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Question

I read an article several years ago regarding sun tanning. It stated that the sun would continue to burn your skin for a while after you are through tanning, and that you needed to take a shower to wash "it off". Several of  my friends think I am crazy, and I cannot find the article to prove it. One wants to bet me that who ever is wrong has to bungie jump..I need help. ASAP, Is it true what I read? Thank you for your help.

(submitted by alias: CJ)

Answer
Hi CJ,

when you suntan under natural sunlight(i.e. not salon tanning beds which  emits only artificial UV-A rays) you are receiving both UV-A and B rays.

UV-A rays radiate deep into the dermis layer, but has lower energy than  the B rays. Both the epidermal and the dermal layers contain melanin( black)  cells which give us our skin tone, depending on their concentration level.  UV rays cause a chemical reaction to the melanin cells, which then lead to rapid melanin cell multiplication. Because A rays penetrate both layers of  melanin cells the multiplication of melanin cells in two layers produces a
dark tone(i.e. the tan look) very quickly.

The B rays, on the other hand, do not penetrate as deep as the A rays.  B rays penetrate only up to the epidernal layer, and therefore will cause  only the epidermal layer's melanin cells to multiply. So, the skin won't  tan as fast as if exposed to the A rays. However, the B rays have much  higher energy than the A rays, and because of this, it burns. The B rays
energy will not deplete as fast as the A rays, and will accumulate on the  skin. Over time, the accumulated energy causes the melanin cells to  multiply gradually. This slow process of multiplying the melanin cells is termed delayed pigmentation, appearing on the skin as uneven brown patches usually.

For people who love tanning, usually they do not want to get burned. So they apply a cream that contains anti-UVB agents to block off the B rays, and to allow only the A rays to pass through in order to get a  quick tan.

If such a cream is applied, then it is less likely to get any burn during  or after a tan, provided of course the person doesn't over-expose to the  sun by exceeding the limit the cream can protect.

However, if no cream is applied, then the person is receiving both the A+B rays. In such a case, the high B rays energy will not deplete immediately but will retain and accumulate. So, it is true that it will burn the skin for some time(even up to a few days after say, a 3 to 5 hours exposure under the hot afternoon sun).

Taking a shower, however, will not wash away the burn, but it does help a little by cooling off the temperature left by the B rays. Soaking in a  cold bath tub of water will cool off the body temperature better, but it  will not deplete all the accumulated B rays energy.

Regards: Pierre

Question
Hello.  I would like to know what treatments/products you would suggest  using for my skin problems.  I have a pigmentation problem on the right  side of my face that has worsened progressively over the past five years.   It started as a small spot on my cheek and has increased to most of the  right side and has moved to my forehead.  I have had numerous glycolic  peels, used Renova, RetinA and other bleaching cream.  I think all of  these things have just worsened my skin condition and made it extremely  sensitive to any sunlight and resulted in more acne type problems.   I do take birth control pills, but the pigmentation problem started and progressed long before I started taking them.  Your recommendations would  be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.  Laura


(submitted by alias: laura)


Answer
Hi Laura,

with your current condition, the first thing you must avoid is exposure to  the sun. Use a good sunscreen with SPF 8 to 15 is sufficient. Do not use  one that's higher. Sunscreens with higher SPF can cause lots of other complications to the skin. To know more about SPF please visit  http://www.clearskin101.com/spf.html

Artificial peels often caused more harm than good. After a fresh peel,  the skin temporarily appears soft and fair, but actually, it is due to  the disappearance of some of the epidermal sub-layers which have been  peeled off. With the loss of some sub-layers, naturally the skin has a  much thinner epidermal skin, thus less protective capability against the  sun's harmful UV rays. I advice that you stop receiving such treatment altogether.  Birth control pills can also cause a hormonal imbalance in your body over time, and leading to some melanin cells to over-multiply themselves. Although your pigmentation problem started and progressed long before you  started taking them, it does not necessarily mean that it is not one of  the current additional causes to your pigmentation problem. If, after  having avoided the sun and having used a good sunscreen for some time,  there's still no improvement, then the primary cause of your pigmentation  now is due to the pills. Of course your skin peels and past exposure to  the sun are most likely the early causes to your pigmentation problem,  but your pills could have become a later problem contribution source.  Bleaching creams can only work, provided the source of the problem can be controlled.

