Hyaluronic Acid – Men’s Skincare

February 23rd, 2010

male skinHyaluronic acid is naturally found in the body from the time we are born.  All of the tissue in the body contains this important acid.  It originates deep in the layers of our skin.  HA is an important part of the male body.  It provides moisture and binds the skin tissue.  Hyaluronic acid is an extremely important component of the skin. 

HA keeps skin plump and smooth.  As a man gets older, however, the levels of HA in the skin decrease.   When the skin lacks enough hyaluronic acid, it tends to loose its elasticity and start to droop and sag.  This will cause wrinkles and fine lines to appear on various parts of the face.    

Hyaluronic acid has an incredible ability to retain moisture.  In fact, it is able to hold up to one thousand times its weight in water.  Skin that has plenty of moisture will always appear more youthful and healthy.  Men in particular tend to have dry skin because it is not protected daily by makeup. 

Hyaluronic acid has also been shown to help the skin produce collagen.  Collagen is very important for the youthfulness of skin.  As men, and women for that matter, age collagen production decreases.  The more collagen in the skin, the firmer and younger looking skin will be.  Increased collagen will also reduce wrinkles. 

Hyaluronic acid is a good addition to men’s skincare.  It can be found in a variety of products designed for men.  It is often added to creams and serums.  Hyaluronic acid can even be taken as a vitamin supplement. 

 

Steps to a Healthy Prostate

February 23rd, 2010

Healthy eatingThe bad news is that one in six men will develop a growth in their prostate.  The risk increases rapidly after age fifty.  And up to seventy percent of men will develop prostate disease by the age of eighty.  There are steps that can be taken to help reduce your risks. 

The best defense against prostate cancer is leading a healthy lifestyle.  This includes the obvious, eating right and getting plenty of exercise.  Men of all ages should strive to exercise daily.  At a minimum exercising thirty minutes a day four or five days a week can make a big difference in the way you feel and your overall health. 

There are certain foods and vitamins that are good for your prostate.  Anti-oxidants are very important.  They prevent the oxidation of free radicals and been shown to protect against many types of cancers. Green tea is a good source for anti-oxidants.  Be sure to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables daily.  Fruits like watermelon, grapefruit and papaya are especially good because they contain lycopene.  Strive to eat low fat food, and avoid too much red meat and processed foods.   Instead choose lean proteins such as chicken. 

Eating more fiber can also promote a healthy prostate.  Choose whole-grain breads, cereals, pastas, and brown rice.  Soy is a good addition to the diet.  Soy can come from soy beans, soy milk or tofu.  There are also multi vitamins that have been specifically developed to keep the prostate healthy with a variety of anti-oxidants and minerals.  Saw palmetto is another supplement that has been shown to help create a healthy prostate.

Benefits of Saw Palmetto

February 23rd, 2010

After 35 many men start to report changes such as hair loss, love handles, and decreased sex drive.  While some men just accept these changes as inevitable, you might have some options.  There are several things that can make a difference, like eating right and exercising.  Another option is to try saw palmetto.  It is a natural supplement that may help with some of the male aging issues. 

The saw palmetto is a small but quite powerful palm tree.  It is generally found near the coast of the United States, but can sometimes grow further inland.  The fruit is used to make herbal supplements.  Over the last few years there has been a lot of attention given to the healthy benefits of saw palmetto, especially for men.  Saw palmetto has been used to treat two big concerns for men, male pattern baldness and enlarged prostate. 

An enlarged prostate, or BPH, is something that seems to strike many men as they get older.  It is partially due to hormone level changes.  Saw palmetto has a lot of fatty acids and sterols.  It is not completely clear exactly how saw palmetto works to decrease prostate size.  These oily compounds are thought to be anti-inflammatory and to have an affect on hormone levels. 

Male pattern baldness is another issue that concerns many men.  Hair loss can be treated with saw palmetto as well.  Hair loss occurs because the level of dihydrotetosterone, or DHT, is too high on the scalp.  DHT attaches to the hair follicles and blocks nutrients the hair needs to grow.  This causes the follicle to shrink and loose its ability to grow hair.  Saw palmetto works by blocking the conversion of free testosterone into DHT, similar to the way prescription drugs such as Propepcia work.  Saw palmetto can be a good alternative to prescription drugs that may have adverse side affects.

Taking Care of Male Skin

February 22nd, 2010

Many men today have finally discovered the need to take care of their skin. The truth is that just as woman’s skin needs special care, so does a man’s. If a man want to become distinguished rather than old looking, it helps to use good skin products to moisturize, exfoliate and protect the skin.

You might think men can just use the same products as women, but there are differences in male and female skin. In men the sebum gland, which produces oil, is more active than it is in women. This leads to oiler skin and more clogged pores for men. This is also the reason some men who tend to have a rougher uneven complexion. If a man has neglected his skin, using the right creams may help to reverse some of the previous damage.

male skincareThe first step that a man needs to take is to protect the skin. Since the sun does more damage than anything else, a lotion with sun screen should always be used. The next step is proper cleansing. Even though men do not wear makeup they should cleanse their face every night to remove oil and grim. And everyone should exfoliate to remove dead skin cells. Shaving does provide some exfoliation, but it is a good idea to do even more so that new healthy cells can grow. Finally, the face looses moisture every day. A good moisturizer will hydrate the skin without making it feel greasy. Always opt for natural products without alcohol or chemicals that usually dry the skin. Some good natural ingredients for men’s skincare are hyaluronic acid to exfoliate and Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps the skin produce collagen. Increased collagen production will reduce wrinkles and give the skin an overall younger appearance.

Dry Scalp and Itchy Scalp Causes

January 18th, 2010

Dry Scalp- Causes

tea_tree_oilDry scalp is an issue lots of people have to deal with.  To solve the problem many people try to wash their hair more often.  Washing too much however will actually dry the scalp out further.  Chemicals in many shampoos and conditioners tend to remove too much oil.  The health of the scalp depends on a delicate balance of oil. This is one of the main reason for dry hair and dry scalp.

The sebaceous gland produces oil on the scalp.  This is an important function as the scalp does need some amount of oil.  Too much oil can be a problem as well.  It is important that the scalp be balanced.  A dry scalp tends to be itchy and flaky.  A lack of oil may also cause the hair follicles to be left open and allow them to trap bacteria and dirt which will cause breakouts on the scalp.  This is a condition known as folliculitis.

The environment can dry the scalp out as well.  Cold winter weather will dry all skin including the scalp.  If you spend a lot of time inside, air can be dried by heaters and air conditioners.  Frequent travelers may be frequently exposed to dry air on planes and in tight hotel rooms.

Some other things that may lead to a dry scalp are dehydration and sudden dietary changes.  Also the overuse of heated styling tools such as hair dryers, curlers, and straighteners.  The best way to combat a dry scalp no matter what the cause is to use chemical free products with ingredients that moisturize and balance the scalp.  Zinc is a natural ingredient that cleans and works to regulate the sebum gland.  Jojoba oil and emu oil are excellent moisturizing agents.   For many scalp problems it is as simple as removing the bacteria deep beneath the scalp line that encompasses the hair root! Problems such as scalp pimples, scalp acne and even scalp bumps are caused by this build up of bacteria.