Body Care

Itchy skin is a common problem among many people across the word. This can get annoying pretty fast as it results in skin irritation and discomfort. Itchy skin might at times not indicate much or at times act as an indication of a serious underlying condition. Causes vary tremendously but in the end, there’s usually a treatment for most conditions causing skin itchiness. To get started on finding a suitable treatment regiment, it is paramount that you first know the condition causing the itchy skin.

Cause Of Itchy Skin

Examples of possible causes of itchy skin are such as:

1. Pregnancy : During pregnancy, itchy skin is a common phenomenon. This is usually experienced especially on the thighs, abdomen, breasts and arms. Moreover, pre-existing itchy skin conditions, like dermatitis, may become worse during pregnancy.

2. Skin conditions and rashes : Most skin conditions and complications cause itching. Conditions like psoriasis, eczema (dermatitis), lice, scabies, chickenpox and hives are good examples in this case. The itching normally affects specific areas and it is accompanied by other symptoms like bumps, red, irritated skin or blisters.

3. Dry skin : Dry skin (xerosis) is usually the cause if you do not see bright, red bumps or other noticeable changes around the itchy area. Dry skin is usually as a result of environmental factors such as washing or bathing too much, long-term use of central heating or air conditioning and hot or cold weather with low humidity.

4. Internal diseases : Internal diseases have for a while been known to cause itchy skin. Illnesses like thyroid problems, iron deficiency anemia, kidney failure, liver disease, malabsorption of wheat (celiac disease), and cancers, like leukemia and lymphoma. The itching is usually full body although the skin usually still looks pretty normal.

5. Irritation and allergic reactions : Itchy skin can also be as a result of the materials or chemicals coming in contact with skin. These are such as soap, Wool, chemicals and other substances which can irritate the skin and cause itching. It could also be as a result of an allergic reaction like poison ivy, food or cosmetics, causing the skin to itch.

6. Nerve disorders : Conditions affecting the nervous system have also been known to cause itching. These are conditions such as diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, pinched nerves and shingles also known as herpes zoster.

7. Drugs : Reactions to medications and drugs like antifungal, antibiotics or narcotic pain medications, can lead to widespread development of rashes and itchiness of the skin.

Treatment of Itchy Skin

• Taking an oral antihistamine whether pill or liquid.
• Trying over-the-counter anti-itch creams.
• Taking a cool bath with baking soda or oatmeal.
• Staying away from soaps, detergents, and other products containing color dyes and perfumes.
• Avoid scratching as it worsens the itch.
• Using a suitable moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated.

Hyperpigmentation refers to a condition where dark spots and patches, of light brown or black, appear on the hands, face and other visible body parts when they are exposed to the sun. These spots can be difficult to hide and they vary in shape and size. The main cause of hyperpigmentation is when melanin is overproduced in certain areas of the skin.

Types of Hyperpigmentation

Age spots : These are as a result of sun exposure and therefore appear on body parts that are frequently exposed. They are usually small dark patches on the skin.

Chloasma or Melasma : This affects 90% of women and has been dabbed ‘the mask of pregnancy.’ It normally results from hormonal influences like birth control pills and pregnancy.   Its appearance is usually dark irregular shapes on the arms and face which can be pretty large.

Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation : This is in reference to the discoloration left after a skin injury or trauma heals. This is common with acne sufferers.

Major Causes Of Hyperpigmentation

1- Sun Exposure

The sun triggers the production of melanin. Melanin normally acts as a natural sunscreen for your skin, providing protection from harmful UV rays. However, excessive exposure to sun can lead to hyperpigmentation. Moreover, the sun exposure can exacerbate the dark spots forming freckles.

You can prevent this by wearing protective clothing and using a high SPF sunscreen.

2- Hormonal Influences

This is the main cause of Chloasma or Melasma hyperpigmentation which is common among women. This is because female hormones estrogen and progesterone have been found to stimulate overproduction of melanin once exposed to the sun.

3- Genetics

Having certain genes makes you more prone to hyperpigmentation. People in certain age groups are more prone to hyperpigmentation. This is mostly tied with hormonal production at these various ages.

