So here’s what I’ll do for you. You can read this article, and get practical how-to advice about men skin care products and no one will know! It will be our little secret.

Close the Sale

Most men have this mistaken idea that men skin care products consist solely of soap, shaving cream, and some aftershave or cologne. The phrase “skincare” conjurs up images of women with cucumber eyes, trying to keep their skin feeling soft and pretty. But what man really cares about “soft and pretty” skin?

But I know a lot of men who care about first impressions. They care about being able to close a high-end sale, or confidently lead a group of associates, or give killer-presentations. They care about RESPECT. And respect is harder to attain when you look like your 14, but your really pushing 40. And those little red dots sprinkled on your face and neck certainly don’t help your case.

Believe it or not, but a good skin care regimen is actually more important for a man than it is a woman. Women don’t regularly take a sharp blade and scrape it across their cheeks, chin, and neck. That constant irritation can make skin itchy, red and irritated. Throwing on those alcohol-based aftershaves and colognes afterwards can make things even worse.

Talk about a solid return on investment! That 30 seconds you take in the morning and evening to properly care for your manly man skin will pay you dividends on your overall health, and your ability to “wow” at those first oh-so-important impressions.

A man with a healthy, young-looking complexion (but with an experienced face) is going to feel more confident about that getting promotion, or delivering that effective sales-speak to potential customers. Give yourself an emotional and physical edge on your competitors.

Go Below the Radar

Although they are an absolute necessity in order to nurse razor-burned and irritated skin back to health, high-quality men skin care products are very difficult to find. I say “high-quality” because most of the men skin care products being offered are not specifically designed for the unique needs that a man has.

You might as well be putting cucumbers on your eyes too…because your getting the woman’s formula in a new package. If there are any changes at all, it’s most likely just a new scent. At least they’re smart enough to figure out that YOU don’t want to smell like lavender.

If, by some miracle, the products were different, I would still not recommend that you use them. Why? Because they are full of chemicals and petroleum-by products that don’t help your skin, and are even worse for your total body’s health.

You need natural skin care for men. You need men skin care products that contain healthy ingredients to effectively soothe, and moisturize your skin, nullifying the effects of daily shaving.

What are the ingredients you should look for in your natural skin care for men products? Brazilian Babassu wax (as opposed to cancer-giving paraffin), and witch hazel. Both of these act to relieve both the razor burn that you have and the dryness and itching.

Natural skin care for men should always include these two ingredients, the witch hazel especially. Look for naturally processed witch hazel, not synthetically re-created.

You should also be on the lookout for Capuacu butter as an ingredient, because it is also especially good at treating dry, itchy, inflamed skin. It has even been proven powerful enough to be helpful in healing eczema.

As a rule, if the product you’re using isn’t produced by a company that includes all-natural ingredients as part of their mission statement, move on. Go below the radar, and use natural skin care for men products from companies who are smaller in scope.

In my experience, if the huge mega-skin care companies would spend just half of their marketing budget on research and development, their products would be infinitely higher-quality.

Your Bottom Line

In this economy, it’s important to make the best impressions on your customers, boss, and coworkers. Everyone’s skin (including mine) could use something. If you don’t eat healthy foods, your body will remain unhealthy. If you don’t use men skin care products that are healthy, your skin will remain blotchy, irritated, and wrinkled.

Taking 1 minute a day to attend to your skin’s needs is an incredibly simple way to boost your confidence, and maybe even your bottom line. To see the specific ingredients you should look for in your natural skin care for men products (including more details on the ones I’ve already mentioned), and where to find them, visit my website hyperlinked below.

‘Serious skin care’ is also about awareness. With the technological advancements and research, more and more facts are being brought to light everyday. Also, the composition and nature of skin care products seems to be changing with time. So trying out the new products is also a part of serious skin care. However, ‘serious skin care’ advises using a new product over a small patch of skin (not facial skin) first, just to see how your skin reacts to it.

‘Serious skin care’ also means knowing how to use your skin care products. Good practices include things like applying the moisturizers while the skin is damp, using upward strokes for better penetration of skin care products, removing the make up before going to bed, cleansing before moisturising or applying make up, using the correct amount of skin care products, etc. Thus, increasing the effectiveness of your skin care products is another focus area of serious skin care.

Some precautions, like avoiding contact with detergents, are also part of serious skin care. ‘Serious skin care’ means being gentle with your skin. Things like over-exfoliation, use of low quality products, and application of strong-chemical based products, are all harmful to your skin. Some people have a wrong notion about serious skin care. For them serious skin care is – using large quantities of products as often as possible. However, this really isn’t serious skin care (and that’s why awareness is so important).

‘Serious skin care’ is also about visiting your dermatologist for treatment of skin disorders. Ignoring the skin disorders can be fatal for your skin and might lead to permanent damage. So, if the things don’t improve with over the counter medication, you should immediately visit a dermatologist. Self-surgery e.g. squeezing of acne/pimples is a big no (it can lead to permanent damage of your skin).

