What Is Alpha Hydroxyl Acid And How Can It Treat Brown Spots

What is Alpha Hydroxyl Acid and How Can It Treat Brown Spots

Skin problems have become most people’s primary problems as they can drastically change the appearance of the skin. For more serious cases, they will be really painful and very annoying to be experienced to.

Being suffered from any skin problems like brown spots, acne, rash, scratches, dermatitis, allergic reactions, hay fever rash, eczema, ulcers, keratosis, skin cancer, skin lesions, and fungal infections must be a very bad thing for people. That is why people will want to get rid of those skin problems as soon as possible. But, this article will be limited on discussing only about brown spots. In detail, it is about what is alpha hydroxyl acid and how can it treat brown spots.

If you are taking a brief look on several websites on the internet these days, you will simply be able to find that one of the most common effective ways in removing brown spots as well as decreasing the appearance of dark skin pigmentation is by exfoliating the upper layers of the skin. 

The process of exfoliating the skin should involve the use of topical cream to help remove the top layers of the skin while maintaining the skin cells underneath. Most of these topical creams contain AHA or alpha hydroxyl acid. The next question then is about what is alpha hydroxyl acid and how can it treat brown spots.

How Does the Alpha Hydroxyl Acid Treat Brown Spots?

1. As a matter of fact, this alpha hydroxyl acid (AHA) is likely to be a group of acids which have long been used for treating skin conditions. This alpha hydroxyl acid can be used to treat dry skin, acne scars, as well as melasma (skin darkening). Or if this condition happens to those pregnant women, it is generally called as the mask of pregnancy.
2. Some doctors and dermatologists recommend this alpha hydroxyl acid for pregnant women because it contains acids from milk and fruits (lactic acid), acids from sugar cane (glycolic acid), acids from pears and apples (malic acid), and acids from lemons and oranges (citric acids).
3. The recommended concentration for alpha hydroxyl acid is about less than ten percent. So, if there is a product which contains a high concentration of alpha hydroxyl acid, it must be used under the medical supervision.
4. Actually, those variant acids work as exfoliants to help nourish and moisture the skin. The fact said that they can improve the skin’s elasticity as well as stimulate the growth of collagen so that the skin looks dull and radiant. By using it regularly, you will be able to reduce the appearance of the brown spots in the skin as the skin looks much more glowing and healthy. 

5. Of course, even though you have already applied the topical cream that contains alpha hydroxyl acid (AHA) into your skin, it is still quite important to limit the amount of time you spend outdoor. Or if you have to, it is really advised to avoid the excessive of the direct sunlight by using a good sunscreen containing full UV protection.

Now, you have known about what is alpha hydroxyl acid and how can it treat brown spots.

Treating Dark Spots Caused by Acne

Treating Dark Spots Caused by Acne

Having dark spots on the face caused by acne is really annoying, especially for young girls. It may decrease the confidence, and sometimes, it is very embarrassing.  If you are one of those girls, who suffer from dark spots caused by acne, don’t worry too much. You have come to a right place. This article will clearly show you several ways for treating dark spots caused by acne using natural ingredients that easily found around you. Check it out!

1. Aloe Vera leaves combined with lemon juice

The mixture of these two ingredients gives quite good results. It is proven by so many people, they try this recipe and most of them successfully get rid of their dark spots for forever. The steps are simple, take the pulp of the Alove vera and add a few drops of lemon juice, then apply it on your face, especially the area with the dark spots. After 12 minutes, rinse it off with water. Repeat the steps every day until you see the significant results.

2. Potato and Honey

Honey is known to be an ingredient that is rich in nutrients for the skin. Along with potato, you can use it for treating dark spots caused by acne. Slice the potato and mix it with honey, then directly dap on your face, especially the dark spot area. You can also rub to the dark spot area for better results. You can rinse your face after 15 minutes. You can repeat this treatment every day until the dark spots on your face disappear.

3. Papaya

Papaya is a very common fruit, especially in the tropical area. It contains an enzyme that is able to make the dark spots disappear; thus, it can be used to treat the dark spots caused by acne.  You can peel the papaya, and use the pulp on your face. Leave it about 15 minutes, and you can rinse it with cold water. The repetition of this treatment will give you best results. 

