Two Part Series on Skin Solutions
Part One – Younger Skin Concerns
This month I will be addressing skin concerns for younger people and tips on how to help. With the Christmas season now in full swing we can see the effects it can have on our skin’s appearance and energy levels. Drink lots of water, keep hydrating your skin, I love Suisse Absolue Serum Hydra which is like a glass of water to the skin. Also don’t forget your daily vitamin C and zinc, echinacea and astragalus to help your immunity. Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year, see you in 2014.
Problem 1
Acne, Scars and Blemishes
Using good antibacterial washes which contain glycolic and salicylic acid are great for soaking up the excessive oil and helping to prevent outbreaks. As well as good hygiene also seek medical advice as antibiotics in some cases are needed. Laser treatments and skin peeling can really help and taking vitamin C and zinc daily to help heal the skin is really useful.
Scarring can be greatly improved with deeper peeling and derma stamp treatments.
Problem 2
Pigmentation
This can be caused by environmental factors, hormonal or due to medications. Younger girls taking the oral contraception pill beware! Some pills can cause dark areas to appear on the face and body (especially top lip), use a daily SPF protector, avoid sun beds and direct sun as it can get darker. Pigmentation can also be a real problem for olive and darker skin types especially when the skin is very dry. Using a face protector and creams to help break down pigment can be useful as well as considering skin peeling and light treatments.
Problem 3
Stretch Marks
Often associated with pregnancy, but can affect you during puberty, teenage girls can notice them to the leg, buttock and breast area during the growing spurt. Men can also be affected. It is easier to treat stretch marks sooner rather than later, red marks can be lessened using lasers or derma rollers to the area to boost collagen. Essentially these marks are a micro tear in the dermis and will never go, but the appearance of them can be greatly reduced.
Problem 4
Unwanted Hair
There are so many hair removal techniques out there, it’s basically finding the one that suits you! Laser hair removal is great, but you do need to attend the treatments regularly and at the correct time of the hair growth cycle to get the results you want. Waxing is great for some, but for others can cause ingrown hairs, glycolic acid based products and peeling agents are particularly useful to help treat them. Men often find that when they shave this can be a problem also and glycolic acid creams can help. Hair removal creams can irritate sensitive skins so patch test a small area first to ensure it is safe to use.
Problem 5
Dry Skin and Eczema
Common factors with eczema is scratching especially at night, tips like using your prescribed creams and moisturising agents as instructed will help. Ensure you are not too hot in bed, wear loose cotton clothing, try wearing cotton gloves at night to stop scratching and tearing the skin. Antihistamines can also help and be prescribed. Bionic lotion from Neostrata is a good cream for the face if you are prone to eczema or excessive dryness and won’t thin or irritate the skin. Also protect your skin with non irritating and sensitive SPF protectors like Cetaphil.