How do you find out if your skin is in danger of developing dark spots?
As a matter of fact, age spots develop because of potential danger to your skin. Sounds crazy, I know. I’ll explain later.
“All of the sudden, I had this big dark spot on my face!”
Actually liver spots start long before you ever see it. If you look at your skin under a UV lamp, you will likely see spots that aren’t visible yet.
Why Does Melanin Darken?
Most people know that melanin is the source of skin pigment but they don’t know why certain areas darken. Actually there are minor changes in your skin cells that produce melanin, called melanocytes. After it is produced, melanin is stored in a carrier called a melanosome. The melanosome is then released from the melanin producing cell to a regular skin cell, called a keratinocyte.
Still with me? Let me explain.
I know we are getting a bit scientific, but it is important information if we want to know how to prevent dark spots…
There are certain things that seem to speed up the process of creating and transferring melanin. The production of melanin requires an enzyme called tyrosinase. This enzyme is like a tool that used for making melanin. When tyrosinase increases, melanin production increases. This is important because many skin lightening products actually block the tyrosinase enzyme.
Why Age Spots Could Be Called “Danger Spots”
That’s right, melanin is a defense mechanism to protect itself from danger. The darker the spots, the more likely that your skin has been trying prevent something “dangerous”. Your body senses the danger and reacts to it.
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by Amy Colo, Licensed Esthetician
Is your dry skin moisturizer not cutting it? Learn two easy steps that give instant and professional skin rejuvenation.
We combine professional dry skin products and an easy regimen for amazing results. This is especially good for skin that has been negatively effected by dry weather, lack of good daily regimen, and stress. The winter months are harshest on the skin and are a major cause of increasing aging factors.
Let’s Be Honest: Chronically Dry Skin is Downright Irritating!
There certain times of the year that my skin is always dehydrated, irritated, and flaky. I can apply a good moisturizer throughout the entire day and it doesn’t help. There are many reasons that this happens.
It’s Not Just Winter that Causes Dull and Dehydrated Skin
Other dry skin factors include:
- Illness
- Lack of sleep
- Stress
- Abrasive Cleansers
- Improper Skin Care
Important Fact: The difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin? Simple!
Dry Skin is a lack of oil production in the skin, while dehydrated skin is a lack of water. All skin types (even oily) can be dehydrated, especially in the dryer winter months.
The problem is that a simple moisturizer might not be enough to keep your skin hydrated. This easy treatment is a great addition to your daily regimen.
Get Instant Skin Soothing Results With This Regimen
Step 1: Detox and Exfoliate
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by Amy Colo, Licensed Esthetician
You still don’t have a good anti aging skin care routine at night? Let me show you some easy tricks and one ingredient that I always recommend at night.
While you sleep, your body is programmed for renewal and detoxification. This is necessary because of daily exposure to environmental pollution, sun exposure, and sweat build up. Without a good nightly beauty routine, you are actually making it harder for your body to fight these daytime stressors.
(This is especially true for smokers)
We’ll give the essentials for a good night time skin care beauty routine. You will want to implement this night time regimen along with a day time protection routine. If you haven’t read our post about proper skin care in the morning, make sure to read it first.
This is the night routine I recommend to all my patients.
Step 1: Remove makeup
A cleanser won’t be able to adequately remove all of your makeup. This is especially true for eye makeup and heavy foundation. Don’t be fooled into buying expensive makeup remover.
Believe it or not, I use a Huggies Baby Wipe with Aloe to remove my makeup and it works fantastic!
I realize that many people don’t remove their make up at night. Truthfully, I used to be guilty of this.
Let me tell you why I always tell my patients to completely remove their makeup. Wearing makeup during sleep can clog pores and cause acne breakouts. It also increases irritations and possible eye infections. When you have aging skin, the last thing you need is any level of irritation. This can be simply avoided.
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