The skin and its conditions
Acne
What is acne:
A common skin condition where the pores of the skin become blocked by sebum, debris, bacteria, and dead skin cells. Acne can present anywhere on the body but is mostly found on the face, chest, shoulders, and upper back.
Degrees of acne:
- Grade 1: Whiteheads and blackheads.
- Grade 2: Papules and pustules.
- Grade 3: Papules, pustules, and inflamed nodules.
- Grade 4: Pustules and inflamed, painful nodules.
Types of acne lesions:
- Papules
- Whiteheads
- Blackheads (Comedones)
- Pustules
- Nodules
- Fungal acne
- Cysts
How is it treated:
- Topical treatment: Benzyl Peroxide, Azelaic acid, Adapalene, Isotretinoin, Tretinoin, Erythromycin.
- Systemic treatment: Hormonal contraceptives, antibiotics, and Isotretinoin.
- Physical treatments: Laser, chemical peels and resurfacing treatments, and extractions.
Some available products from SkinStore:
- Lamelle Clarity treatment pack
- Lamelle Clarity Active Control
- CeraVe Blemish Control Treatment Gel
- NeoStrata Mandelic Mattifying serum
- La Roche-Posay Effaclar Ultra Concentrated serum
- La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+
Contributing factors:
- High Glycemic diets
- Overproduction of bacteria on the skin
- Genetic predisposition
- Increased Androgen hormone production
- Inflammation
- Decreased cell turnover rate
- Certain medications
- Increased production of sebum
Ingredients in products for acne:
- Benzyl peroxide
- Salicylic acid
- Retinoids
- Topical antibiotics (prescribed by a doctor)
- Azelaic acid
When is it best to see a doctor:
If you have moderate to severe acne that’s becoming inflamed, especially if the lesions become infected or painful. Medical professionals can be consulted at any time if you are concerned about any acne lesions, it is always a good idea to seek medical help if you are struggling with acne.
Pigmentation
What is pigmentation:
A complex combination of dermal and epidermal pigments in the skin. the amount of melanin in the skin. darker skin tones tend to have a reduced risk of developing skin cancer.
Types of pigmentation:
Eumelanin: Dark brown pigment.
Pheomelanin: Light pigment tones (yellow and red).
The function of melanin:
Melanin absorbs and deflects UV rays, which protects the skin cells from sun damage. This is also one of the main causes of the formation of pigmentary lesions. Melanin is also the pigment found in our hair, skin, and eyes.
How is it treated:
- Oral medication/supplements
- Chemicals peels
- Laser therapy
- Microneedling
- Topical cream treatments
Some available products from SkinStore:
- NeoStrata Enlighten Trio
- NeoStrata Enlighten 15% Vitamin C + PHA serum
- Lamelle Luminesce Treatment pack
- Lamelle Cathepzyme 1
- Lamelle Correctives Brighter serum
- La Roche-Posay Pure Niacinamide 10 serum
- Heliocare Pigment Solution Fluid
Contributing factors:
- UV rays
- High-energy visible light
- Trauma to the skin
- Certain medications
- Hormonal fluctuations
- Certain medical conditions
- Inflammation
Ingredients in products for pigmentation:
- Hydroquinone
- Arbutin
- Glycolic acid
- Jojic acid
- Azelaic acid
- Niacinamide
When is it best to see a doctor:
Medical professionals can be consulted at any time if you are concerned about any pigmentary lesions. We encourage you to visit our nearest doctor for a consultation if you are concerned about any lesions, new or old, with or without colour.
The ABCDE rule for identifying skin cancer:
Sensitivity
What is skin sensitivity:
Skin that is less tolerant to certain substances/products/ingredients.
Classification:
- Very sensitive: Reactive to internal and external stimuli.
- Environmentally sensitive: Reactive to environmental stimuli.
- Cosmetically sensitive: Reactive to cosmetic stimuli.
- Delicate skin: Easily disturbed skin barrier.
- Reactive skin: Inflammatory response without an increase in permeability.
- Stinging skin: Increased neurosensory perception to minor cutaneous stimuli.
How is it treated (Depending on the cause):
- Elimination of stimuli that caused the sensitivity.
- Topical soothing/calming agents.
Some available products from SkinStore:
- Lamelle Serra Restore Cream
- Lamelle Serra Soothing Cream
- Lamelle Barrier Repair Cream
- La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water
- La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5
- La Roche-Posay Lipikar Syndet AP+
Contributing factors:
- Age
- Gender
- Hormones
- Anatomical site
- Cultural factors
- Environmental factors
Ingredients in products for skin sensitivity:
- Niacinamide
- Allantoin
- Panthenol
- Hyaluronic acid
- PHA’s
- Squalene
- Chamomile
- Shea butter
- Aloe Vera
- Beeswax
When is it best to see a doctor:
Medical professionals can be consulted at any time if you are concerned about sensitive skin lesions. We encourage you to visit our nearest doctor for a consultation if you are concerned about any skin sensitivity, especially if the cause of the lesions is unknown, becoming infected or does not resolve on its own.
Ageing
What is skin ageing:
There are two types of skin ageing, intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic refers to the natural internal ageing process of the skin. Extrinsic ageing refers to the external factors that cause the skin to age prematurely or faster.
Changes in the skin because of ageing:
- Cell turnover decreases
- Epidermis thins
- Dermis thins
- Collagen production decreases
- Elastin degrades
- Hyaluronic acid production decreases
- The number of melanocytes decreases, which makes the skin more susceptible to skin cancer developing
Intrinsic ageing:
- Natural telomere shortening.
Extrinsic ageing (Causes almost 80% of skin ageing):
- Smoking
- Poor nutrition
- Sun exposure
- Inactive physical lifestyle
- Pollution
How is it treated (The best treatment for accelerated skin ageing, is to prevent it):
- Botox
- Fillers
- Chemical peels
- Platelet Rich Plasma induction
- Daily use of SPF (The best way to prevent photoaging from UV ray exposure)
- Dermal threads
- Microneedling
- Skin resurfacing laser therapy (CO2 laser therapy)
Some available products from SkinStore:
- SkinCeuticals A.G.E Interrupter
- NassifMD Quickfix Instant Wrinkle Smoother
- Lamelle Dermaheal RFM Elixir cream
- Lamelle Dermaheal Re-Firm serum
- NeoStrata Skin Active Dermal Replenishment
- NeoStrata Skin Active Tri-Therapy Lifting serum
- La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 serum (Great for beginners!)
- Heliocare Age Active Fluid
How to prevent pre-mature ageing:
- Avoid sun tanning beds.
- Practice stress management.
- Follow a healthy diet.
- Avoid smoking.
- Make use of Vitamin C and E daily because both of those are antioxidants and protect the skin against free radical damage from pollution and UV rays.
- Include (if your skin can tolerate it) Retinol into your daily skincare regime.
- Wear a broad-spectrum SPF/sunscreen every day:
Ingredients in products for ageing:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Ferulic acid
- Co-enzyme Q10
- Green tea
- Growth factors
- Alpha Hydroxy Acids
- Peptides
When is it best to see a doctor:
Medical professionals can be consulted at any time if you are concerned about skin ageing. We encourage you to visit our nearest doctor for a consultation if you are concerned about any skin ageing and want to know more about the prevention and treatments for skin ageing.