BellaSugar

Definition: Sebum

BellaSugar — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 15:15:25 -0700

Sebum, which comes from the Latin word for "fat," is an odorless oil produced by the sebaceous glands. The substance contributes to oily hair and skin, while overproduction of sebum can cause acne. As sebum breaks down, the bacteria gives off an unpleasant smell, which can contribute to body odor.

Sebum isn't all bad, though: It's also what coats your hair to make it nice and shiny. In addition, sebum protects skin from infection and keeps it from dehydrating. Sebum production slows down with age, so post-menopausal women produce less sebum.

One common misconception is that powder and blotting papers can reduce sebum production. Though these products will remove oil on the surface of your skin, they will not decrease the amount of sebum your body makes.

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5 Tips For Keeping Your Locks Glossy

BellaSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:00:49 -0700

After perusing through the pictures from Rock a Little, Feed a Lot benefit concert that took place last night in LA, I was struck by all of the completely gorgeous, shiny hair. From Isla Fisher to Christina Applegate to Alanis Morissette, it was all about light-reflective locks. There are countless ways to boost shine through technique and product, including starting off by giving residue and buildup a farewell party with a good clarifying shampoo. And I have even more tips to keep you glossy. Just keep reading.

Beer: Three Ways It Does a Beauty Good

BellaSugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 07:00:55 -0700

You may not love the Taste of the Rockies now, but you might after you find out just how useful a couple cheap cans can be. Whatever ale's rolling around in your fridge can make for several great beauty treatments-and there really is no better guy pickup line than "Hey there, I just bathed in beer." So keep reading, because this Bud's for you.

Say So Long to Limp Locks With a Colored Hair Powder

BellaSugar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Now that warmer weather is approaching, is your scalp heating up, too? Perhaps your roots and/or bangs are oily, but your ends are just fine. That's when hair powders come into play. Not only do these oil-absorbing products help sop up excess sebum, they revitalize styles and assist in giving your hair a lift in the aroma department, too. Here are a few colored powders to ensure that you can focus on warm-weather activities, not your hair. Tip: While tinted powders are amazing at blending into your hair color sans white residue, keep in mind that they are tinted, so protect clothing with a towel or cape while applying.

You won't have to shell out lots of dough for Salon Graphix Powder Shampoo ($8). This spray-on cleanser is available in three shades, plus one for the silver foxes out there, too.
Bumble and Bumble Hair Powder ($19 to $35) comes in two sizes, and sprays on for a black, red, white, blondish, or brown finish.
The cheekily-named The All-Nighter Styling Powder ($18) is available in six shades and helps create volume and texture in the hair. It's made from all-natural ingredients and lends a pleasant citrus smell.
T3 Refresh Volumizing Dry Shampoo ($25) helps promote healthy hair with vitamin B6, and is sold in light, dark, and auburn colors.

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All About Hairbrush Bristles: Part Two

BellaSugar — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 07:00:46 -0700

Did you ever wonder why some hairbrushes are more wiry and others were soft to the touch? Well, you're about to find out. All this week I'm exploring everything you ever want to know about hairbrush bristles. I've already covered how and why bristles are spaced apart and what those little ball-like endings are there for - read about it here. Next up? It's all about the materials from which bristles are made, whether synthetic, natural, or a little of both.

Natural bristles are typically comprised of hair from an adult boar. While boar bristles work for all hair types, those with very curly or thick hair might find them to be too soft to penetrate through their hair. The advantages of boar bristles are that the scaly texture of the bristles helps to clean the hair and scalp and distribute shine-enhancing sebum. They're also easy on the scalp, cause little to no breakage, and reduce static. The biggest disadvantage? Depending on the cut of the hair, boar bristle hairbrushes can be expensive, like the classic Mason Pearson Boar Bristle Hairbrush ($170). Fortunately, there are more affordable versions, like the Swissco Oakwood Oval Boar Bristle Hairbrush ($12).

Dr. Obagi: Moisturizers Make You Age

BellaSugar — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 07:01:07 -0700

When it comes to skin, we're all aging - whether we like it or not. Recently, I interviewed dermatologist Dr. Zein Obagi of ZO Skin Health. I asked him a few questions regarding his specialty, anti-aging skin care, and he had plenty to say. Here's a bit; more to come!