Nevertheless, all other daily/nightly skincare products used also play a role to some extent in your resulting skin condition.

I urge you to try our samples.

For your convenience I have pasted a copy of our text version Sampleset  Request Form below here for your completion.

(Note: Actual form contents are removed from here to save space)

Best Regards: Pierre


Question
I have used a tanning bed 3 times for 10 minutes each time;  I am beginning to see white spots on my legs;  Is this being caused by the tanning bed and is there anything I can do to
get rid of them.

Thanks

(submitted by alias: waterbaby)

Answer
Hi Waterbaby,

the answer is yes and no. The white spots are melanin cells that have been depigmented, and cannot multiply themselves when stimulated by UV rays. This is of course not natural, but it happens to most people. All other normal melanin cells when exposed to the UV rays will automatically  multiply themselves, thus becoming more in numbers and more concentrated,  and appearing darker in shade (i.e. Tan) so as to shield and protect the  skin better against UV penetration. This is a natural physiological  phenoma  (a great creation of our good God) to protect our skin from further damage by the harmful effects of UV rays.

So when cells that are normal and when exposed to UV rays became darker,  the remaining abnormal cells that do not multiply and remain the same  obviously appear as if they are white spots in the darker cells  surrounding area. So these white spots were not caused by the UV rays to  become white, but were caused by the surrounding cells which became
darker through UV exposure, and highlighting them as if they are white  spots.

I don't encourage this kind of treatment. Tanning beds emit artificial  UV-A rays which possess deep penetration ability, up to the dermis layer,  causing both layers of melanin cells to multiply. Although UV-A rays  energy is lower than that of UV-Bs, we are all already exposed daily to  the sun's natural UV-A and B rays as well. So everyone of us have enough  absorbtion of UV-B rays every day. UV-B rays that accumulated on our skin  can be highly activated by additional UV-A rays to cause serious harmful  effects on skin, leading to skin cancer in the long run.

Stop this treatment for a while and let the tanned cells get back to  their normal concentration level, and the white spots will disappear gradually.

Regards: Pierre


Question
I really appreciate that evrey time you answer my question.  You are the real expert of the skincare.  I think I will keep using the UV cream with jojoba oil.

I have another question (Sorry to bug you again) which is " Is it better for the skin to take sun, properly, once in a while?"  I stop taking sun since this Summer (before I was taking sun until I get suntan every year) because I realize that I am getting more spots on my
arms.

sincerely,

Sachiko Sueki

(submitted by alias: Sachiko)

Answer
You are welcome, Sachiko, with your questions always. I'm always glad to see that someone receives proper help when needed.

The UV rays from the sun is very harmful, and is the main cause to your spots. In Australia, the peoples' love for sunbathing in the past has contributed to the world. Today, instead of seeing people around naked, bareback, or in bikinis at the beach, more and more people are aware of the danger now, and are wearing large straw hats, and having more clothings on for protection. By the way straw hats (or even umbrellas) won't really help much. Lot's of UV rays are reflected from walls, ground, and every surfaces onto a person's skin.

Yes, a bit of sunlight is good for your skin. However, even without having to go out directly under the sun for a sunbath, you are already receiving and absorbing lots of UV rays in the day. UV ray is just next to the 'visible rays' in the light spectrum of rays. Visible rays are rays that when present allow us to see an object - without visible rays will mean complete
darkness, and we can't see anything. So you can safely assume that as long as there are visible rays around, there are also UV rays present (since these two rays are just next to one another). You can therefore go further to assume that so long your eyes can still see something (i.e. not complete darkness), there is UV rays present.

So even when you are at home or in the office (indoors), so long there is still good visibility,
you are already absorbing UV rays reflected from the outside into your home/office.

So avoid sunbathing totally. There's no need for that. You are already receiving adequate amount of UV rays daily naturally.

