The facialist says: “You can’t just treat spots; you have to protect your skin from the sun every day or the spots will come back. Morning and night, smooth on a serum that has a potent antioxidant such as vitamin C, coffeeberry, alpha lipoic acid, or co-enzyme Q10 to help protect from sun damage.”
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Vitamin C is now available in a range of new facial skin care products! But what is Vitamin C? Does it serve any essential functions in skin care? Does this vitamin truly have the power to nourish and rebuild your skin?
Vitamin C may serve a critical function in protecting your skin from free radical damage. According to the Free Radical Theory of Aging, Vitamin C is one of many all-natural antioxidants that can neutralize free radicals before they damage your cellular structures. Now, skin care companies are infusing everything from facial cleansers to sunscreens with this powerful antioxidant to create effective anti aging products. Obagi products have long leveraged the power of this vitamin too, with many patients reporting absolutely fabulous results!
The Obagi Blog has produced several articles on the healing power of Vitamin C. Below, please find a selection of our best publications:
Obagi Presents: The Free Radical Theory of Aging: Dr. Denham Harman first assembled the Free Radical Theory of Aging in the 1950s. Since then, the theory has grown to become one of the widest held beliefs on the aging process. Join the Obagi Blog for this exclusive look at the Theory, how premature aging happens, and what you can do to prevent it!
Vitamin C: The Obagi Superstar: What is Vitamin C? Can it help prevent the signs of premature aging? Should I take it in a pill, or in a cream form? Learn the answers to these questions and more through this article from the Obagi Blog. Please note: reading the above article on the Free Radical Theory of Aging will help you better understand the role of Vitamin C in the anti aging process!
Anti Aging with Vitamin C: Now that you’ve explored the Free Radical Theory of Aging and Vitamin C, you are ready for this article by the writers here at the Obagi Blog. Learn more about L-Ascorbic Acid, the powerful antioxidant we call “Vitamin C,” and how it creates beautiful skin at the cellular level!
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Please note: The O Discount Store is a licensed distributor of certified Obagi products. New customers are urged to consult with a physician before making the decision to buy Obagi online.
An overwhelming number of individuals believe that dark skin reduces the need for active skin care, reports Obagi Medical Products in a study released last month. Naturally dark skinned individuals who ultimately feel their skin is “conditioned” to withstand the sun, often overlooking Obagi products and other skin care regimens. Nevertheless, a near majority of women seek help from skin care professionals in hope of reducing dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and other conditions caused by overexposure from the sun.
Spring 2011 awarded Obagi Medical with several beauty product awards that have reinforced the brand’s image as a top tier provider of physician-recommended skin care products. At the same time, Obagi was conducting clinical studies to explore the needs of dark skinned women. In a national survey of over 1,000 participants, one thing became clear: each had skin care concerns.
The most common concerns that women of dark skin voiced were those relating to skin color. Specifically, 47% of participants reported seeing a skin care professional to resolve dark spot, hyperpigmentation, or uneven skin tone issues (i). What’s more, an overwhelming 58% of participants said their skin care products did not meet their needs (ii).
This demonstrates a large desire for products that help to even-out skin tone in women. This need is compounded by the large percentage of respondents who do not believe sunscreen is important in maintaining the appearance of healthy skin.
There are two important takeaways to note from Obagi’s most recent study. First, skin discoloration is a common concern among most individuals, including those with naturally dark skin. Second, there seems to be a general lack of concern for sun exposure and the negative effects it may have on the skin.
“Obagi Medical commissioned this poll to help us better understand the needs and concerns of our consumers,” notes Jim Hartman, Vice President of Global Marketing and Business Development (iii). “The results indicate to us that we have an opportunity and obligation to educate women about the treatments that are available for many of the skin conditions noted[…]” First on the list of things to teach: The effects of sun exposure.
Sun exposure triggers the activity of melanocytes, tiny pigment-producing cells located deep below the surface of the skin. As a result, melanocytes flood the skin with the skin-color pigment melanin. Ideally, melanin is distributed evenly to create a dark color, or tan. However, problems arise when melanocytes become damaged from overexposure from the sun. Once damaged, melanocytes become unable to produce and distribute melanin in an even manner. It is this uneven distribution that creates age spots, hyperpigmentation, and other skin tone unevenness.
