To relieve itchy skin, try the following:
The way your skin behaves and reacts determines the type of skin you have. Basic skin types include oily skin, dry skin, combination, normal skin and sensitive skin. The skin on your face is the best guide to classifying your skin type.
An easy way to find out what type of skin you have is to cleanse your face, wait for an hour and then take a tissue and wipe your forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. If the tissue picks up oily residue from all these areas, you have oily skin; if it picks up oil only from the forehead, nose and chin (T−zone), you have combination skin; if it picks up dry, flaky skin, you have dry skin; and if you do not find oil or flakes, you have normal skin. No matter what type of skin you have, cleansing and moisturizing twice a day is an important part of having healthy skin, attractive skin. Choose products that are designed for your particular skin type for maximum results.
Beyond the basic skin types, you may also have sensitive skin. Although sensitive skin is often dry, any type of skin can be sensitive. Sensitive skin is usually thin, delicate, reacts quickly to hot and cold temperatures, is easily subject to sun and wind burns and is prone to allergic reactions. Skin Cleansers, detergents, cosmetics, alcohol−based external products and temperature changes can make sensitive skin red, dry skin, itchy, blotchy and even reveal surface veins. The most favorable type of products to use on your skin are fragrance−free and non−comedogenic (non−pore clogging) with a sunscreen with an
SPF of 15 or more. Before using any product, it is a good idea to test it on the inside of your wrist to see if your skin has any reaction to it. Always choose mild skin cleansers and use a soft towel on sensitive skin. nowing the different skin types, and which one you have, is the first step toward choosing a skin routine that makes you look and feel your very best.
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Whether you have oily skin, dry skin, or normal skin, it's very important that you choose the right type
of skin cleansers for your skin type to obtain maximum results. There is a dazzling array of skin cleansers on the market including: Oil facial cleansers, lemon facial cleanser, low foaming facial cleansers, acne facial cleansers, and even facial cleansers for men.
Looking at facial cleanser reviews online may help you find the best facial cleansers for you. However, you may just decide to make your own homemade facial cleansers.
Whether your facial skin cleansers are homemade or store bought, washing your skin helps it shed old skin cells and stimulates the new ones. If you're in your teens and twenties, your skin cells renew themselves very quickly. The older you get, the longer the cells take to renew. This can lead to buildup of oil and dirt, which can make skin look dull and flaky.
By gently scrubbing your skin's surface, you can speed up the release of new cells, which will leave skin looking fresh and young. Mildness and rinsing ability are important factors when choosing a cleansing soap.
Dry skin types should use super fatty cleansing soaps with lots of moisture added.
Oily skin types should use a non−greasy, milky skin cleanser that leaves no sticky film on the skin.
Sensitive skin types should only use mild soaps with no fragrance or fancy ingredients.
Normal skin types can use any type of facial skin cleansers, homemade or store bought. However, you should make sure your cleanser rinses off easily with water.
Choosing the best skin cleanser for your skin type will ensure that your skin always looks fresh and beautiful.
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Everyone has a natural oil coating over our skin that is produced by oil glands. If this oil is removed, then the skin becomes dry which can lead to cracking, which can lead to inflammation. Xerosis is usually a long-term problem that recurs often, expecially in the winter. Cold winter weather can be hard on skin because the amount of moisture is less than the amount of moisture in warm air.
What to Avoid
• Long baths or showers. Try not to take more than one bath or shower each day. Make your time in the bath or shower brief, and avoid using hot water as this dries out your skin.
• Limit your use of soaps.
What to Do
• When toweling dry, don’t rub. Blot the skin so there is still some water left on it.
• Keep your skin lubricated. If you choose to apply bath oil directly to the skin, pour a small amount into
your palms and then spread it onto your slightly damp skin immediately after blotting dry. A teaspoon full is enough for the average adult. If you prefer not to use bath oil, a cream or lotion may be appropriate to
calm the inflammation of your dry, irritated skin. Suggestions include:
Aveeno Lotion
Moisturel
Purpose
Lacticare
Neutrogena
Lubriderm
Curel
Dermasil
Cetaphil Cream
Use creams only in a single area. Lotions generally work better for widespread areas.
Other Tips
• To combat the effects of dry indoor heat, lower the temperature and use a humidifier in your room during the winter months. Or put a shallow pan of water near a heating source.
• Skin needs to be hydrated from the inside too, to feel comfortable and stay in good condition. Remember to drink plenty of water; keep a water bottle in your backpack, to remind you to drink plenty throughout the
day.
