The pulsed dye laser can treat the following things: Rosacea, warts, facial veins, stretch marks, leg veins, venous lakes, scars, angiomas, psoriasis, red birthmarks such as hemangiomas and port wine stains, and periorbital wrinkles. You may be asking, just what is a pulsed dye laser. Well, the pulsed dye laser was specifically designed to get rid of benign vascular lesions. The laser basically delivers a very intense burst of yellow light to the skin. The light is specifically absorbed by the blood vessels in the skin.

These blood vessels are coagulated and then reabsorbed by the body during the natural healing process. The treatment is actually very safe, in fact, it is so safe that it has been used successfully for the treatment of port wine stains in babies and young children. Side effects can include a laser bruise, called a purpura, sometimes there is redness, and swelling in the treated area. These are transient and don’t usually last more than a few days. Sometimes people may feel a slight discomfort associated with the laser pulse, some people have said it feels like a rubber band snapping on the skin. You can have a topical anesthetic applied prior to the treatment if you would like.

I recently read an article online by the American Academy of Dermatology about acne that gave a lot of great information on acne treatments. I’ve tried acne treatments that included creams, topical ointments, oral supplements, and chemical peels. One thing that I hadn’t considered was an oral antibiotic like tetracycline. I had what was known as perioral dermatitis which my dermatologist said is a common skin problem that can affect young women and occasionally men or children. Basically what perioral dermatitis is, is an inflamed rash on the skin around the lips or mouth, nose, and chin.

The rash looks like small red bumps that can peel, itch and sometimes burn. When you see perioral dermatitis it looks a lot like acne. My dermatologist also told me that if I didn’t have it treated it could last anywhere from months to several years. After a successful treatment, the problem shouldn’t reoccur. He gave me an oral antibiotic, tetracycline that I used for about two months. That stuff worked like magic and before not too long, I was back to having a clean and clear face. One thing he told me was that it is important to stay away from using fluorinated corticosteroid creams… so I’m just passing on that little tidbit.

Actinic keratoses are considered to be the earliest stage in the development of skin cancer. They are common lesions of the outermost layer of the skin, and are generally caused by too much exposure to sunlight. Actinic keratoses are most likely to come about after the age of 40, but in some places like California or Florida they can appear even sooner.

People with fair skin and long-term sun exposure are more prone to getting actinic keratoses. Too much sun exposure can cause skin cells to change size, shape, and they way they are located about the skin. Keratinocytes are the skin cells that are affected in actinic keratoses. 90 percent of the epidermis are made up of keratinocytes and give the skin its texture. You can see the changes in keratinocytes when the skin becomes rough or scaly. You will find most actinic keratoses on overly exposed sun-tanned skin, mostly on fair skinned people. They are mostly found on the sides of the forehead, on the ears, on bald men’s scalps, and on the back of the hand. These actinic keratoses are most often sensitive or touchy. It has been said that wrinkling, furrowing, and other signs of sun damage may be seen with AK lesions.

Chemical peeling is a technique that is used to improve the overall appearance of your skin. If you go in to have a chemical peel done, they apply a chemical solution to the skin which will cause it to separate and then peel off, which will then allow new and improved skin to regenerate. The new new skin that comes forward is more smooth and less wrinkled than that of the older skin. The new skin will be shiner and more even in color too.

There are millions of chemical peels performed each year. Dermatologists have been performing chemical peels for many years now and are experts in this type of chemical application. Chemical peeling has become a main anti-aging procedure. Chemical peels may also be improved by using new laser light rejuvenation procedures. You really need to check with your dermatologist to determine if a skin peel procedure is right for you. Chemical peels are used to treat fine lines, especially those lines around your eyes and lips. Wrinkles caused by sun damage, aging, and hereditary factors can be lifted or even completely eliminated by having a chemical peel procedure. So, if you’re tired of those wrinkles, look into having a chemical peel done.

I had never heard of basil oil treating acne until I read a book on healing herbs. I’ve seen soaps made with basil and of course I’ve seen basil essential oil. I bought some basil soap to try the next time I got acne. It seems like I break out when I get ready to menstruate. I noticed some pimples and whiteheads a week or so after I bought the soap.

I began washing my face with the basil soap each morning and night for a week. I didn’t really notice a big difference with the acne. I still had the visual zits. So, I decided to purchase the essential oil and apply that, since it was going to be a lot more potent. When I was using the basil soap I didn’t have any reactions, but when I applied the basil essential oil my face reddened and it felt like it was burning. I have somewhat sensitive skin and I’ve got to tell you, this oil didn’t feel very good. But, I toughed it out and kept it on for about 15 minutes. I again applied it the next day, and the next for a total of 5 days. The oil seemed to help get rid of the pimples better than the soap did.

With all of the acne products out there, it’s hard to know which one works best. Truth is, something that might work for one person, won’t necessarily work for another. No one has the exact skin type as someone else. Everyone is similar, but not the same. Some of the more popular companies that sell acne  products that I have heard of are Proactiv, Clearasil, Neutrogena, and Murad. I’ve personally used Proactiv and Neutrogena and think they both have some great products.

To find the right acne product you pretty much have to find it by trial and error. You can check around on the internet, do some research, talk to your friends or dermatologist, but it really boils down to finding something that works best for you. I prefer the acne gels to the supplements, steroids, etc. I like to use acne products that contain the least amount of harsh chemicals because our bodies already absorb so many negative elements that I would prefer not adding to it.  As I mentioned, check with your dermatologist for some ideas on what you could try.

I’ve always heard that you shouldn’t pop your zits, instead just let them go away on their own. But when I just left them alone, it seemed like it took forever to go away. First they started out red and definitely impossible to pop. Once they got a whitehead on them, the urge to pop that zit and release the infection was hard to pass up. My sister loves popping pimples or zits and would always say, “let me pop that zit for you,  it’s ready”! Of course I would decline and explain that I was just going to wait and let it go away by its own accord. I now know that there is a correct way to pop zits.

First and foremost, it is imperative that you make sure you scrub your fingers, fingernails and hands with anti-bacterial soap. The reason why zits get worse when you pop them is because you’ve probably used dirty fingernails that have just added more infection to the zit.

Also, a great tip I was given by a friend was to use two Q-tips or cotton balls to buffer the zit between your fingers. These couple of tips have worked wonders for me. I hope they will work for you.

This scaly red skin condition results when skin cells reproduce too quickly. This awful skin condition generally shows up on the scalp, knees, legs, and elbows, although it can show up on other parts of the body. We don’t yet know what causes psoriasis, but researchers think that it tends to be inherited and is often linked to arthritis. There is no known cure for psoriasis, but studies have shown that a low-fat, nutrient-rich diet can help alleviate the condition.

You should definitely avoid saturated fats. Try adding more foods that contain omega-3 in them. Omega-3s appear to stop inflammation which can trigger psoriasis. It’s also important to get enough vitamin D, not just by consuming foods rich in the vitamin, but try spending some time out in the sun. Here are some foods that I recommend eating: oily fish, sardines, and salmon because they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. Hot peppers, ginger, and garlice will help improve your circulation.