Uncovering Your Skin By ChaChanna Simpson
As people in our twenties, it is important to take care of
our skin now because if we donÆt we will suffer the
consequences later on in life. Just look at any person with
bad skin, chances are they didnÆt take care of it when they
were our age. But now that you have me looking out for our
best interest, you donÆt have to worry about your skin
looking like a block of Swiss cheese when you get older.
"It is important to know your skin type and its condition.
Skin is treated according to oily, normal, dry, combination,
acne and aging/mature," says Cynthia Walker, NYS Licensed
Esthetician. If you donÆt know your skin type consult, with
a dermatologist, esthetician or skin care therapist. You
donÆt want to use a product for dry skin or your face when
your skin type is oily. It will just mess up your skin. And
make sure the products you are using are for use on your
face and not your body. Even though it is all skin, products
made for your body usually have ingredients that are too
harsh for the face. Here is a concise list of skin types
and their causes.
À Dry skin is caused by using harsh
soaps, exposure to dry climates, not drinking enough
waterùmy dilemmaùcertain cosmetics, aging and dieting. Dry
skin is classified into two types: Oil dry skin which occurs
when the glands are not producing enough oil; Moisture dry
skin happens when your skin is dehydrated because you are
not drinking enough water.
À Oily skinùdevelops when your
body produces too much oil. "A few causes are imbalance or
changes in hormonal levels, and a diet rich in fats and
oils," says Walker.
À Combination skin has both dry and
oily areas on the face, which is caused by an imbalance in
the distribution in lipids.
Walker suggests that once you determine your skin type, buy
a product line that includes a cleanser, toner, moisturizer
and mask. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully ù
as with any product ù and if you have any kind of
irritation, discontinue use immediately and consult a
professional, not your closest friend. Some of you out
there are creating your own skin care remedies, however,
there are some products that are just hazardous to your face
such as bar soap. I know itÆs cheap, readily available and
you figure you can kill two birds with one stone. Please
stop! And for you essential oil users, I hope you are not
applying them directly to your face without diluting them
with a carrier oil. It will help to soothe and protect your
skin since essential oils are highly concentrated and absorb
directly into your skin.
But donÆt think that you can clean your face once a day and
your job is done. It is imperative for you to cleanse your
skin in the morning when you rise, and at night before you
go to bed. In the daytime your skin will be protected from
harmful elements. At night, moisturizing your skin will
rejuvenate it. And for those of you who love sun tanning,
let me reiterate what I know you have already heard; the sun
is very harmful to your skin. "Overexposure affects the
living cells and creates structural damage to the skinÆs
elasticity and in some cases causes skin cancer," says
Walker. In the afternoon, the sunÆs rays are the strongest,
so if you must go out make sure you are always using
sunscreen products. Unfortunately, the first 18 years of
life we have already experienced the most damage, but it is
not until we reach between the ages of 38-46 that we will
start to realize it.
Skin care is not for women only! Men need to take care of
their skin as well because women want something soft to
touch too. According to Walker, menÆs skin tends to be
oilier, and is coarser and thicker than womenÆs. Men who
donÆt moisturize their skin leave their pores open to the
environmental pollutants and dirt, yuck! "Shaving can
irritate the skin and cause abrasions, inflammations and
ingrown hairs, and this condition can become aggravated if
not cared for properly."
Now, I donÆt know about you but I learned a great deal in
writing this article. From now on I am drinking water and
washing my face twice a day. You wonÆt to see me years from
now and talk about how my skin looks bad. But I will be able
to talk about yours?
ChaChanna Simpson is the publisher and
editor of Twentity.com, the free ezine for twentysomethings,
featuring cheap and free events every Wednesday. Subscribe
today at www.twentity.com This article may be reprinted and
redistributed freely as long as the entire article, byline
and bio are included.
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