Skin Care Astringents

Astringents are commonly referred to as toners and are basically used to remove oils and tighten the skin. In internal medicine, astringents are used to shrink mucus membranes. Astringents also help heal stretch marks and other scars. An astringent helps to stop bleeding and reduce the body secretions as they cause blood vessels and tissues to contract. Shave lotions, cologne and cleansing creams are made from astringents only. Mild astringent solutions are used in the relief of such minor skin irritations as those resulting from superficial cuts, allergies, insect bites, or fungal infections such as athlete's foot. Applying excessive astringents, especially harsh ones such as alcohol, can be drying.

Astringent preparations include silver nitrate, zinc oxide, zinc sulfate, Burow's solution, tincture of benzoin, and vegetable substances such as tannic and gallic acids. Some metal salts and acids have also been used as astringents. Astringents may be indicated in a wide range of problems but especially in wound healing and conditions of the digestive system. Long-term use as medicine can be deleterious to health as there may be an eventual inhibition of proper food absorption across the gut wall. Some people argue that the astringents may have a positive impact, while others fear that astringents restrict the pores, leading to an increased likelihood of blockage and infection. The toner also prepares your skin by removing all traces of leftover makeup and opening the pores prior to applying moisturizer.

Astringents clean up skin by decreasing the amount of oil that causes pimples. Daily use of an astringent skin toner helps to make your skin more clean, clear and healthy. Astringents to relieve skin irritations such as those cause by fungal infection and insect bites. Calamine lotion is an example of a topical medical astringent designed to reduce irritation, as is witch hazel. An astringent can be used to calm and soothe irritated skin, promote healing and remove excess oils to prevent potential blackheads and blemishes, as well as to firm the skin to minimize the appearance of wrinkles, prevent sagging tissues and improve the appearance of the skin overall. Sometimes alcohol-based astringents are used to cleanse oily skin, but these can prove to be excessively drying.

Astringents Skin Care Tips

1. Astringents also help heal stretch marks.

2. Astringents clean up skin by decreasing the amount of oil that causes pimples.

3. Astringents to relieve skin irritations such as insect bites.

4. Astringents remove excess oils to prevent potential blackheads and blemishes.

5. Astringent skin toner helps to make your skin more clean and healthy.

6. Astringent helps to stop bleeding and reduce the body secretions.

Juliet Cohen writes articles for skin care tips and skin care treatment.