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Skin Care Emergencies

More and more, skin care companies are formulating products with hypoallergenic and allergy tested ingredients, helping to ensure safe, irritant-free use. But, what about when that always looming blemish finally makes an appearance? Luckily, skin care emergencies can be prevented and treated easily and without further problems.

Blemishes
Most common during adolescence, blemishes affect over 85% of teenagers. Although blemishes begin to occur less frequently as we enter our twenties, it is not uncommon to suffer breakouts long after you’ve left your adolescent years behind. Since acne vulgaris requires a strict skin care and dietary regimen to keep it under control, the next few tips are mostly intended for the occasional breakout sufferer.

When treating a blemish, it is important to remember to leave it alone. Irritating your blemishes will only cause more inflammation, redness and bacteria. Be sure to cleanse morning and evening with a cleanser made specifically for your skin type, or a cleanser for all skin types, such as Leaf and Rusher’s Green Tea Wash. Pat dry with a clean, dry towel, and follow with a blemish treatment. For an overnight, quick fix, try Sonya Dakar’s Drying Potion. Drying Potion may be used for face and body blemishes, and is known for its incredibly speedy results.

Reactions
In any instance of adverse reaction or irritation, discontinue use of the suspected irritant immediately. If irritation persists, contact your dermatologist or general physician.

There are two main types of cosmetically caused reactions. The more common of the two is known as irritant contact dermatitis. Its symptoms include itchy, dry, scaly skin, a red rash, swelling, and, in severe cases, oozing blisters. Irritant contact dermatitis can affect anyone, and is caused by harsh substances physically damaging the skin. At the first sign of irritation, discontinue use of all cosmetic products and wash the affected area with a gentle, hypoallergenic cleanser, such as Gentle Daily Cleanser by Kinerase. Pat dry, taking care not to damage the irritated area, and apply a treatment cream containing cortisone. Immediate Comfort 1% Hydrocortisone Lotion by Bioelements soothes and comforts irritated skin, helping to restore a calm clarity. After the irritation has cleared, you may begin re-introducing your cosmetic products one by one to ensure safe use.

The second type of cosmetically induced reactions is referred to as allergic contact dermatitis. Allergic contact dermatitis affects people who are allergic to specific ingredients. Symptoms include redness, swelling, itching and hive-like breakouts. Allergic contact dermatitis is easily prevented by pinpointing the ingredient that you are allergic to and avoiding all products formulated with the potentially harmful ingredient. To pinpoint the allergen, a doctor may review your history of cosmetic use or, in more difficult cases, choose to do a patch skin test. In case of an allergic contact dermatitis reaction, follow the steps for irritant contact dermatitis, making sure none of the recommended products contain the suspected irritant.

Tired Eyes and Skin
After a night out on the town, your skin and eyes can look dull, dehydrated, tired and just plain drab. Waking up with a less than lively complexion can ruin your entire day, making you feel unattractive and more tired than you actually are! The good news is, above all other skin care emergencies, this one is the easiest – and most fun – to resolve. To boost your sallow skin, pamper it with Babor Direct Beauty Fluid. Take a moment to relax and recharge while this truly luxurious treatment serum melts into the skin to restore a fresh vibrancy. For eyes lacking in the bright appearance you desire, try Colorescience’s Eye Candy Trio (watch our video for Eye Candy Trio here). The three formulas brighten dark circles, reduce puffiness, hydrate and smooth fine lines and wrinkles for a well-rested finish.

Sunburn
Sunburn is a nasty, irritating occurrence that can harm us 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It jump-starts aging, causes hyperpigmentation, can lead to leathery skin and may increase your risk of skin cancer. If you’re faced with a painful burn, apply Decleor Aroma Sun After-Sun Balm for Body or Aromessnce After-Sun Balm for Face, accordingly. Formulated with natural oils and extracts, After-Sun Balms replenish moisture while soothing and healing.

Whether or not you’re already burned, it’s wise to apply a sunblock on a daily basis. Even if you spend most of your time indoors, and even if it’s a cloudy day, sunblock is a must. Plus, with the easy to use, on-the-go formulas that are available, there’s really no excuse. Solar Defense Wipes SPF 15 by Dermalogica are pre-saturated towelettes that swipe over the skin to provide water-resistant, UVA/UVB protection. Don’t like wet? Try Sun Defense Minerals by Eminence. Packaged in a convenient tube with attached application brush, these broad-spectrum minerals are formulated with fruit and spice extracts to create sheer, barely-there shades and all-natural scents.

Self-Tanner Mishaps
You apply a brand-new tanner that claims to have the most amazing, natural-looking results ever, yet somehow you end up looking like an annoyed carrot. There are many different remedies for removing a bad self-tan. When using any of them, you must remember not to over-aggravate your skin. When you’re already orange, the last thing you want is red, angry stripes. A good place to start is with a gentle AHA/BHA exfoliation treatment. Peter Thomas Roth’s AHA/BHA Face & Body Polish is gentle yet thorough, and is ideal for scrubbing away orange pigment. Plus, your skin becomes softer and more radiant. Please remember – don’t over-exfoliate! You will damage your skin and be stuck in a deeper mess than when you started. Another effective treatment for removing a self-tan is, unsurprisingly, Self-Tan Remover by St. Tropez. It removes the tan without irritation and wraps your skin with subtle shimmer. Also, Self-Tan Remover is a great product to have around the house in order to remove excess self-tanner from the palms.

No matter the skin care emergency, there is always a resolution. However, if a skin care emergency persists or worsens, contact your dermatologist or physician immediately.

Article posted 11/13/2007.

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Self-Tan Remover by St. Tropez $17.00

Solar Defense Wipes SPF 15 by Dermalogica $22.00

Green Tea Wash by Leaf and Rusher $37.00