So, seriously serious skin care is more about precautions and preventive measures (than treatment). Serious skin care is about being proactive as well as reactive. In fact, we can say that ‘serious skin care’ is about being proactive about the needs of your skin so that the need for being reactive is reduced to a minimum.

So, it really comes to rephrasing the question to – ‘What is the best skin care product for me’. Yes, this is exactly the question that you should be asking, and unfortunately there is no easy answer for this. Arriving at the best skin care product for self will need some effort on your part.

First of all, you need to understand how the skin care products work. This is simple. You can consider all skin care products to be composed of 2 types of ingredients – Active and inactive. The active ingredients are the ones that actually work on your skin. The inactive ones just help in delivering these active ingredients to your skin. Both the ingredients need to work for your skin, in order for the product to be effective (and move on to become the best skin care product for you).

Besides the ingredients, the way you apply your skin care products is equally important. In fact, this is even more important. If you do not know how to apply skin care products, you might forever be hunting for the best skin care product for yourself, when that has already passed you. Moreover, it’s also important to decide on the frequency of application (of the skin care product). The environmental factors – temperature, humidity and pollution level, also affect the selection of best skin care product. Here are a few rules that you could use to ensure that your best skin care product is really the best for you:

* Cleanse your skin before applying that best skin care product.

* Use a makeup remover instead of plain water and remove your makeup before going to bed.

* The effectiveness of active ingredients is reduced when applied over another product e.g. over moisturiser. So apply that best skin care product first and then apply a bit of moisturizer if needed.

* Apply the products on moist and warm skin.

* You will have to experiment with a few products before you arrive at the one that is the best skin care product for you.

* Do not exfoliate too much or too hard.

* Vary your skin care routine as per the seasons (winter/summer etc), changes in environmental factors and changes in your skin type

Note that the best skin care product cannot be determined overnight. It’s only through experiment (and awareness) that you can find the ‘Best skin care product’ (for you).

Natural skin care products are best for the skin because they are not so full of chemicals and toxins that are a part of other skin care products on the market today. Anti aging skin care solutions should consist of cleansers and creams that can help you restore your skin to soft beauty. By using natural skin care products, you not only get the effect that you want for your skin, but you also do so without toxins. 

Anti aging skin care solutions should consist of cleansers and toners as well as moisturizing creams. Because you need different types of skin care for different areas of your face and neck, you need to choose anti aging skin care solutions that are comprised of several different formulas that are made for various parts of your face. This means that the natural skin care should be for the face, the eyes and the neck as well. In addition, the anti aging skin care products should also consist of cleansers that are gentle on the face. 

If you are looking for anti aging skin care solutions, choose natural skin care that is made for your type of skin. If you have dry skin, then look for products that are created especially for dry skin. If your skin is oily, then you need to look for natural skin care products that are made for oily skin. If your skin is combination, as is the case with many people, then seek out anti aging skin care solutions that will take care of your skin. 

You can fight wrinkles and aging effects if you use the proper anti aging skin care solutions. Huge strides have been made in this field in recent years that can help you erase lines on your face and make you look years younger. You do not have to use products that contain chemicals that are alien to your skin, either. You can get pure and natural skin care products that are ideal for any type of skin and will take years off of your appearance. 

You only get one chance at taking care of your skin. Instead of allowing time to creep up on you, you can do something about it by looking for anti aging skin care that is not only natural, but is also perfect for your skin type. In addition, you can choose products that consist of various serums that are made for your eyes and other areas of your face that are more sensitive and need extra care. You can purchase skin care solutions that are ideal for your skin and will reduce the signs of aging by ordering them right online. 

Whilst you might expect a lot of voodoo and hype about anti aging skin care, it’s not as difficult as you would think. There are some simple steps you can take to improve the chances of your skin looking good and being healthy right into old age. Combine some basic steps with a good quality anti aging skin care treatment and you’re on your way to slowing the visible effects of aging on your body.

A few simple steps each day should be a good foundation to good anti aging skin care, and there’s also some things you shouldn’t do too. A basic anti aging skin care guide should be easy to follow. It isn’t necessary to spend hours every day, just follow some simple rules and you’re well on your way to healthy good looking skin, and good health in general. Because the 2 go together.

3 Things You Should Never Do To Your Skin.

1. Avoid sunburn, or even overexposure to the sun.

Whilst a suntan might look good it’s one of the worst things you can do to your skin. Sunlight has damaging UV rays that burn your skin if you’re out in strong sunlight for too long, and this ages your skin and damages it severely. Sunburn is one of the worst things you can ever do to your skin.

When we get too much exposure to the sun our skin starts to experience damage to the cells that make up the skin, or dermis, as the scientists call it. This results in the loss of a substance known as hyaluronan. Hyaluronan is a key component of our skin and is responsible for helping our skin repair itself, so we don’t want to burn ourselves, thereby reducing the amount of hyaluronan that is there to repair damage.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go out in the sun, please don’t misunderstand. And any good anti aging skin care guide shouldn’t advocate staying indoors all day. Our bodies need sunlight. Exposure to sunlight helps our body produce vitamin D, and important vitamin. It’s not exposure to sunlight that is dangerous to our skin, it’s over exposure.

