Panthenol for skin and hair

Panthenol is also known as vitamin B5 since panthenol is converted into pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) a major constituent in coenzyme A, when it is oxidized. Coenzyme A is needed by every living cell to help it grow and survive.

Panthenol is an important part of skin and hair care. Providing revitalizing and conditioning effects, panthenol possesses humectant-like properties that aid in skin absorption and hydration. As an active ingredient for sophisticated cosmetic skin care and hair care products, it improves the appearance of skin, hair and nails.

In hair care products, panthenol fills in cracks in the hair shaft to strengthen the hair. This plumps and moisturizes the hair shaft to make it appear thicker, and reduces split ends. Panthenol is an excellent hair nutrient with penetrating abilities to support cellular growth and tissue repair.

In skin care, panthenol acts as a penetrating moisturizer. In the skin it aids moisture retention (ability to both hold and attract water) and increases elasticity. It helps heal skin problems such as acne, eczema, dermatitis, diaper rash and soothes burns. Panthenol has humectant-like properties that promote moisture absorption. It can effectively reduce irritation and reduce redness and add additional moisturisation. Also useful in after-sun care or tanning lotions.

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Aloe Barbadensis

Aloe is an age old plant that has been around since the time of the Bible. It is even spoken of in scripture, though it may have been a different variant of what we know today. Aloe has long been known as a skin rejuvenator, healer and soother. It has even been known to have internal benefits for diabetes and more.

Aloe is easily grown and many have one growing in their kitchen to use for minor cuts and burns. Once the thick leaves have grown big enough to produce a thick gel, you can simply snip or break a small piece off one of the tips, and apply to your abrasion. It soothes burns, heals cuts, and vanishes bug bites.

Chemical analysis has shown that Aloe contains minerals, vitamins, amino acids, enzymes and proteins which all contribute to its beneficial nature.

Benefits of Aloe:

• Relieves itching from insect bites and allergies
• Promotes suppleness of the skin
• Helps control acne, burns, cuts and scratches
• Relieves symptoms of psoriasis

Aloe can be purchased in many forms, but for cosmetic use it is mainly in powder or gel form. Aloe juice or gel is prone to spoilage, so the powdered form is much more easily stored and can be hydrated quickly for use. Aloe can be added to lotions, creams, toners and more to get the full benefits for skin care.

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Allantoin: what is it and why is it good for your skin?

Allantoin is the primary ingredient of the comfrey plant. Chemically synthesized allantoin is natural-identical, safe, non-toxic, compatible with cosmetic raw materials, and meets CTFA and JSCI requirements. It is a common ingredient in many high end skin care products.

Manufacturers of allantoin promote many beneficial effects when used as an active ingredient in over-the-counter cosmetics:

• stimulates new tissue growth
• soothing effect
• moisturizing effect
• softening effect
  
• gently sheds outer layer of skin
• increases the water content of the outer layers of skin
• promotes cell proliferation and wound healing
• has a soothing, anti-irritant, and skin protectant effect by forming complexes with irritant and sensitizing agents, preventing them from causing grief with your skin

Allantoin is even be found in toothpaste, mouthwash, other oral hygiene products, shampoos, lipsticks, anti-acne products, sun care products, lotions, creams, and more.

It is important to note that allantoin has not been proven scientifically to reduce the appearance of aging, but the evidence doesn't lie. Use of products containing a sufficient amount of allantoin has shown to be effective in reducing wrinkles and rejuvenating skin by womens' testimonies all over the world. When used in conjunction with other ingredients, allantoin can show signifiant improvement in your skin. It is not an overnight solution, but rather a great ingredient to add to your skin care regime.


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Rosacea: Fight Flushing and Blushing

From the Rodale book, The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Women:

Elizabeth has fair, almost translucent skin that turns a glowing pink whenever she's hot, angry, embarrassed or somewhat tipsy.

But now, barely into her thirties, the pink is changing to red, the red is coming more often and small bumps, pimples and tiny broken blood vessels are appearing around Elizabeth's nose.

Elizabeth's doctor says that all the flushing she experienced was actually a prelude to rosacea, a skin condition in which blood vessels in the face tend to widen, engorge with blood and can turn your face red as a fire truck.

No one knows what really causes rosacea, although doctors have noticed that fair-skinned women of Irish or Celtic ancestry are genetically predisposed, says Karen S. Harkaway, M.D., clinical instructor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and a dermatologist at Pennsylvania Hospital, both in Philadelphia.

What triggers the flush to begin with? "The big five are spicy foods, alcohol, emotional stress, heat and humidity," says Mary Lupo, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans.

Unfortunately, rosacea is a chronic condition that comes and goes, says Deborah S. Sarnoff, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at New York University in New York City. Doctors frequently treat rosacea with prescription antibiotics such as tetracycline, or Metrogel, a topical medication originally developed for parasitic infections.

STOP FLUSHING COLD

Sometimes medicaitions don't work, says Dr. Sarnoff. So here's what you can do when the flush hits.

