About Sun Spot Lighteners

It's definitely the time of year when you might start to see sun spots. Some people call them age spots, which is silly because they don't really have much to do with age. They are an autoimmune response to the rays of the sun.  They are also called liver spots or brown spots.  They are caused by hyperpigmentation of the skin.  

Do you need age spot lightening cream or 'age spot corrector?' This may be dependent on how dark your age spots are. If they just look like freckles they might be attractive and give you a kind of outdoorsy sun-kissed look.  If they are irregularly shaped or very dark  then it might be time to put some kind of correcting cream on it. Usually find them in the sun-exposed areas of your body such as on your face and hands. Extra melanin, (the technical term for the pigment in skin) causes the discoloration. Age spot corrector creams and lotions  target these areas. 

However the best solution when it comes to developing sun spots is to practice prevention. To aovid skin discoloration, wear sunscreen and avoid direct sunlight especially between noon and 2 pm when the sun is at its strongest. This way your body will not be triggered to produce the melanin that discolors the skin in the first place.  Prevention is practical in this case as sunscreen is less expensive then the creams that are used to lighten the color of sun spots. Usually a  sun spot lightening cream  contains hydroquinone. This is the most effective of chemicals for bleaching the skin. However it can also caused irritations and scarring. 

One of the newer ingredients that is found in sun spot corrector creams and lotions is Kojic Acid. It is made from a rare type of fungi. Although it is slower acting it gentler on the skin that an application of hydroquinione. You will also find alpha-hydroxy acids in a high quality age spot corrector or age spot lightening cream. These acids are derived from milk or fruit that help gently remove your outer skin cells. Alpha-hydroxy acids also remove dead skin cells so that the other ingredients in the cream can penetrate more effectively. 

Creams and correctors can actually  make your sun spots worse if you decide to apply them and then go out in the sun. If you are in an active program of using these lotions and creams then you need to make sure that you are making use of sunscreen products at the same time.  This is because the alpha-hydroxy acids traumatize your skin and it may stimulate the immune system to produce more melanin. This can result in darker, more intense pigmentation that can only be removed by expensive dermabrasion or chemical peels that are done in a dermatologist's office. Keep in mind too that using spot lightening cream and age spot corrector is a temporary fix for these problems. Once you stop using these creams the problem comes back.

However continual use of these products along with a light but effective moisturizer with a high SPF level should help you against the UVB and UVA rays that cause these sometimes unattractive brown spots in the first place.

Yoga for Pregnant People

Should you do Yoga while you are pregnant?  Absolutely. Pregnancy Yoga is a great way to prepare yourself for birth. This physical regimen, which includes a lot of breathing rituals helps ground you both physically and psychologically so that you have a less stressful birth.  It can help calm you so you have a peaceful and happy pregnancy. Yoga can also help with such symptoms of pregnancy as sore feet, aching back, morning sickness and shortness of breath. Also yoga is a known cure for anxiety so it may help any nervousness that you might be experiencing about giving birth.   There are special yoga programs for pregnant women and these are called prenatal Yoga. You can probably find announcements for when this type of Yoga is taught at your local YWMCA.  These classes are deliberately designed to be gentle for you. Prenatal yoga is considered to be generally harmless but when you are pregnant you should first consult with your doctor. Your pre natal yoga instructor will also be able to tell you quite a bit about the specific risks that come with doing yoga while pregnant but your doctor is the ultimate expert when it comes to informing you about the health of your baby and your body. The main issue when it comes to yoga for expectant mothers is that is a risk for babies that are not in the right position in the womb by the third trimester. In that situation it is wiser not to practice prenatal yoga. Consulting with your physician should reveal whether or not your baby is in the proper position in your womb or not. Most doctors however will perceive prenatal  yoga as being a safe and healthy way to prepare your muscles for giving birth. Many of these ancient yoga postures have been specifically developed throughout the ages to strengthen the back and stomach muscles of the mother. As pregnancy yoga also helps the mother strengthen and align her spine she will suffer less from the backaches that develop as the result of extra pregnancy body weight and having to carry a child. The mental and meditative components of doing yoga might also allay the anxiety and pain associated with labor. Yoga also significantly increases one's stamina and patience in general which is a good thing while lying in a hospital waiting to give birth.  Another physical benefit is improved circulation to the entire body (including the umbilical cord!), which helps keeps the baby healthy. There are also many social benefits to joining a prenatal yoga group. It offers you a chance to socialize with other mothers to be and develop a support group.  Also the fact that every single other person working out is as round as you means that you don't have to be embarrassed about your body in the same way as you might be working out in a fashion conscious gym.  In a nutshell, joining a prenatal class is a great way to bond with other mothers and make friends!