4. Tomato and lemon

The combination of tomato and lemon is also able to fade away the dark spots caused by acne. Simply, you can slice tomato and squeeze it to get its juice, and then, add about 3 spoons of lemon juice. Stir the mixture well, then you can apply on your face. Wait until it dry, leave it about 20 minutes and rinse it off with water. 

5. Onion

Onion has antibacterial properties and can be used to treat acne-related problems, including dark spots. You can take one union and cut it in pieces, and then grind it. Use the mixture of the onion juice and the beaten onion to mask your face, especially the area with the dark spot. Leave it about 15 minutes, and then you can rinse it off with water.  

If you have problems with the treating dark spots caused by acne, you can try those home remedies. They are very simple steps and the materials used for this treatment are easily-found, they even might be already available on your fridge. It just take few minutes to get rid your black spots forever.  

TOP 5 FOOT MOISTURIZING TIPS FOR MEN

1: Exfoliant and Moisturizer

Keeping your feet well moisturized should be part of your daily routine, just like your shower, but an occasional exfoliation will help to remove dead skin cells and smooth rough patches.

After -- or during -- your shower, rub the bottoms of your feet and heels with a pumice stone to remove dead skin and patchy spots, and follow up with a thick moisturizer. Don't have a pumice stone? Sandpaper will do the trick. A good exfoliation a few times a week -- don't overdo it -- can lessen the need for thick creams to heal calluses, dry heels and soles.

Sound like a lot of effort just for feet? Skip the pumice stone and pick up a foot cream that lists salicylic acid, lactic acid or urea in its ingredients -- these are all known to make skin smoother and are tough enough to handle even the thickest spots on feet in just one step.

2: Treat Cracked Heels

When feet get dry -- and we mean arid -- the heels can become cracked and may even develop fissures in severe cases. This super-dry skin is a condition known as xerosis. You're also upping your risk of cracked heels if your shoes don't fit properly -- anything that rubs on the heel can cause problems.

Aside from looking unpleasant, cracks and fissures in your heels pose a health concern if you don't treat them. They're an open invitation for bacteria to invade, causing potentially life-threatening infections. Regularly slathering on foot cream can help prevent -- and treat -- cracked heels.

3: Prevent Blisters

If you're a runner or if you spend a lot of time walking or hiking, you have additional foot considerations, such as blister prevention. Blisters can become a problem if there's friction in your shoes (make sure both your socks and shoes fit properly), and the problem can worsen with sweat and heat.

While a powder can help reduce the sweat factor, you'll need a product to prevent blisters. Popular blister-preventing lubricants include petroleum jelly and stick-formatted products such as Body Glide. Apply them to your feet before running (or whatever your activity may be) to help prevent blisters from forming, and note the same lubricant can be used to temporarily ease the pain of a blister before you're able to treat it.

4: How to Moisturize Your Feet

Your feet will get the most out of a moisturizer if you use it just after washing them, preferably while they're still a little damp. Wash your feet in warm, not hot, water to avoid additional moisture loss from your skin -- a good tip for your whole body, not just your feet -- and use a moisturizer that's alcohol-free.

Take note: Be sure to keep the spots between your toes dry. Moisture between the toes, whether it's lotion or water left over from your shower, a swim or sweat, can attract bacteria, which increases your risk of developing fungal infections like athlete's foot (Athlete's foot is a fungal infection caused by a group of fungi called dermatophytes.

Dermatophytes are part of the normal flora living on your skin, but when they encounter a warm, humid place -- such as the damp spots between your toes -- they can begin to overgrow. Problems with dry skin and athlete's foot? Look for antifungal lotions instead of powders)

5: The Right Moisturizer: Does It Have to be Foot Cream?

There are a lot of moisturizing options, so do you have to use foot cream to soothe dry, cracked feet? Yes and no. If you want to buy one do-it-all moisturizer and use it on all your dry body parts (including your feet) you'll still be better off than not using any moisturizer at all.

 However, lotions, balms, creams and serums are often specially made with a specific skin area and type in mind. Eye creams, for example, will have ingredients that won't sting the delicate skin under the eyes. It's similar with foot creams. They tend to be thicker than body lotions, and many contain ingredients that can penetrate thick soles like other moisturizers can't.

OILY SKIN OVERVIEW

OILY SKIN CAUSES

People with oily skin often wonder what they're doing to cause the problem. They may blame it on the greasy pizza they ate last night, but the truth is they should probably blame their genes. Diet can aggravate acne, but it doesn't cause oily skin [source: WebMD].

