by Adem Martin del Campo

Problems with your skin are frustrating for everyone. No matter what age you are it is tough to deal with. I myself had problems with my skin as a teenager, so I would like to share with you all that I have learned about treating and eliminating skin problems.

There are a number of different conditions we deem as “Problems”. The ones that come to mind first are pimples and blackheads. Others that people never really think about as a problem are sensitive skin, oily skin and even wrinkles.

I would like to start with something that I receive questions about all the time, which is “Adult Acne”. So many people are affected by this and do not know why. As a teenager they never had problems. Why now? In this case a lot of people are constantly on the go. As teenagers a lot of us were very self conscious about our appearance, so we did everything we could to stay looking our best. As our lives changed, we have a career, maybe children and seldom do we leave any time for ourselves. In this time we start to pick up bad habits when it comes to our skin. This is why it is very important to take the time to care for your skin. As a doctor will tell you it is the largest organ of the body, so why do we tend to neglect it?

It is important that everyone use a cleanser, toner and moisturizer to start with. Use a cleanser that will not dry your skin to clean it. Dry skin is the leading cause of breakouts because the dead skin clogs your pores trapping the oil in your skin. An example of this is SOAP. Please do not use soap to clean your face or your body. Try using a bar of soap to clean your hair. You would not think of it. Well our hair and skin are made from the same proteins, and what that soap does to your hair it does to your skin too. Using a cleanser like our Moisture Cream Cleanser will clean your skin and leave it feeling soft. If the product you are currently using leaves your skin squeaky clean, it is probably too harsh to use. The detergents or cleansing agents are stripping all the natural oils from your skin leaving it unprotected. It is like leaving left over food in the fridge without covering it. Follow up with a toner. Make sure it does not contain alcohol. (Note: Most astringents contain alcohol!) Alcohol should be used to clean and disinfect cuts, not clean your face. This is really important for a person with sensitive skin. That is why we made our Moisture Tone Freshener without alcohol. It is safe for use with all skin types. Next you will need a moisturizer. There are several reasons for this. By keeping your skin moisturized you will help prevent dead flaky skin from accumulating on your face causing breakouts. As I mentioned earlier it also helps prevent wrinkles, because it maintains the natural elasticity of the skin. Another benefit of using a good moisturizer is for protection. A moisturizer will work with your natural oils to prevent your skin from dehydrating, which is what happens when you have dry skin.

The next two products are very helpful in preventing and eliminating acne. First, before you apply your moisturizer use a facial scrub to get rid of any dead skin you may have. Again remember to use something gentle like our Honey Almond Scrub. Your skin is delicate; so do not use something that feels like you are getting a dermabrasion every time you use it. This will also help prevent and eliminate wrinkles too. Because you are exfoliating your skin you are allowing new skin to be produced, and further increasing your skin’s elasticity.

Now that I have shown you how to help your skin, let’s talk about what you should not do. The first thing most people think about doing when they see a pimple is POP IT. The problem this causes is that sure you may see some of the infection come out, but what you do not see is that the lower portion of the pimple is actually being pushed further in to your skin. This is why it seems that acne is never ending. Use a warm washcloth to open the pores of your skin and follow the steps previously mentioned to clean your skin. I know from my own experiences that it is hard to look at that pimple, yet by properly caring for it you reduce the chance of it reforming. The same thing holds true for blackheads. Next stay away from “Acne creams”. This is like throwing fuel on the fire. All they do is dry your skin causing more breakouts later.

Everyone should be able to have great skin. By using the techniques and products I have mentioned to you, I am sure you will receive positive results. If you have a question about a skin condition you would like help with send me an e-mail I’m always here to help you.

Adem Martin del Campo
Co-owner & Beauty Consultant

As featured in the December 2000 edition of Beautiful You, the Make-up by Armando Newsletter.

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