Apply a cold compress. Soak a cloth or paper towel in ice-cold water and apply it to the flushed areas of your face, says Dr. Harkaway. The cold will constrict the dilated blood vessels and halt the inflammatory process.

Use tinted makeup. If you're prone to frequent flare-ups, use a green-tinted under-foundation cover, for everyday wear, says Dr. Harkaway. The green combines with any red in your face and neutralizes it completely.

PREVENT FUTURE FLARE-UPS

Fortunately, keeping rosacea under control is frequently as simple as treating your skin gently and avoiding anything that's known to trigger a flush, doctors agree. Here's what women doctors suggest.

Soothe your skin with chamomile. Since chamomile is known to soothe rosacea-prone skin, Dr. Lupo suggests using cleansers, soaps and moisturizers containing chamomile, an herb related to the ragweed family. One caution though: If you are allergic to ragweed, you should avoid these cleansers.

Avoid abrasives. Any type of abrasion can cause a flush, says Dr. Lupo. So leave abrasive products such as scrubs, buff puffs or cleansing powders to others.

Keep wrinkle creams to a minimum. If you have rosacea and want to use an anti-aging cream that contains alpha hydroxy acids to prevent wrinkles, proceed cautiously, says Dr. Lupo. Read product labels carefully and only buy creams that keep the percentage of acid under 2.5 percent, she says. If package directions urge you to use the cream twice a day, don't push your luck. Use it once a day, tops. If there is any redness at all, discontinue using the product.

Gently apply a cucumber moisturizer. After you cleanse your skin (and also if you apply an alpha hydroxy acid preparation), smooth on moisturizers that contain cucumber extracts, says Dr. Lupo. Although no one knows why, cucumber lotions soothe rosacea-prone skin.

Select cosmetics for sensitive skin. Since the chemicals used in most cosmetics will irritate rosacea-prone skin, use only cosmetics that are labeled "for sensitive skin," says Dr. Lupo. Although not chemical-free, they usually have fewer and less-irritating chemicals than regular makeup.

Stay in the shade. "Stay out of the sun, period," says Dr. Lupo. "The sun will set off a flare-up"--and no cover-up or sunscreen will prevent it.

Use only a titanium dioxide sunscreen. Even in the shade, you're exposed to indirect sunlight, so use a sunscreen whenever you go outside, says Dr. Lupo. Avoid all the chemical sunscreens and stick to a sunscreen that lists titanium dioxide as its major ingredient. It's less irritating to rosacea-prone skin.

Stay cool. Since heat is a major cause of flare-ups, dress in layers of light clothes that you can peel off to keep your body cool, no matter where you are, says Dr. Lupo. And take tepid (not hot) baths and showers.

Avoid wool. If you have rosacea, says Dr. Lupo, you're better off avoiding wool--it tends to keep you too warm and seems to cause redness and rashes in those who have rosacea.

Choose cool food. Spicy food is known to make those with rosacea flush, so Dr. Lupo recommends that women with rosacea avoid it as much as possible. Avoid foods prepared with chili peppers, Tabasco sauce, horseradish and the like.

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Now for the good news...

We have developed a specially formulated cucumber lotion with additives for sensitive skin. We would like to test the lotion on a few lucky readers that have rosacea or eczema on their faces. We will provide you with a 1 ounce sized bottle of cucumber lotion for you to use, in return for your thoughts and experience with the lotion. The sample can be picked up in the store or can be mailed to you for a $3 shipping fee.

The first 5 readers to contact us at pam@thegoldengoatllc.com will get the samples. After that, we will be making the lotion available for sale in our store and online.

How can I forget my own soap?

Ok, so I sometimes forget my own soap when I go away overnight. Yes, that is absolutely ridiculous, I know, but I always have more soap than I know what to do with, so why would I think of packing it?

So, anyways, when I forget my wonderful soap, I end up with my own eczema flare ups. I don't think of myself as having eczema just because I rarely have any problems. I only know that I have eczema because when I go to a hotel and forget my soap, I have to use the gross stuff that I find in the bathroom of the hotel.

When I use that soap, I start to dry out and my skin flares up in little red patches on the inside of my elbows. It started out as just the inside of my right elbow, every time I used soap that wasn't my own. More recently, I have been finding that my left elbow also starts to rash up and itch like crazy.

I kick myself when I forget my soap, but once I get home and start using my own soap for a few days, it is all gone again until the next time I have a brain fade and forget my soap. In the mean time, I can't stand the itching.

What I like to use to soothe the itching is plain shea butter. It is great stuff. I carry the unrefined shea butter so it has all the good properties to it. It is good for relieving itchies, rashes, and even bug bites. I rub it on my lips for lip balm when I find that I am parched.

So, that is my shameful admission for the day. I can't imagine what you all must think of my silliness, but I usually just have so much else to get ready that I barely get enough socks in my suitcase for three kids, one husband and myself.

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