So avoid direct exposure to the sun from around 1pm to about 4pm, the most dangerous time, especially in summer. Use a good hat and long sleeved shirt. Use sunscreens sparingly, as they can contain chemicals which themselves can be nasty to our skin and in some cases are suspected of being dangerous.

2. Don’t eat to ruin your skin.

Or your health for that matter. The American diet is one almost designed to age us as fast as possible. Any good anti aging skin care guide should stress the importance of good diet to our skin and overall health. Because remember, the 2 go together.

So when you’re tucking into that next burger or pizza, remember that your diet affects your skin’s health, and your overall health. Focus on a diet rich in fruit and vegetables and in particular leafy green vegetables. Spinach and broccoli are particularly good. Take care of your body with good diet (and exercise) and it will function better and look better.

A diet high in vegetables improves your levels of anti oxidants that combat the effect of free radicals in your body, and skin.

3. Don’t dehydrate your skin.

So many of us don’t have enough fluids in our life. Specifically water.

In any good skin care routine drinking enough water should play a big part. Our body is made up of more water than anything else, and it needs water taken in every day. Our skin is our largest organ and it too needs plenty of water, and doesn’t respond well to dehydration. Drink plenty of water every day. Make sure it’s filtered water, tap water isn’t so great.

There’s 3 simple things you can do to help reduce the effects of aging on your skin, but those 3 on their own aren’t sufficient. A good anti aging skin care guide should also focus on skin care products that work.

Make sure you use a good anti aging skin care treatment.

Unfortunately you’re probably using skin care products now that don’t work. If you’re using mainstream household name products there’s a good chance they won’t do anything. And they probably contain ingredients that could be dangerous as well.

The best skin care treatments are organic skin care products that contain ingredients that come from sources such as plants, rather than the lab.

For example products that contain Phytessence Wakame and CoenzymeQ10 are effective and natural skin care treatments that work, and don’t contain nasty chemicals. Both these ingredients are naturally occurring.

Phytessence Wakame, for example, is extracted from seaweed, and is packed with vitamins and minerals essential to the health of our skin. And it can help our body retain hyraluronic acid, which is very important for skin health.

But don’t be fooled, not all products containing those ingredients are effective, many big companies put very small amounts into their skin care products just so they can list them on the label.

So if you’re looking for a good anti aging skin care guide there’s a good place to start. Eat well, drink plenty of filtered water, avoid too much exposure to the sun, and use a high quality organic anti aging skin care treatment that contains some of the best naturally occurring anti aging and skin health ingredients .

And you won’t find these in your mainstream big name skin care brands sitting on the shelf of your drugstore.

When looking for skin care for yourself, first look to entire kits of skin care solutions. The kits should consist of cleansing solutions as well as protective creams and serums that will keep the wrinkles at bay. If you are looking for a way to take years off of your appearance, you can find it with the modern skin care solutions being offered today. These skin care products use serums that are composed of properties that are already in your skin and work naturally to restore your skin to youthfulness.

Cleansing is the first step towards skin care. If your skin is not properly cleansed, then you are wasting your time putting creams on your face. Forget about soap as it dries out your skin and also contains chemicals that can cause you harm as they are absorbed into your skin. It is essential that you choose skin care products that contain a good deep cleanser in addition to moisturizers for your face. You need to make sure that your pores are completely cleansed out when you are taking care of your skin so that you can prevent the signs of aging.

Not everyone has the same type of skin. Your skin may be oily or dry.  Or it may be combination skin. You need to look for skin care products that not only address aging, but also will be ideal for your skin type. Skin care works when you address the type of skin that you have with the correct products.

Special serums that are designed for parts of your face that are more sensitive are also an important part of your skin care routine. For example, the skin around your eyes is every thin and more prone to wrinkles than any other part of your face. The best skin care products address this fact and have serums that are especially made for problem areas of your skin.

By taking care of your skin with new skin care products that are made for anti aging, you will be amazed at the results. You do not have to put up with the natural signs of aging that appear on your face if you do not want to. You can take care of your skin with skin care products that retard aging and will make your skin look years younger. By using these products regularly, you will be fighting the signs of time that creep up on all of us. Once you get into a regular skin care routine, you will start to notice positive results right away and will look younger and gain more confidence when it comes to your appearance. Fight time with skin care that is made to reduce the signs of aging and make your skin look soft and supple.

When you are looking for skin care products, you have to take the type of skin that you have into consideration. This means that you should focus on your skin type and choose skin care that is made to take care of your skin.  If you have oily skin, then choose products that are made for this type. It’s the same with dry or combination skin. It is very important, when it comes to skin care, to use the right products that are made for your skin type. Since everyone has different skin types, the same skin care products are not the proper treatment for everyone.

In addition, you need to consider that different parts of your face need special care. This is especially true when it comes to the area around your eyes. You need to take care to use serums that will treat this very thin area of skin that is more prone to wrinkles than other areas. You should choose skin care that not only focuses on the face, but the entire face and areas that can be more prone to problems.

