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By infmom, November 21, 2009 11:03 am

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Unless you live right on the Equator, your seasons are changing right now.  Well, duh, talk about stating the obvious. 

I know a lot of us (myself included) don’t like to spend major amounts of time on skin care.  After I wash it clean, it’s good to go, that’s my philosophy.  Unfortunately, for a lot of us (myself included) that approach just isn’t enough.

Over the past few years I’ve become a somewhat grumpy consumer of skin lotions of various kinds.  My skin was never dry before, but boy, it sure is now.  Unfortunately, changing the habits of a lifetime and remembering to “moisturize” (as someone who was a teenager in the Sixties I hate that word about as much as I do “kicky” and “glissy” which thank goodness we don’t see kicking–or glissing–around any more) is a royal pain.  Did you know that when I was a kid, the manufacturers of Dove soap advertised it as “One quarter cleansing cream” instead of “moisturizing cream” the way they do today?  People apparently used to buy it to get clean, but now they’re older and something else is more important.

Multicolored skin doesn’t look good when it’s dry.  Your colors will be dulled by an ashy overlay.  Oily multicolored skin won’t look good either, if it’s not kept properly clean and exfoliated.  (Exfoliation’s a fancy term used to sell cosmetics.  You can rub off the dead skin cells with a washcloth in the shower.  Just so you know.)  So, whether you’re headed into winter or into summer where you live, it’s time to pay closer attention to your skin.

If you need skin lotions, browse a few big drugstores and pick up travel sizes.  Places like Whole Foods sell travel sizes, too, of the kinds of lotions not usually found in drugstores.  Once you’ve experimented with as many small inexpensive bottles as you want, you’ll have a good idea of what works for you, and what scents you can live with.  I am very happy with the lavender/citrus scent of some of the skin cleaners and lotions I use, but that’s definitely not for everyone.

If you need toners or astringents to use on oily skin, try the inexpensive ones first.  Plain witch hazel does a dandy job and costs next to nothing.  It does have a distinctive scent, but that dissipates quickly.  And, as I said, you don’t have to spend extra on “exfoliators” if you don’t want to.  After your skin has soaked a while in the shower, rub it with the rough side of a washcloth, stopping to rinse the washcloth out frequently.  Don’t scrub too hard.  It doesn’t take super powers to clean your skin.

You can find “body wash” products in almost any drugstore or supermarket.  These come in bottles like lotion and are designed to be scrubbed all over the body and then rinsed off, presumably leaving “moisturizer” behind.  I’ve tried a couple of those and they work quite well, but I’m still not used to the feeling of “moisturizer” on my skin instead of the clean feeling left behind by good old soap and water (OK, my doctor suggested I use Dove, what can I say).  There are also moisturizers that you apply in the shower and then rinse off.  I’ve tried one of those and it works as expected.  But I’m still grumpy about being this age and having this skin so I’m not consistent about it.

If you’re headed into winter, keep your skin clean and keep it from drying out.  Don’t just slap some lotion on the ink and call it good.  You may not be able to see the dryness on the rest of you, but if it’s on your ink it’s all over.  If you’re headed into summer, keep your skin clean and keep the dead skin cells from accumulating (and use sunscreen, of course).

Becoming a multicolored person means more than just going and getting inked.  It means taking care of your colors so you and the world can admire them for the rest of your life.

What are your favorite skin care products?  I’m always on the lookout for something new.

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By infmom, November 9, 2009 9:59 am

Four years ago, I had a small melanoma removed from my back.  Thank goodness it had not spread beyond the epidermis, so the surgery got it all.  Since then, though, I have to make regular visits to the dermatologist to be inspected for more bad spots.  Melanoma is one of the deadliest cancers, so needless to say finding out that I had one was pretty scary.

I just went through one of my annual inspections.  Standing there buck nekkid in front of the doctor is no easy thing for me, but the alternative would be a lot worse.  I’d just like to take time today to ask all my readers to be vigilant.  Our beautiful multicolored skins might make it a little more difficult to spot the changes that could indicate the onset of skin cancer.

Once a month, stand in front of a mirror and look yourself over.  Enlist someone to take a good look at your back, since most of us can’t see the whole expanse of it clearly (my husband was the one who discovered the melanoma on mine).  Check the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet.  Use a mirror to inspect your private parts (yes, you can get moles and melanomas there, too–years ago I had to have a mole removed that made sitting down rather uncomfortable for several days).

Do you have red or scaly or crusty places that don’t seem to ever go away?  Get them checked.  Most times it’s just a matter of irritation or dry skin, but it could be an indication of skin cancer.  For melanomas, use the mnemonic ABCD.

