At a time when fitting in becomes really important to tweens and teens, puberty rears its unpredictable head and causes all kinds of skin care challenge. Pimples, blackheads, pustules and cysts can cause insecurity, low self-esteem and a tendency for teens to isolate themselves. The emotional scars–we know how cruel children can be–as well as the physical scars and disfigurement resulting from untreated acne or blemishes- can last a lifetime. Teaching skin care at an early age to both girls and boys can save lots of stress for them and save lots of money for you. Selecting the right product for your teen is crucial. Products that are too harsh can overly irritate skin and do just as much damage as the acne. Products that are too heavy can plug pores and cause blockages that lead to more breakout. Diet plays an important part in skin care too. You really are what you eat and rising teen obesity is a big reminder of “Junk in-Junk out.” Constantly eating double fries, soda and brownies will probably show up the face as well as on hips and waistline. Did you know that the skin is an organ of elimination and it’s sometimes called the third kidney. It breathes oxygen and excretes sweat, oils and wastes from the body. During adolescence with increased hormone activity, there’s an overload of wastes, especially if a teen’s diet includes lots of sweets, pastries, fast foods, fried food, sodas , etc. Teens are living breathing ‘transformers’ and as their body goes through physical changes their emotions are going through ups and downs. To help their transformation be fun instead of traumatic, I suggest preparing a small arsenal of products to help them navigate through these transitional years. Teen Skin Care Must Haves: A gentle, water based, non-oily cleanser (use when skin is dry, irritated or normally clear)- like dermHA’s Gentle Face and Body Wash. An exfoliating cleanser with alpha hydroxyl acids (for oily thick skin or with frequent breakouts) like dermHA’s Rejuvenating Cleanser. An acne cleanser with alpha hydroxyl acids and salicylic acid /or benzyl peroxide (for consistant acne breakouts with pustules and blackheads) like dermHA’s Acne Skin Cleanser. A non-alcoholic tonic with witch hazel an zinc (to use when needed with the gentle cleanser) like dermHA’s Rejuvenating Tonic. A water based moisturizer, like dermHA’s Therapeutic Crème or Therapy Plus, to use daily after cleansing. An enzyme and/or creme mask, like dermHA’s Enzyme Mask or dermHA’s Crème Mask with tamanu, to help refuine pores and calm acne irritations. A small bottle of pure tea tree oil from (after cleansing face, apply with a Q-tip directly onto blemishes, blackheads and pustules). Tea tree oils, like dermHA Tea Tree Oil, kills bacteria. (You can also purchase pure tea tree oil that’s pesticide free at a reputable health food store.) Acne can also be a result of abnormal hormone production and you may need to see a dermatologist if cysts or pustules increase and become painful. In our next blog entry, we’ll talk about habits that can increase acne flare-ups. For more information or to find out the best dermHA products for you or your teen, call one of our licensed aestheticians at 1-877-933-7642. We can talk to you about how to better care for your skin on a daily basis. Stay Beautiful,Millie
You’ll find major changes in your skin as the seasons change. Where sun-kissed skin looks tanned, toned and terrific, as cooler weather approaches, skin can become dry, flaky, rough to the touch and discolored. Fall marks the start of nature’s renewal system. Like Autumn leaves, summer skin dries, loses moisture and its luster and needs to be removed. Oil and sweat glands that were overly active in summer’s heat slow, so oils solidify and block pores, especially in the T-zone. If you don’t have a trusted esthetician or skin care specialist to treat your skin professionally, you can manage by adding a couple of key products to your skin care regimen. If your skin is dehydrated/mature: Use gentle cleansers and add Vitamin C(known to help reverse sun-damage) and/or a retinol to your routine. A moisturizer rich in water soaked hyaluronic acid plus anti-oxidants like green tea, grapeseed extract, olive extract, vitamins and soothing botanicals will help protect cells and nurture new cells. If you have oily/dry skin: Start using a gentle cleanser in the AM and exfoliating cleanser PM for deep cleansing. Start using a mild exfolient like lactic acid, to remove dead surface cells 3 times a week and more if needed to help loosen clogged pores and smooth surface skin. Use your water based moisturizer AM and PM to keep skin hydrated. For acne/oily skin: Oily skin needs special care because as the weather cools, skin gets dehydrated and dead cells accumulate even more around pores. Oil can’t escape and solidifies causing plugs that combined with bacteria (which is found all over our body)cause blackheads, pustules and sometimes cysts. Drying out the oils in your skin with harsh over the counter products will further irritate the condition. Use a moisture balanced acne cleanser that contains 2% salicylic acid and AHA’s. The salicylic will help kill bacteria while working with the alpha hydroxyl acids to remove the surface cells and unplug pores. If skin is not inflamed, add a topical exfolient or retin A daily to further exfoliate surface cells. A water based moisturizer will actually help suppress oil production and keep skin moisture balanced. Look for a water based moisturizer with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, calendula, arnica, and tamanu to help soothe and heal skin while keeping it hydrated and healthy looking. Start now to get your skin looking flawless and fabulous before the start of the winter holidays. For more assistance or recommendations for dermHA products to meet your skin care needs, call: 1.877.9dermHA Stay beautiful,Millie