Look for skin care products that focus on cleansing as well. Without proper cleansing, you are not doing much good for your facial skin. When you look for products for skin care, choose those that encompass both cleansing to protecting. Just putting cream on your face is not enough. You have to make sure that all of your pores have been properly cleaned out from a good cleansing treatment. If you are using soap on your face, you are making a mistake. This will dry out your skin and will also cause you to develop wrinkles earlier.

If you have some signs of aging, you can reduce them by using skin care that is made to reduce the signs of aging. There has been quite a bit of development in this field in recent years. You can make yourself look many years younger simply by choosing the right skin care products and using them.

Of course, it stands to reason that you have to use the skin care products regularly in order for them to work. By choosing a good skin care regimen and practicing it daily, you will be helping to keep your skin smooth and supple as well as wrinkle free. You can find skin care solutions that consist of cleansers as well as anti wrinkle serums by shopping online. These skin care products also focus on different types of skin so that you can get the right products that are made especially for you.

Believe it or not, your skin is the biggest organ of the human body. The principle

purpose of your skin is to protect your body from foreign agents. The skin

is the first line of defense against disease and infection. It is also the

skin that gives us protection against the sun.

However, it is also the skin that first betrays the effects of aging. Skin

ailments such as psoriasis or dermatitis can be irritating and make our lives

miserable. While we never needed things like wrinkle creams or moisturizers

when we were younger and our skin more resilient, the fact is that some degree

of skin care is inevitable as we age.

But skin care treatment is also necessary because of factors unrelated to

our aging skin. Dry skin is caused by a number of conditions and therefore

its treatment options will depend on the actual cause. Here are some causes

of dry skin:

Medication Side Effects

As a society, we have increasingly become dependent on medication for things

like high blood pressure, tension headaches, and even depression. Skin care

treatment for dryness may very well be necessary due to some side effect

of your medication for a completely unrelated condition. For this reason,

you always want to monitor any potential skin irritation immediately after

starting any new medication. If you already have dry skin and can’t remember

whether or not it was a problem before starting your medication, you may

need to consult with your physician and discuss an alternative medication

in order to rule out side effects as the cause of your dry skin.

Poor Nutrition

Skin care problems are often the result of poor nutrition. Our bodies require

a delicate balance of nutrients in order to keep everything functioning properly,

especially the skin. Vegetarians and vegans often run into dry skin issues

as a result of not consuming enough animal fats in their diet. A vitamin

B12 deficiency will cause your oil glands (sebaceous glands) to function

improperly, generally leading to acne.

Basically, any attempt to address a skin care issue (be it oily, dry, or even

itchy skin) should begin with a close look at diet. Dermatologists can best

assess potential diet-related skin care problems and recommend corrective

measures to naturally restore skin vitality. However, here are some foods

to avoid where possible in order to keep your skin as healthy as possible:

· fried foods (chicken, French fries)

· processed sugars

· caffeine, coffee, tea, soft drinks

· high fat dairy products like milk or cheese (consuming low fat

varieties of milk and cheese may not be great, but they are better for your

skin!)

Now the best thing that you can ingest for improved skin care is water. That’s

right, water. Water naturally removes toxins from your body-so the more you

drink of it, the purer your body will be. Drinking lots of water is especially

good for people with acne problems and it will also help reduce the onset

of wrinkles.

Skin Care Problems Due to Sebaceous Gland Problems

If you have ever been to a dermatologist because of acne problems then you

are probably very familiar with sebaceous glands. Because the skin needs

to be lubricated, it is covered with oil secreting glands known as sebaceous

glands. If these glands become clogged with dirt, then bacteria begin growing

inside and a pimple is the result. However, sebaceous glands can either become

clogged and dry skin is caused or they can produce too much and cause oily

skin. More often than not, problems with the sebaceous glands are due to

poor diet and can usually be corrected rather easily.

Skin Care Problems Due to Diabetes

Believe it or not, even diabetes can cause you serious skin care problems.

A person with diabetes has trouble regulating the blood sugar levels. When

there is an excess of blood sugar in the body, the excess must be absorbed.

To do this, the body uses a lot more water than normal and that can lead

to dry skin.

Skin Care Treatment for Dryness

While diet must always be part of any skin care treatment regimen, it is just

a simple fact that our bodies will need more help as we age. For this reason,

a moisturizer of some sort will ultimately be needed. To this end, it is

HIGHLY recommended that you use a natural skin moisturizer.

Moisturizers using natural ingredients are far less likely to cause the irritating

side effects mentioned earlier. Synthetic ingredients are often less expensive

to use in moisturizers but they are not the best skin care option because

the body is less receptive to them. Natural ingredients, on average, cause

fewer side effects and are therefore better where skin moisturizers are concerned.

Skin Care for Wrinkles

Wrinkles are probably the biggest cause of all skin care treatments in the

United States. As a person ages, the skin naturally becomes less elastic.

As a result, fine lines begin to form on the face which ultimately become

the wrinkles we hate so much. There are two main skin care strategies when

it comes to wrinkles: affect the muscles that reveal the wrinkles or fill

in the skin so the wrinkles are less noticeable. The first strategy involves

Botox and the second Collagen injections.

