Blog Post For Laura Skin Care Petaluma, CA

Everything You Need to Know About Adult Acne

Laura Pagliaroni Acne Nov 26, 2016 Comments Off

They tell you in high school that acne is temporary; then, you come to find out that acne doesn’t discriminate against age. Adult acne is real, and it’s a real problem for both men and women. You see, you cannot just rely on what you know about teenage acne because adult acne can have different causes and treatments.

Causes of Adult Acne

The following are possible causes of adult-onset acne:

1. Hormonal fluctuations.

The medical term is “adult-onset acne” and it is common among menopausal women. In this case, hormonal fluctuations or imbalances can be the cause. Other common causes of adult acne connected to hormonal changes include periods, pregnancy, peri-menopause, menopause and changes in birth control usage. These, naturally, are more common in women.

2. Stressful Situations

Scientists have found a correlation between stress and acne flare-ups. This is also due to hormonal stimulations which force the body to increase oil production in glands and follicles which also contribute to acne.

3. Family History

Yes, you can blame your parents for your acne. Research has found that some are predisposed genetically to acne. These people are more likely to get adult acne also.

4. Products

Some hair, skin, or makeup products can react negatively to your skin leading to a breakout. If you have sensitive skin or are prone to breakouts, make sure you are using the right products for you.

5. Medicinal Side Effects or Conditions

Many medications list acne as a side effect, so you should read up on any medication you have to take. Furthermore, certain medical conditions can lead to acne as well. Therefore, it can be a good indicator of an undiagnosed condition. Once you either switch medications or treat the condition, the acne should go away.

6. Poor Diet

Some foods can also contribute to adult acne flare ups. Different foods can affect people differently, but the usual junk foods seem to be a factor for most people. Iodine, which can be found in shellfish among other foods, also seems to cause breakouts. Sugar is another.

Treating Adult Acne

The following treatments and products are best for treating adult acne:

1. Salicylic Acid

One of the most common ingredients in acne treatment is salicylic acid found in several over-the-counter skin care products. It gently exfoliates to unclog pores.

2. Benzoyl Peroxide

For more severe acne, Benzoyl Peroxide is the stronger, not-so-gentle method that works by killing the bacteria that causes the acne. It can severely dry out and irritate your skin, so make sure to moisturize and to use it sparingly.

3. Sulfur

Sulfur can be used to draw out oil from the skin, but it also dries it out. Many face masks like to include sulfur.

4. Retinol

A vitamin A derivative, Retinol is one of the most effective treatments. They are prescription and can be harsh, so those with sensitive skin are warned against it.

5. Glycolic Acid

This product is helpful towards wrinkles and acne. It exfoliates the skin, which means that it removes dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. With this ingredient, you can reduce wrinkles and fine lines and improve skin’s texture while also clearing up acne.

You should always ask your dermatologist before trying any new products.

Your Menstrual Cycle and Your Skin: A Tough Relationship

Laura Pagliaroni Skin Care Nov 16, 2016 Comments Off

You’re already well aware of how your menstrual cycle affects your body with cramping, bloating, and other side effects, but you may not realize that your female hormones also impact how your skin looks and feels. There’s a good chance that you find that you start breaking out around your period, becoming just one more thing that you have to deal with in an already aggravating time, but learning about this relationship will help you conquer your skin regime.

Menstrual Cycle and Skin Timeline

For many women, there’s a decided calendar of events that happens when you get your period. You know that when you start feeling bloated or cramping in your back that it’s only a few days away. You can start having these same thoughts for a timeline with your skin. Day one of your cycle is probably presenting itself with skin that is more greasy than normal and more acne prone. By day five of your cycle, your skin has started to go in the opposite direction with it being more dry and flaky. Day 11 of your cycle is going to usher in the period of time when your skin looks and feels it’s healthiest. Day 22 has brought you back full circle to having skin that is similar to how it was on your first day being more greasy leading to acne breakouts. Those that suffer more from premenstrual syndrome may find that their skin starts to backslide out of the healthier period quicker with it happening sooner than day 22.

Treatments to Help

There are a number of things that you can do to help with your skin at a particular point in your cycle.

– When your skin is in the dry portion of the cycle, you should keep hydrated with water and increase the amount of healthy fat in your diet to help your skin become more supple.

– If you find that your skin tends to enter the greasy portion of the cycle quickly due to stress, find ways to incorporate more relaxation in your schedule with yoga, meditation, or other stress reducers.

– Exercise can be a good way to relax, and it can also help during the greasy portion of your cycle. Sweating helps to clear pores.

– A facial can also work wonders for your skin care regime if grease is a problem as the aesthetic will work to exfoliate your skin and help keep your pores clear. This can also be a wonderful time to ask for skin care advice on how you can tweak your daily regime to work better for you.

Take control of your complexion by learning about how your menstrual cycle impacts your skin. You’ll be able to start leveraging your knowledge to prepare better for how you go about your daily routines to get the best skin health.

Tips to Improve your Skin’s Elasticity

Laura Pagliaroni Skin Care Nov 09, 2016 Comments Off

What is Skin Elasticity?

Skin elasticity, or skin turgor, is the capability of your skin to change shape and return to its original state. You can notice this phenomena when you pinch a section of skin and then let go to see how quickly it will return to its original shape. The faster it smooths out, the better skin elasticity your dermis will have. Most commonly, your skin’s elasticity will decrease as you get older; however their are a slew of other reasons for poor turgor, including:

Severe Fluid Loss
Decreased fluid intake
Diarrhea
Dehydration
Diabetes
Heat exhaustion
Extreme Weight Loss
Vomiting
Edemas
Connective tissue disorders (scleroderma and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome)
Aging

How to Improve Skin Elasticity?

While some causes of poor turgor are inevitable (aging, weight loss, etc), there are ways to help your skin regain its strength and vitality:

1. Drink water.

Many doctors tell you to drink plenty of water to keep you healthy overall, but water is also good for your skin. This fact is especially true if you are dehydrated or have a condition that causes severe fluid loss. If you don’t necessarily enjoy drinking water, for whatever reason, try infusing your favorite fruits into it. No sugar is added, but you get the water you need along with the fruit’s nutrients.

2. Have a Good Diet

Collagen and elastin are the two key factors in skin elasticity. As mentioned, natural aging can cause the destruction of those two factors; however damage caused by environmental factors can also destroy them. Fried foods, sun damage, and cigarette smoke are just some of the aforementioned factors. To combat the loss of collagen and elastin, your body needs antioxidants, so you’re going to want to load up on Vitamin A, which can be found in carrots, apricots, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and watermelons. Foods rich in Vitamin C, D, and E are also helpful.

3. Vitamins

Some of these can also be included in your diet, but the following are vitamins that are helpful in repairing skin elasticity:

Vitamin C is important in the creation of collagen and elasticity. Aging and sun exposure can deplete your Vitamin C levels.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant, which as mentioned before, helps protect against damage caused by sunlight and free radicals.
Vitamin D helps develop new skin cells so that they can create that protective barrier that holds in moisture to maintain flexible skin
Vitamin B (12 and 6) and folate help collagen and elastin function together. Biotin and Niacin also contribute to healthy skin.

4. Creams and Lotions

A more topical solution for improving turgor is using the correct skin products. Essential oils such as chamomile and neroli are great for this purpose. Chamomile helps smooth broken capillaries to increase elasticity, and neroli helps cells regenerate, which along with increasing skin turgor, also helps reduce varicose veins and scarring. Cocoa butter is also a good tool for healthy skin elasticity.

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