Regards: Pierre


Question
I have a question.  Isn't a suntan just a precursor to a sunburn? In other words, wasn't every sunburn a suntan a few hours earlier.  What does suntan lotion do?  My theory is that it does nothing more than lengthen the amount of time before everything happens. If you would get a tan in 40 minutes and a burn in 60 w/o lotion, then wouldn't putting on #2 just make it take 80 minutes to tan and 120 to burn?  Please help me.  If you have a web page i could reference it would be great

thanks

cameron

(submitted by alias: Cameron)

Answer
Hi Cameron,

A suntan may usually appear as a precursor to a sunburn, but not always, and not under all circumstances.  The sun's rays comprise a portion of spectrum classified by scientists as Ultra-Violet (UV) rays. These are further divided into UV-A, UV-B and UV-C. UV-C is mostly shielded by the earth's ozone layer, leaving UV-A and UV-B to penetrate our atmosphere. UV-A penetrates both our epidermis and dermis skin layers. Since the basal layer (the last layer) of the epidermis and the prickle-cell layer (the first layer) of the dermis both contain melanin cells (melanocytes), these two layers of cells are stimulated simultaneously by the UV-A rays to produce more melanocytes - a natural chemical reaction generously created by our God Almighty - to prevent the harmful effects of the UV rays against the underlying cells. In other words, the hyper-production of more melanin (melanin means black) cells is to provide a more opaque skin layer(which otherwise would be more translucent) in order to
obstruct penetration of the UV rays. It is for this reason (that is, two layers of skin containing melanin cells being stimulated to multiply melanocytes simultaneously), that UV-A causes sun-tanning. Tanning-beds in beauty salons also emit UV-A rays to produce quick tans. However, the energy in UV-A is weaker than in UV-B. That is why the tan doesn't last long (usually disappeared after one to three weeks), and that is also why UV-A doesn't cause sun-burn on its own.

On the other hand, UV-B's energy is much greater than UV-A's, and thus, it causes the burning sensation very quickly. However, the penetration level of UV-B is only up to the
epidermis. Thus, UV-B causes only the epidermal layer (that is, only one layer) to multiply the production of its melanin cells. That is why a tan is not produced as instantly as exposure to UV-A rays. Due to its high energy, UV-B rays once absorbed into the skin do not deplete quickly, but retained for a long time. UV-B accumulates to cause a slow 'tan' which
results in delayed pigmentation of the skin (that is, those unsightly brown blocky patches).

Since both UV-A and UV-B are found in the sun's rays, exposure to the sun will cause the skin both to tan and to burn - the tan manifesting faster than the burn as explained above -
appearing as if a tan always precedes a burn. But one can obtain a tan without a burn (or less degree of burn) by the following methods:

1. By exposure to a salon's sun-tanning bed(which emits onlyUV-A rays).
2. By applying a sunscreen that blocks out only the UV-B rays(that is preventing a burn caused by the UV-B rays but allowing the UV-A rays to penetrate the skin to cause the tan). Some screens even contain active ingredients to speedify the taning effect, by amplifying the UV-A rays penetration. There are also suntan products which can amplify tanning -
and within 10 to 15 minutes - under room lighting, without exposure to the sun. Such products are often named as suntan lotions( milk, or the like). Note that if one doesn't want to
have a tan as well, then he/she should not apply a suntan lotion, but a broad spectrum sunscreen lotion instead (meaning a sunscreen with total block action - blocking UV-A and UV-B). So do not get mixed up between suntan and sunscreen products.

Sunscreens are available in various strengths, measured in SPF terms. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. The SPF of a sunscreen is determined by sampling a group of people by the following steps(usually not less than 25 people of various skin color tone):

1. The human samples are made to expose their back to the sun. Most parts of the body are covered, except the parts which are to be tested and measured. Let's say there are 5
sunscreen products( named A, B, C, D, and E) of varying anti-UV strengths which need to be measured. Then the person's back will have 6 holes, cut out from the shirt( or any covering)
exposed to the sun. One hole will have nothing applied on it. The other five holes will each have one of the five sunscreens applied, and marked.