How is it that pimples and wrinkles can occur at the same time? Talk about a double whammy!
The two problems may occur at the same time, but they have different causes. Pimples are related to oil gland activity, the amount of sebum produced, and pores. Oil glands are hyperactive in some individuals (hormones, genetic factors), resulting in acne and rosacea when pores become clogged. Acne has nothing to do with age. Wrinkles are due to loss and destruction of collagen without replacement, due to cell inactivity. Both problems can and do, sometimes, occur at the same time.

What products/techniques can actually do the reverse, causing premature aging and/or wrinkling?
Moisturizers, when used daily as part of a skin care program, will accelerate aging and wrinkling of the skin, as they reduce cellular activity, causing the cells to become lazy and sensitive. Repeated AHA use, IPL [Intense Pulsed Light], and photo-rejuvenation treatments without cell stimulation, will reduce the skin's ability to regenerate healthy functioning cells.

Come back later this week for more of Dr. Obagi's thoughts on healthy aging and skin care.
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Coming Soon: Darphin's Designer Zit-Zapping Duo

BellaSugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:00:50 -0700

Due in stores this fall are two new sebum-controlling skin-care products from Darphin called Purifying Targeted Gel ($50) and Overnight Refining Lotion ($50).

The clear, fast-drying gel can be applied to the affected area as often as necessary. The lotion acts as an astringent to kill bacteria and reduce oil production and shine, especially to your t-zone -all without drying out your face like so many other spot treatments are prone to do.

The products contain essential oils, which are blended together with salicylic acid, lemon, Vitamin C, and isolutrol (a balancing agent) to help purify the skin, control sebum production, stimulate skin renewal, soothe, irritated skin and reduce the look of large pores. The treatments are gentle enough not to irritate the skin, yet are strong enough to fight off persistent pimples. And did I mention how great the smell is?

I've been using this combo for three days and so far I haven't experienced any flaking or unusual dryness - yippee!

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How to Treat Severe Acne Vulgaris

BellaSugar — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:00:10 -0700

We're getting close to wrapping up my series on the different acne types and how to treat them. If you don't know which kind of acne you have, take my quiz to find out. If your acne is mild, you can see my treatment suggestions here, and if it is moderate, you can check out treatments options here.

Severe acne vulgaris can be really painful, both emotionally and physically, but do not despair if this is your diagnosis! There are effective treatment options for you, too. But I'm gonna be straight with you: If this what you have, you must see a dermatologist, because there just isn't much that over-the-counter treatments can do for this kind of acne.

Just a quick refresher: Severe acne vulgaris consists of cysts and nodules. Nodules are solid, dome-shaped lesions. They're inflamed and painful, they extend into deeper layers of the skin, and they may cause tissue destruction that results in scarring. A cyst is a sac-like lesion containing liquid or semiliquid material consisting of white blood cells, dead cells, and bacteria. It is larger than a pustule, may be severely inflamed, extends into deeper layers of the skin, may be very painful, and can result in scarring. Cysts and nodules often occur together in a severe form of acne called nodulocystic. If that describes your acne, see your treatment options when you read more.

Retinoids: This is the most common, and most proven effective treatment for severe nodulocystic acne. Retinoids come in two forms: oral and topical. Topical retinoids are better suited for mild to moderate acne, but for severe acne, an oral retinoid like Accutane can be a lifesaver as it actually reduces sebum production (often permanently). To read more about what retinoids are and what they can do for your skin, check out this post. To find out more about how Accutane works and decide whether or not it's for you, check out this post.
Hormone therapy: Since it is known that male hormones can play a role in the overproduction of sebum, females may benefit from certain combinations of estrogen medications such as birth control. In fact, as this study shows, hormonal birth control pills can significantly reduce the appearance of acne lesions in up to three-quarters of cases studied. To see more about the pill and acne, check out this post.
In-office options: Not as scary as it sounds, I promise! If you need immediate relief from a particularly painful or unsightly cyst, you can visit your doctor for a cortisone shot. It is injected directly into the inflamed lesion, and eliminates the painful swelling and redness in a jiffy. It's not a miracle cure, though, as it does not treat the underlying causes of acne. It is also painful, and too much cortisone can have unpleasant side effects like nausea and headaches. A doctor can also treat large and painful lesions with cryotherapy, which is essentially freezing them off using liquid nitrogen. This can be quite painful, but the cyst will disappear immediately. Side effects can be a bit rough, including peeling, blistering, and swelling, so this is best to only use in extreme cases of unbearable cysts.
Surgery: Not as scary as it sounds, but still only for use in extreme cases on cysts that have not responded to any other treatment. Your doctor will use a sharp instrument to drain the lesion of pus, oil, and bacteria, which relieves the pain and pressure while speeding up the healing time.

