Plagues of Summer
By Barbara Strickland, Certified Para-Medical
Esthetician
With today's busy schedules and little extra
time for indulgences, let's go through some quick and easy definitions and solutions for
the common plagues of summer fun and your skin.
Discoloration
Those lovely brown and red marks
(usually about the size of a large pea), are often called Liver Spots or Freckles. They
magically appear on the face and hands as early as the late 20's but usually around age 40
and are called Lentigos and Actinic Keratosis.
Lentigo
About the size of a pea and brown or
coffee with alot of cream in color. They are pre-cancerous lesions, although 90% of the
time they do not turn into skin cancer. They do raise up and become Hypertrophic
looking in the late 50's, 60' and 70's and start looking like moles.
Actinic Keratosis
About the size of a large pea and
red in appearance. These lesions may also flake, peel and itch periodically. They are
pre-cancerous lesions, although 90% of the time they do not turn into skin cancer.
Melasma
Most often referred to as "mask
of pregnancy" this light brown to dark chocolate colored or light violet to dark
purple stain may be irregular in shape and appear extremely small or cover an entire area
on the face, neck, chest or arms.
Acne Rosacea
Most often described as
"broken capillaries" with "zits", Acne Rosacea is truly a plague
for today's individual. You may have the Acne part with red, hard bumps and small
pustules. You may have the Rosacea part with many small red capillaries all
over the surface of the skin that are rough or uneven in color and texture. You could also
be one of the truly "blessed" individuals who get all of the above, i.e.
Acne, Discoloration and Swelling. Rosacea is irritated by heat and humidity, the sun,
spicy foods, alcohol, comedogenic ingredients, and very cold weather.
Acne or Zits
Acne is truly a "blessing"
in the summer. It decorates your skin with its whole bag of tricks and is exacerbated by
the lotions, potions, and the heat and humidity it is exposed to.
Xerosis
Dry, itchy and flaky skin is another
common plague of summer for skin exposed to heat, humidity and the sun. Itching,
redness, irritation, flaking and swelling are the "hallmarks" of this
symptom.
Sunburn
This particular condition is in a
"class" all by itself. With Skin Cancer killing one individual every
hour, it is hard to believe that any intelligent person would attempt to stay out too
long and not wear the proper protection or heed the warnings. Please see the article: The Sun Damage Inn.
Exercise
All of the things which are good for
us, tennis, swimming, golf, gardening, etc. cause problems for the face and body because
the swelling of the skin and perspiration caused by the activity itself and the heat and
humidity we are exposed to outside make the conditions worse.
THE SIMPLE SOLUTION IS SUNBLOCK
Apply a minimum of 1/2 hour before exposure
to the sun. Almost
all activities that we enjoy in the summer (picnics, barbecues, swimming, tennis, golf,
gardening...dare I say sunbathing???) make these conditions listed above worse. I am not
suggesting that you live your life inside all summer, however, I am suggesting that common
sense and some preventative measures take the place of complacency. No matter what
condition you have, exposure to the sun, heat, and humidity always makes it worse. Other
than swathing yourself in veils, sunblock and a hat allow you to to enjoy summer
without creating more damage. The minimum SPF (skin protection factor) allowable is SPF
25 if you want to keep the looks you have for a long time, and not cause additional
damage. Remember, SPF means the time you may be exposed to UVA without burning...it does
not mean indefinitely! Sunblock should always be applied in the morning and be
reapplied throughout the day after exposure to water, perspiration or excessive humidity.
For those of you who have had Laser Redefining, Plastic Surgery, or are on photosensitive
medications like hormones, birth control pills, antihistamines, antibiotics, hormones,
homeopathic formulas, steroids, and use Retin A, Renova, Avita, Miracle Zit, and Fix Zit,
you will "undo" everything you have accomplished without SPF25 and a LARGE HAT.
Remember to also use your COOL IT BAG.
Products for the Sun
SPF25
Waterproof and reliable, a must for
all outdoor activities. Wear this product year round even when it's cloudy, raining, or
snowing.
Bleaching Lotion with
Kojic Acid
Removes the discoloration from
Melasma, Lentigos, Acne Rosacea, and sun damage. Works in 5 to 7 weeks unlike plain
hydroquinone which takes months.
Claw and Paw Cream
When used twice a day on hands and
feet, Claw and Paw provides the ultimate barrier for dry, itchy, flaky, and peeling or
irritated skin. It is a great barrier for your face when swimming, jogging, and skiing
because it prevents dehydration and dryness.
Gelloid Moisturizer and Mask, Biological Redefining Mask, and At Home Peels
Remove dead skin, oil, and pollution
to maintain a smooth, flawless, and glowing complexion, so you can look your best.
Serious skin care is necessary during the spring and summer to replace moisture you will
lose from outside activities and plain old heat and humidity.
Heavenly Body Luffa
The ultimate exfoliant for the body
allowing your moisturizers to give you more moisture per square inch. Used daily, this
product gives you the baby soft skin you had as a child!
Heavenly Body Shampoo
The ultimate gentle cleanser used as
a "bubble bath" or for gentle cleansing, custom blendable of course!
Heavenly Body Oil
Apply this hydrolyzed and
non-comedogenic oil to your skin when wet or dry, and also use it in the tub for a
luxurious soak and watch your body turn to silk.
Heavenly Bath Salts (temporarily out
of stock)
Use generously in the tub to soften
and moisturize your entire body. May be used with Body Oil and Body Shampoo for a super
hydrating soak!
Heavenly Body Velvet
The ultimate moisturizer and sealant
for the softest, silkiest, smoothest, skin imaginable.
Heavenly Body Acid
Remove sun damage on your body with
this very economical and long lasting cream.
