Skin Conditions

Some Characteristics of the Four Skin Conditions

 Dehydration:

• Dehydration is a lack of moisture (water) in the skin.
• It can have the same appearance as dry skin but, it can be identified by the very fine lines that are present in areas of dehydration. Many people confuse dry skin and dehydration, because they both present as tight, flaky skin. But, there is an enormous difference between the two and should not be treated the same. For instance, oily skin cannot be dry however, it can be dehydrated. So, it is important to know the difference in order to choose the correct skincare products and improve the specific condition.
• There are various causes such as a poor diet, lack of water intake, climate, smoking, alcohol intake, pollution, harsh skincare products, medication, anesthesia and stress.

Sensitivity:

• Erythema (redness) and dilated capillaries are visible on the skin, the area is irritated and inflamed and sometimes slightly tender.
• There are different types of sensitivity: product sensitivity, climate sensitivity, friction sensitivity and sinus sensitivity.
  To properly treat and avoid irritation, it is best to try and identify what type of sensitivity you have and what triggers an irritation.

Acne:

• This is due to overactive oil glands, inflammation and bacterial invasion. Many people suffer from acne in some stage of their life. You can read more about acne, why it causes scarring and how to treat it here.

Pigmentation:

There are two different types of pigmentation:

• Hyper-pigmentation, which is an over production of melanin in the skin. So hyper-pigmentation is the darker spots or patches on your skin, like freckles or “liver spots”.
  It can be caused by sun damage, hormonal imbalance or use of hormone therapies, scarring and the ageing process.
  
  
• Hypo-pigmentation, which is an underactive production of melanin in the skin. These present as white spots or patches and can be anywhere on your body.
  It can be due to sun damage, vitiligo, fungal infections, ageing process and scarring.

Those are the four skin conditions which can develop due to internal or external factors. Now I can go on and on about each skin condition but, the main thing to remember is there are usually underlying causes which should be identified, managed and treated in order to properly improve and eliminate these skin conditions. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix or once off solution for any skin condition, it takes commitment and time to treat any skincare problem effectively.