Some things to keep in mind if you are suffering from severe acne: First of all, there is hope! Do not despair if your skin doesn't respond to the same cleanser or antibiotics that worked wonders on your friend's skin. Everyone's skin chemistry is different. And I cannot stress this enough: You must see a doctor if you have cystic acne. I know it can be pricey, but think about all the money you will save on makeup if you address the source of the problem, not to mention the priceless mental relief of having clear skin. Let me know if anyone has tried any of the above treatments, as I would be interested to hear your stories.

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Should You Go On Accutane?

BellaSugar — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:57:10 -0700

If you've tried everything from benzoyl peroxide to retinoids and your acne won't budge, you might have what is called severe recalcitrant nodular acne. This means it might be time to consider a prescription like Accutane. While not for everyone, Accutane could be the solution to your acne woes.

Accutane is a highly concentrated form of vitamin A. It reduces the amount of oil and sebum produced by the glands in your skin. It also helps the surface of your skin renew itself continuously, preventing the buildup of pore-clogging dead skin and sebum. Treatment usually lasts four to six months, or until acne is completely cleared. Most patients will need an additional round of four to six months within the first year or so, and acne will typically get worse before it gets better. And naturally, you'll need to talk with a dermatologist to decide if going on Accutane would be a good decision. For some pros and cons, read more.

Pros of Accutane

According to the FDA, one round of Accutane treatment can result in a prolonged remission of acne in approximately 85% of patients.
Even if you require a second round of treatment, you're likely to squash acne for good.
It's in a simple, easy-to-take pill form.

Cons of Accutane

Elevated levels of Vitamin A in your bloodstream can cause severe birth defects, so you can't use it if you'd like to get pregnant soon.
You have to sign documents committing to using at least two forms of birth control, including one hormonal form, during the entire course of treatment. For those of you unable or unwilling to take the Pill, this might eliminate Accutane as an option.
You have to get monthly blood tests to ensure you are not pregnant before your doctor can refill your prescription. So if you are going to be away from a doctor for more than a month, you can't stock up on Accutane before you go.
Other possible side effects include severe dryness of the lips, eyes, mouth and nose, and increased sensitivity to the sun.

The bottom line is, if you are frustrated with your acne and you've exhausted other options, it could be time to try Accutane. Just keep in mind that it is not a decision to be taken lightly, and only your dermatologist can decide if it is right for you and your skin.

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Just in Time for Breakfast: All About Sebaceous Cysts

BellaSugar — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 08:00:54 -0700

Most people don't get too disgusted by run-of-the-mill skin problems such as blackheads or cystic acne. But bring up sebaceous cysts, and things get messy. While these skin annoyances are generally harmless, they're also not so attractive - and they love to linger for months.

Sebaceous cysts usually pop up near the ears, neck, back and face, but don't mistake it for a pimple. Even though it's filled with sebum, it won't come to a head the way most blemishes do. That's because it isn't a clogged pore; instead, imagine a waxy goo-filled sac under your skin. They're two totally different things.

Although sebaceous cysts aren't a health hazard, they're unsightly - and in some cases, they can become very tender and painful. To find out how to treat them, read more.

As I mentioned before, sebaceous cysts aren't pimples, so topical acne treatments won't do a thing. Squeezing them isn't a good idea; it's probably too painful to do so anyway, so don't put yourself through it. (Although you might technically be able to make the cyst burst, you're likely to experience major blood seepage, infection, and scarring. Not worth it.)

One option is to have a physician surgically remove the cyst, but before going down that route, try treating it at home. Run a washcloth under very hot water for a few seconds, wring out the extra water, and press the hot, damp cloth against the cyst. Repeat as necessary for five to ten minutes. By undergoing this process twice a day for a week or so, the waxy sebum inside liquifies and drains over time.

Sorry to ruin your breakfast, everyone.