Correcting skin tone is as simple as nourishing and rebuilding melanocytes. Once restored to a fully functional level, melanocytes may evenly distribute melanin to create uniform skin color. The question, then, is which ingredients work to nourish melanocytes?
Enter: Hydroquinone.
Considered by most physicians to be a standard in regulating skin-color pigment, Hydroquinone is only available in a select number of high-end skin care product lines. You may find Hydroquinone in several Obagi products, including:
Obagi Nu-Derm: Transform your skin at the cellular level. Introducing Obagi Nu-Derm, the revolutionary new skin care regimen that actively penetrates your skin to nourish and rebuild your skin at the cellular level.
You should speak with a qualified skin care professional before you buy Obagi online. Only your skin care professional can help you choose the right products capable of transforming your skin at the cellular level. Ask your physician about the power of Obagi products and begin your transformation today!
(i) http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Obagi-Reports-on-the-Skincare-bw-2984822140.html?x=0&.v=1
(ii) See above.
(iii) See above.
The Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced new regulations that will require sunscreen manufacturers to test and label products under more strict guidelines. The end goal: to make it easier for consumers to understand sunscreen, the protection it provides, and the limitations certain brands may have. Many companies are in dismay and argue that the new regulations will drive the price of sunscreen up to compensate for added testing and labeling costs. Other companies, like Obagi Medical, are already heavily invested in product testing and do not expect the new regulations to significantly impact operations.
Sunscreen is designed to protect your skin from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. These rays come in two main forms: UVA and UVB. UVA rays represent a majority of the ultraviolet rays that reach the Earth’s surface, accounting for well over 90%. These UVA rays are tied with causing signs of premature aging including age spots, wrinkles, and may also cause cancer.
Despite the dangers of UVA rays, most sunscreen lotions are designed to protect against UVB rays only. Mr. Rick Reitzel of NBC News of Newark, Ohio, reports that the FDA has promised to rework the labeling standards in the sunscreen industry to better convey what consumers are buying (i). That time has come, and consumers will now be able to easily discern the amount of UVA and UVB protection a sunscreen provides prior to purchase.
“Now there will be a star rating that indicates what kind of protection you have to UVA [rays],” states Dr. Patricia Witman, an advocate of the new rating system.
Obagi products are an exception to the rule; in an industry overwhelmed with ineffective sunscreens, Obagi Medical Products has a history of creating products that provide true protection from the sun. The following Obagi products are sunscreens that provide holistic protection from both UVA and UVB rays:
Nu-Derm Sun Shield SPF 50: This Obagi product effectively absorbs UVB rays while deflecting UVA, insulating your skin from damage.
Healthy Skin Protection SPF 35: Introducing the Obagi product that provides the fullest protection from the sun! Formulated with 9% micronized Zinc Oxide, the Health Skin Protection product line by Obagi provides full spectrum protection from even the strongest of UVA and UVB rays.
Obagi-C Sunguard SPF 30: Only the Obagi-C Sunguard combines superior UVA and UVB protection with powerful all-natural antioxidants to keep skin protected, nourished, and resilient through hot and sunny days. This Obagi product also contains Zinc Oxide, an effective shield that protects the skin from harmful ultraviolet rays.
Please note: consumers are encouraged to seek the guidance of a health care professional when choosing a new sun screen.
(i) http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2010/may/18/4/new-fda-regulations-sunscreen-labeling-ar-80750/
Obagi products are known for creating beautiful skin tone that is even and smooth. Physicians recommend Obagi to patients with a variety of skin conditions; from post-operative plastic surgery recovery to simple skin-smoothing, Obagi products help individuals create long lasting healthy skin. Most effective is Obagi Nu-Derm, an anti-aging skin treatment that physicians have been excitedly recommending to patients since 1988. More than two decades have passed since the introduction of Obagi Nu-derm, yet the skin care system still remains on of the most effective and highly acclaimed anti aging products available.