Do you have trouble with dry or cracked lips? It’s a complaint that we have heard often at dermHA, a skin care problem that affects everyone at one time or another. It’s important to know that lip skin is very different from other skin becau…
Skin is your best fashion accessory during this hazy, humid, hot summer weather. Skimpy tees, sun dresses, shorts, mini’s and sandals all expose more skin in one outfit than most of us have exposed all year! Guys keep it cool with everything from short sleeve dress shirts and sockless shoes to tanks and shorts. Even feet and toes are set free …(but that’s a whole other blog, stay tuned.) But to keep your skin looking great all summer long, you’ve got to provide it with a little TLC. T: Take the ‘touch’ test by lightly running your hands over your shoulders and upper back, the backs of your arms, the backs of your thighs, legs and over your feet. These out-of-sight areas could be unsightly to others. Check for bumps, rough or scaly skin. (If a mole, unusual growth or raised lesion is tender or painful to the touch, check in a mirror for discoloration… and if the condition persists, see your dermatologist.) L: Layer a film of dermHA’s lactic acid exfoliating gel on rough, scaly areas. The leave on gel helps to gently lift dead cells and smooth skin on elbows, knees and feet. It also unroofs and lightens blemishes on the shoulders, chest and back to reveal a softer, smoother, clearer skin. C: Cleanse your skin morning and especially at night to remove dirt and grime as well as dead cells, sweat and oils that are naturally excreted every day. Calm, cover and clothe sun stressed skin with a light film of dermHA’s therapeutic crème–loaded with moisture soaked hyaluronic acid to keep skin soft and smooth, plus arnica, aloe and calendula to calm and help heal damage caused by the sun. Start now to keep skin touch-ably soft and healthy all summer long. If you have questions for special skin issues, call 877-933-7642 for a complimentary consultation. Stay Beautiful,Millie Always remember to use sunscreen on any area of the body that is exposed to direct sun. Reapply as necessary, especially on the face, earlobes, shoulders, arms back and chest.
Summer skin needs special care to stay healthy looking and prevent damage. Although we all can derive benefits from the sun’s seductively simmering rays, we have to use care when we’re exposed to it or you can do more harm than good. A sun screen of with UVA & UVB protection of SPF 15 or more is non-negotiable. If you’re in the sun for long periods of time, reapply sunscreen every two to three hours. Pay special attention to areas where the skin is thinnest, like the nose, forehead, earlobes, chest and shoulders. Make sure that you are also paying attention to your lips, where skin is even more vulnerable. Although the sun feels great, stay in shaded areas whenever possible. Wear a hat (there are some really cute ones that can add to your ‘look’), and sunglasses with UV protection to prevent damaged to those precious eyes. All summer skin needs hydration, even oily, acne skin. dermHA’s Therapeutic Crème is a must-have for summer skin care. High concentrations of hyaluronic acid provide skin soaking moisture, while healing aloe, calendula, arnica montana, plus a combo of vitamins help to soothe, calm and protect sun stressed skin.In addition to daily use, apply dermHA’s Therapeutic Crème immediately after prolonged sun exposure to soothe irritation and help prevent peeling. Reapply as often as needed to soothe and moisturize.No matter what your skin color, you will burn if you get too much sun. Symptoms of severe sunburn don’t always appear while you’re in the sun, but usually occur within twenty four hours and usually peaks in two to three days. Extreme reddening, swelling, blisters and pain need immediate care. Dehydration, chills, fever, nausea and/or delirium often accompany severe sunburn and so does dehydration. Avoid the sun completely until the burn is repaired. **Sun Burn Alert– For severe sunburn consult a physician. Sunburn is especially dangerous in children so make sure they’re protected and limited their exposure to direct sunlight. A child having more than two or three serious sun burns will be more likely to develop skin cancer as an adult. Summer Skin Regimen for additional skin protection: **If you take medication ask your physician or pharmacist if it may increase sun sensitivity. Eat raw fruit and veggies as well as protein for tissue repair. Drink plenty of fluids, preferably water. Try to avoid the sun between 10 AM and 3 PM. Cloudy or hazy days have 80% of UV rays passing through clouds- so keep your guard up. Avoid alcohol based fragrance on exposed skin as it could lead to discoloration or heightened skin damage Wear light colored, lightweight, tightly woven material that breathes for maximum comfort. If you are sun burned, avoid further exposure until the skin has healed. Use dermHA Vitamin C Therapy to help repair and protect dry, dehydrated environmentally damaged skin Stay Beautiful,Millie
Check us out in the May 2011 issue of Essence Magazine… Let us know what you think (post a comment here on the blog or on our facebook page) and be eligible to win the products mentioned in the article…
