Understanding of Skin Care

Steps to Maintaining Your Skin

In order to maintain your skin in good shape, you need to follow these steps:

Stay Clean: Make sure to wash your face twice daily; in the morning and at night. This way, your face will be refreshed. After washing your face, use moisturizers and toners to additionally clean your skin.

Sun Protection: There are many future consequences to being overexposed to (UV) radiation from the sun:

  • Age spots
  • Benign growths
  • Color changes
  • Freckles
  • Precancerous or cancerous growths like basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma
  • Wrinkles

In order to avoid these consequences, you should always wear broad spectrum sunscreen with a SPF of 30 or greater.

Talk to an Expert: There is absolutely nothing wrong with going to see a dermatologist or a skin expert if you have any concerns. Make a check up regularly with your local dermatologist to keep everything up to date.

Check Yourself: Every now and then, pay attention to any changes in your skin and write it down. Anything related to skin patches or moles that might indicate skin cancer.


Skin Conditions

Your skin is the largest organ in your body. Your skin separates the inside of your body from the outside world. It protects you from bacteria and viruses, and regulates your body temperature. There are many skin conditions that might cause symptoms like redness, swelling, burning, and itching. Here are some facts of some common skin conditions:

  • Acne: Acne is actually a disease, known as acne vulgaris. This disease occurs when hair follicles are clogged with dead skin cells and oil from the skin. It is characterized by blackheads or whiteheads, pimples, oily skin, and possible scarring. Sensitivity to hormones, combined with bacteria on the skin, and fatty acids within oil glands, cause acne.
  • Eczema—Also known as atopic dermatitis, is a long-term skin disease. The most common symptoms are dry and itchy skin, rashes on the face, inside the elbows, behind the knees, and on the hands and feet. Genetics are the cause.
  • Hives—Red and sometimes itchy bumps on your skin. An allergic reaction to a drug or food usually causes them. People who have other allergies are more likely to get hives than other people. Other causes include infections and stress. Hives are very common. They usually go away on their own, but if you have a serious case, you might need medical help.
  • Melanoma—The most dangerous form of skin cancer, these cancerous growths develop when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells (most often caused by ultraviolet radiation from sunshine or tanning beds) triggers mutations that lead the skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumors.The "ABCD's" of what to watch for with the moles on your skin:

Asymmetry: the shape of one half does not match the other

Border: the edges are ragged, blurred, or irregular

Color: the color is uneven and may include shades of black, brown, and tan

Diameter: there is a change in size, usually an increase

People with melanoma may have surgery, chemotherapy, biological therapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of those. Melanoma kills an estimated 10,130 people in the US annually.

  • Psoriasis—A skin disease that causes scaling and swelling. Most psoriasis causes patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales. These patches can itch or feel sore. They are often found on the elbows, knees, other parts of the legs, scalp, lower back, face, palms, and soles of the feet. Treatment depends on how serious the disease is, the size of the patches, the type of psoriasis, and how the patient reacts to certain treatments.
  • Rashes (basic dermatitis)—Dry and itchy skin; Rashes on the face, inside the elbows, behind the knees, and on the hands and feet. Your doctor will help you develop a good skin care routine, learn to avoid things that lead to flares, and treat symptoms when they occur.
  • Skin cancer: is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The two most common types are basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer.
  • Wrinkles—Your skin changes as you age. You might notice wrinkles, age spots, and dryness. Sunlight is a major cause of skin aging. Cigarette smoking also contributes to wrinkles. Various treatments soothe dry skin and reduce the appearance of age spots.