It's time to do away with outmoded definitions of skin type. Limit the field to dry, oily, and combination, for example, and we ignore many crucial factors.

Have you noticed dark spots on your skin after sun exposure or as a cut heals? If you borrow a friend's cleanser, will you end up with irritated skin? Do you eat your veggies? Great skin results from addressing those questions and more, so let's look at the four parameters that really define your skin type:


• Dry (D) vs. Oily (O)
Oily skin appears shiny, and those who have it may prefer gel- or powder-based cosmetic products, as moisturizers feel greasy. Dry skin may appear dull and rough; dry skin types find moisturizer soothing and gravitate toward creamy makeup. Many people assume this parameter is solely affected by oil production, but the condition of your skin barrier - the moisture-retaining outer layer of skin - is equally important.


• Sensitive (S) vs. Resistant (R)
Sensitive skin flushes easily and may become red and irritated at the slightest deviation from its standard routine; it may also be prone to acne and eczema. While resistant skin sounds like an unqualified blessing, people with this type often need to use stronger products to penetrate their skin and achieve the desired effect.


• Pigmented (P) vs. Non-Pigmented (N)
Some people believe that pigmented types are always dark-skinned, which is absolutely not the case. Anyone who experiences unwanted dark spots (melasma, sun spots, or freckles, for example) is a pigmented type - in fact, 21 percent of visits to the dermatologist are for treatment of dark spots.


• Wrinkled (W) vs. Tight (T)
Short of a crystal ball, this parameter is the best indication of how your skin will age, based on both genetic tendencies and lifestyle. You can't do much about your genes, of course, but your daily routine can significantly affect your score on the wrinkled-tight scale: sun exposure, smoking, and poor nutrition, for example, all contribute to skin aging.


Put them together, and you get 16 skin types instead of three or four - a far more realistic picture. (For example, I'm a DSNW, which means that my regimen focuses not only on moisturizing my dry skin, but on preventing irritation and addressing wrinkles.) Join me next time when we'll examine dry vs. oily skin, and put the power to make positive skin care choices back in your hands.


Wishing you great skin!
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Dr. Baumann is author of the best-selling book, "The Skin Type Solution." To learn more about her revolutionary skin typing system, visit her Web site. Many of Dr. Baumann's recommended skin care products are available there, and a portion of proceeds goes to The Dermatology Foundation.

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Sweat controls our body temperature. Sweat also is responsible for body odor. When bacteria react with sweat, it produces odor. Similarly pheromones that are emitted by apocrine glands also have an odor. Let us find out how to control excess sweat and control body odor.

Skin care- how sweat produces odor?

Eccrine sweat is produced by eccrine sweat glands that are distributed all over the body. This sweat that is mainly water with very small amount of salt, sugar, urea etc. is odorless. As this sweat appears on the skin surface it softens the epidermal keratin producing smell as a result. Bacteria feed upon the keratin and sweat and produce odor. In other areas of body, such as armpit, the skin is folded and moist and warm. That is the ideal place for bacteria to feed upon sweat and produce odor. Apocrine glands are mainly located around area such as scalp, groin and armpits. They produce fatty sweat with pheromones. Bacteria again break down this sweat and result is bad odor. The excess of sweat and /or bacteria can produce more body odor. The obvious solution to body odor is therefore- reduction or drying of excess sweat as soon as possible and keeping the skin free of bacteria. Here you should note that if you have any yeast infection, that can worsen the odor.

Skin care and control of sweat and odor-


control body odourControl sweat with antiperspirants. If you are having the problem of excess sweating, please consult your doctor who will suggest other methods such as botox injections and other methods. Washing body with antibacterial soap is a good idea. Keep skin dry as much as possible and change clothes that may be been worn while you had sweat because clothes continue to carry sweat producing bacteria until they are washed, Clothes may have dried, but they carry the stench of sweat with them. Please change clothes after any activity that produces sweat. Some foods such as caffinated drinks, garlic, onions may add to sweat smell or excess sweating. Avoid these foods. Control sweat, control bacteria and keep body dry to keep yourself smelling fresh at all the times for better skin care.

Source:Skin Care - Control Body Odor By CD Mohatta Beauty

My Skin toasts like Baileys!