Keeping skin problems in check during warm weather

The days of dry, chapped winter skin are done and over. However, balmy weather poses new issues for skin, including sunburn risk, humidity and runny makeup.

It may take some tweaking of your skin care routine, but a fresh, healthy looking complexion is easy to achieve, even when it seems that Mother Nature is against us.

A sunscreen that contains SPF of at least 15 is essential when the sun begins to beat down. Choose a product that contains botanical ingredients to keep the skin healthy, and look for varieties that are oil-free.

Many women worry about shine during the warm months due to sweat and higher oil production. Take a look at the ingredients in the skin care products you're currently using. Do they list oil high in the list? If so, you may want to consider opting for a less greasy moisturizer, or skipping it altogether if you are prone to oily skin.

Anyone who's ever strutted around all day with confidence only to look in the mirror later and find massive mascara smudges under their eyes knows that all mascara is not created equal. An article in the Charlotte Observer suggest that women choose waterproof varieties or new products that form tubes around the lashes, like Blinc or The Balm Two-Timer, both available at Sephora.

Finally, products that contain antioxidant-rich ingredients may help to calm inflammation and reduce environmental stress, according to WholeLiving.com.  

People with dark spots should seek alternatives to hydroquinone

While the health risks of using hydroquinone are well-documented and the chemical has been banned in Japan, Europe and Australia, it is still legal and somewhat prevalent in skin products for ethnic skin in the U.S.

In 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed an unsuccessful ban of hydroquinone and admitted to its potentially carcinogenic effects. It also reported that there were roughly 200 products available that contained the chemical at the time of the proposal.

The FDA claims that the chemical has been associated with yellow growths on the skin, discolored spots and a condition known as ochronosis.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that hydroquinone is used to develop photography and X-ray films and is also an additive for industrial monomers. The federal agency reports that it is a skin irritant in humans and has been shown to contribute to tumor growth in mice.

Despite this, the EPA has not yet classified hydroquinone as a carcinogen and reports that no information is available on the cancer-causing properties of the chemical in humans.

However, CampaignForSafeCosmetics.org warns that the product is one of the most harmful substances that can be put on the skin. In addition to its possible carcinogenic effects, the chemical bleaches the skin, stripping away naturally protective melanin and making its user more susceptible to skin cancer.

The Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database classifies hydroquinone as a carcinogen, an immunotoxicant as well as a developmental and reproductive toxicant.  

Taking care of ethnic skin as it ages

Women and men with dark skin have the advantage of looking younger as they age when compared to their light-skinned counterparts, due to higher levels of protective melanin.

However, skin issues do arise and they may be different than what Caucasians experience, so it's important to know what to expect in older age and how skin problems can be addressed. Dr. Susan Taylor shares some of her tips on BrownSkin.net.

A change in skin texture may be the first thing that an African American woman notices as she gets older. This is caused by skin cells clumping together, and may be remedied by exfoliating the area or using products for black skin.

Black women and those with dark complexions may also experience dermatosis papulosa nigra, which are groups of small, benign growths on the skin. They can be brown or black and look similar to moles. The growths are not harmful, and can be removed fairly easily by dermatologists.

Skin discoloration - whether it be darker or lighter - is also common in ethnic women as they age. Dark spots can often be treated with fade cream for black skin, but women should look for brands that do not contain the harmful bleaching agent hydroquinone. There are currently no treatments for individuals with light spots.

Finally, all skin types experience sagging with age. To prevent this, be sure to keep hydrated, wear sunscreen and use a moisturizer that is appropriate for your skin type.  

Natural remedies for dark spots

Many African American women experience patches of darkened skin on their face, which may be a source of embarrassment or grief. In the past, products containing the possibly carcinogenic hydroquinone flooded store shelves and targeted women with dark skin.

We are now aware of the harmful, irritating effects of the chemical, and while it still exists, safer alternatives are available - and some may even be in your kitchen cupboard.

Livestrong.com reports that papayas are packed with natural enzymes that may exfoliate the skin while they inhibit melanin-producing cells to help prevent hyperpigmentation. The source recommends massaging green papaya pulp into the skin as a daily treatment.

Aloe vera gel has long been used as a natural healing remedy for wounds and burns. The site suggests that leaving a mask of the moisturizing substance on the face for 45 minutes twice daily may help to fade dark spots.

Dr. Susan Taylor recommends products for black skin that contain soy, which may help to even out skin tone. Additionally, soy-derived products can help to hydrate the skin without adding excess oils.

The "superfruit" pomegranate has been showing up in a plethora of products lately because of its antioxidant properties. Taylor says the fruit can help to restore balance and calm inflammation.