Botox has become a well used cosmetic enhancement over the last few years by ridding people of age line and wrinkles; one has to wonder just what it is that this substance is and how it works. In order to appreciate just what this is we need a brief history lesson into its discovery, quite a while ago now. Botulinum toxin was first researched back in the 1960’s; it was used to treat patients with neurological problems.

A few decades later after much research, the FDA granted permission for it to be used medically and the first patients to make use of the drug were those with eye conditions; these included blepharospasm (uncontrollable blinking), strabismus (crossed eyes) and even wrinkles. In the year 2000 was given the all clear for the of treatment cervical dystonia. this is where severe neck and shoulder contractions were causing discomfort to a number of people, but other eye conditions were included in this approval. The strange discovery they made quite by accident was that botox helps to reduce the visible lines between the eyebrows; after further tests in 2002 the FDA allowed it to be used for the first cosmetic enhancement and the drug finally had a new field of use.

Botox paralyses the muscles that cause wrinkles keeping them in a relaxed state; in time frown lines gradually soften and subside if sufficient treatments are given. If this procedure is continued, in many instances the lines will soften so much they will seem to disappear; now the same procedure is used on other areas of the face where lines form, generally with age. The injections are actually a diluted form of botulism; if it were not for the purification process this treatment could make us very sick.

The reason people want to use the injections is because every time you laugh, smile, frown, or for that matter do just about anything with your facial muscles, wrinkles are caused by the underlying contractions of these muscles. This treatment is able to take back, for a temporary period, all those years of lines, creases and wrinkles that has formed from the use of our facial muscles; this is something that many skin creams have attempted to do for many years. After being injected into the effected area, botox temporarily paralyzes these muscles so that you can’t make these expressions; these treatments provide the user with a facial surface that is smooth and often referred to as looking like a dummy or mannequin.

A person who has undergone this treatment still has enough movement to provide some expressions but they are limited; because most of the wrinkles and creases have all but disappeared, it appears that the person is younger than their true years. Whilst popular this cosmetic treatment is still very expensive for what it is; with injections in the low to very high hundreds of dollars each, it looks to remain expensive for some time to come. There is always some concern about new treatments and botox is no exception with many people worried about the long term effects of injections, but even so this has not stopped its popularity.

There are millions of people around the world who suffer with acne (Zits); but that doesn’t mean it’s something that cannot be tackled. It is one of those areas where research has continued to make advancements; now, some of these skin conditions are gradually being conquered. We can classify acne skin care products into 3 broad categories:

* Over-the-counter: Preventative

* Internet or Drugstore: Treatment to help relieve the condition

* Prescription only treatments

Preventative products are formulated to treat the skin in an effort to control the occurrence of acne; these products can be anything from skin cleansers to makeup removers. Many people use products similar to this every day as part of their skin care regime; often used by those who want to prevent future skin problems from occurring. Some of these products are designed to act like an acne skin care product and act against the causes of this complaint; they ensure the facial pores (and other areas) remain free of oil. Excess oil needs to be stopped from clogging the pores as this oil make it easier for bacteria to grow, exacerbating the condition.

Exfoliation skin peels have proved quite effective as a skin care treatment and at controlling the problem; these are easily obtainable in any drug store. These work towards removing dead skin cells, reducing the possibility of pore-clogging and bacteria development. The growth of the skin care market has allowed even more specialized acne skin care products to be available without the need to visit the doctor. Most of these creams etc. are based on benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, both of which are the enemies of bacteria (and hence acne); these ingredients are used to remove the additional oil in the pores of the skin.

Generally it is best to start using this type of product with only a small amount of benzoyl peroxide (less than 5.5 percent is recommended), just to see how the skin reacts; alpha-hydroxy-acid based moisturizers are a safer skin care regime alternative if there is a problem. Because we all have different types of skin, more than one type of acne skin care product may need to be tried; however, if nothing you try seems to work, you should contact a dermatologist. Products that your dermatologist or doctor will recommend will only be available on prescription, they may include a course of antibiotics or topical ointments.