• Lotions that contain alpha hydroxyl acids can be effective for treating and preventing dry skin.
• If you want to use soap, choose a gentler cleanser. Avoid excessive contact with soaps, many of which irritate and worsen a dry skin condition. A mild cleanser like Aveeno Gentle Skin Cleanser, or Aveeno
Cleaning Bar for Dry Skin is less likely to cause irritation of delicate skin tissues. Cetaphil soap, Oil of
Olay, Dove, or Basis are other good suggestions.
• If you like to swim during the winter months, don’t use soap after being in the pool. After swimming, rinse
the chlorine off with cool to warm water. If this is your only shower of the day, then you can use a lotion or
mild soap to cleanse your skin. After your shower, apply bath oil or a moisturizer to your skin.
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Let’s face it; problem skin can be a daily challenge for many of us. Fortunately, the cycle of skin breakouts, dryness and irritation is not a mystery. It often lies in the way we approach skin cleansing, because even gentle cleansers and soaps can harm our skin's natural protective barrier. Using a gentle skin cleanser with moisturizers before applying topical medications will also help ensure that you get the best results.1 If your skin's moisture barrier is disrupted, topical medications may cause irritation or stinging2 and may even work less effectively. Hence, using the right cleansing regimen is critical to adequate skin care.
The skin's natural protective barrier is the top layer of skin, called the stratum corneum or moisture skin barrier. It is composed of protein-rich cells, proteins and intercellular lipids (fats). This natural barrier stops water from leaving the skin and environmental residues — bacteria and chemicals — from entering. Having an intact stratum corneum (moisture skin barrier) that is free of dirt, bacteria and excess oil is critical for keeping the skin healthy.3
The challenge in keeping your skin healthy is that the stratum corneum is thinner than plastic food wrap and can be easily damaged by products we use on our skin.4 Even one-time usage of some cleansers can leave the skin damaged for several days. “Gentle” and acidic or pH balanced cleansers are generally better than the rest but can still contain harmful ingredients.
Avoid sodium-based detergents4, lauramide DEA5 (a foaming agent), paraben preservatives6 and artificial coloring agents7. Sodium-based ingredients are particularly harmful. In one study of irritant skin reactions,
complete skin repair after a one time use of a weak sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) solution was not achieved for 17 days.8 Look for cleansers which contain moisturizers. Moisturizers may help restore a damaged moisture skin barrier.9 There are different kinds of moisturizers, which have different mechanisms of action. Occlusive moisturizers form a moisture barrier which keeps the moisture in the skin.
Emollients soften the skin. Humectants bind to water and thus attract water to the stratum corneum and temporarily hold it there. A blend of moisturizers works to make the skin soft, smooth and pliable rather than rough and dry. For increased benefit, use a cleanser that contains more than one type of moisturizer.
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To select your optimal Skin Primer, choose the skin condition that is your top priority for improvement, and follow recommendation.
UNEVEN SKIN TONE. BROWN SPOTS.
SKIN PRIMER RECOMMENDATION : ENLIGHTEN Select NOURISH if you use Accutane.
SLIGHTLY DRY SKIN AND SURFACE DULLNESS.
SKIN PRIMER RECOMMENDATION : NOURISH
MATURING SKIN.
SKIN PRIMER RECOMMENDATION : ENLIGHTEN Select NOURISH if you use Accutane.
TIGHTNESS. DRYNESS. FLAKES ON SURFACE.
SKIN PRIMER RECOMMENDATION :QUENCH
IRRITATION. REDNESS. ROSACEA.
SKIN PRIMER RECOMMENDATION : SOOTHE
OILY APPEARANCE. ENLARGED PORES.
SKIN PRIMER RECOMMENDATION : BALANCE Select SOOTHE if you use Accutane.
BLEMISHES. ACNE BREAKOUTS.
SKIN PRIMER RECOMMENDATION :CLEAR Select BALANCE if allergic to aspirin. Select SOOTHE if you use Accutane.
SENSITIVE SKIN.
SKIN PRIMER RECOMMENDATION : SOOTHE
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To select your optimal Skin Cleanser, choose the most accurate description of your skin’s condition on most days, and follow recommendation.
DAMAGED SKIN.
Uneven skin tone. Brown spots.Fine lines & wrinkles. Loss of elasticity.
SKIN CLEANSER RECOMMENDATION : ENLIGHTEN
DRY SKIN.
Often feels tight and flaky. Sometimes feels itchy or looks and feels irritated.