2. After every 5 or 10 minutes, the back of the human samples are examined to determine if a burn has occurred. To elaborate, let's say after examining one of the human samples, the unprotected part was found to blister in 10 minutes, while the other 5 parts(on the back of the same person) each took 100, 150, 180, 200 and 220 minutes respectively to form the first sign of blisters. The SPF is then computed by dividing each of these 5 values by 10
minutes(when it was unprotected). Thus, the SPF value for the 5 sunscreens will be:

Sunscreen A = 100/10 = SPF 10
     "     B = 150/10 = SPF 15
     "     C = 180/10 = SPF 18
     "     D = 200/10 = SPF 20
     "     E = 220/10 = SPF 22

It can be comprehended clearly that SPF is therefore a measure of the number of times a sunscreen will be able to protect a person before blister occurs as compared to his/her
exposure to the sun if unprotected.

3. The readings of all the human samples are noted, averaged and compiled, to provide the SPF values for the respective sunscreens measured.

Since SPF is a measure of the number of times(and not absolute hours or minutes), and since such measurement is conducted on sampling of a small group of people, and taking
their mean value(averages), note that a darker complexioned person may apply, say, an SPF 10 sunscreen and yet is better and more effectively protected than one who is fairer-skinned and wearing an SPF18 sunscreen. Why so? Well, if the darker complexioned person were to take 30 minutes to blister under unprotected exposure, then applying an SPF 10 sunscreen will enable him/her to expose for 300 minutes before blistering occurs. On the other hand, the fair-skinned person may get blisters after only 10 minutes of unprotected exposure. So, an SPF 18 sunscreen will only protect him/her for 180 minutes. Moreover, every person is different constitutionally. A person's skin, although applying the same sunscreen, may not react exactly in the same manner as that which was determined from the small group of human samples. Yet another factor. The sampling that was conducted in a cold 4-seasonal climate (even if done during summer time with lots of sunlight) may not
apply well to people living in the tropical and sub-tropical climates. Therefore, one may find an SPF sunscreen good for protecting him/her up to, say, 200 minutes of exposure in a
colder country, but realized that the same sunscreen could not last longer than 100 minutes at one of the beaches in Singapore, Malaysia, or Australia. Different times of the year within one country will also have different amount of UV-A and UV-B rays, and as such, a sunscreen's protection time will vary according to the time of the year.

UV-rays are also absorbed and retained in swimming pools and in sea-water for some time even after the sun has set. Therefore, swimming immediately after sunset may not be all
that safe as most people presumed. I would recommend morning swim instead.

Staying at home or carrying an umbrella does not mean that one is not exposed to any UV rays absolutely. The ground, the walls, the glass, the surroundings, all reflect light and
UV-rays. So long we are able to see any object (that is objects are visible to our eyes), there are UV rays present, though in different degree depending on the time of the day and year.
This is so because we can see only when there's visible ray, and visible ray is just next to the UV-ray spectrum. Therefore, whenever there is visible ray, there are UV-rays.

Moreover, higher SPF sunscreen doesn't necessarily mean better and more effective(especially those containing inorganic substances). Higher SPF requires higher concentration of UV absorbers in the sunscreen, and thus a higher risk of developing skin reaction and allergy. Sunscreens using organic substances such as TiO2 (Titanium Dioxide) is safer, not only in that it is organic and less susceptible to allergy, but it also works by deflecting the UV-rays, rather than absorbing them and retaining on the skin's surface as in cases of
inorganic UV absorbing agents. I believe such retention of UV-rays on the skin's surface(especially those with higher SPF) will in the long run promote skin complications too. However, unfortunately, organic substances alone do not seem to work more effectively than the synergistic effect of skillfully combining both organic and inorganic substances.

I hope the above explanation will help you and others in buying suncare products and in the choice of their relative SPF values more intelligently and more rationally.

