skin care tips - Rao Dermatology

Why’s Your Face So Sweet, Honey!

At Rao Dermatology, we want you to put your best face forward both in and out of our office. Below are three useful tips on how to use honey to keep your face looking young and sweet between your appointments.

Honey as a Facial Cleanser

Honey is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to remove oil and dirt from your skin without stripping away its naturally occurring properties. Using about half a teaspoon of unpasteurized honey, rub your fingertips together and add a little water (if necessary) until the honey has a little warmth. Gently smooth the rub on your face in a circular motion covering the surface of your face and allow it to marinate for about 8-10 minutes. Rinse with warm water and gently dab your face dry with a towel. To get the best results, moisturize with natural coconut oil.

Honey-filled Facial Masks

These facial masks are particularly beneficial for individuals with acne. Mix three (3) teaspoons of honey and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon together and gently apply the combination to your face. Leave the mask on for 15-20 minutes then rinse in warm water and pat your face dry with a towel. Follow this with your regular moisturizer, or coconut oil. Be sure to do a patch test on your arm first as cinnamon can be irritable for people with sensitive skin.

Honey for Dark circles under your eye

When you are tired, it shows predominantly in our eyes. To assist with the removal of the dark circles around your eyes, massage a thin layer of unpasteurized raw honey where the dark circles are before you go to bed. When you wake up, wash your face in warm water and towel dry. Repeat this process regularly.

These three tips, when followed on a consistent basis, will keep your face in check until your next appointment. Be sure to use unpasteurized raw honey to get accurate results. Natural honey is not the same product.

5 Tips to Fix and Prevent Dry Skin

Dry, itchy skin is a frustrating problem that many people struggle to solve. Although it can often be hard to identify the cause of dry skin, there are many ways that you can keep your skin moist and prevent it from drying out. Here are five tips from RAO Dermatology in Edmonton to help you fix your dry skin.

No Hot Showers

Hot showers are very relaxing, but they take a big toll on your skin. Hot water removes your skin’s natural oils and prevents it from staying moist. You do not have to take a freezing cold shower, but you should always avoid a steaming hot shower. You should also take shorter showers as the longer a shower is, the more it will dry your skin regardless of temperature.

Gentle Cleansing

People often dry their skin by using harsh cleaning techniques and harmful chemical products. Do not scrub your skin with rough towels. Gently wash your body with clean hands. Avoid using scented soaps and lotions. You should also avoid using anti-bacterial products. Regular soap will get you clean enough without drying out your skin.

Sun Protection

Sun damage is a major cause of dry skin as well as more serious conditions such as skin cancer. It is important that you use sunblock whenever you go out into the sun, even during the winter. A sunblock with a rating of SPF 30 is recommended. Lower grades might not be strong enough. Higher grades are more expensive while offering little extra protection.

Humidify

Many people experience the worst dry skin during the winter months. Very cold air is one factor that causes dry skin, but environments with low humidity are another factor. The heating in many homes dries out the air. Dry air means dry skin. You should use a humidifier during the winter in order to prevent your skin from drying out.

Proper Moisturizing

Although many people with dry skin use moisturizer to improve their condition, many people do not use it correctly. Always use a moisturizer with natural ingredients. The best time to apply moisturizer is after a bath or shower. Your skin should be clean and slightly moist after having been gently dried. You should also moisturize your hands every time you wash them.

It can be hard to keep your skin in perfect condition all year long. However, you can fix most problems with dry skin by following these tips.

The Feminism of Dermatology

Distant are the days men sneak through the cracks of salon and spa establishments to confront their desires for professional self care. Men have become more open and honest about booking appointments to improve and nurture their outward appearance, and rightfully so. We at Rao Dermatology have recognized this exponential growth and have welcomed it affirmatively.

Our specialized treatments combat the concerns men have with droopy eyelids, excessive body hair, and the distribution of body fat (to name a few). We offer minimally invasive skin rejuvenation treatments, which have become notorious for subtle changes in the texture and radiance of the skin.