Your dermatologist may suggest a minor surgical procedure to remove the contents of pustules; never try to squeeze your zits however, as it can lead to permanent damage of your skin. Your doctor could prescribe a hormone-based treatment to treat your skin problem; hormone changes are known to be one cause of acne. There is no longer any reason to despair if you have this skin complaint or are prone to its effects.

It is quite normal to expect people to want to look attractive and this might explain why anti-ageing skin care products are so successful; it is not unreasonable to want to continue looking youthful for as long as possible when you consider how much longer most of us are living! The skin care industry uses beauty products that increase the synthesis of the protein collagen, the main protein in skin which becomes less elastic as we age; approximately one quarter of the protein contained in skin is collagen. Collagen is a member of another family of substances that aid in reducing the signs of ageing. these are known as antioxidants which remove toxins from the body.

Probably the best known of these anti-oxidants is vitamin C although no-one really knows just how much we should have each day. Skin care treatments that are based on vitamin C, pose the problem of becoming oxidized themselves as they come into contact with air during their usage.

To overcome this problem, manufacturers use alternative skin care treatments that still provide the same benefits but not the high manufacturing costs. These new anti-oxidant products are not quite as good as vitamin C although other naturally occurring compounds, vitamin E and lipoic acid can achieve the same effect.

The body uses vitamin E as an antioxidant and to increase the natural defense we have against sickness; it has been linked to resistance to a number of conditions including certain types of cancer. On the other hand, lipoic acid or alpha-lipoic acid is necessary for energy production which keeps us alive; it can help reverse much of the damage caused to the skin by ageing.

Phytochemicals form the other category of anti-ageing skin care products which are special chemicals that are extracted from plants with a variety of that are used in skin care today. A further benefit of these phytochemicals is their ability to prevent the onset of certain cancers; such as:

* Cancer that attacks the Prostate

* Breast Cancer

* Cancer of the Colon

These types of cancer are also becoming some of the most prevalent worldwide.

Surprisingly, the group of vitamins; B5, B6, and B12 have also shown that they can be used to help reduce the effects of ageing. The field of anti-ageing skin care products is vast and needs a great deal more research. Gradually, new discoveries will be made to advance our understanding of the aging process; there is still a long way to go however, before methods that successfully reduce the effects of age are commonplace.

The amount of research going on in this field will undoubtedly bring results in time, hopefully bringing down the cost of these anti-ageing skin care products in addition to increasing their reliability. A person should never accept that everything science devises in relation to skin care and anti-aging is always going to be the best; it is doubtful if science can replace natural skin care remedies. Regular sleep patterns, exercise, a good healthy diet and less stress will all contribute to reducing the signs of ageing, for instance!

Cellulite is the condition where the skin appears to have that orange peel affect in certain areas; most areas of the body can experience its effects but sufferers mainly have it below the abdomen. Although additional fat is normal in women, this is not just a problem exclusive to overweight women; this condition even affects slim women who have fewer fat cells.

You see as the collection of fats push against the connective tissue, it tends to cause the surface of the skin to dimple or pucker and visually look lumpy; giving you what is referred to as cellulite. After many years of research, scientists still cannot determine the exact reason for its formation or why some are affected more than others but there may be some connection between toxins that enter the body and how certain fat cells store them.

What is certain though is that the older you become the greater the likelihood of this type of cell forming as the elastin and collagen, that help stop aging lines, becomes less effective. Whilst many would disagree, this condition is often referred to a hormone imbalance problem as men almost never have this happen to them.

Often the cellulite goes unnoticed and it is only when a person’s muscles are compressed or the skin is pinched that it can be seen and felt but women should not feel depressed about the problem as most suffer with it to a greater or lesser degree. After a great deal of research, certain conditions do help with the formation and retention of the fat cells; the age of the person, their gender, how thick their skin is and the amount of extra fat they carry, all play a part.

Currently there isn’t one single treatment that can rid a person of this condition because the cause has remained elusive despite considerable research into the area. Massage has been found to help hide the indications of cellulite even though it cannot remove it; but is does reduce it’s visibility for a temporary period and is available from some beauty clinics.

Liposuction is sometimes used to remove fats generally from the body and can be attempted for this condition as well but the use of drugs injected into the cells to remove it is costly and out of reach for most women. The problem with liposuction is not really the correct therapy for removing this type of fat but is for deeper fats, not those stuck in connective tissue, so it cannot claim to be a best treatment for cellulite.