Best Regards: Pierre

Answer
Hi Laura,

with your current condition, the first thing you must avoid is exposure to the sun. Use a good sunscreen with SPF 8 to 15 is sufficient. Do not use  one that's higher. Sunscreens with higher SPF can cause lots of other complications to the skin. To know more about SPF please visit http://www.clearskin101.com/spf.html Artificial peels often caused more harm than good. After a fresh peel,  the skin temporarily appears soft and fair, but actually, it is due to the disappearance of some of the epidermal sub-layers which have been peeled off. With the loss of some sub-layers, naturally the skin has a much thinner epidermal skin, thus less protective capability against the sun's harmful UV rays. I advice that you stop receiving such treatment altogether.

Birth control pills can also cause a hormonal imbalance in your body over time, and leading to some melanin cells to over-multiply themselves.  Although your pigmentation problem started and progressed long before you started taking them, it does not necessarily mean that it is not one of  the current additional causes to your pigmentation problem. If, after  having avoided the sun and having used a good sunscreen for some time,  there's still no improvement, then the primary cause of your pigmentation now is due to the pills. Of course your skin peels and past exposure to the sun are most likely the early causes to your pigmentation problem, but your pills could have become a later problem contribution source.

Bleaching creams can only work, provided the source of the problem can be controlled.

Nevertheless, all other daily/nightly skincare products used also play arole to some extent in your resulting skin condition.

I urge you to try our samples.

For your convenience I have pasted a copy of our text version Sampleset Request Form below here for your completion.

Best Regards: Pierre

Question
I have used a tanning bed 3 times for 10 minutes each time; I am beginning to see white spots on my legs;  Is this being caused by the tanning bed and is there anything I can do to
get rid of them.

Thanks

(submitted by alias: waterbaby)

Answer
Hi Waterbaby,

the answer is yes and no. The white spots are melanin cells that have been depigmented, and cannot multiply themselves when stimulated by UV rays.  This is of course not natural, but it happens to most people. All other  normal melanin cells when exposed to the UV rays will automatically multiply themselves, thus becoming more in numbers and more concentrated,  and appearing darker in shade (i.e. Tan) so as to shield and protect the  skin better against UV penetration. This is a natural physiological phenoma(a great creation of our good God) to protect our skin from further damage by the harmful effects of UV rays.

So when cells that are normal and when exposed to UV rays became darker, the remaining abnormal cells that do not multiply and remain the same obviously appear as if they are white spots in the darker cells surrounding area. So these white spots were not caused by the UV rays to become white, but were caused by the surrounding cells which became darker through UV exposure, and highlighting them as if they are white spots.

I don't encourage this kind of treatment. Tanning beds emit artificial UV-A rays which possess deep penetration ability, upto the dermis layer, causing both layers of melanin cells to multiply. Although UV-A rays energy is lower than that of UV-Bs, we are all already exposed daily to
the sun's natural UV-A and B rays as well. So everyone of us have enough absorbtion of UV-B rays every day. UV-B rays that accumulated on our skin can be highly activated by additional UV-A rays to cause serious harmful effects on skin, leading to skin cancer in the long run.

Stop this treatment for a while and let the tanned cells get back to their normal concentration level, and the white spots will disappear gradually.

Regards: Pierre


Question
i've had a problem with cystic acne since seventh grade.  i believe it may be genetic because both my sister and my mother have the same problem.  i've been on numerous oral antibiotics and have used many different topical medications.  recently, i was on accutane, 80mg, up to 3 times a day. unfortunately, i was unable to finish the treatment (i was on it for about 4 months).  my face is incredibly clear now, except for one trouble area.  My left cheek, in the same spot, tends to develop cysts right before my periods.  this past week, i had another reoccurence.  i went to my dermatologist, and i got injections on two separate occasions.  finally, when it didn't get any better, i squeezed it.  i have done this before so iused extreme caution.  i poked the apparent point with a steralized needle and then squeezed out all the puss.  now, i have a very dark mark in that area.  i was wondering if this could possibly be just a bruise from ruptured blood vessels under the skin, or !

is it a discoloration at this point???  it has been about 4 days, and it seems to be getting a little better every day.  i have lustra to use of my scars, but it irritates my skin, and turns the whole area red.  so now, I don't know what i can use on these dark areas.  i still have marks from previous cysts in the very same area, so it covers more of my cheek than it would if it were just that one cyst.  so, how soon can i expect this mark to disappear?  is it a bruise or a discoloration at this point?  and what products can i use on it which will help fade the marks without irriating my skin?

thank you,
kat

(submitted by alias: kat)

Answer
Hi Kat,

antibiotics should not be taken on a long term basis, because your body will become immune and your dosage will have to be increased over time. Your own body's defense system will also become less and less active, since an outside defence force (that is antibiotics) is doing the defense for the body.