Because of the great response to the teen skin facials offered, dermHA is extending the offer through May 15th. Don’t miss this chance to help your teen find the beauty of healthy, hydrated skin, call now to schedule your appointment!610-269-7009
“When you look good, you feel good” is what they say. I can’t answer who they are but it is a true statement. A new pair of shoes, favorite eyeliner, or even a successful day at the gym can generate a certain happiness that shines a little brighter. Although beauty starts within, we all take time to enhance our exterior on a daily basis. As I sit and write, I have an avocado mask on my hair to promote health and growth. While waiting, I plucked a couple of incoming brow hairs to keep my arch looking good! Each of us has things we like to do to stay beautiful. My mother has always stressed the importance of a polished appearance when in public. It affects how people treat you and, in essence, affects the end result of what you may want to accomplish in a day. I see a drastic change in how I’m treated the days I noticeably leave the house in a hurry versus those in which I take time to put together a decent “look”. People by nature categorize others according to their shells. One day I could be perceived as polite and intelligent. The next I could be thought of as ignorant and ill-mannered, all without saying a word. For this reason, many of us consciously or subconsciously get prettied up for onlookers. Now that’s power. Most of us, self-included, ensure that every angle is perfect if we know we will see a certain someone (this is where my dermHA products come in!) We think, “if I wear this color or accentuate that curve, he’s mine.” The irony is that we are often most appreciated in our not-trying-so-hard state. I used to think heels were key in getting male compliments. In reality, I’ve received just as many when wearing sneakers. That’s the beauty of natural beauty. So, is beauty ever bad? Well, technically no. However, the idea of beauty can become bad if its vision is homogenous. Some time ago I had to phase out the “what was he/she thinking with that outfit” reactions to what was not part of my norm. Now I’ve learned to embrace individuality and even be inspired by it. Unfortunately, there are many that have only one idea of “acceptable” hues, face shapes and hair textures. Yes, we all have our own preferences. But that’s all they should be – ours, not a median requirement. If beauty can heavily impact your emotions, routines and lives, I would say it is one of the most powerful things we encounter. With that said, it must be approached with sensitivity and openness. In a perfect world, we would all walk with our very own barometers of beauty and they’d all read something different. Even better, they’d all be loved. Be Beautiful,Jeta Jeta is from from Coatesville, PA and studied Public Relations and Spanish at Temple University. She has been using dermHA for many years to compliment her natural beauty. Her interests include reading, writing, laughing and traveling. She is currently enjoying life as a Cultural Ambassador in Madrid, Spain.
dermHA loves to share thoughts and comments about beauty and its impact on our lives. Please take a moment to hear GG Renee’s musing on the ‘Power of Pretty’. ************* “Almost always it is the fear of being ourselves that brings us to the mirror….” I’ve never liked my toes or my knees…I have my reasons. My arms and hands are so long that my fingertips are ridiculously close to reaching my knees when I stand with my hands at my sides. My forehead selfishly stole a good inch from my scalp that it really didn’t need. I’m in my thirties, but I still have acne-prone skin. And somewhere inside there is still a 13 year old, insecure girl who wants bigger breasts, clearer skin and smaller feet. This girl in me wills me to compare and contrast myself to other girls and wonder what it feels like to have all the physical qualities that I have told myself will make me feel more desirable. I know this girl very well. We go way back.I have recently acquainted myself with a newer part of me that is spreading a different attitude and becoming the Girl to Watch among all the little girls that make up the woman that is me. Word on the street is that nobody can do what I do quite the way I do it. My long body, sensitive skin and big head are mine to love and carry with grace. I’m finally believing the idea that there is no benchmark for beauty and that how I feel about myself determines how I look. It’s my business to feel good on my own terms without apology or fear of judgment. This is the hottest trend , the fashion must-have, the magical beauty secret of all fabulous women: Believe you are beautiful and beautiful you will be. Let’s not make it more difficult than it needs to be! Who is the fairest of them all? The one whose mirror reflects self-love, self-awareness and the boldness to live out loud. GG Renee GG Renee loves to write and advocate for the success and emotional well-being of the modern woman. She infuses the concepts of self-love and personal development into everything she creates. Based in the Washington DC area, she does relationship management for a financial services company by day; while her free time is spent studying the complexities of love and life. She is a peace warrior, a dancing queen, and a scribe hopelessly devoted to personal freedom. GG is one half of the duo behind the happiness blog, Peace Love and Pretty Things. She also shares her personal journey of transformation on her blog, The Write Curl Diary.