Obagi Nu-Derm is highly effective in reversing the signs of aging because it works to correct skin at the cellular level. Many things damage the skin on a daily basis, including sun rays, environmental pollution, and oxidative stress. These forces inflict damage at levels deep beneath the surface of the skin invisible to the naked eye. We see the damage manifest itself on the surface of the skin in the form of age spots, wrinkles, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation.
Age Spots: Sometimes called liver spots, these dark circles are the product of excessive sun exposure. Many know these spots of age spots, however, because they are most common in adults who have accrued significant skin damage over time.
Wrinkles: A wrinkle is a crease in the skin. It is the product of damaged elastin fibers and depleted collagen in the skin. Elastin fibers and collagen naturally become depleted over time. However, these two essentials for firm skin may become depleted prematurely due high levels of sun exposure and stress.
Hyperpigmentation: Hyperpigmentation is a condition that is characterized by discoloration of skin tone. It is often caused by inflammation, sun damage, or acne.
Nu-Derm features a host of active ingredients that actively combat each of these signs of premature aging. This Obagi product uses Hydroquinone, for example, to correct damaged, deformed, or otherwise dysfunctional melanocytes to reverse the signs of age spots and hyperpigmentation. By treating melanocytes at the cellular level, Obagi Nu-Derm is able to correct these skin cells and help them to evenly distribute melanin across the surface of the skin. This creates even skin tone that shines with radiance and functions effectively.
Many other products by Obagi are effective in slowing the aging of the skin. These products feature an assortment of different physician-recommended compounds and elements designed to fight free radical damage, reverse the signs of premature aging, and protect the skin from future damage. These products include:
Obagi Professional-C Serums: Stacked with powerful concentrations of all-natural vitamin C, Obagi Professional-C Serums help your body to neutralize free radicals before the inflict serious skin damage.
Obagi ELASTIderm Eye Cream: Add snap to your skin in as little as 14 days with the ELASTIderm from Obagi. This product uses a unique bi-mineral compound to restore both collagen and elastin, two essential ingredients for creating firm and young looking skin.
Obagi-C Cleansing Gel: This penetrating cleanser is gentle yet effective in cleaning the delicate skin of the facial and neck areas. This cleansers is specially formulated with powerful vitamin C extracts, helping to repair skin and reduce the signs of premature aging at the cellular level.
Always see your skin care professional prior to deciding to buy Obagi products online. Only your health care professional can determine the Obagi products that are right for your unique skin condition. After you have spoken with a doctor, be certain you purchase Obagi products from certified Obagi distributors only.
Physicians worldwide agree: fight free radicals and you will significantly reduce the signs of premature aging. What’s more, neutralizing these malicious particles before they have a chance to damage your body can reduce your chances of developing serious illnesses. Obagi products are created with this in mind, effectively combating free radical accumulation to create beautiful and healthy skin at the cellular level.
The Obagi Blog invites you to get better acquainted with free radical damage, the preventative power of antioxidants, and leading supplements to help you create and maintain better health!
Before exploring free radicals, aging, and antioxidants, we must first take a stroll down memory lane to recall a few elementary scientific principles. As you may recall, the solid, liquid, and gaseous matter of our known world are all composed of atoms. These atoms have a central cluster of particles, called the nucleus. Surrounding the nucleus is a large cloud of electrons, each of which may have a positive or negative charge. Electrons are usually grouped in pairs; that is to say, positive electrons typically have a negative mate, and vice versa. Problems arise, however, when there are an odd number of electrons in the cloud surrounding the nucleus. In this situation there is an extra electron, or negative charge, that will seek the bond of another electron.
An odd number of electrons will make an otherwise stable atom volatile. Volatile atoms will actively seek balance, and they will attack one atom after the next in search of an extra electron. When this volatile atom has an extra negatively charged electron, it is called a free radical.
Free radicals have been linked with cellular damage and premature aging since as early as 1950. At that time, Dr. Denham Harman pioneered the first of many studies that would lead to his construction of the Free Radical Theory of Aging. According to the Free Radical Theory of Aging, cells lose their functionality due to accrued free radical damage over time. Moreover, free radical production is a natural part of life. Everyday cellular activity, for example, produces hoards of free radicals simply in virtue of chemical activity.