Oily skin is hereditary -- you can change your diet or change your lifestyle, but if your mom or dad has oily skin, chances are you will, too. However, if your oily skin comes and goes, it may have less to do with genes and more to do with hormonal shifts in your body.

Androgens are the hormones largely responsible for oil production, and sometimes they can get kicked up a notch -- particularly during puberty [source: Bouchez]. You go through a growth spurt, your voice changes, you start getting hair in weird places and, to top it all off, your body produces excess oil that clogs your pores. Similarly, androgen levels tend to increase in women just before a menstrual period, during pregnancy and during menopause [source: Poirot].

In a few cases, oily skin can be the result of your lifestyle. Taking oral contraceptives, for example, can alter hormone levels and increase oil production, and oily skin is one of several side effects associated with taking steroids [source: Reader's Digest]. Stress can also cause oily skin -- when you're tense, your body releases a hormone called cortisol, which can increase skin's oil production [source: WebMD].

OILY SKIN AND PORES

Your pores do two basic things: They allow you to sweat and they secrete oil. Neither one may sound appealing, but they're both important. Sweating allows you to maintain a healthy body temperature, and oil protects your skin [source: Bouchez].

Oil, or sebum, is produced by sebaceous glands and secreted through pores. When this process goes smoothly, sebum not only lubricates your skin, but it also removes dead skin cells and other irritants from your pores. However, when your body produces excess sebum, it clogs your pores, and this can lead to blackheads and blemishes [source: Gordon].

If you have large pores, you probably also have oily skin -- studies show that bigger pores often secrete larger amounts of sebum onto the skin [source: Roh]. You can't change the size of your pores, but you can make them less noticeable, and there are ways you can control your oily skin [source: Vinakmens].

OILY SKIN CARE

You can't prevent your sebaceous glands from producing oil, but that doesn't mean you have to walk around with a shiny face either. Oily skin can be controlled -- you just have to learn how to do it. By making a few small changes to your daily skin care routine and avoiding some common mistakes, you can take control of your oily skin.

If you have oily skin, it may seem like a good idea to wash your face more often, but this could just make matters worse. When your skin is irritated, your body's natural reaction is to produce more oil, so if you start washing too much, your skin will dry out and your sebaceous glands will go into overdrive [source: Bouchez].

The same thing can occur if you use harsh cleansers that strip oil from your skin, so use a mild oil-free cleanser and gently wash your face no more than twice a day[source: Lehrer]. After cleansing, use an astringent or toner that contains alcohol to help remove excess oil [source: Bouchez].

If over-the-counter cleansers and toners aren't giving you the desired results, talk to you dermatologist. Prescription treatments for oily skin come in the form of topical solutions and oral drugs, and Retin A, Differin and Accutane are some of the most commonly prescribed medications [source: Bouchez].

Types Of Brown Spots The Skin Problem :: Brown Spots

Types Of Brown Spots The Skin Problem :: Brown Spots

DRY SKIN OVERVIEW

DRY SKIN CAUSES

The outermost layer of your skin, the stratum corneum, is composed of dead skin cells and oils that help keep your skin moisturized. This layer of skin helps retain water, which keeps the living skin beneath it healthy and moisturized. If the stratum corneum breaks down and is unable to retain this water, the result is dry skin [source: University of Iowa].

You may enjoy long, hot showers and the smell of your soap as you lather up, but this habit could be drying out your skin. Hot water and certain soaps, including scented, deodorant and antibacterial soaps, can remove natural oils from your skin and allow moisture to escape [source: Fries].

 Low humidity levels, which are often caused by cold, dry weather or arid climates, or your home environment -- with the furnace or air conditioner circulating dry air -- could also be the culprits [source: Mayo Clinic].

You may think using a moisturizer will solve your dry skin problems, but if you use the wrong lotion or apply it incorrectly, you could be doing more harm than good. Avoid scented lotions -- opt for moisturizers that are gentle and contain humectants and emollients. Humectants attract water from the air and retain it in your skin, and emollients act as lubricants and smooth the skin [source: Kraft].

Sometimes medications can also cause dry skin -- if you're taking allergy, acne or blood pressure medications, they could be the source of your itchy, flaky skin. Medical conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema, can also sap your skin of moisture, and they tend to cause dry patches on the body [source: Griffin]. Keep reading to learn more about these dry patches.

