We all want to have healthy, beautiful skin, right? But sometimes our skin gets dry, gets acne, or wrinkles as we age. These are normal things. But if we do a few small things right, we can control these problems to a great extent and maintain beautiful skin. Let's talk about this today in a simple way, in a way that is easy for you to understand.
Is your pass dry? Let's see what we can do.
Dry skin is when the skin feels like it's peeling or flaking off. There is no inflammation of the skin, but it can be itchy. This condition is most common on the scalp, hands, and sides of the abdomen.
Think about it, although it's not that common in our country, in cold countries, the skin tends to dry out more during the winter due to the low humidity in the air. Also, for some people, this can be a hereditary thing . Dry skin can also be caused by skin changes as we age.
The most important thing is to take proper care of it, otherwise it could turn into dermatitis or eczema instead of just dry skin.
Okay then, what do we do about this dry skin?
- Don't bathe in very hot water, but rather in lukewarm water .
- Limit your bath time to 5-10 minutes . Staying in the water for too long can dry out your skin.
- As soon as you shower, dry your body and immediately apply a moisturizing cream, i.e. a moisturizer.
- Use a moisturizing body soap.
- A heavier cream is better in cold weather, and a lighter lotion is better in hot weather.
If your dry skin doesn't improve even after doing these things, it could be a sign of another skin condition. Here are some of the possible causes.
| Condition | Simply put... |
|---|---|
| Seborrheic dermatitis | A condition where areas with a high number of oil glands, such as the scalp, eyebrows, and nose, become red, flaky, and slightly itchy. |
| Allergic contact dermatitis | A condition that occurs when the skin comes into contact with something it is allergic to (e.g., certain plants, chemicals). The palms and fingers may become red, scaly, and develop water-filled blisters (vesicles). |
| Atopic dermatitis | This is a long-term condition that usually starts in childhood and can be inherited. The skin on the face and body becomes extremely dry and itchy. |
| Athlete's foot | Caused by a fungus, the skin on the soles of the feet, on the sides of the feet, and between the toes becomes dry and flaky. |
If you have these symptoms, the best thing to do is see a doctor and seek advice.
How to protect your skin as you age? (Photoaging)
`Photoaging` simply means the aging of the skin due to the sun. As we are exposed to the sun throughout our lives, our skin is damaged by ultraviolet rays, or `UV radiation` . This can cause:
- Rough skin
- Wrinkles
- Irregular pigmentation
- Loss of skin elasticity
- Enlargement of the sebaceous glands
- The occurrence of cancerous and precancerous spots
To prevent this condition from getting worse, it is essential to use sunscreen and protect yourself from the sun . Smoking also ages the skin faster. Therefore, it is important to avoid smoking for healthy skin. Eating a well-balanced diet also provides the skin with the nutrients it needs to repair damage caused by the sun and the environment.
We will also talk about some products used to control the signs of aging.
| Product type | What happens to it? | Things to know |
|---|---|---|
| Retinoids | These are actually medications that were originally developed to treat acne (e.g. tretinoin, tazarotene, adapalene ). When used over a long period of time, they improve skin texture and tone, exfoliate dead skin, and reduce fine lines. | These can dry out the skin, cause peeling, and redness. Use as directed by your doctor. Since the skin becomes sensitive to the sun when you apply these , it is essential to use sunscreen every morning. |
| Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) | These are found in many skin care products and help reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and enlarged pores. | These can also cause minor skin irritation and sensitivity to the sun. Therefore, it is important to use sunscreen with these. |
| Beta hydroxy acid (salicylic acid) | This also removes dead skin cells, improving the texture and color of the skin. It is also very good for acne because it penetrates deep into the hair follicles where the oil is. | These are often contained in cleansers and creams for acne. |
What to do for acne-prone skin?
If you are someone who often gets acne, these points will be very important for you.
- Choose a cleanser that is specifically designed for acne. These often contain either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. These can help control acne.
- When washing your face, wash it very gently. Don't rub hard or pop pimples. Doing so can cause more pimples or scarring.
- If you use a moisturizer, choose a lightweight, non-comedogenic type. Non-comedogenic means it won't cause breakouts.
- If women wear makeup, choose an oil-free and `non-comedogenic` foundation. Because heavy makeup can clog pores and increase acne.
The importance of protecting the skin from the sun
As we've discussed before, it's important to protect your skin from the sun. Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) from the sun can cause wrinkles, age spots, non-cancerous growths, and even cancerous conditions over time. In fact, most skin cancers are caused by sun exposure.
There are two main types of UV rays: UVB and UVA.
- UVB rays: These are what cause sunburns.
- UVA rays: These are the ones primarily responsible for skin aging (photoaging).
Both types of radiation are linked to causing skin cancer, so we need to protect ourselves from both.
Here are some things you can do to protect yourself from the sun:
- Avoid the strong sun between 10 am and 3 pm.
- Wear wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeved clothing, and pants.
- Apply sunscreen thoroughly and reapply every 2-3 hours.
- When choosing a sunscreen, choose one with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of over 30 and one that provides protection from both UVA and UVB (broad-spectrum).
- Avoid using tanning beds altogether. They have now been classified as carcinogens.
Take-Home Message
- If your skin is dry, take a bath with lukewarm water and apply a moisturizer immediately after bathing.
- To reduce the signs of aging and prevent skin cancer, protect yourself from the sun every day. Make it a habit to use sunscreen.
- If you have acne, wash your face gently, don't pop pimples, and choose 'non-comedogenic' products.
- If you have an unusual spot, rash, or a spot on your skin that won't go away, don't ignore it and see a doctor immediately .
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න