How to Find The Best Skincare Routine

Acne - what is it and what can you do?

Acne is a chronic, multi-factored condition that begins in the hair follicle of the sebaceous glands.

The main factor for developing acne is increased secretion of sebum of the sebaceous glands which can ultimately lead to the appearance of ‘blackheads’ causing the sebaceous glands to be stretched even more.

Acne sometimes leads to bacterial infections which need to be treated.

Discoloration / Pigmentation / hyperpigmentation

Discoloured skin patches are irregular areas where there are changes in skin colour. They are a common problem with a wide array of potential causes. Some of the more common causes of changes in skin colour are illness, injury, and inflammatory problems.

Discoloured skin patches also commonly develop in a certain part of the body due to a difference in melanin levels. Melanin is the substance that provides colour to the skin and protects it from the sun.

When there is an overproduction of melanin in a given area, it can result in skin discolouration in that area.

Redness and Irritation

Skin redness and sensitivity are defined as an inflammation of the epidermal layer of the skin.

The cause can be allergies, infection, or a hereditary tendency such as seborrheic dermatitis, rosacea, or atopic dermatitis. The term atopic means non-typical and therefore refers to a hereditary tendency.

The damage from the sun’s rays is expressed also in the deeper skin layers. In the dermis layer, the sun destroys the collagen fibres and the elastin fibres and turns them into granular, useless material. The skin loses its strength and flexibility, and subsequently, deep wrinkles are formed, leaving the skin to sag.

The small blood vessels in the skin are also damaged and become fragile, and therefore contusions occur with every touch, pressure, or cut.

The Skin Types and Product Recommendations

• Normal Skin

Normal skin has a uniform hue and texture, without blemishes or visible pores. The skin has a tendency to burn after long exposure to the sun. Pimples appear usually in the T area (forehead, nose, chin). The skin’s complexion is usually light. After the face is cleaned, there is a feeling of skin that is tight and dry.

• Oily Skin

Oily skin has hyper-functioning sebaceous glands, wide-open pores, the tendency for ‘blackheads’ and a thick texture – while it is occasionally coarse and rough.

Oily skin is slow to wrinkle and tans relatively easily with a complexion that ranges from olive to dark. After the face is cleaned, oily skin has a tendency to shine approximately for one hour after.

• Dry skin

Dry skin has hypo-functioning sebaceous glands and a greater tendency for injuries from external factors, including sun and wind). As the skin gets older, dry skin tends to separate between the skin’s layers, pores close, and the skin tends to wrinkle.

Dry skin has a light complexion, burns easily in the sun and peels immediately thereafter. After the face is cleaned, there is a feeling of tension, often accompanied by a feeling of having been bitten and itching, with an emphasis placed on the winter and seasonal changes.