http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/health/cancer/skin-cancer-definitions.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/cancer/skin-cancer-definitions.html Mon, 19 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0600
Melanoma: Melanoma is a malignant tumor that originates in melanocytes, the cells which produce the pigment melanin that colors our skin, hair, and eyes and is heavily concentrated in most moles. The majority of melanomas, therefore, are black or brown. However, melanomas occasionally stop producing pigment. When that happens, the melanomas may no longer be dark, but are skin-colored, pink, red or purple. (Source www.skincancer.org)

Basal Cell Carcinoma: The most common form of skin cancer, are cells that line the deepest layer of the epidermis. An abnormal growth — a tumor — of this layer is known as basal cell carcinoma. (Source www.skincancer.org)

Squamous Cell Carcinoma: The next most common form of skin cancer. Squamous cells are cells that compose most of the epidermis. An abnormal growth of these cells is known as a squamous cell carcinoma. (Source www.skincancer.org)

These are the most well known skin cancers that you hear about all the time... but how do they get to this stage without us knowing? It is because we ignore the early warning signs, such as skin growths, lesions, changes in moles or freckles, anything on our skins that doesn't look normal, these need to be checked into to ensure early detection.

Skin cancer is one of the most survivable, treatable and preventable cancer's out there.

So, be more aware of your skin and if you are going out in the sun, put sunscreen on, cover up and protect yourself, it is not worth the risk.



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Ok, so you know that sitting out in the sun is bad for you, but you like to be brown and glowing for summer... solution? Self tanning or sunless tanning... Learn more here.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/beauty/applying-your-sunless-tanning-products.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/beauty/applying-your-sunless-tanning-products.html Mon, 19 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0600
Tip: you should exfoliate and get rid of your tan once a week and start from scratch to ensure your pores do not get clogged.

Focus on the following areas when exfoliating: Knees, elbows, ankles and feet.

The best way to exfoliate is to use soft, circular motions, which will encourage dead skin to move away.

If you are exfoliating off an old tan, make sure that you also use an exfoliating glove combined with exfoliating washes or a lofah. Use pumice on your feet.

Applying Your Tan - The Best Part!

Once you have exfoliated and dried your skin completely, you are now ready to apply your tanning product.

For creams, mousses, gels and milks, apply in even strokes, always moving your hands so that the tan sinks into your skin.

Wait 10 minutes then reapply the lotion if you want a deeper tan. If this is the first time using any of these products, wait 12 hours to see how it develops and then reapply.

For Sprays, ensure you are either standing in the bath or shower before applying, otherwise you will get the spray everywhere and your floors and surrounding furniture will become stained!

Apply the spray in circular motions, always spraying each body part continuously.

Tip: Apply self tanning product at night, approximately half an hour before bed so that when you wake up, your tan will have already developed. Plus, you won't have any bra lines. Just ensure that you are completely dry before getting between the sheets to avoid staining.

When applying to your face, use Vaseline on your eyebrows and face line to avoid any lines developing. Have cotton wool dipped in lemon juice on hand to remove any darker spots etc.



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Wait! Don't stay out in the sun a minute longer, skin cancer is no laughing matter. 1 in 5 Americans develop skin cancer in their lifetime, so that means, if you are a group of 5 friends, at least one of you is going to get skin cancer. Protect yourself, YOU can self tan yourself at home, no fuss and no streaks and no skin cancer! Learn more here.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/beauty/choosing-the-right-tanning-product.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/beauty/choosing-the-right-tanning-product.html Mon, 19 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0600
There are lots of different texture products including sprays, creams, mousses, lotions, milks and wipes to name a few! So, which one to use?

Spray Tans: Use a spray tan if you have normal, oily or combination skin, depending on the combination. Typically, spray tans are based on a DHA formula so can dry your skin out if you don't use a slightly heavier moisturizer than you normally would.

A spray tan is ideal for your whole body, with the ability to get into those hard to reach places. Perfect for your legs and allowing a streak free application, provided you follow the instructions to a T.
Great for using on your back as well, provided the nozzle is equipped to allow any direction spray, which the majority of spray tans are.

My Tip: Apply half an hour before bed, this allows the skin to dry completely and as most of us don't wear a bra to bed, you won't get any lines and by the time you wake up, your tan will have developed and you can apply another coat if desired.

Gels & Mousses: Gels are quickly absorbed into the skin and make for a great massage feel, while mousses penetrate the skin almost instantly, melting away as soon as they have been applied, giving a deeper colour.

Gels and Mousses are again ideal for Normal, Oily and combination skin, but not for dry skin as they often don't have enough moisture in them to hydrate the skin as they develop.

My Tip: Purchase a gel or mousse that is coloured, so that you can see where you have applied to avoid streaking. Apply with long even strokes to avoid streaking and blend carefully around the elbows, knees and ankles to avoid any lines or white patches.