Try changing your pillow case daily. Often bacteria from your hair and acne get onto the pillow and multiply. When your clean part of the face rested on it from night to the next morning, trillions of bacteria could have transferred from the pillow case onto your skin, and sensitize it, leading to outbreak. Check if you often sleep with your left cheek on the pillow.

Squeezing is bad practice. It will inevitably leave scars. Scars from squeezing are ruptured capillaries, not depigmentation or hyper-pigmentation of your melanin cells. It can heal over time. It can also be speeded up with our product :

#99 Herbal SR Cream   0.42 FL.OZ.(12ML) at $27.70 per jar.

However, for fast amazing results, it is best to use our complete set of skincare without mixing with any other product not from our line. I recommend the following products for your current condition:

UNIT   
Prod.                                                   
Code   Description                           
-----  -----------                           
10/F   Anti-Acne Refreshening Fluid         
14D    Ginseng DeepCleanse Lotion           
31-O   Sage Purifying Scrub                 
317    Ginseng Comedo-Remover Gel sSensitive]
59     Herbal SR Mask                       
69     Collagen Toner                       
99     Herbal SR Cream                       
90-O   Herbal AC-Cream (Anti-Acne)           

For your order convenience, I have pasted a copy of our text version Price-list and order forms below here.

Best Regards: Pierre



Question
Hi,

I generally have good skin except for my nose. About 8 months ago I developed a really bad cyst on my nose. It was very large and by  the time I got to a dermatologist it ruptured. Needless to say it left a a scar. I'm not concerned witht the scar. I'm concerned about the pigmentation. I'm black and have medium brown complexion. The scar on my nose is very dark and visible. My doc gave me a lightening gel with AHA in it. SO far it is not working. It is lighter than it was intitially but overall it hasn't really worked. What do you suggest I do? I just want to lighten the surooundin skin, thats's all.

Is there a different preocedure for treatment when a person has a  darker complexion to begin with?

Thank you for your time.

Arthur

(submitted by alias: )


Answer
Hi Arthur,

post-acneic pigmented scar is actually different from Melasma kind of pigmentation. Post-acneic scar is more like wound scar caused by clogged capilaries. On the other hand, Melasma kind of Pigmentation is caused by an increase in production of melanin cells within an area of the skin that causes that area to appear darker.

Lightening works by bleaching melanin cells, and it's not the correct treatment method for post-acneic scars(which are clogged capillaries).

The following product in our line is indicated for post-acneic scars.

#99   Herbal SR Cream 

However, for fast amazing results it is best that you use the complete  set of our skincare products without mixing with any other product(s) not  from our line, and stop using soap on your face altogether. You may  purchase only the #99 first and request a sampleset as well for the other  items, so that you'll have the complete set for your daily/nightly routine. For your order convenience, I have pasted a copy of our text version  Price-list and order froms below.

Best Regards: Pierre

Question

(submitted by alias: )

Answer
Hi,

do you mean you have it only on the right cheek, and not on your left at  all?

Frankly, have you ever gone through any abrasive or chemical skin peeling  treatment before?

Many people who have gone through such treatment process ended up with a  thinner, more sensitized skin because the 'mother' cell layer( i.e. the  basal layer) of the epidermis is damaged by such treatment. With a thinner  epidermal layer, it has lesser protection against UV rays, and heat. As a  result, the skin reacts easily to heat and slightest presence of UV rays,  and physiologically multiplies its melanin cells production. Increased  melanin cells production in an uneven manner gives rise to pigmented spots and patches.

If you have not gone through any skin peeling treatment as mentioned above, then it can likely be the cause of the body's hormonal imbalance.  Hormonal imbalance can happen at least on 5 occasions to a woman.

