FAQ

How can I tell if I have normal, oily, dry, or mixed skin?

When talking about skin types, we should assess ourselves on the balance between water (water) and oil (sebaceous glands). We must always seek equality on both sides. * Normal skin: it presents a balance between water and oily functions, closed and regular pores, good appearance and softness. An example of normal skin is children’s skin. * Oily skin: tends to produce excess sebum, it has intense brightness, high humidity and a sticky feeling. The pores are open and irregular in size. It is often skin prone to acne. Generally people with oily skin feel that throughout the day, excessive glare begins to bother and there is need to wash, dry or apply compact powder on the entire face. * Dry skin: it has deficiency of sebum and consequently of water. Dry skin is often also dehydrated skin. This skin looks rough and dull. In addition, it tends to be dry and crack easily. * Mixed skin: Depending on the area, it may have different characteristics. In general, the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) tends to be oily, while the rest of the face may be drier, prone to peeling and irritation. This ranges skin from being a little bit drier than normal, through very dry skin to extremely dry skin. The differences can normally be distinguished by: Dry skin: Mildly dry, skin can feel tight, brittle, rough and look dull. Skins elasticity is also low. Very dry skin: If the dryness is not treated, skin may develop: * mild scaling or flakiness in patches
* a rough and blotchy appearance (sometimes it appears to be prematurely aged)
* a feeling of tightness
* possible itchiness It is also more sensitive to irritation, redness and the risk of infection. Extremely dry skin: Certain areas of the body – particularly hands, feet, elbows and knees – are prone to: * roughness
* chapping with a tendency to form rhagades (cracks)
* calluses
* scaling
* frequent itchiness Oily skin is prone to comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) and to the varying forms of acne. With mild acne, a significant number of comedones appear on the face and frequently on the neck, shoulders, back and chest too. In moderate and severe cases, papules (small bumps with no visible white or black head) and pustules (medium sized bumps with a noticeable white or yellow dot at the center) appear and the skin becomes red and inflamed.



How do you treat dehydrated, oily skin?

Wash oily skin at most twice a day, with cold water and neutral or skin-specific soap. Many people believe that if they clean their oily skin at all times they will be doing well, but it is the opposite, this act further stimulates the production of the sebaceous glands. It is also important to tone the skin with specific products for oily skin and afterwards moisturize. Yes, oily skin also needs hydration, because if you leave it dry it will also stimulate the production of the sebaceous glands. Moisturizers for oily skin have a specific, oil-free formula and often contain compounds that help in the treatment and control of skin oils, providing a velvety, dry touch.



I have bad bags under my eyes. What can help these?

Eye bags, or protrusion of the fat under the eye (infra orbital area) occurs when there is prominence of the “fat pad” under the eye, which can come from genetics as well as aging skin. When this condition is more advanced, the most effective treatment is a surgical procedure called blepharoplasty. When the protrusion is mild, we can use cosmetic fillers in the “tear trough” area to help smooth the transition between the fat pad and the cheeks– which helps to mask the protrusion. Another option for mildly loose skin associated with “bags” is radiofrequency laser, which can help tighten the skin.



I don’t have bags under my eyes but I have problems with dark circles. What causes these?

Some of the most common causes are: *Allergies *Atopic dermatitis (Eczema) *Contact dermatitis *Fatigue *Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) * Heredity — dark under-eye circles can run in families * Pigmentation irregularities — these are a particular concern for people of color, especially blacks and Asians * Rubbing or scratching your eyes * Sun exposure, which prompts your body to produce more melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color * Thinning skin and loss of fat and collagen — common as you age — can make the reddish-blue blood vessels under your eyes more obvious.



How can you treat the different types of eye circle darkness?

Dark circles occurs because of the increased melanin (pigment) content. Darkness under the eyes can result from frequent rubbing and rashes. When irritation and rubbing lead to thickened dark skin, retinoic acid or hyaluronic acid creams can help soften and exfoliate this thickened, dark skin. Light chemical peels and skin lightening creams with hydroquinone, azelaic acid, kojic acid, or glycolic acid can also help. There are also some laser treatments that have shown benefit.



I had too much sun in my 20’s and 30’s and I am now suffering the results. Can you recommend a regime for my skin?