Botox Skin Care

A person is actually having a strain of Botulism injected in their face when

they opt for Botox skin care treatment. Botox actually interrupts the transmission

of nerve impulses to the muscles that reveal our wrinkles. It may sound radical,

but these injections do actually reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the

face for a significant period of time. Now these injections can be costly

and they must be repeated-but they are generally affective.

Collagen Injection Skin Care

Many people have a serious misperception about collagen injections. The perception

is that collagen is a form of fat that is injected into your face to fill

in the lines caused by wrinkles. Actually, collagen is an effective form

of skin care treatment for wrinkles not because it is fat-but because it

is protein. In fact, collagen is a special protein that helps cells and blood

vessels connect to one another. When this happens, the wrinkles fade because

the collagen helps the skin to “rebuild” in areas where wrinkles

form and actually fill in the lines. Again, collagen treatments tend to work

but they also are expensive and need to be repeated.

Natural Anti-Wrinkle Creams

A cheaper, but slower, alternative to expensive skin care treatments for wrinkles

is a simple cream. Anti-wrinkle creams work to rebuild the skin texture and

helps with the elasticity over time. However, unlike Collagen or Botox injections,

anti-wrinkle cream skin care treatment is only applied to the skin surface.

This is why it takes so much longer. Still, an anti-wrinkle cream is a cost-effective

and non-invasive treatment for wrinkles that does work if given enough time.

Again, in order to reduce possible side effects, stick with creams that use

natural ingredients as they will react better with your skin.

For a natural skin care product, try SkinSoSilky today to help manage any of your anti aging, acne, or dry skin care needs.

1. No chemicals. Each day we are around chemicals that are used to clean, gas from vehicles, and some of us are even around cigarette smoke. These things are not good for our skin. Constant exposure to a variety of negative things can leave our skin looking aged, dry, cracked, and old. Natural products are chemical-free.

2. Natural skin care products treat the skin better than unnatural treatments do. Natural things like plants, fruits, herbs, etc., were put here to serve a purpose. It is a shame that some of us are still not taking advantage of these natural and plentiful benefits that are so readily available to us.

3. All natural skin care products possess healing properties that chemical-based skin care products do not. It is true that Mother Nature has given us all that we will ever need to take good care of our skin. Natural skin care products not only help to take care of your skin, they get down into the deeper layers of the skin to repair it and permanently heal it.

4. There are no allergic reactions. There is no eye redness, and no other forms of irritation to deal with. All of the man-made substances are absent, so there is no need to panic that you will be allergic to a natural skin care product.

5. Less use is needed. Since the products are genuine, there is no need to go back and constantly repair the damage done over and over again. All natural skin care products provide better quality, and the creams last longer when not being used.

6. Natural skin care products do not do additional damage to your skin. Chemical-based skin care products might appear to do some temporary repair to your skin, but over time, they are actually damaging your skin. This is what leads to the constant usage of chemical-based skin care products. Suppose that is how they keep their business going? They give you a little bit of repair, and a little bit of damage at the same time.

7. You do not have to worry about harmful substances getting down into your blood stream. It has been proven that over 60% of chemicals that we put on our skin get absorbed into our blood streams. When chemicals absorb into our blood stream through the skin, it heightens our chances of developing eczema, allergies, breakouts, oily skin, cancer, and other various illnesses. With natural skin care products, you know exactly what is going on your skin, and you do not have to worry about getting sick.

As you can see, the benefits of using natural skin care products definitely have the upper hand over unnatural skin care products. Natural skin care is readily available to us only if we choose to use it. The results that natural skin care products have on our skin are better and longer lasting. It is no wonder why they are becoming more and more popular. It is a huge relief to know that more people are actually taking the time out to switch to something better for their skin, and easier on their health. We need to be using something that our bodies are compatible with, not something that we are constantly going to be at odds with. All natural skin care products are the answer.

Over a period spanning three decades, the handling of neonates has radically changed and the new guidelines highlight this growth and development. However, this area of skin care has lagged behind. One concern that remains is the issue of the toxic effects of ingredients found in water-based products like preservatives and fragrances. While it is possible that these may be toxic, this article will present evidence that the current skin care products that contain petrolatum and lanolin may be more toxic and potentially harmful. Further, using a product that is not preserved, yet occlusive, may in fact allow for microorganisms in colony forming units to multiply, thereby yielding systemic implications. The purpose of this article is to further illuminate these issues and to allow for greater understanding and discussion.

Skin is the largest organ of the body and provides protection between the body and its environment. In term babies, while there may be issues related to skin breakdown and infection, the stratum corneum is fully developed and protects the newborn. In contrast, the skin and skin barrier of a preterm neonate is not fully developed.

The skin of a premature neonate accounts for approximately thirteen (13) percent of its body weight. This compares to three (3) percent of body weight for adult skin. The body weight to skin ratio is four (4) times greater in the neonate when compared to an adult. As related specifically to skin care, these characteristics in neonate skin call into account:

• Fluid imbalances

• Percutaneous absorption of toxins

• Tissue injury

• Infection

The structure of adult skin is understood, while embryonic and neonate skin is not fully appreciated. Development of the skin within the uterus is complex and still under investigation. In utero, the skin undergoes two-dimensional growth to cover the surface area of the developing embryo and fetus. Premature neonate’s skin has not gone through full epidermal and dermal epidermal development.

