Knowing Melasma

Melasma is a skin discolouration condition that is characterised by irregular brown patches found usually on the face, especially on areas like cheeks, forehead, chin and nose. It can affect anyone, but more commonly women than men because nine out of ten people who suffer from it are women.

Causes of Melasma are due to genetics and changes in hormone levels, which explain why pregnant women, those on birth control pills and Hormone Replacement Therapy are associated with this condition. Other than that, brown skin people like Asians and Latin Americans are more susceptible to Melasma because their melanocytes (melanin-producing cells) are more active than those with lighter skin tone.

Sun exposure is a dominant factor in triggering this condition, where UV rays stimulate the melanocytes, inducing them to produce more melanin that leads to darkening of the skin. By protecting yourself through the use of sun screen, you are preventing damage being done to your skin.

Other than cosmetic concerns, Melasma does not cause any health problems. For treatment, visit a dermatologist for prescription creams and close monitoring of the condition.  Those who use bleaching creams, chemical peels, laser treatment may be useful but sometimes complications may arise and further aggravate the condition.

As the saying goes; Prevention is better than cure. The key to prevention is to avoid the sun and apply sunscreen when outdoors, even when there is no sun. It is not within your control if you are genetically predisposed to it but at least do what you can to minimise and reduce the appearance of Melasma.

Eczema – Causes and Remedies

Eczema is a skin condition where the top layer of skin, the epidermis is inflamed. Symptoms of eczema include dryness, itchiness, rashes, patches of flaking and scaly skin. It can affect anyone from a baby to an adult and the severity of the condition varies, depending on the type of eczema.

People have come to conclusions that eczema is hereditary as many people with eczema usually have a family history of such condition. Sometimes, Eczema is triggered by an allergy to certain substances. It could be due to food like peanuts, prawns or other things such as dust, pets and chemicals. Eczema is also caused by temperature for hot weather or body sweat is more likely to cause an eczema breakout.

No matter what, there are ways to bring the condition under control.

Firstly, having a good skin care routine will definitely help. Taking 2 to 3 showers on a hot day keep the skin clean and free of pollutants. Next, moisturise using natural products so as to minimise contact with irritants, keeping your skin soft and smooth at the same time. If your eczema condition is severe, applying steroids and antihistamines to treat the skin will alleviate the condition.

Another way is to avoid the source of allergy (if you know what cause it). If you are allergic to certain food and wanted to find the underlying cause of your condition, start keeping track of what you eat. Pay attention to the symptoms or how your skin reacts to the food. Meanwhile, try to have a balanced diet so as to ensure your skin get all the nutrients it needs. If you have been searching for healing foods to treat eczema, click here.

One of the reasons for eczema flare ups is when irritants or synthetic chemicals come into contact with the skin. Therefore, remember to always wash your newly purchased garment before you start wearing. This is to get rid of whatever dirt, dust or chemicals used on the garment during manufacturing process. If you have sensitive skin or a more severe case of eczema, wearing organic clothing is even better.

Start using environmentally friendly and natural products such as detergents and soaps so as to protect your skin from harmful chemicals. Some cosmetics and perfumes have chemicals that could trigger eczema, so be careful especially if these products contain alcohol.

Avoid the sun if possible and wear sunscreen when outdoors as the searing heat could irritate and damage the skin. Since temperature can cause flare ups, drink lots of water during hot weather.

The above mentioned are some of the many ways to treat eczema. Most important of all, be stress free and know that a cheerful and positive outlook would help to keep eczema at bay.

Knowing Your Skin Anatomy

Our skin holds our body together, regulates our body temperature through sweat and gives us the sense of touch and pain.

What exactly makes up our skin structure? Our skin is made up of 3 layers, the top layer being the epidermis, followed by the dermis and then the subcutaneous layer. Each of these layers has their own functions.

The epidermis is the outer layer of the skin. The topmost layer of the epidermis is made up of dead skin cells which will be shed off every 3-4 weeks and be replaced by the lower layer of new skin cells from below which are gradually pushed upwards.

The second layer of skin is called the dermis, a complex tissue framework Read more »

Effective care for your skin type

Compared to other parts of your body, do you know your face is more gentle and delicate?

Even then, are you aware that the optimum pH of your skin is only about 5.5? Well, the reason for the slight acidity of our skin is that it is part of our body’s natural defense against viruses and bacteria.

Babies and children are more susceptible to skin infections as their pH level is neutral at 7.0. When we grow older, we have more hair on our bodies, our sebaceous glands and sweat glands become more active to improve our body’s defense against harmful substances and other pollutants. However, as we aged, our skin pH increases again and weakens our skin.  Read more »

Want healthy skin?

Do you want your skin to be healthy? Of course! Having healthy good skin is akin to having a healthy body. You will feel better about your body and have greater confidence in yourself. In order to maintain a youthful and healthy looking skin, it is imperative to adopt a regular skin care regime to care for your skin.

Our skin constantly faces the challenge to function effectively to protect other organs, to regulate our body temperature and at the same time to fight against the ageing process. Exposure to external forces from the harsh environment such as pollution, the sun and the weather, ravages our skin with spots and wrinkles, further accelerating the ageing process.

Starting a good skin care routine early though cleansing, exfoliating, toning, moisturising can nourish and protect your skin, helping them look at its very best. Choosing the right type of skin care for your skin will reduce problem areas and prevent further skin damage from occurring.

Minerals and vitamins found in natural skin care products helps to repair and rejuvenate our cells. Feed your skin with vitamins A, C and E and you will see wonderful results. Studies have shown that these vitamins and antioxidants help hasten the repair of damaged skin.

Healthy skin can be achieved. Do take care of your skin on a daily basis because having a glowing and radiant complexion is worth all the efforts.