DRY SKIN PATCHES

Dry skin is often nothing more than a temporary inconvenience -- it's irritating and itchy, but if you treat it properly, it goes away. But if your dry skin doesn't go away, you may be dealing with something a little more serious -- especially if you start to develop patches of dry skin. These rough, raised patches of flaky skin can itch to the point they feel like they're burning, and they're usually a symptom of a more serious skin condition like eczema or psoriasis [source:Stöppler].

The exact cause of eczema is unknown, but it's thought to be caused by an overactive response by the body's immune system to unidentified triggers. There are several types of eczema, but the most common is atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis affects 9 to 30 percent of the U.S. population, and it can be inherited [source: WebMD].

 The most obvious symptoms are extreme itching and dry, reddened skin. It can be difficult to resist scratching the skin, but doing so will often cause the skin to become thick and crusty. If you think you may have eczema, consult a doctor to discuss treatment options [source: Stöppler].

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder -- the immune system malfunctions and causes the body to produce excess skin cells. It's a chronic condition in which the skin cells build up rapidly on the skin, forming silvery scales and itchy red patches. Like eczema, no one knows exactly what causes this to happen, but stress and certain medications can trigger episodes [source:WebMD].

Millions of Americans are affected by psoriasis, and while there's no cure, there are treatments that can help you control it [source: National Psoriasis Foundation]. If you develop dry skin patches that won't go away by moisturizing, consult your doctor.

DRY SKIN AND ITCHING

Dry skin itches -- there are no ifs, ands or buts about it -- and until you treat your dry skin, you'll have to deal with the annoying itchiness that comes with it.
Dry skin is easily irritated, and itching occurs when irritation stimulates pain receptors in your skin. Basically, your skin itches when it's dry because your body is trying to tell you that your skin is damaged and in need of repair.

But keep in mind that itchy skin can be caused by a variety of things -- just because you itch doesn't mean your skin is dry [source: Mayo Clinic].When your skin itches, it can be challenging not to scratch it, but it's best to avoid doing so.

 Scratching can further irritate dry skin, and it won't solve the itch -- you'll likely just develop sore, red skin in addition to the itchiness. The best thing to do is to treat your symptoms to try to alleviate your dry skin [source: Fries].Keep reading to find out what you can do to cure and prevent dry skin.

DRY SKIN CURES

Curing dry skin can be as simple as following a few easy steps -- it often comes down to daily moisturizing. If you keep your skin moisturized, it won't dry out, but you have to do it correctly.
The first step to keeping your skin hydrated is to avoid long, hot showers that can strip your skin of necessary oils.

Instead, take shorter showers and use lukewarm water. Also, avoid scented, deodorant or antibacterial soaps that can dry out your skin -- use mild, unscented or soap-free cleansers [source: Fries]. Once you've showered, softly pat yourself dry, leaving your skin damp, and apply a moisturizer within three minutes to help lock in moisture [source:American Academy of Dermatology]

If daily moisturizing doesn't heal your dry skin, there are additional ways you can help keep your skin soft and smooth. If you live in a dry climate, or if your dry skin is worse in the winter, using a humidifier to add moisture to the air may be the solution [source: American Academy of Dermatology].

 If this doesn't help you, talk to a dermatologist. Doctors can diagnose more serious conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, and they can prescribe intensive moisturizing creams to help cure chronic dry skin. For more information on dry skin and how to prevent it, see the links on the following page.

BLEMISHES

Blemishes are a reality for most people at some point in their lives. But they can be treated and, to some extent, prevented. Follow these tips:

• After your facial-cleansing routine, apply milk of magnesia with a cotton ball or pad to any acne blemishes. Let dry, then rinse off using cool water.
• To treat pimples and discourage blemishes, apply a mixture of calamine lotion and 1 percent phenol (available at a drugstore).
• Apply lemon juice to blackheads using a cotton ball. Leave the juice on overnight. In the morning, rinse your face with cool water. Repeat every night for 1 week.
• For acne outbreaks, apply lemon juice on a cotton pad several times a day to dry up pimples.
• Spread mayonnaise over your face, and let it dry for 20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water, then follow with a cold water splash. This treatment will help tighten pores.
• Honey speeds healing by killing bacteria. For an overnight blemish remedy, dab honey on the spot and cover with a bandage.