Unfortunately at the moment there isn’t a magic formula for removal and it may be some time before it is found although some companies claim that they have creams that are effective but this seems to be better at hiding the effects. Although no treatment can really help, adjustments to lifestyle habits seem to be a better option which means adopting a healthy diet, with regular physical activity and an overall reduction in weight.

Many toxins that accumulate in the body can be flushed out with regular amounts of water which some believe is still an effective way to keep the body free of harmful substances including the toxins which help with the formation of cellulite.

There is no reason why you can’t have skin to be proud of without spending a small fortune; providing you are prepared to learn a few facts about skin care and implement them routinely, improvements will be seen. In the West, women have taken the task of staying attractive to extremes with the use of plastic surgery, liposuction and other invasive treatments. However there are common beauty care products that are neither costly nor risky, and can have a multitude of benefits that help women stay both healthy and beautiful.

In the past these beauty care products might have had a poor image being confined to anti-aging lotions and cold creams. Today some of these products are among the most important available to help make the skin look young and healthy. The importance of our skin cannot be stressed enough and like other areas of our body, requires a little care and attention.

The first and most important step in any skin care regimen is to cleanse your face to remove any makeup, dust and bacteria that it has encountered throughout the day. This part must be carried out with a quality face cleanser placed on a cotton pad moved in a circular pattern then washed with clean warm water, drying with a soft towel but take care not to rub the skin when you do this.

Applying toner rids your skin of any excess cleanser and restores your skins natural PH balance. To reduce the number of wrinkles and help make your skin soft and supple, use moisturizing creams or lotions once you have finished with the skin toner. Moisturizing also has the added bonus of locking in the moisture that can be lost without its use, so do not skimp on this beauty care product.

As a regular aspect of your skin care regime you should use a natural peel or exfoliant once or twice a week which helps remove dead skin which can clog the pores. On days when you are treating your skin you should cleanse, treat and then tone to make sure that you remove all traces of the exfoliant or peel that you are using.

If you suffer with lines, wrinkles or puffiness around your eyes then a good beauty care product suggestion is the use of eye creams which will improve the delicate skin in this region. An underestimated but an essential commodity is water which can flush out toxins and which helps to hydrate the skin. We often forget how much we rely on but take our skin for granted but if it becomes damaged it can lead to all sorts of problems.

The exact causes of acne are unknown. Acne is a rash that appears on oily areas of the body. It most often occurs the back, chest, and face. It is unknown why one pore may clog and another remains open. The embarrassing skin condition starts in puberty due to a mixture of hormones and oil on the face Certain foods such as chocolate may aggravate the condition, but they are not themselves the cause.

Acne can flare up as an adult. The causes for these flare ups may be stress, diet, hormones, or any combination of the three. Keeping the face clean and the pores open will prevent further breakouts, but if the breakouts are chronic and out of control, it is best to see a dermatologist to see what you can do to help control or eliminate this condition. Products such as Oxy 10 and Sea Breeze astringent can help unclog the blocked pores.

Acne is not a result of infrequent scrubbing or poor hygiene. In fact, too much scrubbing can aggravate this embarrassing skin condition.

Keratosis Pilaris is the common genetic follicular. It is manifested by the appearance of rough bumps on the skin and hence colloquially referred to as chicken skin. Mostly it appears on the back and upper side of the arms. Sometimes it may also appear in the thighs, tops of legs, buttocks or at any body part except near the smooth skin area. The different kinds of Keratosis Pilaris are keratosis pilaris rubra, alba, rubra faceii and related disorders. Treatments are largely symptomatic.

Some of the treatment given for this Keratosis Pilaris is intensive moisturizing crèmes, lac-hydrin and retina A. Medicated lotions like alpha hydroxy acids or urea may be used temporarily. Milk baths increases the cosmetic improvement due to the lactic acid. Sometimes sunlight will also be useful but it may cause skin cancer. Vitamin A can be used as small amounts. The clothes used during this Keratosis Pilaris should be loose in the affected areas which will reduce the marks.