• A: Appearance, or Asymmetry.  One side looks different from the other.
• B: Border.  The shape of the spot is irregular and sometimes the borders are not distinct.
• C: Color.  The color is uneven or blotchy.
• D:  Diameter.  If it’s bigger than a pencil eraser it needs to be checked out.

Now, a mole could have one or more of those signs and still not be cancerous (that was the case with the mole on my rear end) but why take chances?

I’d like to keep all my readers as long as possible and I want to be here to keep typing likewise.  Take time today to be extra careful with your beautifully decorated skin, OK? Here is a short guide from the American Melanoma Foundation to show you how they recommend looking at your skin.

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By infmom, August 20, 2009 10:43 am

So, are you on Twitter?  I am–click the link on the right to see what I’m talking about.

One of my Twitter friends (someone I have met offline as well) is thinking about getting a tattoo.  Naturally, I leaped at the opportunity to plug this blog.  (I’ve also handed out a few of my new spiffy MOO MiniCards this past week–yes, I’d love to have more readers).  My friend asked me about whether aloe is used in tattoos, since he’s allergic to it.

Which gives me the perfect opportunity to talk about skin care and tattoos.  I’ve talked about this in the past (see the sidebar on the right? Scroll down to the Tags section and click on “aftercare” or “skin care”) but it’s always a subject for discussion because once you’re multicolored you have to take better care of your skin if you don’t want your

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investment to fade or flake away.  Today I’m going to talk about natural (and more-natural) remedies.

Aloe vera juice is a favorite natural skin-problem remedy for many people.  I’ve had aloe vera plants for many years, starting when my kids got diaper rash.  Using it is simple–you just clip off a segment of leaf, squeeze it gently to press out the juice, and apply it to your skin.  It’s a clear gel that smooths on easily and protects your skin for quite a while.  If you don’t have plants, you can buy aloe vera juice products in most of the places where you’d buy other skin care products, but read the ingredients carefully so you don’t get a bunch of extra chemicals you don’t want.  Some of the aloe vera products sold in stores are designed to soothe sunburn and contain a mild topical anaesthetic.  You may not want to apply this to newly tattooed skin.  The idea is to keep as many possible irritants off the tattoo until it’s well healed.  After it’s healed it’s not so critical.

It’s also a good idea to keep the skin protected and moisturized during and after the healing process.  A lot of tattoo artists warn against applying petroleum products to the tattoo as it heals–but I’ve seen some of those people turn right around and recommend A&D Ointment, which is petroleum based.  Go figure.  Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) is not a moisturizer, per se, but once you’ve got the skin well hydrated it helps keep the moisture inside.  Judging by how many “don’t use petroleum products” warnings I’ve seen, I would not advise putting Vaseline on a new tattoo, but once the healing is complete, you could put a very thin layer on after you bathe.  The down side to that, of course, is that petroleum jelly forms a coating on the skin rather than sinking into it and you may end up getting it on your clothes or on your bed.

As for commercial skin care products, there are zillions of them out there.  Today I’m only going to talk about the ones I have personally used and liked.  I am not a fan of putting layers of glop on my skin, tattooed or not, so I look for products that are light, contain as few noxious chemicals as possible, and are not tested on animals.

Burt’s Bees has several really good skin care formulas.  I have mentioned their Hand Salve before, because it contains almost the same ingredients as some of the products designed specifically for use on tattoos, and is more readily available.  It’s light, not greasy, and has what is to me a pleasant scent.  I know some people are sensitive to scents, though, and this one does have eucalyptus oil in it, so you might want to see if you can sniff it before you buy it.

LUSH Cosmetics has stores all over the world and a mail order catalog.  Their products use natural ingredients and are processed in small batches, and each comes with a “best used by” date.  A little LUSH goes a long way, too.  If you’re anywhere close to one of their retail outlets I recommend going in and talking to their super helpful salespeople, who will happily give you a generous sample of anything you’d like to try.  I’ve tried their skin creams, shampoo, soap, and powder and have liked them all.  One caveat:  These products tend to be strongly scented, although the scents do fade after application.  If you’re not sure, definitely get a sample and see how it “wears” for a few hours before you buy.

Avalon Organics and Kiss My Face, which you can find in health food stores and in chains like Whole Foods, also make skin care products with natural ingredients, and their formulas are designed to be kind to skin.  I currently use a lavender-citrus skin lotion from Kiss My Face, and lavender-citrus face wash and toner from Avalon.  I happen to like that combination of scents, but once again, it’d be a good idea to sniff before you buy.

I have no recommendations for more natural sunscreen products and I’d sure like to find one.  Do any of you have any experience with those that you’d like to share?

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By infmom, March 4, 2009 5:44 pm

One of the more popular subjects I have covered is the issue of nickel allergies. If you haven’t read my previous posts on the subject, you can find them here and here.