During puberty; having an active sex life; during pregnancy; during a period of emotional stress; and during menopause. The worse condition of  hyper-pigmentation is during menopause. However, not every woman will  result in having hyper-pigmentation during menopause.

Try to recall, if you had used a certain product, or having undergone some form of treatment just shortly before the severe pigmentation arises.

Whichever cause it was, however, what you need now is to keep your skin  well moisturized(so stop using any soap altogether), protected against  the UV rays, and use a good lightening cream. Not every sunscreen is safe.  The higher the SPF value, the more senitizing it is. So do be very careful. To learn more about sunscreen and the harm of high SPF value sunscreens, please visit:

http://www.clearskin101.com/spf.html

I would recommend you the following items in our line, if you are interested to order:


                                                         UNIT   
Prod.                                                 
Code   Description                             
-----  -----------                           

17/F   DeepCleanse Refreshening Fluid       
311    Blackhead Remover                     
31-D   Sage Purifying Scrub                 
67     Licorice Toner                       
98     Herbal Fair Cream                     
99     Herbal SR Cream                       

For your order convenience, I have pasted a copy of our price-list and text version order forms  below.

(Note: to save space, the actual form contents are removed from here)

Best Regards: Pierre

Question

(submitted by alias: )

Answer
Hi Mary,

If your hyperpigmentation is not due to any internal imbalance of your hormonal system, then faster positive results cab be easier realized.

Firstly, you must avoid the harmful effects of the sun as much as possible. UVA and UVB rays will cause your condition to deteriorate. Although AHA product does effectively cause cell revitalizing action, you need more than just AHA. However, just a word of caution. AHA products if not well formulated can cause skin irritation and inflammation, and develop skin sensitivity. I urge you to read Pierre's article at http://www.clearskin101.com/QA.html to gain a better understanding and sounder knowledge in skincare.

For your condition, I would recommend the following:

14D
211
31-D
68
76-P
99
98

To view detail specs of the above recommended items visit http://clearskin101.com/products.html and click on underlined links next to the individual product code.

Regards: Pierre

Question
Hi. I just like to know what's the difference between pigmentation and "White spots".How can I to diffenciate them and prevent & get rid of them. I'm currently using a scrub containing AHA, hoping to peel them off. Will that be effective? Thanks.

(submitted by alias: Adrian)

Answer
Hi Adrian,

Pigmentation is often referred to by layman and by beauticians to mean unsightly visible brown patches on the skin (usually the face). They are mostly on the forehead, cheeks, upper cheek bone areas, nose,  upper lip, chin. They are melanocytes(melanin or black cells) from the basal layer (lowest layer) of the epidrmis, and/or melanocytes from the upper-most dermis. These two melanocyte layers determine an individual's skin color. The concentration of melanocytes vary from different ethnic races - being most concentrated in Negroes, and in descending order, to Indians, Malays, Chinese and the least concentrated amongst caucasians. Albinos have almost no melanocytes, and thus their skin is hyper-sensitive to the sun.

Melanocyte concentration also vary between individuals from the same ethnic race. These cells will multiply out of proportion, and appearing in unsightly uneven brown patches on the face, due to hormonal imbalances triggered during pregnancies(for women), consumption of oral contraceptives (for women), post-pregnancy traumas(for women), menopause (for women), sicknesses(eg: insomnia, depression, and most other emotional problems). However, the most common cause of pigmentation problem is from the sun's harmful UV rays. Sun-bathers have the highest risk, as well as people living in the tropical region, and people who have to make their living under the open sun or people who love outdoor sports - eg. traffic police, sportsmen, taxi-drivers, odd job labourers.

This can be largely prevented by avoiding the sun, and by applying a good day cream with good adequate sunscreen properties daily.

White Spots can mean different things to different people. Some people refer to Milia seeds(i.e. white heads in laymen terms) as white spots. Milia seeds are not blackheads in its white form, as often errorneously thought so, even by beauticians/aestheticians. They are very different.

