SKIN CARE: PART 2

SKIN TYPE AND TREATMENTS 

There are four general skin types:  Oily, Dry, Normal and Combination. In addition, it is possible to have sensitive skin along with one of the four general types.  

1. Dry Skin: If your skin has a strong tendency toward dehydration, lacks oil, and has few breakouts if any at all, it is considered dry. In more extreme cases, dry skin lacks elasticity and can be extremely sensitive to the sun, wind, and cold temperatures.

  

Treatment: Wash your face once a day with a rich, creamy cleanser and warm water.  Rinse with warm water and pat your skin dry. Use toner to help with that tight and flaky feeling of dehydration. Avoid toners and makeup that contain alcohol as alcohol-based products have a drying effect on skin. Use a cream-based lotion to hydrate your skin and keep it rejuvenated. 

2. Oily Skin: If your skin is oily, it usually has a lot of shine to it very soon after cleansing and the pores are generally slightly enlarged. It is more prone to pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads than other skin types and is coarser in texture.  

Treatment: Your skin tends to attract more dirt than dry skin, so wash your face twice a day with a gentle non-foaming cleanser and warm water. Rinse with warm water. Use an alcohol-free, hydrating toner to help remove additional residue. Oil blotting sheets throughout the day can help control shine, and it takes as little as 3 minutes after lunch. Although your skin's oily, you still must moisturize it with a light moisturizer daily, or your skin will become dry underneath and overcompensate by producing more oil.  

3. Normal Skin: Some consider normal skin to be combination skin, but it is not. If your skin is oily in the "T zone" and your nose while dry and taut on the cheeks, it is considered normal. It's also considered normal if it changes with seasons (dryer in winter, oilier in summer). Normal skins can also be 'Normal-To's' as in normal to oily or normal to dry.  

Treatment: Wash your face with cleansers that are designed for your normal/normal-to skin type. Wipe an alcohol free, hydrating toner all over the face. Apply moisturizer more frequently to dry skin.  

4. Combination Skin: Combination skin is comprised of two extreme skin types on one face. These situations occur when there is acne and a lot of oil in one area when the rest of the skin is generally dry (no oil). Two common examples are dry skin with papular and pustular acne on the cheeks or a normal skin with inflamed papular and pustular acne in the chin and mouth area.  

Treatment: Tend to each area appropriately as described above. If the acne is severe, consult a dermatologist or esthetician.  

5. Sensitive Skin: Please note that you may have sensitive skin and normal, oily, or dry. If your skin has allergic reactions to beauty products and is usually sensitive to the sun, wind, and cold weather, it is sensitive. Sensitivity can show up in rash, redness, inflammation, acne, and dilated capillaries. 

Treatment: Look for cleansers, toners, makeup, and moisturizers that are fragrance-free and hypoallergenic. Cleanse, tone and moisturize with gentle products every day. The idea for your skin is to always choose products with a soothing benefit. Some common ingredients to look for are: chamomile, azulene, bisabolol, allantoin, lavender, camphor, calamine, rosemary, thyme, aloe vera etc.

• Make sure you drink a lot of water so your skin won't look dry.

  

You may be able to improve your skin by taking care of your body such as with good hygiene, nutrition and exercise. Practice good hygiene such as taking showers with mild soap to reduce microbe count on skin. Occasionally use a strong bar soap strong enough to get rid of most microbes and rinse off soap well.

•  Use exercise such as walking to reduce cellulite and improve muscle tone.

• Vitamins are essential for healthy skin, especially vitamins A, B,and C. Vitamin E helps to improve the complexion when applied externally.

• Use homemade masks to moisturize your skin. They're easy to make, and they really work! For instance, a mixture of grapes, lemon and egg white is very helpful for oily skin and honey promotes the healing of ulcers and burns. Fresh herbs grounded into a paste and applied to problem skin may also help reduce skin problems.  

• Avoid touching your skin with high force or avoid scratching your skin as much as possible.

• Change the applicators and clean the brushes you use to apply make-up on a consistent basis. Bacteria and oils can build up in these places and then be spread back on the skin each time make-up is applied.    

• If your skin gets a little stressed though e.g. due to plenty of sun, try Aloe Vera Gel with at least 90% pure Aloe barbadensis leaf juice in it. Aloe Vera is known for healing properties and can do wonders for the skin.  

• Oil blotting sheets can help absorb oil through the day so you are not tempted to re-apply powder or foundation, or over-wash your face. 

• Never coat your entire face in foundation. Chances are, you only need a little bit in areas you are most self- conscious in.  

• Washing your face with a mixture of brown sugar and a few drops of milk (enough to form a mud-like consistency) washes away dirt and excess oil, leaving your skin feeling smooth and refreshed. This scrub can be left on your face for as long as you like.  

• Wash all cosmetics off as soon as you know you will not be going out again and avoid wearing cosmetics whenever possible to give your skin a rest. 

• Avoid stretching or pulling on the delicate skin near your eyes when putting on creams or cosmetics. This delicate area shows age markings like wrinkles much sooner than it should when subjected to too much rough handling.  

• Never pick at a blemish. Many poor results come of picking at breakouts, such as scarring, infection, or permanent enlargement of the pore. You are also more likely to get another breakout in the same place over time.  

• Carefully choose your facial scrub to match your pore size. The type and size of the grains in the face scrub can actually make the difference between exfoliated and irritated skin. Larger grains are more abrasive while tinier beads are more gentle.  

• Wash your pillowcase often and avoid wearing hair products to bed. The combination of hair products and facial oils on the pillowcase can cause blemishes.  

• If you're sunburned, apply some plain yogurt mixed with Aloe Vera gel on your skin. That will smooth the irritated skin. 

• Clean your cell phone and any other device that may come in contact with your skin.

WARNINGS:  

• Toner can dry out skin if used too often.

  

•  Use caution when using any product containing acids or peroxides such as acne creams and fade creams. These increase the skins' sensitivity to sun and may cause redness and peeling. 

• Choose a sun block specifically meant for your face as some sun blocks can cause breakouts on some skin types.  Over washing skin can make it red and sore. It can also damage the skin.

• Never allow anyone to 'pop' or otherwise break open a blemish. This is a very unsafe practice as bacteria and germs can enter through the broken skin. And if you do 'pop' a blemish add alcohol to reduce the chance of infection.  

                                                 TO BE CONTINUED