Preventing free radical damage requires a continual ingestion of antioxidants. Antioxidants negate free radicals because they have an extra electron. Free radicals bond with antioxidants, adding stability to both particles while ending collateral damage to the body.
Obagi skin care uses these scientific principles to develop skin care treatments that reduce free radicals, effectively hedging against further cellular damage. Obagi uses one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants, L ascorbic acid, among other compounds scientifically proven to reduce free radical damage on the body. Nourishing extracts further the rejuvenation process by helping cells to regenerate into their fully functional and youthful selves.
Only a physician can tell if products by Obagi are right for your skin. A dermatologist, plastic surgeon, or general medical practitioner are to be consulted prior to deciding to buy Obagi online. Readers are encouraged to log on to Obagi.com to locate local Obagi professionals.
When it comes to physician-recommended skin care treatments, Obagi product line first began in late 1988 with the development of the Nu-Derm system. This anti-aging system includes delicate facial cleansers, toners, moisturizers, and more to revitalize skin at its core. Nu-Derm has enjoyed tremendous growth since 1988, as well as national recognition as one of the best anti-aging skin care treatments available.
The readers and Editorial Advisory Board of NewBeauty Magazine honored Obagi with 2 awards this past Fall. Obagi Nu-Derm received the Best Overall Brand Sold at a Doctor’s Office, one of the publication’s most competitive Beauty Choice Award for skin care products.
NewBeauty Magazine honored the Obagi product line with a second award last Fall. Obagi Clear was recipient of the highly sought after Best Overall Dark Spot Eraser award, earning praise for the product’s superior ability to significantly reduce the appearance of dark spots on the skin. Obagi Clear is a component of the Nu-Derm System and works to restore life and functionality to the melanocytes tucked deep within the skin. It is melanocytes that become damaged, most often by long periods of sun exposure, and lead to the uneven distribution of melanin in the skin. The readership and Editorial Advisory Board of NewBeauty Magazine have spoke, and this year the product voted most effective in restoring melanocytes to produce even-toned skin is Obagi Clear.
NewBeauty Magazine is not the only publication ecstatic about Obagi. In May, SELF Magazine also honored an Obagi product with an award for providing superior skin protection. The product, Obagi Sun Shield SPF 50, was declared by SELF to be the #1 sunscreen of Summer 2011.
Obagi Sun Shield performs 2 major tasks that help to reduce the damage inflicted by the sun on even the hottest of Summer days. Sun Shield combines ultra effective UVB absorption with a strong UVA repellent to ensure your skin receives little abuse from potentially damaging sunrays. Add 10.5% zinc oxide and 7.5% octinoxate and you have the perfect sun screen for daily use.
As always, consult your health care professional prior to buying Obagi products online. Only your doctor can help you decide which Obagi treatment is right for you. From anti-aging to clearing acne and Rosacea, Obagi Medical Products has a superior skin care solution for you!
Obagi products are taking an increasingly large piece of the spotlight in 2011. Obagi Medical Products, Inc. won a third prestigious award since Fall 2010 with the unveiling of the company’s newest anti aging skin care product, the Nu-Derm Sun Shield SPF 50. Recipient of Best Sunscreen for the Face award from SELF Magazine, Obagi continues to release new products with advanced complexes that deliver true results.
Since first being introduced in 1988, Obagi Medical has expanded to include a number of skin care products that combine powerful antioxidants, leading mineral complexes, and other physician-recommended treatments that have patients absolutely ecstatic. Doctors, too, recommend Obagi products for their superior ability to rebuild the skin’s core components, significantly reducing the appearance of aging.
Obagi has created a loyal following by remaining committed to developing skin care products that deliver true results. The company has taken great strides towards campaigning the success of their products, launching the Watch the Transformation series online. Through Obagi.com, individuals may watch a series of short videos that show real patients using Obagi skin care products and getting real results.
Meet Mandy: Stop by Obagi.com and view the newest installment of the Watch the Transformation series, featuring 29 years old Mandy. Despite her young age, Mandy is already becoming a proactive anti aging enthusiast by using Obagi products to smooth her skin tone and strengthen her skin for years to come!
