A: Dark circles under your eyes are a vascular condition which results from blood pooling. Some suggestions to help with this condition include:
- Eat a healthy diet including vitamins E and C which helps detox your liver.
- Put tea bags over your eyes twice a day for two weeks.
- Use two pillows at night and then in the morning put cold compresses on your eyes.
- Apply eye cream that contain caffeine, green tea or grapeseed oil.
- Apply cucumbers over your eyes for thirty minutes for two weeks.
Q: I have a condition called porphyria and I have a lot of trouble healing from burns I get occasionally. What is the best solution to soothe and heal these wounds and the best method for hair removal from my face since tweezing seems to create ingrown hairs and pimples?
A: Porphyria is a broad term for a group of rare inherited or acquired disorders. It would be wise to consult with your physician since each of the disorders must be dealt with individually with treatment specific to your condition. Wearing a sunscreen that is reflective is often prescribed to help prevent the burns. These prescriptions contain either titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Soothing the occasional burn may be accomplished by using pure aloe vera, but again, it is most important that your physician is the one to recommend what would be best for your condition since that is out of the realm of an esthetician’s license. Unfortunately, even hair removal recommendations in this case would have to be referred to your physician.
Q: What is the best moisturizer for dry skin?
A: Serums are super concentrated and light. They are ideal for absorption. Use humectants like glycerin or alpha hydroxy acids since they draw water in. Thicker creams are not the solution as they can actually clog your pores preventing the moisture from being absorbed.
Q: I heard that banana is good in a facial mask; do you have a recipe that I can make at home?
A: Banana is a natural moisturizer that helps the skin rebuild its own moisture level. Here is a great recipe that will gently exfoliate, moisturize and protect your skin:
- 1 ripe banana mashed
- 1 tablespoons Natural honey
- 4 tablespoons ground oats
- mineral water
- 2 slices of peeled cucumber
Mash the banana then add the honey and stir in the ground oats. Mix in enough mineral water to make a smooth paste. Apply to a clean face, avoiding the eye area. Place the cool, peeled cucumber slices over your eyes and relax for 15-20 minutes.
Honey helps reduce inflammation and it kills germs while oatmeal acts as a natural exfoliants.
Inflamation & Skin Aging
There is a direct link between inflammation and skin aging. A process known as inflammaging results when inflammation becomes chronic. This is evident in such diseases as psoriasis and atopic and seborrheic dermatitis. Any condition that repeatedly injures the skin causes inflammaging. When this occurs healing is much more difficult and the tissues become more susceptible to injury.
You can help protect your skin’s barrier by using products that will help maintain healthy hydration, avoiding prolonged sun exposure and wear a sunscreen of 30 SPF or higher. There are ingredients that can help combat inflammaging:
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