Step 1: Know Your Skin Type. Step 2: Never pick, squeeze or pop your pimples – no matter how tempting it is. It hurts more, looks worse, and eventually may leave behind an ugly scar. Step 3: Wash your hands so you won’t be transferring bacteria to your face. Step 4: Wet your skin with warm water to open up your pores. Apply the specific cleanser for your face and massage it into your skin in an upward motion, then remove all product leaving no residue on the skin. Step 5: A few minutes after cleansing, tone your face with toner and a cotton pad. Toner is used to restore your skin’s natural pH levels which were probably altered during cleansing. By restoring your skin to its natural pH, you also make it more resistant against bacteria and microorganisms. Step 6: After cleansing and toning you should moisturize with a face moisturizer for your skin type. These steps you should be repeated twice a day, when you wake up and before bed. Step 7: Once or twice a week, in place of your daily cleanser, you should exfoliate with an exfoliating facial scrub. Step 8: During the day, never forget the specific sunscreen for your skin type.



Do you have a Customer Appreciation Program?

YES! For all returning customers, we offer exclusive discounts sent to your email immediately after your first purchase! Stay tuned as these discounts will change seasonally and regularly.
• Discounts – For any returning customer, expect discounts emailed to you that can be used on any of our products! • Newsletter – You can also subscribe to our email newsletter that will be launched this fall. It will contain seasonal discounts when they go live! Exclusive for our valued US customers:
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All new product introductions have a 10% discount for a period of three months: try it out! We appreciate to hear about your experience with our medical grade cosmeceuticals. This allows us to serve you with special requests for customized products and improve on our current line of cosmeceuticals. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as we will introduce new products every month and to interact with us: we want to hear from you!



Is there a relationship between Diabetes and skin?

Yes. Skin problems can even be the first sign of diabetes. Many people with diabetes have a skin disorder. In Both types of diabetes (DM2 or IDDM), insulin is either insufficient or absent. Insulin is important to the skin because it helps with the growth of keratinocytes, which are cells that compose the skin barrier. With this alteration in keratinocytes formation, the skin loses its thickness and elasticity, therefor becoming thinner and less elastic. What is that relationship between Diabetes and skin? Being a systemic disease, diabetes causes circulatory changes even in the small vessels feeding the skin. These changes can alter the defense and recovery ability of the skin. Is it true that the skin tends to be drier and has more dermatitis in Diabetes Mellitus? Yes. The skin barrier function to prevent the loss of water by the body does not work properly in diabetic skin. The result is dehydrated skin and prone to dermatitis. Is the Diabetic's skin more prone to itchiness? How to prevent that? Yes. Itching skin, also called pruritus, can be caused by poor blood flow feeding the skin. The lower legs and feet are most often affected. To help prevent and treat the itchiness we recommend the use of a Hydrating moisturizer. www.drbertskincare.com (Mango Hydrating cream) Try to avoid taking hot showers, and use gentle soaps to help keep your skin soft and moist. Why should people with diabetes pay attention to their skin? The altered circulatory effect in Diabetes Mellitus in smaller blood vessels impairs the blood irrigation to the skin decreasing the absorption of nutrients. The immune defense system is also altered in Diabetes Mellitus which increases the chance of infections especially if a previous wound already exists. Slow healing added to the already deficient immune system facilitates colonization of bacteria and fungi. Why is it so important to take care special care of your feet? In Diabetes Mellitus, nerves are also affected resulting in numbness of the skin, especially in the feet. That is why a small wound is not noticed and can get easily infected. Extra attention to the skin of the feet and lower leg is of paramount importance. Use proper skin care with Vitamin C. (Shop our Vitamin C Serum) How can we prevent or minimize skin changes in people with Diabetes? Keeping your diabetes under control is the most important factor in preventing the skin-related complications of diabetes. Follow your health care provider's advice on nutrition, exercise, and medication. Proper skin care also helps reduce your risk of skin problems. In addition, it is important to be aware of the slightest sign of skin changes, such as itching, wounds that are late in healing or changes in color. Skin hydration and proper hygiene are fundamental for the prevention of irritations and infections of your skin.