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Bodybuilding Skin Care Tips

Brass Tack  Beauty

No Fluff. No Fads. Just the Facts.

w / Alex Bloomquist

Q ~

Dear Alex,

I have started seeing what looks like spotty stains on my skin. I see these spots mostly in places like my forehead, chest, and on the back of my hands. I'm not OLD! My friend told me they were 'age spots'. OMG so not cool! What can I do about this??

Help!  -  Full Shade

 

A ~

Hello, Shade!

Well, first off, thank your friend. They are correct about what you are seeing, even if you don't like what you hear. Age spots are just that, spots on our skin where a lifetime of fun in the sun is starting to show up now. These spots can show up on relatively young skin. It all is determined by how much damage has been done- including exposure going way back to our days on the playground. So your friend wasn't casting shade, but you will want to start seeking cover to make some correction to the damage you see now and to prevent more damage going forward.

Think of sun damage as a meat tenderizing cleaver. UVA and UVB rays get into the skin and break up collagen and elastin, similar to the way you would pound out a chicken breast to make schnitzel. Now that may be a harsh example, yet truly what happens over time. Besides the tenderising of our firm skin, sun damage can also damage our melanocytes. These are the cells that make the melanin that gives skin its color. This damage is a major cause of skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the United States. So you will want to develop a good habit of wearing SPF every day. Find a product you like the feel, smell and delivery so you are happy to wear it year-round.

Now, how to address the spots you already see? That will take time and patience. Correcting sunspots is one of the hardest things to undertake. You have to be consistent and thorough. There are many products on the market that have the ability to lighten spots you already see. However, if you do not wear a good SPF as well, you are just wasting your time and money.

Here is the best way to start: Get a great SPF you like and will wear every day. Use it consistently no matter the time of year. Give it at least 2 months and see how far you can progress in reducing the damage you see. Once your good habit is formed and progreass is being made to fade the spots, then add in a correcting treatment product. Keep in mind most spot fading products will have ingredients in the AHA family, like Vitamine C. These are perfect for treating dark spots - but as an AHA it also is exfoliating your skin, potentially making it more vulnerable to sun damage. Continue to be very diligent with your SPF. You will want to apply SPF each morning, then reapply after 2 hrs in the sun, no matter how high the SPF number is. In 2 hours of exposure to UV rays, even the best SPF is broken down and not fully protecting you anymore.

With correction and protection in place, you'll see more fading of the spots you already have all while preventing more from popping up!

 

Q ~

Dear Alex,

My skin is in pretty good shape. I take care of it daily and use quality products. However, about once a month I get the random breakout. I couldn't tell you what brings on the acne, but it's frustrating and I need a quick fix. What can I use that will not make matters worse? I had some Benzoyl Peroxide acne cream for a while but it just dried up the spot and made it red and flaky for days after.

Please share some love!  - Fix a Flake

 

A ~

Hello, Fix!

Let's get you a good emergency spot treatment that will be a quick cure and not overkill. One of the things to know about random acne is it's probably not as random as you think. There may be a method to the madness. Let's look at some of the things to keep in mind.

Where and when you breakout can be a clue. Forehead, jaw, and back acne can be a result of residue from soaps with the foaming agent, sulfate. Maybe you have great soap at home, but travel may expose you to these harsher ingredients. Of course, hormone fluctuations can always be a trigger for acne. This can be more complicated than your regular, monthly cycle. As we age hormones can begin playing all sorts of tricks on us.

Stress is another one. Acne around your mouth and jaw area can be where you see stress breakout. Flare-ups like this can come 7-10 days after a stressful event! Remember your deep breathing to help keep stress breakout in check. A fluoride treatment or teeth whitening can also cause a breakout in this 'peri-oral' area.

If you have taken a round of antibiotics, or have digestion issues, your gut flora may be out of wack. This can manifest as cheek breakout. There is a lot of great info now on getting your gut correct. Check the internet or talk with your doctor about proven ways to build a strong and multi-faceted digestion system. Your skin is your largest organ it is closely tied to your second largest organ system, your gut.

Now for the fix: Check out a skin savior that corrects without overkill - Deep Six. A limited, yet very targeted ingredient list addresses everything you need for correcting random breakout: Red Rooibos Extract, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, White Willow Bark Extract, Tea Tree, and Lavender. This blend will expertly, calm, heal, correct, and quickly treat acne. It can also lighten any discoloration caused by sun damage and acne flare-ups.

 

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