In neonatal intensive care units (NICU) skin care product selection is carefully reviewed. With the risks outlined above, great care must be taken to ensure the wellbeing of the neonate within the first hours and days of life. Care of the skin is one of the most important areas of care for these at risk infants. Currently, NANN and AWHONN recommended a Aquaphor?, a petrolatum-based product as neonate skin care emollient.

In earlier work done at Stanford University, it was concluded that emollient cream moisturizer therapy of premature neonates decreases dermatitis without changing the microbiological flora. An emollient is an agent that softens or soothes skin. This definition is important because just as the standard-of-care has changed in NICUs over the past three decades, the selection of emollients has changed in the pharmaceutical industry.

High-tech silicone excipients have displaced petrolatum as companies have sought ways to improve treatment compliance traced to poor aesthetics associated with petrolatum-based formulations. Silicones are not new to the pharmaceutical industry. They are used in transdermal delivery systems, catheters and specialized medical devices, including pacemakers.

In a test to determine aesthetic benefits of silicone formulas over petrolatum-based formulas, 18 untrained volunteers were impaneled. They were asked to evaluate whether two products present any differences on individual sensory properties. The evaluation was conducted on the panelist’s forearms. Each panelist was asked to evaluate wetness, spreadability, speed of absorbance (not biologically, just feel), gloss, film residue, greasiness, silkiness and slip after perceived absorbance.

Figure I shows the silicone-containing formulation was perceived to be easier to spread and was clearly less tacky before and after absorption. A perceptible film was present on the skin for both formulations but the silicone-containing formulation was less greasy, silkier and more slippery (better lubrication) than petrolatum. The panelist’ perception of higher wetness for the silicone-containing formulation was attributed to its lower oiliness.

In a study conducted at a 48-bed NICU private hospital in Houston, Texas, to evaluate why the rate of systemic candidiasis (SC) per 1000 NICU patient-days increased from 5.1% in 1996 to17.4% in 1997 (a three-fold increase), it was determined that the increase in SC incidences was linked to the use of topical petrolatum ointment (TPO). In this well designed study, the investigators went on to hypothesize that TPO enhanced the adherence of C albicans to mucocutaneous surfaces. Also referenced in the study was a finding by Law S, et al, that unlike petrolatum, skin surface lipids inhibit adherence of candida albicans to stratum corneum.

By way of further examination, let’s more closely examine these two hypotheses. As observed in the Houston study, petrolatum enhanced adherence of C albicans to mucocutaneous surfaces. Petrolatum is known as an occlusive barrier. Occlusion is problematic because while it blocks TEWL, it also blocks cellular respiration necessary for barrier repair. Further, occlusion traps microorganisms under the petrolatum where they can breed in the moisture trapped therein. On the other hand, natural skin lipids, like omega 3-6 fatty acids, inhibit adherence of microorganisms to the stratum corneum.

Studies linking petrolatum to increased incidences of infections in preterm infants is ongoing and demonstrates mixed results. However, long term studies reflect a concern over the use of TPO protocols in NICUs. Petrolatum based ointments, like Aquaphor’s? twenty five year old formula, are the emollients of choice in NICUs. When one considers the changes in the standards of care in NICUs over the past three decades, perhaps now is the time to focus on new technologies in emollients that achieve skin care objectives without the aesthetic, epidermal challenges renders skin vulnerable to chemicals & infection, prevents normal TEWL & gland secretions, inhibits barrier repair, suppresses barrier recovery and reduces the epidermal proliferative response and microbial risk disadvantages of petrolatum.

To demonstrate the effectiveness of high products using molecular height silicones against petrolatum, Nutrashield TM was tested in a wash-off study against Aquaphor? and other leading skin barriers to determine each product’s ability to maintain skin protection after cleansing. As shown in Figure II, Nutrashield performed well against Aquaphor?, and did so while providing a breathable barrier instead of the occlusive barrier associated with Aquaphor? (a lanolin and petrolatum-based product). In clinical trials Nutrashield has proven effective in the treatment of skin breakdown in disordered and damaged skin, encountered in the wound care setting, as compared to previously available products.

Based on the above results, Medline Nutrashield outperforms products containing petrolatum levels as high as 49%, and petrolatum combined with 15% Zinc Oxide. Additionally, both Sensi-Care 2 and Sween 24 also contain Dimethicone as an active ingredient (Sween at 6% versus 1% in the Nutrashield). The extended performance of the Nutrashield is most likely due to the addition of Divinyldimethicone/ Dimethicone Copolymer, which has an internal phase viscosity that is greater than 100,000,000 cst in viscosity. As it is delivered in an emulsion form, it is capable of laying down a thin, but consistent and robust film.

