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.

How to fade age spots is a topic of great interest to many women and the skin care industry has no shortage of answers to this prickly question. Everything from freezing to acid peels to skin abrasion has been used to reduce the appearance of the dark blotches which can occur on the legs, arms and face over time. But rather than resort to such extremes, it is far easier for women to follow a few simple rules to help avoid and reduce age spots.

In order to reduce age spots it is first necessary to understand what causes them. Extensive exposure to the sun’s UV rays can cause free radicals to accumulate in the body, resulting in pooling of excess pigment in the outer layers of the skin. This excess pooling is commonly known as liver spots or age spots.

Because they are caused by the sun, the first step in how to fade age spots is to avoid the sun altogether. Wear protective clothing and wide brimmed hats and use a sun block with an SPF of at least 15 and you can drastically reduce the effect of the sun on your skin.

Once age spots do appear, there are many methods you can use to fade them. Reducing the appearance of age spots is a matter of evening out the skin’s natural pigmentation. This can be achieved by applying products such as Alpha hydroxy gel or liquid nitrogen to the affected area in order to lighten it. Of course, this type of procedure is not without its risk and since it can be difficult to exactly match the pigment of the surrounding skin, you can simply go from having dark spots to having light ones.

One of the many answers as to how to fade age spots is through the use of Retin-A cream. Applied once a day for six months, these creams can help to lighten the skin of the affected area and allow age spots to blend in with the surrounding skin. Retin-A has had a good deal of success, but for many women, it takes too long to produce results.

By far the easiest and safest alternative is the use of all natural skin care products. Because these products are made from a special blend of plant based ingredients including Phytessence Wakame, a Japanese sea kelp extract which helps to prevent UV damage, they can actually stop age spots before they start.

And with CynergyTK, CoenzymeQ10, and natural anti-oxidants like Vitamin E, organic products can offer overall protection which leaves your skin looking and feeling soft and smooth. If you’ve ever asked how to fade age spots there is no better answer than with products which contain anti-oxidants to fight off the harmful free radicals which cause skin damage.

Fading age spots is a concern for many women, but it doesn’t have to be an ordeal. With all-natural lotions and creams, you can protect and treat your skin like never before. Nothing works as well as nature’s gentle touch when it comes to leaving skin soft, smooth and blemish free. So don’t make fading age spots more difficult than it has to be, stop them at the source with natural skin care products.

Al Bracher is chief editor of Skincare and Health supplements. Visit us to learn more about those products.