Some refer to vitiligo as white spots. Vitiligo is the exact opposite to 'pigmentation'. While pigmentation refers to over-production of melanocytes, causing ugly uneven brown patches that are darker than a person's skin tone, vitiligo refers to the absence of melanocytes, causing unsightly white spots or patches that are lighter than the skin tone.

Mild exposure to some sunlight may help darken vitiligo and make it appear closer to the skin tone, thus making it less obvious visibly. However, over-exposure may have other detrimental effects. See a doctor for advice.

A scrub with AHA will do you more harm than good. Most scrubs contain coarse grains that work like sand-papers in an abrasive manner. The scrub base is usually soap which is also bad for your skin. AHA(Alpha Hydroxy Acid) will also cause skin peeling. With these three actions combined in the AHA scrub, it will be too harsh to the skin, and will cause sensitivity.

I'd suggest you stop before it's too late.

Regards: Pierre

Question
I have been fighting clogged pores all my life.  But for the past 3 months the problem seems to be getting worse, specially my chin and nose.  Therefore, for the past 6 weeks I have been getting glycolic acid peels with extractions to try and clear up my skin but no luck.  I have also changed my skin care line to a clinical skin care line called Peter Thomas Roth based out of New York.  Their products are specially formulated for acne prone skin and clogged pores.  My esthetician does not understand how my pores can be so clogged after all the extraction she performs.  She also says that my skin care routine is correct for my skin type.  I go get these peels every 2 weeks- I have completed 4 of them at the moment. Also, all of my make-up is non-comedogenic and I do not touch my face. I have tried absolutely everything to try and clear up this problem and I seem to be using all the correct products-do you think Wondergel would be useful for me?  If you think that it might help would be possible to try a sample first. Please respond as soon as possible.
Thank you for your help.
Alejandra
(submitted by alias: Alejandra)

Answer
Hi Alejandra,

Clogged-pores is a common skin flaw. The debris that clogged the pores comprises the skin's surface dead cells, environmental dirt, bacteria, salt from dried-up sweat, staled sebum secretion, waxes dried-up from face creams, and colored pigments(i.e. iron oxides) from dried-up makeup. These are being deposited on the skin's surface daily. As such, if they are not properly removed, the accumulations will seriously clog-up the pores.

Glycolic Peeling will not help in your clog-pores. Infact it will make it worse for your current situation. Glycolic Peeling will shed your skin even more, thus producing more shedded dead cells to clog your pores. From what you describe, the products you are currently using aren't effective. Firstly, you must use a cleanser that really cleans by effectively softening/ dissolving the accumulated debris now clogging your pores, as well as removing your daily debris deposits. Next, your skin's excessive secretion must be calmed/sedated by applying products that contain soothing/calming active ingredients. Trying to rid off oily secretions by excessive washing with soap or any foam/soap base cleansers will only make it worse. When you wash excessively with soap, your skin will dehydrate after each wash. During the dehydration period, the skin will physiologically react by trying to compensate the temporary loss of oil/moisture by stimulating the oil glands to produce more oil. This stimulation only causes more oil (which could not flow out due to your clogged condition) to build up beneath your pores and, thus, worsen the situation. You will find your skin getting coarser.

Makeup are colored products, which contain coloring substances, colored pigment oxides(iron oxides), zinc oxides, titanium oxides, talc, etc.. As such, the manufacturer should never claim that they are non-comedogenic. To claim that a product is non-comedogenic is to say that the product contains ingredients that will not contribute to the building up of comedones. Comedones is a medical term for blackheads. The debris that clogged the pores are blackheads/comedones!!! And all the pigments, oxides and talc are powdery grains which do contribute to pore-cloggs. Unless you have a good and effective cleanser and a good skincare routine, I'd advise that you stop using makeup for one to two weeks.

If you are willing to accept my advice, I would prefer that you stop all others and use the samples I will send you. It will comprise 4 to 5 items. I am confident you will see quick positive results, like many others have testified to us. However, you will have to pay only for the postage which costs about $10. You only pay upon receipt of the samples. One more request is that you testify for our products efficacies when you see remarkable improvements.

Please let me know if you want me to send the set of samples.
Regards: Pierre