At Rao Dermatology we encourage our clients to confront their best selves. For men, that means (in part) coming to terms with the fact that the expectation women are frequently subjected to regarding outward appearance is now a bilateral one. This change is one we believe men should be excited about. Self-care is a nondiscriminatory holistic experience that should be ritualistically embraced. This is why we encourage our clients to try each of our treatments—to expose their skin to the highest caliber of dermatology that will transform both the inner and outer self.

So put the embarrassment and hiding away. Allow conversations to sound less like, “guys don’t do facials” and more like, “I‘ll catch you later for drinks after my skin rejuvenation treatment”. Once the conversations begin to shift, so will the classification of what is normal and abnormal for men. We love that our services are inclusive so there is no need for the surreptitious phone calls or dark rooms. We promise it is more common than you think. When you book your next appointment, don’t be surprised if your best bud from work is in our waiting lounge preparing to have his pores cleansed while he fights you for the most recent issue of Sports Illustrated.

8 Tips for Naturally Younger Looking Skin

At Rao Dermatology we are always here to help keep you skin looking its youngest. Here are some skin care tips for everyday healthy skin.

Sleep

When you go to sleep, your body repairs broken cells. Your body needs to reach a state of deep sleep, so ensure that you give yourself enough time to get a good night’s sleep. On average, you should be sleeping anywhere from seven to eight hours per night. Ensure that you get enough sleep and not only will your complexion improve, but you will also notice other positive changes in your physical and mental health.

Stay out of the Sun

People often comment on a healthy tan, but this is actually a sign of sun damaged skin. When you sit out in the sun, your body will produce melanin to protect against UV light. This melanin gives you darker skin, but also breaks down collagen in your body. As collagen keeps your skin firm, UV light will cause your face to age faster.

Drink Water

Your body needs water to grow new cells. Therefore, ensure that you drink enough water to keep your body fully hydrated. The creation of new skin cells will help to keep your face firmer and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Stop Smoking

Smoking is very bad for your skin as the carbon monoxide contained in cigarette smoke reduces circulation in your body. This also leads to premature aging and makes your face look older with more wrinkles and fine lines.

Moreover, smoking is also known to reduce vitamin C absorption, which is essential for your body to produce collagen. Again, collagen is responsible for keeping your skin firm and looking younger.

Exercise

Keeping fit by exercising regularly will help to improve your circulation. Improved circulation will help distribute oxygen and nutrients around the body and will in turn increase cell production.

Good Cleaning Regime

During the day, your pores get clogged full of dirt and grime. During the night, sweat and grease will absorb into your pillow and get into your skin’s pores. Ensure that you have a good morning and evening cleaning regime that doesn’t use any harsh chemicals. Chemicals can also cause skin problems, so don’t use them. Instead, find a good natural cleanser and gentle exfoliator to cleanse your pores and help maintain a clear complexion.

Healthy Eating

Cell production is an important part of younger looking skin and a good diet will help to promote good cell production in your body. Fruit and vegetables which are high in vitamins will also help, especially those which are high in vitamin C which is essential for collagen production.

Complex carbohydrates and whole grain are high in fatty acids which also will help skin to look smooth. So make sure that you eat a healthy and varied diet.

Try not to eat fatty and greasy foods as they will clog up your pores which will cause your skin to age faster.

Stress

Stress causes the hormones cortisol and adrenaline to surge, an increase in your blood pressure, and your heart to work harder. This in turn can make you look older. By relaxing yourself from the stresses of everyday life, you can keep you skin looking younger for longer.

If you want to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in your face, then follow the simple suggestions outlined in this article. Combine natural creams and moisturizers that don’t damage your skin with a good daily cleaning regime and a healthy lifestyle, and your face will look and feel better. If you change a few lifestyle habits such as getting enough sleep, eating healthily, staying out of the sun, drinking enough water and quitting the cigarettes, your complexion is going to improve very quickly.