Nu-Derm Sun Shield
The skin of the face and neck are particularly delicate. The skin that surrounds the eye area is especially thin and susceptible to damage that creates visible signs of early aging.
This Spring, the Obagi product that has both media and physicians buzzing is undoubtedly the Nu-Derm Sun Shield. SELF Magazine beauty experts and more than 2,200 readers tested 1,187 new products set to launch this year. The result: Nu-Derm Sun Shield winning the SELF Healthy Beauty Award for premier sunscreen for the face in 2011.
Nu-Derm Sun Shield SPF 50 is a light, non-greasy combination of UVA and UVB blockage ingredients that delivers superior protection from strong Summer-time sun. The sun screen has a matte finish and is ideal for all skin types, oily-to-dry.
Obagi Clear
Age spots: the only thing worse than a sunburn. Prolonged hours in the sun tend to create these unsightly signs of aging. Obagi has an award-winning product that is highly effective in eliminating these patches of discolored skin.
Obagi Clear, winner of NewBeauty Magazine’s Best Overall Dark Spot Eraser, is just one component of the highly effective Nu-Derm system. Some patients use the product as a stand-alone treatment for age spots. Most patients, and nearly all physicians, understand that this Obagi product works best when used with the entire Nu-Derm System. It is recommended that you speak with your physcian prior to using Obagi Clear.
Professional C Serums
One final Obagi product to watch in 2011: the Professional-C Serums. These skin care products offer a unique liquid-delivery system that floods the skin with high concentrations of powerful antioxidants.
Why are antioxidants important?
The sun, stress, and environmental pollutants cause your body to produce free radicals. These tiny, malicious particles roam the body and cause damage on the cellular level. Over time, free radicals may cause specific body cells to shrink, become dysfunctional, and die. This results in more than just aged skin; free radical research is cutting-edge and is currently investigating links between free radicals and serious illnesses like cancer.
Obagi Medical Products, Inc. is a California-based company that pioneers research in anti aging skin care, product development, and extensive product testing. To learn more about Obagi, physicians who recommend Obagi products, and more, please visit Obagi.com.
Summer is here. It’s the time of the year when everyone starts to spend more time outside laying by the pool, going to the beach, attending baseball games, or just going for a nice stroll around the block. This is a happier season for most since we don’t have to stay cooped up in our houses all day avoiding the coldness.
With your once again newfound love for the outdoors, there are some precautions that you should take before and while heading outside. The sun is in its fiercest mode during these months, so it’s more important now to protect your skin.
Is the Sun Stronger during the Summer?
The sun isn’t necessarily stronger during the summer months. Many people think that we are closer to the sun during these months, causing it to be hot and give off more powerful rays. This is actually the opposite of the truth, for those in the northern hemisphere at least.
Looking back to your old middle school science notes and you’ll remember learning about the earth’s tilt. We lie on an axis that spins with the North Pole as our center point. During the winter months, the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, giving us less hours of sun with the UV rays coming in at an angle.
What causes the summer months to have warmer weather and more powerful sun rays is our tilt towards the sun during these months. July actually marks the month when we are farthest from the sun, but due to our tilt it’s one of the warmest months.
The sun gives us more hours of sunlight and a more direct angle of UV rays in the summer. The direct UV rays are what we need to protect ourselves from during the summer months.
We aren’t looking to scare you to stay indoors. It is healthy to go outside and breathe some fresh air and be out in the sun. Studies even show that some sun exposure increases your body’s natural formation of vitamin D which is healthy for your teeth and bone health.
However, too much unprotected exposure to the sun can be detrimental to your looks and your health. A suntan is your body’s natural defense mechanism for warding off damages to your skin, much like how your immune system causes mucus to expel germs.
Too much sun exposure can cause the following:
Those with lighter skin are more susceptible to sun burn and sun damage. Darker skinned individuals have more natural skin protection, but should still use the following precautions:
1) Cover up sensitive areas. Wear a hat that limits sun exposure to your face. You should also look for a hat that can cover the back of your neck as this area gets the most direct sunlight. Wearing loose long sleeves can protect your arms from sun damage as well.