4- Skin Injuries or Inflammation

This is the main cause of Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation can also be a side effect of certain illnesses or more prevalent in certain jobs and occupations.

Treatment of Hyperpigmentation

There are multiple dermatological treatments with anti-pigmentation treatment procedures. Here are some few examples:

Laser Therapy : This treatment involves ‘zapping’ the problem areas with high energy light whose intensity can be controlled. Depending on the intensity, the treatment can either work on the epidermis or surface layer or on the deepest skin layer.

Chemical Peels : This treatment involves the application of an acidic solution on the layers of the ski, be it face, hands or feet. These eventually causes the skin to blister and peel off, leaving you with a new and evenly pigmented skin.

Skin Care Products : There are multiple skin care products that claim to have the power to reduce hyperpigmentation. Some common ingredients in such products include Arbutin, hydroquinone, kojic acid, Vitamin C derivatives, retinoid acid, azelaic acid, and B-resorcinol among others.

Dark circles are a common condition experienced by most people. This condition usually involves the appearance of a darkened circle under the eyes. Being such a common occurrence, there are numerous theories explaining their occurrence and appearance, some of which are true and some of which aren’t. According to a dermatologist in New York City, Charlotte Clark, getting a full night sleep may help diminish the appearance of dark circles but not erase them completely. To be able to get rid of them completely, it is first important to consider their origin.

Causes of Dark Circles

Genetics is one of the most common sources. People who have inherited fair and thin skin under the eyes are more susceptible to dark circles. This is because in their case, it is more obvious when blood polls gather under the eyes. Such conditions are usually due to lack of sufficient sleep which results in slower blood circulation. The accumulation of blood causes the fragile capillaries to stretch and even in some cases leak.

Seasonal allergies can be to blame for a lot of people. Allergies trigger the release of histamines by the body which then go on to inflame blood vessels and cause swelling.

Age is another common factor. The human skin loses collagen over time causing it to thin. This causes the veins to show through more prominently with sunbathing being known to speed up this process. This is because it breaks down collagen and mottles the skin color.

It is also important to note the following method of dark circles diagnosis. To know why you have dark circles, you can gently stretch out the skin beneath your eyes. If the area gets darker, then most probably the cause of your dark circle is aging or genetics. However if there is no color change observed, the cause is most probably UV rays or allergies.

Treatment of Dark Circles

Treatment of dark circle is usually dependent on the causative factor.

1. Dark Circles Due To Vascular Issues. For such cases, a common solution is using more pillows when sleeping to prevent blood from building up under your eyes. Moreover, after waking up, it is advised that you apply a cold compress for 5 minutes. This helps to constrict the blood vessels.

You can apply eye cream on the area to help constrict the vessels. Recommended eye creams should have anti-inflammatory properties and ingredients such as caffeine, green tea or grape seed oil. Your diet can also be used to accompany treatment. An ounce of flavonol-rich dark chocolate daily and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like salmon and walnuts may improve blood flow.

2. Dark Circles due to Allergies. This can be treated using over-the-counter antihistamines.

3. Dark Circles Due to Skin Conditions. This require the use of a collagen-building cream like retinol which increase collagen production. Another great ingredient is vitamin C as it helps brighten the skin tone.

Cold sores are the small blister like sores which usually appear on cheeks, lips, chins, on the gums, in the nostrils or around the mouth. They are normally itchy, painful and they cause a burning sensation. Caused by the herpes simplex virus, cold sores are actually a pretty common occurrence. Most commonly, cold sores are caused by herpes simplex type 1. There are however those less frequent ones caused by herpes simplex type 2 which results from having oral sex with a partner with genital herpes. Cold sores have no prevention or cure but there are a number of treatment methods to reduce their frequency and duration. Moreover, cold sores are known to clear out naturally in about 7-10 days.

