Shake it Baby

There’s a fine line between tanning and burning, unfortunately far too many people are crossing that line.  You may only intend to achieve a healthy glow, the problem is that everyone has different tolerances to the sun. Two people spending the same amount of time in the sun will come home with vastly different results.  Why is it that one might come home in agony while other comes home looking sleek and glamorous?

There’s many factors involved, the obvious one being skin type.  However prescribed medication and certain skin care products can also have an effect.

When skin is exposed to the sun without adequate sun protection, the exposure causes melanin, the pigment in the body that gives skin its colour, to rise to the surface of the skin.  Malanin helps protect our skin for the sun, however people who have a pale complexion have less melanin. Whilst people with darker skin have more melanin.  Since melanin protects the skin from the sun, it makes sense then that those with less melanin have less protection and vice versa. Darker-skinned individuals tan more often than they burn, but not always.

Many people don’t realize they’re burning until it’s too late because it can take a few hours for burning to become apparent.  Also, you may forget to reapply the sunscreen.

What to do when you get sunburned?

There’s more to being sunburned than just looking like a lobster.  You’ll also probably feel sick, dizzy and dehydrated.  After a few days, sunburned skin will begin to peel, and contrary to what people may tell you, it won’t turn into a tan.

There isn’t much you’ll be able to do to alleviate the above symptoms of sunburn. You’ll definitely want to put on minimal, loose-fitting clothing as any rubbing against the burn will be painful.  Keep your body as cool as possible, take a soak in a bath full of tepid water.  Perhaps next time you’ll remember to use proper sun protection!

DON’T – There’s many “remedies” that people say work but it’s best to stay clear of them.  Don’t soak you body in vinegar or rub with butter.  Avoid using body butter because you don’t know if an ingredient will cause a nasty reaction.

DO – What can work is rubbing you skin with virgin olive oil, covering your skin with natural yoghurt or applying some tea tree oil.

If the sunburn is accompanied by blisters, you may have a severe second-degree burn. Blistering is normal after a few days but right away it’s usually a sign that the sunburn is bad.  It’s a good idea to ask a doctor for advice.

No Comments » Posted by April / Beauty

No two people have exactly the same type skin.  Even throughout our live, our skin changes too.

Skin is a reflection of the health of the human body and poor nutrition and general unhealthy lifestyle choices can take its toll on our skin.  Smoking, high salt, high fat and high sugar diets can have a devastating effect on its appearance.

Although women don’t need to shave their faces, care needs to be given when shaving legs, underarms and other sensitive areas.  Make sure that you take care not to allow skin irritations, cuts or ingrown hairs.

Unfortunately, women have a natural tendency to retain water which gives a puffy, bloated appearance.  The best ways to deal with this is to limit the amount of salt in your diet and drink plenty of water.

Augmentation, dermabrasion and laser treatments all will change the skin’s appearance but too much will ultimately wreak havoc. Always weigh the risks versus the benefits before ‘going under the knife’.

Life in general can have its toll on your skin too.  Stress, hormones, pregnancy and menopause all can cause problems.

Skin care during pregnancy

During pregnancy it’s vital to make sure that none of the products you use contain ingredients that are unsafe for pregnant mothers.

If you have always had dry skin then pregnancy can cause greasy skin.  Using toners and exfoliating the skin to remove dead cells will help.  Continue to moisturise skin, especially your growing belly, to reduce chances of developing stretch marks.

Your feet are getting an extra workout so be sure to massage with a foot lotion containing refreshing menthol. Pigmentation sometimes changes during pregnancy, increasing the likelihood of sunburn/tan. Never forget to wear sunscreen to protect against damaging skin.

Skin care during menopause

Fluctuations in a woman’s progesterone and oestrogen levels will cause skin to change.  Facial hairs can appear from nowhere and you’ll experience saggy, wrinkly skin.  You may even experience acne and acne scars!  Random dark spots and broken blood vessels will likely appear.

To counter the effects of dry skin, add humidity into the air, take shorter and warmer baths or showers and moisturise.  Checking of moles and other skin discolourations is also important because there’s an increased chance of cancer. Most importantly, be vigilant about proper sun protection.

No Comments » Posted by April / Beauty

In part 1 I explained briefly what eczema is and how to deal with it, now let’s take a closer look at some of the more common forms of eczema.

Atopic eczema – linked to allergies that run in the family.  Atopic eczema often first develops during infancy and it flares and subsides regularly throughout life.  Normally people with atopic eczema themselves have problems with allergies or they have relatives who suffer from allergies, asthma or hay fever.

Seborrheic eczema – although it is often misdiagnosed as ‘dry skin’ it is thought to be more associated with genetics.  The symptoms of seborrheic eczema can include scaly skin that usually appears on top of the head and around the eyebrows, ears and nose, as well as on the chest.

Men are generally more affected than women and it becomes a problem after puberty with frequent flare-ups.  It may be just a co-incidence but this type of eczema often appears in patients with some forms of mental or neurological issues such as mental retardation and Parkinson’s disease.

When washing your hair, use a shampoo which contains tar, salicylic acid, sulfur or selenium daily.  On the skin you should use a hydrocortisone cream.  Systemic antibiotics are sometimes prescribed as well.

Varicose eczema – occurs due to pregnancy, obesity or menopause.  Often occurs on the lower leg and around the ankles.  Symptoms generally appear mid-life and it’s important that it’s treated quickly.  If left untreated this type of eczema and turn into an ulcer.  Steroid creams and emollients are effective treatments.

Contact dermatitis is another form of eczema that develops when irritants come into contact with skin. It results in localized inflammation in the area where contact occurred. It results from exposure to toxic chemicals rather than allergens, either just once or after several such contacts. A one-time exposure, usually to highly toxic chemicals, is considered an acute case and can cause red, thick, scaly skin.

Discoid eczema – appear as round patches the size of coins on the lower part of the arms, legs and the trunk.  The patches are itchy and they sometimes weep. Discoid eczema seems to have no apparent trigger and usually develops suddenly and mostly in older men.

A cumulative case is far more common and results from repeated exposure to any number of milder irritants such as soap and even urine or saliva.  Persistent exposure only prolongs the problem. Dry, red skin that is thick and cracks and sometimes has papules is the result of this form of eczema, which is also hard to treat.

Cradle cap - a form of seborrheic eczema that affects infants. It’s easy to diagnose by the appearance of patches of thick, yellowish scales atop an infant’s head. It sometimes appears in the diaper area, neck, face and behind ears, too. It’s harmless and goes away quickly when treated.  Use a normal shampoo for infants and then lightly massage the scalp with a soft brush.  Remember to seek advice from a doctor of the condition doesn’t improve.

No Comments » Posted by April / Beauty