Eugene Solo Healthy Blog: 6/7/09

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Keratin In Skin Care Products. Beware

I'm sure you've heard about the importance of keratin to your skin health and the look of your skin. Keratin is important to keep your skin looking good, so it must be good to find keratin in your skin care products right?

Maybe.

First though, lets have a look at what keratin actually is.

Keratin is a "structural protein". It is tough and fibrous and helps hold your skin together firmly, and prevent sagging. As a structural component of our skin keratin has a major role in skin health. All good.

Keratin is found in a number of areas in our bodies, like our nails and teeth as well as our skin. As you can see keratin can be both hard and soft. It's hard in nails, for instance, and is soft in skin.

Keratin in our skin forms below the surface, and gradually works it's way up to the surface where it forms a protective layer. It is formed by what are known as keratinocytes, which are living cells which exist in our skin.

So isn't it a good thing if we see keratin on the label of our skin care products and anti aging products?

That depends. You see not all keratin is created equal, and some keratin is better than other keratin. You need the right type in your skin care products, or it won't do very much at all.

I mentioned that keratin is found in various parts of the body, including the nails and skin. So most keratin that is used in anti aging skin care is derived from animal sources that contain keratin. In particular hooves, horns and feathers.

All these animal products are basically melted down and subjected to high temperatures, and extracted from these animal products for use in skin care products. However the problem is that the process used to extract the keratin, and specifically the heat to which it is subjected, changes it's form by a process known as hydrolyzation.

Hydrolyzation basically means that the chemical properties of the ingredient are changed. And for keratin, the hydrolyzation means that it is changed to a form that is no longer useful to our skin.

So is keratin in our skin care products good? No, not if it's been extracted by use of the traditional extraction process and it's been hydrolyzed.

Wait a moment though, because that's not the end of the story.

There is a small company in New Zealand that has found a way to extract keratin from the wool of New Zealand sheep in a way that does not lead to hydrolyzation. So the keratin is not degraded, and is still "bio available".Ie it remains in it's natural form. It's called "Functional Keratin".

So if you find this type of keratin in your skin care products then yes, that's good. Very good.

Problem is, the major skin care manufacturers don't use Functional Keratin because it's more expensive. And they are in the business of keeping their product costs down to keep profits up. So as long as they can say there is keratin in there, that's good enough.

So how do you go about getting your skin care products with keratin in them with the "bio available" form?

Can you get skin care products with keratin in them with the "bio available" form?

Yes you can. It's in a skin care range manufactured by a small niche skincare company and it's extremely effective. It's been described as "liquid skin" and works, according to current scientific studies, to stimulate the production of new skin cells to replace the old ones. This helps improve elasticity and firmness in the skin, both extremely desirable outcomes.

So to answer the original question, is it good to find keratin in your skin care products? No, not if it's traditionally extracted, it won't do much. Yes if it's Functional Keratin because it will do it's job of firming your skin and making it look healthier and younger.

Ahhh, but where do you find this tiny niche skin care company?

About the Author

Want to know more about Natural Skin Care with Functional Keratin? Visit Peter's Website Natural Health-Natural Skin Care and find out more about Organic Skin Care Products at http://naturalskinhealth.com/

Monday, June 8, 2009

Bone Spurs, Bunions, Corns, and Calluses Information and Treatments

Foot conditions and injuries can be difficult and painful. However, treatments are available to increase the speed of healing and recovery.

BONE SPUR

A bone spur is a prominence of the bone that can often cause irritation to the overlying skin. This "spur" can be an irregularity of the shape of the bone or can be a small outgrowth of bone or cartilage. If this prominence or "spur" is in an area that is prone to pressure from shoes or from the ground during walking, it can become symptomatic and begin to cause discomfort. A bone "spur" can exist and cause no discomfort, if it is not in an area that is irritated by pressure from walking, shoes, etc. Often, the skin overlying the bony prominence can be irritated from shoe pressure or from walking and can result in a build up of skin commonly known as a corn or callus, depending upon the location.

BUNIONS

A bunion is a protuberance of bone or tissue around the joint. The enlargement occurs either at the base of the great toe or on the outside of the foot, at the base of the little toe where it is called a "bunionette" or "tailor's bunion."

Learn about products that provide immediate pain relief for Bunions Definition Bunions, referred to in the medical community as Hallux Valgus, are one of the most common forefoot problems. A bunion is a prominent bump on the inside of the foot around the big toe joint. This bump is actually a bone protruding towards the inside of the foot. With the continued movement of the big toe towards the smaller toes, it is common to find the big toe resting under or over the second toe. This causes a common forefoot condition called overlapping toes. Some of the symptoms of bunions include inflammation, swelling, and soreness on the side surface of the big toe. The discomfort commonly causes a patient to walk improperly.

Another type of bunion which some individuals experience is called a Tailor's Bunion, also known as a Bunionette. This forms on the outside of the foot towards the joint at the little toe. It is a smaller bump that forms due to the little toe moving inwards, towards the big toe.

CAUSE OF BUNIONS

Bunions are a common problem experienced mostly by women. The deformity can develop from an abnormality in foot function, or arthritis, but is more commonly caused by wearing improper fitting footwear. Tight, narrow dress shoes with a constrictive toe box (toe area) can cause the foot to begin to take the shape of the shoe, leading to the formation of a bunion. Women who have bunions normally wear dress shoes that are too small for their feet. Their toes are squeezed together in their shoes causing the first metatarsal bone to protrude on the side of the foot.

It is important for men and women to realize that wearing dress shoes and boots, which are tapered in the toe area, can cause the bunion to worsen to the point where surgery is necessary.

TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF BUNIONS

In the early stages of the formation of a bunion, soaking feet in warm water can provide temporary relief. The best way to alleviate the pain associated with bunions is to wear properly fitting shoes. Shoes designed with a high, wide toe box (toe area) are recommended for people suffering from forefoot disorders, such as bunions. Shoes with rocker soles will unload pressure to the bunion area. Orthotics are also recommended for this condition to provide extra comfort, support, and protection.

Other conservative treatments include using forefoot products designed to accommodate and relieve bunions such as bunion shields, bunion night splints, and bunion bandages. These conservative treatments can limit the progression of the bunion formation, relieve pain and provide a healthy environment for the foot.

CORNS AND CALLUSES

A corn is simply an area of hard, thickened skin that can occur on the top, between, or on the tip of the toes. A callus is similar in nature, but is larger and usually occurs across the ball of the foot, on the heel, or on the outer side of the great toe. Corns and calluses are often mistakenly considered a "skin" condition. They are actually the visible sign of an underlying "bone" problem.