Wrinkles
Gravity is the skin’s worst enemy. Weakening of collagen and elastin fibres causes reduced firmness of the skin, gravity pulls at the skin and causes it to sag, this in combination with a reduction in the fatty padding of the skin inevitably causes wrinkling of the skin tissue.
Can Wrinkles Be Avoided?
Environmental factors such as over exposure to the sun, smog, cigarette smoke can all have an adverse effect on your skin. In addition, you may also have inherited weaknesses from your parents that can cause premature aging of the skin.
Despite these challenges, there are simple steps you can take to prevent wrinkles and remember – the earlier you start, the better!
? Wear Sunscreen,
? Always wear a hat with a wide brim when going outside – remember, just because there’s clouds does not mean there’s no UV,
? Don’t sunbathe, and
? Where possible, stay out of the sun between 10am to 3pm.
As we progress through our 30′s, 40′s, 50′s and beyond, our skin requires an appropriate skin care regime to maintain, as well as repair, the skin. The older you are when you start to protect and care for your skin, the less effective it will be, however, it is never too late to start.
Treatments for Aging Skin
There are a multitude of drugs, chemicals and procedures on the market these days, promising you that you can have the face of a baby in your 90′s. We all know where to put that? However, there are many natural and totally safe methods of treating aging skin and preventing premature signs of aging – and I’m not just referring to your facial skin, although this is the most visible and therefore the most important to many people.
Using a natural skin care regime should apply to your entire body and not just to your face. Regularly use a clay mask to nourish your skin and remove impurities, cleanse your skin, tone it and last but not least moisturise, moisturise, moisturise.
Do not use commercially available soaps unless absolutely necessary – these soaps remove the protective acid mantle of your skin and dry it out. Instead, use an exfoliant followed by a cleanser to clean your skin and leave it smooth, invigorated and with it’s protective acid mantel in tact.
Follow this by using a toner. Toners close open pores to prevent loss of moisture, resulting in firmer skin. The last step is to use a moisturiser. Moisturisers help to hydrate your skin, prevent loss of moisture and provide nourishment and nutrients for your skin to use in fulfilling its many functions.
‘Liver spots’ or ‘age spots’
Aging skin often develops unsightly blemishes, commonly called liver spots, which can appear on the face, neck and on the back of the hands. They are caused by the sun and accumulation of lipofuscin (pigments and/or wastes) that is derived from free radical damage of skin cells.
Liver spots, also known as lentigines or lentigos, are sharply defined, rounded, brown or black, flat patches of skin. The epidermis (top surface layer) is expanding with more pigment, developing what looks like a large freckle. They may appear as a single spot or in clusters.
Remember that your skin is an eliminatory organ and therefore it eliminates toxins from your body – one reason for liver spots is that the eliminatory organs (Kidneys, Liver and Bowels) are not working as well as they should and therefore the skin ‘takes up the slack’.
Removal of these impurities can be achieved using the above described skin care regime. In addition, when showering, use a Lufa or other type of skin brush on your body’s skin. This will not only remove dead skin cells, but promote blood circulation to the skin which in turn provides the skin with nutrients carried in the blood.
Green Tea is a fantastic anti-oxidant and should be consumed regularly. Leafy green vegetables, fish such as salmon and tuna, nuts and fruits contain essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants to nourish your organs and help them perform their vital functions adequately.
It is vitally important that you not only have a good skin care regime, but you should also have a good health regime, which includes a good diet, 8 -10 glasses of water per day and a regular exercise programme. This is very important and cannot be underestimated in its positive results on keeping you looking and feeling younger for longer.

Skin discoloration creams are very popular in the scheme of things between men and women of all ages. With such a wide range of creams that are advertised, which is normally very difficult and confusing to choose the best product for skin care. Therefore, it is important to follow the procedures for natural organic skin care. Hydroquinone, despite being a very effective bleaching agent should be completely avoided, because its components can create different deadly diseases like leukemia, liver damage, thyroid disorders, chronic skin allergies, etc, in the long run. In addition, ingredients containing mercury and steroids, which are very harmful to the skin. Choosing the Best Whitening Cream to combat hyperpigmentation: * A good color cream, tablets or lotions containing natural ingredients should be used. It is important to consult a skin specialist or dermatologist before buying and using a skin-whitening cream. Dermatologists in recent days have begun to realize the benefits of products for skin care natural herbal and, having no side effects and are made from herbs. * A little search on sites like google.com information on the Internet is very useful and before using any whitening cream or any product suitable natural organic skin care. * Skin hyperpigmentation is usually caused by excessive production of melanin. Any cream skin care cream or pill creates a block in the production of it in a natural way without causing any side effects. Therefore, the random use of the products skin care should be discouraged at all costs. * Skin Care herbal creams or natural organic skin care often gives a pleasant sensation to the skin when applied. * Type of creams and herbal lotions should be applied first in a small area to test the result, because all skin types are different and some skins may be allergic or hypersensitivity reactions in nature. In the case of irritation and allergies in the shin and elsewhere, the use must be stopped immediately. Worldwide, natural organic products for skin care such as creams, lotions, etc. are taking precedence over their allopathic counterparts. In developed countries, well, people who depended on allopathic medicines for a quick fix, have begun to realize that its important to use organic skin care herbal, as it ensures the safety and healing long term.

Jayden is a passionate advocate of natural skin care products. Visit his site now to discover cutting edge, anti-aging skin care products he recommends after extensive research: http://www.natural-and-healthy-skin.com