Healthy Skincare for Women and Men: Acne, Anti-Aging, Dry/Oily Skincare, Hair Problems, Treatments

Healthy Skin

Your skin is the largest organ of your body and it's always changing and replenishing itself. It helps to protect us from all the nasty things that would like to get inside us such as heat, light, injury and infection. It keeps us warm when it's cold outside, and releases fluid or sweat to cool us in warm weather. It also stores water and fat and produces vitamin D - all things we need to survive and live.

The skin is made up of two main layers, plus an underlying layer

• Epidermis - This is the main outer layer, made up of flat scale-like cells called squamous cells. Under that are some round cells called basal cells. The deepest part of the epidermis also has what are called melanocytes. They produce melanin, which is what gives our skin its color.
• Dermis - Under the epidermis is the dermis, which contains the vessels for the blood and the lymph. It's also where the hair follicles and the glands are. Those glands are what produce sweat (to help cool us) and sebum, which is an oil that keeps the skin from drying out. Both oil and sweat get to the surface via the pores. The dermis also contains a binding protein called collagen.
• Subcutaneous tissue - Under the dermis is the subcutaneous tissue, which contains fat. This helps to keep us warm and provide cushioning.

Many of the things that our skin protects us from also cause damage to the skin. The sun damages our skin and causes wrinkles. The damage can also result in skin cancer. Other conditions that irritate, clog or inflame your skin can cause symptoms such as redness, swelling, burning and itching. Allergies, irritants, your genetic makeup and certain diseases and immune system problems can cause dermatitis, rashes, hives and other skin conditions. Many skin problems, such as acne, also affect your appearance.

Acne

Acne is the term for what is often called pimples or zits. It is a common skin condition. Pimples form when hair follicles under your skin clog up. Most pimples form on the face, neck, back, chest and shoulders. Anyone can get acne, but it is common in teenagers and young adults. It is not serious, but it can cause scars. Read more about Acne.

Aging Skin

Your skin changes as you age. For example, you sweat less, that leads to increased dryness. As your skin ages, it becomes thinner and loses fat, so it looks less plump and smooth. Underlying structures - veins and bones in particular - become more prominent. Your skin can take longer to heal when injured. Sun damage is a major cause of the skin changes we think of as aging - changes such as wrinkles, sagging skin and age spots. There are a number of aging skin treatments designed for such problems. These include cosmetic fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm which can plump up fine lines and wrinkles. Some people also use Botox which is injected into the skin to reduce the appearance of deep lines and wrinkles. With all these procedures, you need to take care or you can wind up with a worse problem than before. Read more about Aging Skin.

Cosmetic Surgery

Each year , in a quest for beauty, millions of people have cosmetic surgical procedures performed. The reasons are as varied as the people who have the surgery. People may have cosmetic surgery to take years off an aging face via a face lift or some type of laser resurfacing. They may want to look slimmer so they take advantage of liposuction. The have facial surgery to change something they never particularly liked about the way they look. Or they may want some type of cosmetic surgery for the body such as a butt lift or breast augmentation. In all these cases, the choice is up to the individual, but it is essential that you take precautions, such as choosing a qualified plastic surgeon. Read more about Cosmetic Surgery.

Diet & Healthy Skin

You need to have a varied diet with the right nutrients to help keep your skin healthy. Part of that is getting the the right vitamins and minerals. For instance, Vitamin A and zinc are important to skin health. Don't forget exercise when you are thinking about your skin. Exercise gets the blood flowing, bringing nutrients to the skin and helping flush away toxins. Read more about Diet & Healthy Skin.

Dry Skin

Skin tends to get drier as we get older. At any age, though, oral hydration is important, so drinking enough water can help to keep skin moist and healthy, and to avoid dehydration. Dry skin tends to get itchy. When it does, you may scratch the area. That will then increase the itchiness of the area and the so-called itch-scratch cycle begins. Read more about Dry Skin.

Oily Skin

Without lubrication, our skin would dry up and get all wrinkled. Oil helps hold water in the skin, keeping our soft and moist. But, as people with oily skin know, too much lubrication can be a bad thing too.

Sebum is the term healthcare professionals use for the oil that our skin produces. The glands of our skin produce the sebum. That sebum is essential for the health of our hair and our skin, but if the glands produce too much it can lead to that shiny and greasy appearance that people with oily skin know all too well. Read more about Oily Skin.

Sun Protection

A major cause of damage to the skin is the sun. This sun damage can be slowed by providing sun protection for the skin. Although nothing can completely undo sun damage, the skin sometimes can repair itself. So, it's never too late to protect yourself from the harmful effects of the sun. The simplest way is to stay out of the sun, but that may not be possible. Instead, you can use sun protective clothing for children and adults, such as UV hats and sun protection gloves, sunscreen and other methods to slow or stop sun damage. Read more about Sun Protection.

Tattoos

It's estimated that about three percent of the population in the United States has a tattoo. That number is probably out of date by now though, as more and more people get their bodies decorated each year.

There is more than one type of tattoo. While the final product can look the same, the way they are applied and their permanency differ.

• Permanent tattoos - are injected under the skin with a needle and permanent ink. The puncture wound is made deep into the skin.
• Temporary tattoos - are usually placed on the skin with a wet washcloth or cotton ball.
• Henna tattoos - are applied as a stain to the skin.
• Permanent makeup - are permanent tattoos that are meant to look like make-up such as eyeliner or lip liner.

If you are thinking about getting a permanent tattoo, be aware that if you change your mind it's a lot tougher and more expensive to remove a tattoo than it is to get one in the first place. Read more about Tattoos.

Hair Problems

Something closely related to our skin is our hair. It is found all over our bodies except the palms of our hands and the soles of our feet. Many of us think to have too little hair, especially on the top of our heads, or too much hair on the rest of our bodies.

We can lose hair for many reasons from getting older and genetic conditions kicking in, some medications and drugs, thyroid problems and even not eating a healthy diet.

There are things that can be done for hair loss. There are hair loss drugs and medications, both topical and in pill form that have been shown to help. A number of hair transplant procedures have also been developed that can help replace hair that has been lost.

When it comes to the hair not on our heads, we have spent millennium trying to remove it. There are hundreds if not thousands of hair removal products and methods available, such as laser hair removal. For do-it-yourselfers, a variety of home-use hair removal products are available over-the-counter. These include shaving creams, foams and gels; waxes; chemical depilatories; and electrolysis devices. Professionals at beauty and skin care salons and in dermatologists' offices provide waxing, electrolysis, and, most recently, laser treatments to remove hair. Read more about Hair Problems.

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Updated May 2008

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