Although like most things nickel is a bit more expensive than it used to be, it’s still inexpensive enough that it’s a very common element in jewelry.  And it is quite common (and easy) to be sensitized to it, especially when it’s in jewelry that goes into the skin.  I got sensitized to nickel by wearing inexpensive earrings after my first ear piercings.  I’ve since had earrings from Tiffany’s in New York that had enough nickel in them to make my ears itch.   Just because it’s high end doesn’t mean it’s nickel free.

What does this mean for tattooed people?  Well, as I mentioned before, nickel can be a component of tattoo ink, especially the blue and green shades.  If you’re already sensitive to nickel, you could end up with serious problems if that’s the kind of ink you get.  And if you’re not already sensitive to nickel, the exposure to those inks could rile up your system to the point where any further exposure to nickel-containing ink or jewelry would be a problem.

It is not easy to tell which inks contain nickel.  It might or might not be listed on the label and even the best tattoo artists might not have any indication that the ink has nickel in it till it’s too late.  That is not their fault; the manufacturers should be upfront about potential allergens in their products.

So, what to do?

Cosmetics manufacturers always advise people to do a patch test before applying any new product to vast expanses of skin.  Granted, this is not quite as easy to do with permanent tattoo ink, but the procedure can be modified to suit the purpose.  If you know already that you are sensitive to nickel, it is vital that your artist know about that in advance.  Save yourself a lot of misery and pay your artist to do a small trial patch of each color of ink somewhere inconspicuous.  Wait a week to see what happens.  If you have no reaction, then it’s likely you will be OK with that ink and you can go ahead with your design.  Better to delay the gratification of getting new ink, than to have a weeping, ugly mess on your skin for ages afterwards.

If you aren’t already sensitive to nickel, your first tattoo will probably be safe, but you don’t know if it will sensitize you.  About the only way you’ll know for sure is if your earrings and watch start itching you like crazy afterwards.  If you want to be absolutely sure the ink is safe, talk to your artist about doing a patch test first.

For allergies to nickel jewelry, if the item is something you for whatever reason don’t want to throw or give away, you can coat the part that touches your skin with clear nail polish if the item is small.  For larger items, a small can of spray lacquer or fixative from an art supply store can be used to seal the surface and keep it away from your skin.  You will have to reapply the protective coating from time to time.

Here is an informative article from the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology about nickel allergies, if you’re interested in further reading.

photo credit: Mad African!

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By infmom, September 18, 2008 12:13 pm

When one season changes into the next, the way we care for our decorations needs to change as well.

Northern Exposure

Here in the northern hemisphere, we are heading into cooler weather (well, here in southern California we aren’t, but our weather is well known to be weird). Does that mean anything different for a tattooed person?

In the colder months, many people’s skin gets dryer.  We are not sweating and encouraging our natural skin oils to come to the surface as often.  Dry skin makes a tattoo look dusty or faded, and the fine lines may appear less clear.  Dry skin feels thinner and may look more wrinkled, if your ink is on a part of the body prone to wrinkling (and it’s not just your face–look closely at the skin on the back of your hands sometime).

The ads for moisturizing products are mostly aimed at women, and mostly aimed at de-wrinkling the face.  Occasionally you will see an ad for body lotion, but those aren’t nearly as common as the “age defying” ads.  I doubt anyone wants to buy one of those overpriced “age defying” products in the itty bitty containers, and slather it all over everything.    And of course just because the ads are aimed at women doesn’t mean that men don’t need dry skin treatments during the winter months as well.

Finding a good body lotion is often a matter of trial and error.  Any time I go looking for something new, the first thing I do is take the cap off (in the store) and check how the stuff smells.  Too strong, or too unpleasant, and back on the shelf it goes.   (What can I say, I hate the smell of fake roses!)  Manufacturers change their forumulations from time to time, and even if something has been just fine in the past, a sniff test wouldn’t hurt and might save you the time to take the smelly stuff back to the store.  I suspect men would be much happier with an unscented lotion.

Are store brands worth buying?  I don’t really know.  I haven’t done enough comparison shopping.  I tend to buy the name brand kind, because I have experience with the products and I already know what I like.  With a store brand, it could be manufactured by just about anyone.   I personally like the Nivea and Olay products and I have never had a bad experience with any of them.

Apply a good body lotion (also marketed as hand lotion–as far as I can tell, they’re the same stuff with different labels) to your ink at least once a day if your skin tends to get dry or flaky.  Your ink will look better, even if it’s not out on display as much as it is in warmer weather.  And yes, men, this means you too.  Nivea makes a line of products especially for men, if you don’t want to be caught with a bottle of Jergens in your bathroom. 

