Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Natural Skin Care Regime for Ethnic Differences in Skin Characteristics

The world is a big place and there are many different cultures, Europeans, Scandinavians, Asians, Africans, Hispanics and many, many more। Each of these cultures tends to have certain characteristics such as eye colour, hair colour, skin colour, etc,. Inherent with cultural backgrounds is a difference in skin types. For example, western cultures such as the central and northern Europeans have a tendency to fair complexions, hair and eye colour, while southern Europeans dent to have darker hair, brown eyes and darker, olive skin tones.

Africans and African Americans, have very dark or almost black skin, usually dark or black hair and brown eyes। Genetically, this skin type is less susceptible to the UV rays, although their skin can still get burned.
Asians on the other hand have a yellowish skin tone and can have brown or blue eyes but have mostly dark or black hair. Yes, genetics does have its opinion on how we look. The cultural differences are reflected in the skin and the genetic factors play an important role in how well our skin looks, how ‘tough’ it is and how vulnerable it is to certain skin problems.
For example, cultures that have a tendency to body hair, also have a tendency to oily skin and therefore have a potential problem with blocked secretory glands resulting in pimples and other skin problems। On the other hand, the Irish, who have a tendency to red hair and very fair skin, have less of a problem with oily skin, but they do tend to get burned easily and thus stand a greater risk to skin cancers. Similarly the Scandinavians and other central and northern Europeans and Americans.

Below are some generalised characteristics of various skin types from different cultural backgrounds:
Skin Characteristics of people with Anglo-Saxon origins

Fair, dry thin-skinned
Scars heal well
Signs of aging appear earlier
Burn easily in the sun
Bruising more obvious
Increased chance of skin cancer

Skin Characteristics of people with Southern Mediterranean origins
Oily, olive dark complexion
Signs of aging appear later
Cartilage tends to droop
Darker, thicker scars more common
Wrinkles appear later and in more localized areas
Skin cancer is rare

Skin Characteristics of people with Northern European origins / German and Scandinavian
Fair, blue-eyed, blonde
Thin skin
Scars heal well
Signs of aging appear early
Bruising more obvious
Greater chance of skin cancer

Skin Characteristics of people with African/African-American origins
Signs of aging appear very late
Very little fine wrinkling
Formation of keloids is possible
Pigmentation changes may occur
Thicker cartilage hard to change
Skin cancers are very rare

Skin Characteristics of people with Northern European/Irish and northern England
Ruddy freckled complexion
Red hair
Scars usually thin
Signs of aging appear later
Bruises easily
Pigmentation problems
Skin cancers are most common in this type

Skin Characteristics of people with Asian origins
Signs of aging appear late
Fine wrinkling does not usually occur
Pigmentation changes may occur
Skin cancers are very rare

Skin Characteristics of people with Southern European origins
Dark, oily brunette complexion
Signs of aging appear later
Fine wrinkling less common
Bruising lasts longer
Scars may be thicker and darker
Skin cancers are less common

Identifying the correct, natural skin care system for your skin's characteristics is essential and may need to be adjusted depending on your specific genetic influences, as within each of these groups, there is a wide range in skin tones, which tend to overlap from group to group.

Each of the different categories of skin characteristics has various advantages and disadvantages specific to that group। However, the overall structures and functions of our skin are very similar and are therefore cared for in very similar ways. Knowing your skin’s particular strengths and weaknesses, you can tailor your skin care approach to your particular skin-characteristics.


Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you।
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Danny_Siegenthaler

Day Spas Facts

A day spa is business that offers a number of personal care services to their customers। Some of these services include facials or massages. Unlike destination spas, people are only expected to stay at day spas until their treatment is complete. Waxing is another common service that is offered, and the body hair of the customers will removed by using warm wax. A day spa should be a place which is clean and comfortable. Each customer will have their own private room where they will receive treatments. If the customer wants to take a shower before their treatment begins, there are often showering facilities which will be available for men and women.

A high quality day spa will typically be operated by an esthetician who is licensed to work in the field। A day spa will also employ trained therapists who are skilled with massages or other products। Spa robes and shoes should be available in sizes that will match most clients। The massages that are available will fall under multiple categories, and some of these are Swedish, Deep Muscle, or Shiatsu. In addition to waxing, the facility should also have heat treatments, laser hair removal, or hand and foot treatments. As the name implies day spas will often have a hot tub or sauna. Some customers will be able to hire a personal trainer, and many establishments feature yoga as well.

A day spa is an excellent place for those who are looking to reduce stress। The workers in the day spa should give a warm welcome to their clients, and if you are new, they will explain to you the different procedures they use. Once they have explained the procedures, you will be taken to your private room where you can dress in a robe. Drinks may often be served in the form of water or juices. If you are a guest, you are expected to be on time for your appointment. If you are paying for body services, you will need to dress in a robe, and your therapist will expose the areas that will be treated. The goal of your therapist is to provide you with the treatments you need.

As you are treated, you will want to provide feedback to therapist on how you feel. The most important thing for you to do is relax. Let the therapist do the work, though you may talk to them if you wish. If you have children, it is best to leave them at home, because they can disrupt the quiet atmosphere and disturb other customers. Some day spas will require gratuities, while others will not. It is important to have this information available before you make an appointment. There are a number of behaviors which will not be tolerated at most day spas. A visitor who is drunk will be promptly removed from the facility. Customers are not supposed to be abusive to the therapists. It is also not acceptable to visit most spas without first making appointments, as many of them may be booked on any given day.

Michael Colucci is a writer for Day Spas which is part of the Knowledge Search network
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Colucci
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