2) Wear sunblock whenever you plan on going outside. For your face, consider using Obagi Nu-Derm Sun Shield SPF 50. Self Magazine ranked Nu-Derm Sun Shield as the best sun block for your face in the 2011 Healthy Beauty Awards. Proper use of sunblock like Obagi’s Sun Shield will reduce photodamage, reduce hyperpigmentation and age spots, and diminish signs of premature aging. Sunblock should be reapplied every 2-3 hours.
3) Limit sun exposure during the hours of 10:00AM-2:00PM. During these hours, the sun points directly towards us, making it more powerful and possibly harmful.
A temporary, yet painful side effect of too much sun exposure is sunburn. For a list of treatments for quicker healing and pain relief, refer to our article on sunburn remedies.
Now, if you haven’t been careful for months or years of your life, you may be noticing that your skin is becoming wrinkled, having a less even skin tone, and/or losing its elasticity. There are Obagi products made to reverse these effects of the sun to restore the beauty to your skin.
People in their 20’s and 30’s are the most active outside and don’t see the serious effects of the sun on their skin yet. Deep down in their skin cells they are starting to develop looser skin and hyperpigmentation that will show up as wrinkled skin and age spots within a few years. You may notice some fine lines or freckles appearing. Obagi C-Rx was created for you proactive individuals looking to stop the aging process at an early age. Obagi C-rx uses several compounds, namely vitamin C, to go deep down into your skin and reverse the signs of aging and prevent more future damage.
Now for those of you that already see the signs of aging caused by over exposure to the sun, we offer you the Obagi Nu-Derm System. Obagi Nu-Derm is a system of products that will help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, restore an even skin tone, hydrate your skin, reduce freckles and age spots, and restore elasticity to your skin. Obagi Nu-Derm has been clinically proven to provide up to 3x better results than most stand-alone products available today.
This week, the Obagi Blog would like to cover the topic of hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation is can regularly be referred to as skin discoloration. Some of the most common forms of this condition are freckles, age spots, and liver spots.
People with hyperpigmentation have a problem with their melanin production. Melanocytes in certain areas on their skin overproduce melanin, causing the sections of skin to become darker than the surrounding area.
Freckles, also known as ephelides, are a genetic trait which is commonly seen on people with a fair complexion. Freckles are usually more pronounced in the summertime due to more sun exposure and seem to fade in the winter. Melanin production increases in scattered areas, causing an uneven skin tone. People usually have most freckles appearing on their face, cleavage, and hands.
Liver spots, also called age spots for their prevalence among older individuals, are much like freckles as they create darker patches of skin scattered throughout your body. Liver spots are larger and darker than freckles, and will not fade in the winter. Liver spots get their name because of the similar color to livers. There is no connection between your liver health and your liver spots.
Both freckles and liver spots can be prevented with regular use of sun screen. However, if you are already experiencing either of these problems, you may want to look for a treatment that effectively regulates melanin production. Such products create the appearance of smooth and even-textured skin by controlling melanin distribution.
Obagi Clear is the product in the Obagi Nu-Derm system used for correcting uneven skin tone caused by hyperpigmentation. Signs of freckles and liver spots can be reduced with regular use of Obagi Clear.
Many skin care products that are used to correct skin tone work by bleaching your outer skin cells. This is not the most effective way to restore your skin to a natural skin tone. What you need is to correct the problem where it is occurring.
The key ingredient of Obagi Clear is Hydroquinone. This compound is delivered deep into your skin to prevent overproduction of melanin, what causes darkening of the skin. Obagi Clear will help your body rebuild melanin producing cells and redistribute melanin evenly throughout your skin.
Obagi Clear is the 3rd step in the Nu-Derm system. The Obagi Clear is to be applied twice daily until the desired results are achieved. The cream can be rubbed into your skin in the affected areas in the morning and at night. If you apply Obagi Clear to your face, make sure to avoid your eyelids.
Obagi Nu-Derm is the groundbreaking skin care system used to bring back your youthful looking and feeling skin. The Nu-Derm system has been clinically proven to smooth away fine lines and wrinkles, create an even skin tone, and tighten your skin.
Most people using Obagi Nu-Derm see results within the first 6 weeks. Consult your skin care professional with your questions regarding Obagi products before you decide which is right for you.