An in-vitro study at an independent laboratory was conducted, to determine the effectiveness of Nutrashield and Skin Repair Cream in reducing e-TEWL. Collagen samples were cut into 4×4 inch squares. Each square was pre-coated with 0.1 g of product. The product was applied by rubbing a finger over the collagen material to simulate actual use for a 20 second period. The product was then allowed to dry for five minutes. Each square was placed over Fisher Payne Permeability Cups, containing 3g of water. The samples were placed in a 37 degree oven and checked every four (4) hours. After 24 hours the cups were removed and a final weight was recorded.

Figure III shows that both REMEDY Nutrashield and REMEDY Skin Repair Cream were effective at reducing e-TEWL without occlusion. Nutrashield provided a fourfold reduction in e-TEWL over the control, while Skin Repair Cream showed a twofold improvement. The objective of topical skin care intervention is not to stop all TEWL, just excessive TEWL.

Skin care for neonates is an emerging science. But, since the reduced risk of infant mortality is paramount, improved emollient treatments deserve thoughtful consideration. Skin care for the high-risk neonate requires knowledge of the unique aspects and physiology of their skin. During the neonatal period many newborns develop preventable, clinically apparent skin problems and many more, especially preterm neonates, experience morbidity caused by compromised skin barrier integrity. Anatomical and physiological differences in the skin of premature and term infants place them at increased risk of skin injury and breakdown. All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL, sent out a questionnaire to 482 NICU’s to learn how nurses describe and measure skin breakdown. Of the 45% that responded, it was reported that in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants, 21% suffered skin breakdown during the first week of life.

The reduction of microbial contamination and the protection against skin breakdown has been discussed. Another critical factor is TEWL associated with immature barrier in neonates is the rate of TEWL. A Swedish study calculated TEWL in infants 24 and 25 weeks of gestation maintained at an ambient relative humidity (RH) of 50%. The study found that TEWL on the first day after birth (58.4 +/-14.8g m(-2) h(-1) and remained at the same level during the second day. It then decreased significantly to 48.3+/-9.5 at postnatal age of day three. The use of a semipermeable skin care product like Nutrashield will reduce excessive TEWL by as much as fourfold.

Semipermeable dressings have been tested as a method to reduce TEWL in neonates to address skin breakdown and high fluid requirements common in ELBW infants. The studies revealed that semipermeable (breathable) barriers can be used safely on premature infants.

The use of ingredients perceived as “toxic” to neonates has limited the choices within the NICUs. Much of the literature points to preservatives and fragrances as falling into the “do-not-use” category. Both are found in the REMEDY products. Consideration of the potential toxicity of ingredients found in the “recommended” products may not have been fully clarified. This is interesting when one considers that lanolin and petrolatum, forming an occlusive barrier, are recommended. Let’s take a closer look at what is being recommended:

Lanolin originates as a secretion from the sebaceous glands in sheepskin. It is removed from the wool by scouring and high-speed centrifugal separators. Lanolin has had 33 alcohols and 36 fatty acids identified as constituents including aliphatic, steroid and triterpinoid alcohols; saturated nonhydroxylated, unsaturated nonhydroxylated and hydroxhlated acid. Commercial lanolin is allowed to have up to 40 parts per million (ppm) pesticide residues. However, it is not clear who monitors for this compliance.

Animal medicines, which include sheep dips for controlling lice and other parasites on sheep, are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). One of the common sheep dip ingredients is organochlorine (OC). This pesticide is based on the benzene ring with one or more chloride atoms attached and includes; DDT, lindane, dieldrin and aldrin. Other sheep dip pesticides include; synthetic pyrethroids, insect growth regulators, spinosyns, ivermectins and magnesium fluorosilicate. In 1994 in Wagga, NSW, a team of shearers successfully sued woolgrowers for allegedly endangering their health by improperly using chemicals. Shearers are becoming more aware of the potential risks associated with exposure to chemicals (sheep dip), particularly organophosphate group which can cause a serious nervous disorder.

There are about 26 pesticide residues found in commercial lanolin. The combined effect of pesticides acting by a common mechanism can be greater than the individual effect of any single pesticide. Since children are subject to non-dietary sources (like lanolin) of exposure pesticides, it is important to consider total exposure to pesticides from all sources combined. Nine hundred and ninety eight (989) references to lanolin and DDT were found in a Google search, April 2005.

La Leche League International is an important advocate for breastfeeding and their commitment has assured thousands of infants receive the vital nutrients found in colostrum and mother’s milk. While the organization acknowledges that toxins from the environment, including pesticides, show up in breast milk, the benefits outweigh the risks. However, the organization does recommend against topical use of commercial lanolin because of its pesticide content.

Petrolatum is a crude oil/petroleum fraction. Petroleum is a complicated mixture of chemicals, thought to have formed from the decay of ancient marine animals millions of years ago. Most of the constituents of petroleum are hydrocarbon molecules, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur atoms. The hydrocarbon atoms take principally four different forms; paraffins, olefins, cycloparaffins and aromatics. These constituents give us gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, lubricating oils (like mineral oil), petrolatum, asphalt and tar, to name a few.