Spread of Cold Sores

The cold sore virus, herpes simplex is highly contagious and can be very easily transmitted from person to person as a result of close contact. Once it enters your body, the virus remains dormant for a while until a trigger activates the virus. These triggers vary from person to person and this determines the number of cold sore outbreaks one may get annually, including their frequency. There are people who carry the virus for years and never get an outbreak while a good number of people have cold sores recurring twice or thrice a year.

Causes of Cold Sores

As mentioned above, cold sores are as a result of the virus, herpes simplex, both type 1 and 2. Type one is spread by close direct contact like kissing, sharing utensils or other personal items like razors and towels. Some known triggers for the inactive cold sore virus include:

• Menstruation
• Injury to the affected area
• Intense sunlight
• Deep sadness or upset
• Mental stress

Treatment for Cold Sores

Cold sores usually clear up naturally in a week or two. However, you can also opt for ointments and antiviral medications as they can reduce the outbreak duration and minimize the irritation, discomfort and pain. Here are some additional types of medication which can be employed.

Antivirals

These are over-the-counter cold sore antiviral creams. They can reduce the duration of a recurrent cold sore when used properly. The most important active ingredients in these creams are acyclovir and penciclovir. For best results, these creams should be applied in the very early stages of the formation of the sore. The recommended application regiment is five times daily for 4-5 days.

Special care should be taken for patients with weakened immune systems for example HIV positive patients and those undergoing chemotherapy. Antiviral tablets are the best treatment options in such cases.

Additional treatments for cold sores

There are additional creams that can be used that do not contain antivirals. For very dry, itchy or painful cold sores, this may be helpful in alleviate some of the irritation. Examples of these include Blistex, Bonjela,or Cymex. These creams are to be gently dabbed onto the sores.

Skin care is a cause of concern for most women from a very young age. This only gets worse with age. Women worry about their skin type, wrinkling and even which products to use for their skin. The best part is that with the great scientific advances in skincare, women can look as vibrant in their 40s as they did in their 30s and 20s. In most cases, especially for aging skin over 40, you have to trial and error with anti-aging products until you find one that is just perfect for you. This can be harmful to your skin over time and even have adverse future effects.

Dry Skin At 40

This is a very common problem for women over 40. Scientifically, this can be explained as follows: progesterone and estrogen production in the body slows down as we age. As a result, les sebum or oil is produced by your skin. Sebum is normally responsible for keeping your skin looking and feeling supple and soft.

Moreover, the skin renewal process slows down slightly causing your complexion to appear less radiant and dull.

Signs Of Aging Skin

When you are in your 40s, here are some signs to look out for on your skin.
• Larger pores
• Loss of skin firmness
• Wrinkles
• Hyperpigmentation
• More visible dullness on your skin.

Taking Care Of Your Skin

Taking that your skin at 40 requires more specialized care, there are a number of tips and tricks for skin care. These range from homecare remedies to which products are best suited for skin at this age. Here are some examples to keep you looking radiant and amazing.

Moisturizing

As earlier mentioned, dry skin is one of the most prevalent conditions at this age. Therefore, you can:
1. Apply a moisturizer with a broad spectrum SPF of up to 15 very morning.
2. Use a serum for moisturization or spot treatment. You can apply this twice a day, in the morning before using your moisturizer and in the evening after washing your face. You can also look out for hydrating ingredients like Niacinamide or N-Acetyl Glucosamine which exfoliates your skin while also minimizing the visibility of the hyperpigmentation and also glycerin which hydrates your skin by drawing moisture from the air into your skin.

Cleansing

You also need to cleanse away impurities often. Choose a cleanser that effectively exfoliates the skin’s surface to remove the dead skin and unblock your pores. This will help your skin look and feel fresh.

Eye Creams

Eye creams are perfect for reducing the visibility of hollowing around the eyes and the appearance of fine lines. You can dab the cream on using your ring finger, from the inner corner then to the outer corner. Tap lightly to give an immediate circulation boost around the area applied.

Note that nighttime is the most important as it is the time your skin starts to repair itself. Therefore, moisturizing with peptides at night is of utmost importance. This not only speeds up the skin cell turnover but also reduces the appearance of fine lines leaving your skin looking moist and bright!