Buy small sizes.  It may cost less per ounce to get the biggest one, but skin care products do not last forever.  Check the expiration date and be sure you toss the container at the appropriate time.  Expired products might work, but why take chances with your skin?

Southern Exposure

In the southern hemisphere, of course, you’re headed into summer.  In warm weather you sweat more, your skin is oilier, and you need to bathe more frequently.  Exposed areas of skin should be covered with a good sunscreen.

Buying a sunscreen is also a matter of personal preference.  It comes in lotion, gel, spray-on and stick form.  Unfortunately, most sunscreens seem to be fairly strongly scented, so the sniff test in the store is essential.  Buying a smaller size is not so essential with sunscreen, because you should be using it pretty lavishly to make sure you’re covered, and reapplying it every couple of hours if you’re going to be out in the sun a long time.  But sunscreen, like any other skin care product, doesn’t last forever.  In our household it’s a constant battle between my husband’s attitude of “If we still have the bottle, the stuff is still good” and my “If it doesn’t have an expiration date on it somewhere and we didn’t buy it this year, out it goes.”

Sunscreen is another product that is available in name brand and store brand, and once again I have no real experience with store brands.  I’m sure that if the sunscreen contains the proper chemicals and smells OK, it’d be worth a try if it saves you money.  But try a small size first, just in case.

Try to use soap or bath gel that cleans your skin without drying it out too much.  If your skin oils are depleted, the skin will just make more to replenish what was lost.  If your skin tends to break out, the natural impulse is to scrub away all that oil with vigor, but that might not be the best course of action.  Your skin is something that doesn’t need to be squeaky clean!

If you apply a moisturizer to your skin, do it with a lighter hand.  A small amount usually goes a long way, and since your skin is producing more oil in response to the warmer air, you won’t need as much lotion to make sure your skin is soft and your ink is bright.

Your turn

Do you have favorite skin care products you’d like to recommend?

photo credit: Maly Krtek
photo credit: fabcom

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By infmom, June 3, 2008 11:12 am

I don’t recommend products here unless I’ve tried ‘em myself, so that limits the number of endorsements considerably.

I had heard about a company called Lush from a good friend who has been ecstatically using their products for quite a while now. She has without a doubt the most beautiful hair I’ve ever seen–long, thick, curly and shining. She credits Lush’s shampoo for a lot of that.

When Ifirst heard about the company, it sounded great, but there were no stores within a convenient travel distance of where I live. The web site does a great job of describing the products, but I wanted to see them for myself before I took the plunge.

My daughter got ahead of me, though, and bought me some shampoo, soap, and hand and foot cream for Mother’s Day (and what a glorious present that was, too!) And now I can say that it’s well worth the effort to seek out a Lush store and check out what they’ve got.

I think their Helping Hands cream would do fine for tattoo aftercare. It’s not greasy, absorbs quickly and leaves a very light protective film on your skin. Lush is an international company (the link above is to the main page, where you can tell the web site where you live). It’s worth seeking out one of their stores, though, if there is one within a reasonable distance, because the staff there knows their products thoroughly and will be happy to give you a sample of anything in the store to try before you buy.

Have you tried Lush? What did you think of it?
photo credit: incurable_hippie

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By infmom, November 30, 2007 2:55 pm

Tattooed people can never get enough nice skin care products. Gotta keep that ink looking good, and not covered with dry flaky skin, right? Today I’m going to make some recommendations of products I have personally used.

Note: As far as I know, these are for all skin types, but if your intended recipient is known to have allergies or sensitive skin, perhaps a gift certificate to an appropriate store would be a better idea, so he or she can choose the products that would work best.

Thanks to my friend Sue for the angel!

I’m providing links to the products on drugstore.com, just simply because I know they provide full descriptions of the various ingredients. All these items are available just about everywhere.

Burt’s Bees Hand Salve. This contains the same ingredients as the pricey tattoo-only skin care products. Great for aftercare.

A related product: Burt’s Bees Miracle Salve. This is a general purpose hand and body creme that helps keep your skin soft and protected from the elements.

A Burt’s Bees skin care sample kit. You may not want everything that is in it, but these are small sample sizes so you can figure out what you do and don’t like, inexpensively and without waste.

Burt’s Bees Carrot Lotion. This stuff smells great, absorbs quickly and is good for dry skin.

From other manufacturers:
Nivea Essentially Enriched Lotion. This is what I use every day on my hands. Doesn’t have a heavy scent and rubs in quickly and completely.

Nivea Creme. This stuff is very thick. A small tin will last you forever. I started using this on my feet, and realized it would do a good job on my perpetually-itchy ankle tattoo. Coincidence or not, the swelling finally went down and the itching stopped after about a month of my applying this every couple days.

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