If you find that you have patches, simply squeeze some lemon juice into a dish and soak a cotton swab and rub over the area, this will remove the fake tan and allow you to reapply where needed.

Creams & Milks: These mainly consist of tinted moisturizers, white and transparent creams, great for the face as well as body. Milks gradually build up colour and contain plenty of moisture, so make sure you use on your neck as well.

These are great for all skin types, in particular dry skin types because they contain plenty of moisture to rehydrate the skin every time you apply. They are great if you want to build your tan up gradually.

My Tip: Use a Milk self tanning product for your face, neck and shoulders and the cream for the rest of your body, then apply a spray over the rest of your body, excluding your face and neck, to give a nice, even tan.

Wipes: These are fantastic if you are traveling away for the weekend or need to do a quick touch up without having to go through the whole drama of getting completely undressed :

My Tip: These are fantastic for the face and neck and this is my preference for using in these places as you apply like you would a liquid foundation and there is no risk of streaking if you apply with a flat hand and they slip into your handbag or toiletry bag with no fuss!

Gloves: Perfect for all skin types, gloves are the newest self tanning product out this season - the aim, self tanning without getting orange palms!

The gloves are impregnated with the fake tan, so give you an instant tan that lasts a good week.

My Tip: Use the gloves as the first self tanning product you use, then follow up with a cream or milk to maintain, using the gloves once a month, this will give you a fantastic all over tan that looks natural and won't cost you the earth!

There you have it, some comprehensive information about tanning products.


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Want to know how to use these products at home and get the most amazing sunless tan ever? Check out my website here for more details.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/beauty/the-five-body-skin-types.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/beauty/the-five-body-skin-types.html Mon, 19 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0600
Dry Skin - skin feels tight after showering and if left un-moisturized, will easily flake and crack.
Tip: if you are exposed to air-conditioning, try keeping a bowl of water near the unit or air vent to prevent your skin from drying out.

Sensitive Skin - skin feels irritated, reactions can vary from itchy breakouts to blistering, just a genuine irritated feel to the skin.
Tip: if you are wanting to try new products and are unsure how your skin will react, patch test the product on the inside of your wrist before buying and wait 24 hours to see if the skin reacts.

Normal Skin - skin feels supple and appears smooth, with an even texture to it, giving it the right balance of moisture.
Tip: before any special occasion, treat yourself to a salon treatment, like a body wrap, to give your skin that extra glow.

Oily Skin - skin is soft and supple with large, visible pores, prone to breakouts of spots and acne, in specific areas, mainly the back and chest areas.
Tip: look for the word "non-comedogenic" on the label of products you are looking for, it means it won't clog your pores.

Combination Skin - this can be a mixture of any of the above skin types, meaning that you may have to have two types of products for different areas of your body. Normally, the majority of your skin will be one type and places like your knees and elbows will be something else.



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Now that you know what your body skin type is, you can find the right products for you. This is especially relevant if you are wanting to get a sunless tan this summer. Check out more details here on how knowing your body skin type can make your fake tan look amazing.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/beauty/how-to-get-a-tan-without-the-sun.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/beauty/how-to-get-a-tan-without-the-sun.html Mon, 19 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0600
So, how do you achieve that perfect bronze colour that you want if you can't lay about in the sun?

You fake it. Sunless tanning is the way to go now. Forget sunbeds, they are just as bad, if not worse than lying in the sun for hours on end.

Technology is evolving and chemists have come up with formulas that colour our skin, giving us that glowing look without damaging our skin. But, which products to try and how do you know it is going to work for you?

The first step is to determine your skin type. There are 5 skin types, Dry, Sensitive, Oily, Normal and Combination. Once you know what type you are, it makes it easier to find the right product for you.

The underlying agent in most tanning products is DHA (Dihidroxyacetone), this is what you can smell in most tanning products, although a lot of them are getting very good at disguising this smell, as it is not all that attractive, but much better than the other option of getting skin cancer. DHA works with the skins pigments and creates varying shades of brown, depending on the product you have used.

You need to prepare your skin for self tanning, so make sure that you have washed, exfoliated and moisturized before applying your tanning product and ensure you apply moisturizer daily to extend the life of your tan.

You will need to remove your tan weekly to ensure you don't get patchy, scaly looking skin.

While all of this may seem like too much hard work, once you incorporate it into your daily routine you will find it quick and easy to do.

Of course, none of the aboves beats going to the beach and basking in the sun, and there is no reason that you still can't do this, just remember to have good protection, a good strong sunscreen applied a few times during the day, a good hat and some cover for when you are not swimming... common sense really, and you will be well on your way to enjoying summer, with a tan that didn't involve baking your skin!



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Did you know that it can take years for Melanomas to appear on your body... so stop baking your skin now, you may have already done the damage. Learn Sunless Tanning tips and tricks at Fake Tan 101.

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