference in the way your skin looks and
feels -- and even in how well it ages," says nutritional supplement
expert Mary Sullivan, RN, co-founder of Olympian Labs. "When combined
with a good diet, the right dietary supplements can help keep your
skin looking not only healthy, but also years younger."
=
Also see "Diet for Natural Beauty."
http://1stholistic.com/Beauty/beauty_diet.htm
===
I hope this information provides a good overview as an answer to your
questions. Once you have identified your skin type and can highlight
the particular problems you seem to be facing, please don't hesitate
to ask for more detailed clarification. I will certainly try to help
further if I can.
Sincerely,
umiat
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