During the manufacturing process, longer unbranched paraffin molecules are able to join together to form crystalline solids. These solids are called paraffin waxes. With time, paraffin waxes settle out of the lubricating oils and are usually removed. At lower temperatures, shorter unbranched paraffin molecules also settle out of lubrication oil. The semi-solid material that forms in cold lubricating oil is petrolatum or petroleum jelly.

The processing of petroleum into petrolatum removes varying amounts of toxins. The yellowish petrolatum has more residue than that of the white petrolatum. Two of the refining methods include sulphuric acid and earth filtering. The acid treatment and filtering is an old process still used to remove the impurities of the “cake” (petrolatum + technical oils). Another purification method is hydrogenation which pressurizes hydrogen through the hydrocarbons with the help of a specific catalyst.

Once one understands the source of petrolatum and why there is a risk of toxins, one must move on to a biologically more concerning issue. Petrolatum is occlusive. In an article by Fore, it was found that the degree of skin occlusion has an effect on barrier recovery. Occlusive products suppress barrier recovery and reduce the epidermal proliferative response to an abnormal stratum corneum barrier. An occlusive product, like petrolatum, will prevent TEWL and will slow the epidermal maturation and barrier repair. Occlusion of the skin increases the infectious organisms, potentially raising the skin’s pH. Occlusion will also directly increase the pH of the skin. Occlusive products also interfere with cellular respiration and may lead to cell death.

This information presents a powerful message that one may want to rethink the use of lanolin and petrolatum on neonate skin. The use of modern emollients like silicone, combined with natural omega 3-6 fatty acids, barrier-building amino acids and natural antioxidants and vitamins may deserve another look. Water-based skin care products are required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be preserved. This keeps them free of bacteria and protects the products from contamination when microorganisms from sources (like unclean hands) contaminate the product in the container as well as during use.

The requirement of preservatives and their use is not well understood. Preservatives are not optional in accordance with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monographs covering the manufacturing of “Safe and Effective Drugs” or cosmetics. A manufacturer is required to perform a twenty eight (28) day preservative effectiveness challenge on its products and maintain a record of such testing for FDA inspections. Further, each batch requires proof that the batch meets microbial challenge requirements. Batches are tested in the tank, prior to filling, and then again at the beginning, middle and end of the filling process. This testing is done to ensure each product shipped is free of microbial contamination.

Since the use and safety of preservatives, especially parabens is under consideration in this article, comments from three regulating bodies are brought forward for consideration.

• The FDA recognizes parabens as a class of preservatives that have been used in a wide variety of foods, drugs, and cosmetics and that they keep products safe from microbial contamination. The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act require that cosmetics and non-prescription drugs and their individual ingredients must be safe and that labeling must be truthful and not misleading. The FDA can take immediate action to stop the sale of any product that does not meet its high standards. This includes the use of an effective preservative system.

• The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has reviewed the use of parabens in food and other products. The European Union (EU) Scientific Committee for Food (SCF) evaluated parabens in 1994 and established a temporary Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 0-10mg/kg bw, as the sum of methyl, ethyl and propyl parabens. Further study also demonstrated that nooestrogenic activity took place in-vivo, and that there was no effect on forestomach cells in rats. In a teratogenicity study on 300 rabbits with oral does of methyl paraben, at doses of 550 mg/kg, no evidence of toxicity was found. The panel recognized that this dose far exceeded any anticipated oral dose.

• The Cosmetic, Toiletries, Fragrance Association (CTFA) is the body in the United States and through its Scientific Review Board, reviews all new cosmetic ingredients and assigns their INCI nomenclature (the required language found on packaging for all ingredients). The CTFA first studied the safety of parabens in 1984 and concluded they were safe as used in cosmetics. On November 14, 2004, as part of the normal re-review process, the CIR Expert Panel determined that it wanted to conduct a through review of the literature since the previous report in 1984. The safety of parabens has been once again reconfirmed.

Why then can there be a product that is not preserved? It is best that all products have some protection. However, some products that do not contain water can pass the challenge because microorganisms breed in water. Testing is done without the introduction of water. Consider this: a) an unpreserved product is placed on the skin, b) the product is occlusive, like petrolatum, c) the skin and its moisture, due to TEWL, contains microorganisms that are multiplying and trapped between the occlusive barrier and the skin, d) the skin care product on the skin is not preserved and now, e) a microorganism-rich moisture is being added. What are the consequences? Is there a systemic link and what is the potential sequela?

Toxins will be introduced to the neonate’s environment. They will come from mother’s milk, linens, clothing, human contact and a myriad of other sources. Careful consideration must always be given to the source of toxins and how multiple sources of them will impact the neonate. Product preservatives and fragrance are but two of these sources. The protection against e-TEWL and reducing the risks of systemic infections are worth considering when making neonate skin care choices.

Nutrashield from Medline Industries, Inc. is a semipermeable emollient barrier cream that:

• has excellent wash-off characteristics

• may reduce the incidence of colony forming microorganisms in the neonate population associated with petrolatum

• offers excellent aesthetic benefits including spreadability.

Additional creams and lotions in the REMEDY product line provide semipermeable barriers and nourish the skin37. Further research is necessary to confirm the product’s suitability in NICUs.

Darlene McCord, Ph.D.