With temperatures warming and Spring in the air, its time to consider what you need to do for adequate skin care. A couple of the areas we need to consider are preventing and treating sunburn as well as keeping your face moisturized.
Spring Skin Care
Many dermatologis consider damage by constant or chronic exposure to the sun as one of the most damaging environmental factors on tissue. UVA and UVB rays can burn skin and accelerate free-radical damage from oxidization which is considered a primary cause of pre-mature skin aging.
When out in the sun, you should:
Wear light, protective clothing…don’t forget your neck!
Use an SPF 25 or better sunscreen. Make sure you cover arms, face, legs and hands as well.
Be prepared to treat sunburn with an effective sunburn relief product
Keep skin moisturized
Drink lots of fluids (preferably non-alcoholic)
While prevention is always the best cure for sunburn, its important to treat sunburn effectively for the skin to recover. Using productd that have emu oil can help replenish lost hydration as well as help prevent inflammation and infection. Menthol or peppermint can help soothe itching and burning and provide a cooling relief to the burning. Our recommended product is Dermal EM® Sunburn Relief from RegenVal Labs.
On the flip side, keeping your skin mositurized is important. Wind, heat, salt and dry air can dry tissue making it tight itchy and flaky. The best way to replenish hydration is with lotions that contain hyaluronic acid. It instantly hydrates and moisturizes; and used with firming and anti-aging agents, helps your skin stay smooth soft and young looking. Our recommended product is Skin Tight® lotion from Nourish products.
The benefits of Emu Oil are far ranging - from very common use in hair products to skin care.
Emu Oil is what is known as a “carrier oil”. It has the ability to deeply penetrate the layers of the skin (and scalp) unlike many other oils such as Jojoba, Mineral or Argan. This penetrating property allows its healing abilities to treat common skin problems where they start - most often in the dermis layer of the skin.
It is a natural anti-bacterial making it ideal for treating burns, cuts, and wounds (even scars from surgery or injury). It is also an anti-inflammatory having the ability to reduce inflammation, irritation and to soothe itchy and redness.
The video below is a quick overview that discusses some of it’s benefits that include treating skin rashes, acne, abrasions, and stretch marks. It can be used by itself or combined with other lotions, creams and shampoos to generally improve efficacy of the product. There are a range of Emu Oil products available and you can find it as a key active ingredient in many high-end treatments.
Skin rashes are any disturbance in the skin that causes it to change in texture or color. They are often accompanied by some level of discomfort brought on by the itching and swelling - and in some cases pain and soreness. Skin rashes may be generalized and occur all over the body or they may be localized and occur isolated to one small area.
Treatment for Skin Rashes
Skin rashes are caused by a myriad of reasons. They could be the symptoms of certain chronic illnesses, especially systemic varieties such as Lupus and Lyme disease. Irritants and abrasions from chemicals and other external sources as well as allergic reactions can also result in a rash on the skin.
Different microbes including fungi, bacteria, and viruses or microscopic parasites such as mites, sand flies and lice can also cause skin to breakout and become infected or result in open wounds if not treated.
Emu oil is a topical product that helps reduce discomfort and irritation associated with a rashes, abrasions, burns or itchiness - while it helps promote proper healing. Emu oil has natural components that are proven to reduce pain and swelling.
It also contains components that encourage the regeneration of healthy skin - a key benefit for reducing irritated tissue and stopping itching. It has natural properties - Omega 3’s and Vitamin E - that help reduce the growth of bacteria and other microbes that can worsen the condition - it is an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-microbial.
It penetrates deep into the skin tissue to treat well below the skin’s surface. When paired with other elements such as Vitamin E, it also helps carry these important ingredients deep within the dermal and subcutaneous layers of tissue allowing for maximum penetration and therefore maximum effectiveness.
Emu oil is simply amazing when it comes to healing skin rashes and lessening their discomfort. It is also an effective part of regular skin maintenance that helps to prevent irritations from ever starting.
It helps to ward off viruses, bacteria, and other potentially harmful microscopic organisms. It keeps the skin properly moisturized without leaving a greasy film making it ideal for use any time and every time.
Oily deposits often accumulate on the forehead, nose, and around the chin where the greatest concentration of sebaceous glands exist on the face. An oily skin cleanser can help regulate oil production and give your complexion a softer, healthier look.
Forming the signature “T” across the brow, down the nose and nostrils, and extending to the chin and neck, sebaceous glands secrete sebum. Heredity plays a pretty significant role as does heat, humidity and products you may or may not use on the facial area - even aging is thought to be a cause.
Oil can combine with dirt and left-over product residue to clog pores that can then lead to acne and sometimes rosacea. You can effectively clear oil skin with a mask, cream, toner or wash. The key ingredients to look for are Zinc or alpha hydroxy.
Zinc naturally, also known as Zinc PCA or Zincidone in its complex form, is well known for controlling oily skin. It helps regulate sebum on applied areas and is effective for use in cleansing and “purify” pores. Alpha Hydroxy behaves in a similar fashion. It is often an active ingredient in exfoliating products such as microdermabrasion creams and for acne care.
A little bit of research can help you find the best oily skin wash - there are several available that are effective. The key is to understand that getting and keeping an oil-free complexion may also require watching what you eat and considering the effects of the environment on your facial tissue.
Foods high in saturated fats are known to invigorate the sebaceous glands. For some, dairy products may not be your friend either. As I mentioned, high humidity and heat play a role as well.
An oily skin cleanser should be considered part or a well-rounded regimen that focuses on tissue health. Keeping your complexion free of dirt and unhealthy makeup is a great start. Using a purifying moisturizer at night works well also.
Anti wrinkle creams can help, though we recommend serums vs. creams. The best are based in Aloe rather than water and often contain ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid that improves hydration without the use of a cream base to address dryness, aging or wrinkles.
A few posts back I mentioned Dermal Em sunburn treatment. Having grown-up in Florida and spending lot’s of time on the South Carolina coast has given me more exposure to the sun than I would like to count. Plus, as I ‘m getting into my 50’s I’m starting to see the results on my skin - a few spots on my arms and reappearing spider veins on my nose and cheeks.
My family returned Friday from a week at Edisto Beach. Everyone was tan except for my fair-skinned 14-year-old whose nose was burned, peeling and blistered. All of us have seen the signs of too much sun. His blistering had turned to scabs (yuk!) and I was afraid he would continue to pick and get some scarring.
We promptly sat him down and used some emu oil I had in the bathroom. Voila - 3 days have past and his nose is looking great…still burned and a bit scabbed, but you can tell the healing has begun and a lot of repair is in progress.
I have written a lot about emu oil. Yes, it is generally unknown as a remedy, but it has been in use for many years “down below” in Australia - where the bird is indigenous. It is a great product for treating burns, scars, stretchmarks, and lacerations from injury or surgery. Some folks are unfamiliar with it, but it has become widely used in many skin care and hair care products for its’ ability to penetrate deep into tissue promoting healing and collagen growth.
You might ask why I didn’t use Dermal Em, well because I didn’t have any. There is some at the plant, but it’s a two-hour drive and we wanted to get my son’s nose healing as soon as possible - hopefully avoiding any infection or further complications. Besides Dermal Em is emu oil with Vitamin E added and blended with menthol that helps cool the skin providing more immediate relief from sun burn.
Anyway, since this just happened Friday, I thought I would pass on some un-scientific, real-world results from just a couple of days application. With school out and many folks either heading to the pool, beach or at least more outside activities, it is good to know there is a very effective remedy for treating sunburn.
