Loving Your Skin

Whether you have the skin of a baby or your skin is aging, here are some tips to make the most of what you’ve got.

Your Skin Needs TLC

The level of cortisol, your body’s stress hormone, rises when you are worried. This can affect your face in the form of oily skin and ugly acne outbreaks. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (ADD), higher cortisol levels can also influence the risk of skin cancer and affect how quickly wounds heal. Try to lower your stress level.

Pregnancy Skin Issues

About 90% of pregnant women get stretch marks sometime in their fifth and sixth months. There are some preventative products on the market to help with this problem, but none can offer a full guarantee. Moisturizers can improve the appearance of stretch marks and sooth some of the itchiness. Other options include prescription creams or laser therapy, after the pregnancy. Itchy palms or soles of your feet may also be an irritant during pregnancy. Try switching to a fragrance-free non-soap cleanser, an oatmeal based moisturizer, or a chilled mentholated moisturizer.

Dark Spots

The darker patches that appear on your face are called hyper pigmentation. They are normally found on the forehead, cheeks, and above the upper lip. These dark splotches occur more often in women than men, according to the Harvard Health Publications. These marks are usually associated with hormonal changes which explains why pregnant women and women taking hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives develop them. Wearing an SPF 15 or higher can prevent the spots from becoming darker. The spots can be hidden with makeup or treated with prescriptions.

Adult Breakouts

Three factors contribute to adult acne. Over production of oil, clogged hair follicles, or bacteria growth are the most prevalent causes of adult acne. To prevent scarring, refrain from squeezing your pimples. Wash with a mild soap and warm water and avoid scrubbing too hard while cleaning your face. Use oil free sunscreens and cosmetics and avoid alcohol based astringents.

Fragrance

About 2% of Americans are allergic to fragrance, a component in most beauty products. If this is you, try a fragrance free version of the product or switch to something hypoallergenic.

Mature Skin

As you age, your skin loses collagen and tissue that keeps the skin firm and guards against injury. As time goes on your skin is less able to retain moisture and protect against bruising, scarring, and sun damage. Learn more about anti-aging products and general skin care. The earlier you begin proper skin care; the better off you will be through the years.

Piercings and Tattoos

Immediately after getting a tattoo, watch for complications. Staph infections or soft tissue infections are no laughing matter and must be attended to immediately. Some swelling and oozing are normal, but anything that appears suspicious must be treated.

For piercings, it is normal to have an itchy, red skin reaction. Many times it is just a reaction to the nickel in the jewelry. If this occurs, try switching to stainless steel, gold, or platinum jewelry.

Read our safety checklist before getting pierced or tattooed.

Hot Temperatures

As you age, your sweat glands take longer to produce sweat, consequently taking longer to cool down. Adults and infants alike can suffer from heat rash. When sweat glands are clogged or swollen, a red or pinkish rash forms on the skin, that’s a heat rash. Take extra care during hot weather.

Itchy, Dry Skin

Lengthy hot showers or baths contribute to dry, itchy skin. If this is your problem, try using a milder soap, or perhaps a non-soap cleanser. Following bathing, apply a lotion containing lipids. If you continue to have discomfort and a scaly rash like breakout, you may be dealing with atopic dermatitis, or eczema. Learn more about these skin problems.

Preventing Skin Cancer

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends adults do annual or semi-annual full body skin exams either by self examination or with a dermatologist. Check for any new or unusual moles, marks, bumps, or changes. Frequent examinations have proved to increase the chances for discovering melanoma earlier. To defend against cancer always wear a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.

Not So Obvious

It is important to protect your skin from the sun, so always use sunscreen and dress appropriately. Apply the sunscreen every time you come out of the water, or every couple of hours. Regardless of skin color or ethnicity, anyone can develop skin cancer. Recognizing skin cancer is difficult because it often appears between the toes or on the scalp, or anywhere else for that matter. Melanoma often goes undetected in people with darker skin until it has spread. The ADD recommends especially for people of color to get regular skin exams (self-exam or with physician) and learn how to identify the signs of melanoma.