The Basics of Moisturizer Skin Care and Zinc

I found these tips on moisturizer for oily skin, dry skin, and combination skin by Angie Kocsi and added some more information on zinc moisturizers as well - it may be just be the tip you need!

Skin Care - Learn the Basics

Skin types are unique and react in different ways to weather, environment, and creams and/or lotions. In order to keep skin healthy and youthful in appearance it is essential to know your skin type and how to care for it.

Most skin care specialists will advise to apply moisturizers all over the body to nourish the skin. Top of the list in skin care is sun protection to prevent damage to the delicate skin structure. A few other simple steps will help you care for your particular skin type.

Zinc Moisutrizers

Zinc is a natural mineral that prevent harmful UV rays from entering the skin by naturally blocking them. Zinc is non-toxic when used as a topical treatment and found to be easily used by those with allergies or sensitive skin issues.

Zinc moisturizers and sunblocks with high levels SPF (15 or more) are broad spectrum: strong enough to prevent burning for a reasonable length of time with the power to block UVA radiation — something that many higher SPF products cannot match!

Normal Skin: Use a rich cream or lotion to moisturize the skin. Be sure to apply the moisturizer to the neck and décolleté. Don’t forget to moisturize the elbows and knees. It’s best to apply moisturizers after bathing while the skin is still moist for better absorption.

Oily Skin: There are already plenty of natural oils in this skin type, so use a light moisturizer. A body mist spray is also good for oily skin, as it will sit gently on the skin, without stimulating the glands that product body oils. To avoid breakouts it is important to keep pores from becoming clogged.

Combination Skin: This type of skin usually refers to just the face. The neck however, should not be forgotten. The neck area tends to dry if you have this type of skin. A light moisturizer that contains sunscreen should be used in order to combat dryness. At night a richer cream will nourish the skin as you sleep, keeping it smooth, supple and youthful.

Dry Skin: A deep penetrating cream will nourish this type of skin. Try an oil-based lotion as an alternative; it will leave the skin silky and smooth. Dry skin is often aggravated by air conditioning, wind and sun. Always use extra moisturizers to keep hydrated when exposed to these elements.

Sensitive Skin: This type of skin often needs special attention. Formulated and medicated creams can be obtained to address specific individual needs. A visit to a professional will help evaluate this type of skin and assist in designing a skin care regime that addresses each particular case.

·Keep your skin protected from the sun at all times using a zinc-based moisturizer or sunscreen.
·Drink plenty of water.
·Get lots of sleep.
·Do not rub the skin - always pat skin dry with a soft towel.
·Consult your aesthetician or dermatologist they can advise you on solutions to most problem skin conditions.

Tips Source: http://ezinearticles.com

Zinc Sunscreen, Sun Protection and Suncare Tips

When you go to the HOT part of the country they have every kind of sunscreen, sunblock, And even pink & green zinc oxide. Here is some more information about sun protection.

Common questions about sun safety

During which months do I need to take sun safety precautions?
You should protect yourself from early spring right through the fall. People often get sunburns in late April and May because they don’t think the sun is strong enough to burn if they can’t feel its heat.

At what times should I use sun safety precautions?
Between 11 am and 4 pm. The sun’s radiation is strongest from 12 noon to 2 pm.  Why do I need to wear a hat in the sun?
Two of the three most common skin cancers appear on the face, head and neck.  Almost all of these tumours are caused by sun exposure over a long period of time.  Protect these areas, including the ears, by wearing a broad-brimmed (more than 8 cm or 3 inches) or legionnaire-style hat with a back flap.

Source: Canadian Dermatology Association. More information is available online at www.dermatology.ca.

Look for these four things in your sunscreen before buying and applying.

1. Check the label to make sure your sunscreen offers UVA and UVB protection. Both UVA and UVB are part of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation (UVR) emission, and both are linked to sunburns and long-term skin damage.

2. Your sunscreen should offer a high sun protection factor (SPF) for UVB protection.  More and more consumers now are looking for higher SPFs than ever before. For example, a sunscreen that offers a SPF 15 allows you to stay out in the sun about 15 times longer without burning. Banana Boat Suncare has just introduced two excellent products with SPF 50 in a convenient spray format. Banana Boat Kids’ products are also available in sprays and lotions with a SPF range of 30 to 50, and as a bonus, the products are tear free. And no, applying a sunscreen with SPF 8 in the morning and SPF 15 in the afternoon, will not add up to SPF 23. Choose the SPF that offers your skin type the best protection.

3. Ideally, it’s best to re-apply sunscreen every one - two hours, especially if you’ve been swimming. As a rough guide, the average adult should use one ounce (about the size of a golf ball) of sunscreen over his or her entire body for each application.

4. Your sunscreen should enhance your skin, not irritate it. If you have sensitive skin, it’s best to test a small patch for 48 hours (before your vacation) to see if you develop any kind of reaction.

Adverse reactions to sunscreens

Contact dermatitis, both irritant and allergic, and phototoxic and photo allergic reactions have been reported following the use of chemical sunscreens. The most common sunscreen that cause contact dermatitis is PABA and its esters. However, reactions to the newer generation sunscreens, especially those with broader spectrum of UV coverage such as benzophenones, cinnamates and methoxy dibenzoylmethane, have also been reported.

Contact dermatitis and photoallergic contact dermatitis to different sunscreens can occur at the same time and should be explained by a combination of cross-reactions and coupling allergy.  Cross-sensitization reactions with other sunscreens and with chemicals with similar chemical structures do not occur routinely. Patients who are sensitized to p-phenylenediamine, aniline, procaine, benzocaine, sulfonamides may develop cross-sensitization to a PABA sunscreen. It is also interesting to note that cross-sensitization between padimate 0 and padimate A which are esters of PABA do not occur but patients sensitive to PABA derivatives can also be sensitive to p-amino benzoic acid.

Zinc oxides and titanum dioxide used in physical sunscreen formulations do not produce contact sensitization, phototoxicity or photoallergy. Should such adverse reactions occur, the excipients in the physical sunscreen should be suspected.