SKIN CONDITIONS
AGING
If life is about change, skin is proof. Our skin is at the mercy of many forces as we age: sun, harsh weather and our own bad habits like smoking. How your skin ages will depend on a variety of factors like your lifestyle, diet, heredity and other personal habits. For instance, are you a smoker or did you ever smoke? Smoking can produce free radicals, once-healthy oxygen molecules that are now overactive and unstable.
Skin becomes rougher. It develops lesions such as benign tumors, becomes slack. The loss of the elastic tissue (elastin and collagen) in the skin with age causes the skin to hang loosely. It becomes more transparent as we age. Skin becomes more fragile as we age this is caused by a flattening of the area where the epidermis and dermis come together.
ACNE
Acne occurs when sebaceous (oil) glands attached to the hair follicles are stimulated at the time of puberty or due to other hormonal changes. Sebum (oil) is a natural substance that lubricates and protects the skin. Associated with increased oil production is a change in the manner in which the skin cells mature, predisposing them to plug the follicular pore. The plug can appear as a whitehead if it is covered by a thin layer of skin, or if exposed to the air, the darker exposed portion of the plug is called a "blackhead." The plugged hair follicle gradually enlarges, producing a bump. As the follicle enlarges, the wall may rupture, allowing irritating substances and normal skin bacteria access into the deeper layers of the skin, ultimately producing inflammation. Inflammation near the skin's surface produces a pustule; deeper inflammation results in a papule (pimple); if the inflammation is deeper still, it forms a cyst.
DISCOLORATION
Discolored skin patches are irregular areas where there are changes in skin color. They are a common problem with a wide array of potential causes. Discolored skin patches also commonly develop in a certain part of the body due to a difference in melanin levels. Melanin is the substance that provides color to the skin and protects it from the sun. When there is an overproduction of melanin in a given area, it can result in skin discoloration
DEHYDRATED
Dry skin and dehydrated skin can share many of the same characteristics, such as tightness, roughness, flaking, scaling, redness and sensitivity they are quite different skin concerns. Dry skin generally refers to skin lacking in oil. Dehydrated skin is skin lacking in moisture - it is not so much a skin type as a skin condition. Even oily and combination skin can be dehydrated. Dehydrated skin occurs when the protective uppermost layer of the skin, known as the stratum corneum, is lacking in moisture which leads to Trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL).
ROSACEA
Rosacea is a common skin condition that causes redness and visible blood vessels in your face. It may also produce small, red, pus-filled bumps. These signs and symptoms may flare up for weeks to months and then go away for a while. Rosacea can be mistaken for acne, other skin problems or natural ruddiness. Rosacea can affect anyone. But it's most common in middle-aged women who have light skin. There's no cure for rosacea but treatment can control and reduce the signs and symptoms.
Sensitized
Sensitive skin is a weak protective function of the skin that can be genetically predisposed. When skin is sensitive its protective outer layer lets irritants, microbes and allergens pass through, causing adverse reactions like stinging, pain, redness or flushing. Genetically sensitive skin is considered more delicate because it has a lower amount of pigment, a thin epidermis and blood vessels close to the skin surface, hence the appearance of redness. Sensitive skin can be passed down through generations but there are ways to manage it. Sensitized skin can be triggered in anyone as it’s actually a reflection of your environment. Frequent irritability from lifestyle, irritants and cosmetic ingredients including alcohol, lanolin, fragrance, artificial color and other external factors can contribute to sensitized skin. Avoiding your individual triggers like pollution, environment or temperature can actually reduce or eliminate your symptoms.
