Iso Urea

La Roche Posay has provided us with a great new product for this cold drying weather when our skin feels dry, rough and is looking older than it should. That product is La Roche Posay Iso-Urea. Actually it works in all weather conditions, but our skin tends to be much dryer in colder weather, when our oil glands act like a bear in hibernation and almost totally shut-down.

Jean, who many of you know from having talked to her on the phone or by email, is elated with Iso Urea and uses it every day. She thinks it works better than products costing much more (only $13.00 for a big 200 ml tube).

For those that want to know the ingredients: check it out at Iso-Urea.

However, you should know that it replaces the oils that are necessary to have soft, smooth comfortable skin, that is not dry or rough or does not crack after being in water.

You can use it as often as needed, however most people use it once daily after showering. It is designed to be used on the entire body to restore the hydrolipidic film that softens yet protects from abrasive treatment. As with all of our products, if it doesn't work for you return it for a refund.

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Cicaplast Epidermal Recovery Accelerator

Cicaplast Epidermal Recovery Accelerator
La Roche Posay Cicaplast Epidermal Recovery Accelerator is a very descriptive name describing a product that molds the healing skin into a smooth layer while speeding up the healing process.

It was developed as a protective dressing for superficial wounds produced by skin peels of all kinds including dermabrasion, laser and chemical peels. It has caught on as being great for any post procedure dressing for healing wounds, since it contains; Zinc Gluconate, an antibacterial agents that limits the proliferation of micro-organisms; Madecassodide + Copper/Zinc/Manganese Mineral complex, that promotes skin repair; and the dressing effect of silicone texture for skin protection.

It greatly benefits cracked or rough skin by allowing it to heal under a protective barrier. Cicaplast works well for those with thin sensitive skin since it provides an added layer of support to skin that is unstable and easily traumatized.

The next time you have a burn or skin abrasion try Cicaplast and you will notice the added support and protection barrier that it gives to the tender wound.

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Acne and Today's Treatment

Acne is a skin condition that typically starts in the early teens and lasts into early adulthood. It can, however, start later and last many years. Its manifestations are oily skin, large pores, inflamed pores with plugs, abscesses (pimples), and hard lumps deep within the skin.

Without treatment it becomes a viscious cycle of oily debris, dead skin cells, plugged pores, bacteria, inflammation and infection.

Dead skin cells and oil plug the pores causing inflammation. The inflammation adds swelling to the walls of the pores, which further plugs the pores. Bacteria within the pores begin to grow and produce infection. As the infection becomes worse white blood cells migrate in to destroy the bacteria. In the process large numbers of bacteria and white blood cells die and form pus, thus the abscess (pimple) is formed. At this point most teenagers will seek help.

Help for this process begins with cleansing the face. Cleansers, such as, Biomedic Antibac Acne Wash work better than soap, because soap can temporarily leave the skin dry and cracked, which can add to bacteria entering the skin. Exfoliants, like Biomedic Exfozyme, are used to unplug the pores of dead skin cells and thick oil.

Salicylic acid, found in La Roche Posay Effaclar AI Targeted Breakout Corrector and in La Roche-Posay Effaclar Active Matte Moisturizer, is used to control inflammation and swelling and lessen the need for treatment of infection.

When infection starts there is a need to control the spread of bacteria by using antibacterials , such as, Cicaplast Epidermal Recovery Accelerator, which contains Madecassodide and Copper/Zinc/Manganese Mineral Complex. If antibiotics can be avoided it helps to prevent from forming resistant strains of bacteria.

With the skin clean, the pores unplugged, inflammation controlled and bacteria inhibited acne will not remain a serious problem.
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Part 3, Understanding Skin Types

Everyone with all of the other skin types think you are lucky if you have normal skin type, you don't have to do anything to your skin. Don't believe that. Yes, you are lucky, but to keep normal skin you need to do everything anyone else does. I mean by that you need to use a good cleanser, occasionally use an exfoliant, use a conditioner daily, use a moisturizer and always use a sunscreen as part of your daily skin care.

You should select products, to use daily, that contain antioxidants or if you prefer you can use our Biomedic C-Recovery Treatment, Biomedic Potent-C 10.5 Concentrate or one of the Redermic products, all of which are very potent antionidants. You will sometimes see two other skin types mentioned i.e., Environmentally damaged and Hyperpigmented. These are types that are caused by things we have done to our skin in contrast to being born with the type. These two types can be considered together since they are caused by the same skin exposure and overlap in visible changes. Both types are caused by damage to the skin from sun, wind, temperature, smoke, vapor or chemical exposure. The two most common are sun and smoke pollution damage. If you have one of these skin types, you should follow the cleansing and moisturizing for the skin type that you previously had prior to getting the skin damage and do everything possible to stop and reverse the damage. Skin damage occurs when free-radicals are released. Free-radicals can go the rampage and damage the DNA which causes the aging process to speed up, and at first, pigment and texture changes are evident, then fine lines and wrinkles are visible and eventually tumors and skin cancers begin to grow. If we prevent sun damage by using sunscreen and prevent smoke damage by not smoking and stay away from those that do smoke, we can greatly improve our chances of looking young, well into old age. If we also improve our chances by using plenty of antioxodants we should enter old age looking great. Those antioxidants are mentioned earlier in this writing.

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Part 2, Understanding Skin Types

Dry skin is usually also sensitive, so we will discuss them together. Most of the time dry skin is very thin unless the dry layers have been allowed to build up into thick scales which can crack and become infected. Usually light exfoliation once a week is sufficient, but with scales it is best to remove them with a combination of moistutizers and Retinol or Exfozyme. It is important to remember that you must be very gentle when cleansing or applying anything to sensitive skin. That is why Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser was developed. It is made to be applied with the finger tips or a cotton ball and removed by wiping gently without rubbing.

Since fragrances and preservatives cause many allergies and skin reactions none of these products contain them. The entire line of Toleriane products was developed for sensitive skin, so we recommend Toleriane Facial Cream especially formulated to hydrate, soothe and protect very sensitive, intolerant, easily irritated skin as the moisturizer of choice.

Eczema and rosacea are two skin problems that usually fall under sensitive skin. A superb moisturizer-hydrator for them is Toleriane Facial Fluid which is also used for oily and combination skin. As with all skin types we should end with the application of a good sunscreen.

All of the sunscreens found on our site are fine for all skin types. You just need to decide if you want it combined with a moisturizer, such as, Anthelios SX Daily Moisturizing Cream with Sunscreen or if you prefer a higher SPF for a special outing, you may choose Antheliose 60. What ever you choose remember to use it every day to keep your skin protected and looking as good as is possible. Sunscreen is one of the best antiaging products available.

Next time we will continue with, part 3 of Understanding Skin Types.

See U next week.