SKIN CLEANSER RECOMMENDATION : QUENCH
COMBINATION.
Slight oiliness in forehead, nose and chin areas. Cheeks feel comfortable or are slightly dry.
SKIN CLEANSER RECOMMENDATION : NOURISH, Select SOOTHE if allergic to nuts, honey or bee stings.
OILY SKIN
Most of face looks shiny at mid-day. Large pores.
SKIN CLEANSER RECOMMENDATION : BALANCE
BLEMISHED SKIN.
Blackheads. Whiteheads. Acne-prone.
SKIN CLEANSER RECOMMENDATION : CLEAR Select SOOTHE if you use Accutane.
ROSACEA.
Sensitive skin. Redness in face (especially on cheeks, nose, chin) that may worsen with exposure to heat or cold. May have an acne condition.
SKIN CLEANSER RECOMMENDATION : SOOTHE
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Our skin is our calling card. No other part of our body will tell our age faster than our skin. It is the most superficial and largest organ in our body, so it is essential that we keep our skin as healthy as possible. No one wants to be 55 years old wrapped in skin that looks closer to 75. The battle is not easily won. It can be a perpetual struggle that requires daily vigilance. Here are some simple facts and tips that can help you look your best.
Asking someone here in the south to stay out of the sun is akin to asking a child to stay out of a cookie jar. No matter how hard we try sun exposure is part of our daily life. Day in and day out the ultraviolet rays from the sun bombard our skin causing irreparable damage to the very core of our skin cells. Tanning beds and tanning oils only magnify this problem. Fortunately sun protection is now catching on in mainstream marketing and access to it is much easier. We can find sun block in everything from handy tubes that attach to our golf bags to most major make-up lines. Sun block must be applied at least 10 minutes before venturing in to the sun and needs to be reapplied often. The sun’s radiation damages the foundation of our skin causing wrinkles and prevents it from healing itself adequately. Other ways to prevent sun damage include wearing long sleeves and avoiding the sun during the height of its intensity; which is usually from 10am-3pm.
Smoking is just as detrimental as sun exposure. Within ten years of beginning to smoke, a person can already see its effects. The chemicals in tobacco cause a narrowing of the blood vessels throughout the body. This includes the superficial vessels in our skin. This narrowing deprives the skin of necessary nutrients and oxygen and can persist for up to twelve hours after a single cigarette. The repetitive motions made by smokers often cause an exacerbation in wrinkles around the mouth and chin. A hallmark of a smoker’s mouth is the series of fine vertical wrinkles around the lips that are caused from repetitive pursing.
Now that we have discussed the two major behavioral factors to avoid we can focus on what to do to maximize the beauty your skin holds. First of all not every facial cleanser is created equal. The skin care market is a multi million dollar industry and more products do not fulfill their advertised promises than do. This, coupled with the fact that not all skin is alike, can make choosing a skin care regimen very difficult.
The most basic part of skin care is washing/cleansing. The function of this step is to remove dirt, grime, oil, and other fine particulate matter. It also prepares your skin for further treatment. Most people should wash their face twice a day. The skin cleanser should be applied with warm water and gently massaged for roughly 20-30 seconds. People with dry skin may only need to wash their skin once a day with a milder cleanser while those with more oily skin may need stronger cleanser and more frequent applications. Over treatment with harsh skin products can lead to chronic inflammation, acne, and a temporary worsening of the overall skin condition.
Once the skin has been cleansed it should be gently dried. A post-wash moisturizer should be applied to trap residual moisture. Just as oily skin can be troublesome, dry skin is not much better. It is important to recognize that there is a difference between moist
healthy skin and oily skin. Make sure that your cleanser and moisturizer does not contain harmful products such as alcohol or sodium lauryl sulfate. These are often added to spice up shelf appeal but do not help your skin.
Once a healthy regimen has been established there are other aspects of skin care that can be addressed. Exfoliation removes outer layers of dead skin cells from the surface of our skin. If overused the same chemicals that remove the dead skin cells can irritate the younger healthier cells. The older you are the more beneficial exfoliation is because of the accumulation of dead skin cells. It is also used in conjunction with chemical peels or laser resurfacing to achieve maximum benefits. Products that are good exfoliating agents often contain alpha and beta hydroxy acids.
One step in maintaining healthy skin that is often over used is toning. Skin toner often contains harsh chemicals or high alcohol concentrations that are only useful for those with the oiliest skin. If you choose to use a toner use one that is mild and remember that dry skin is no better than oily skin.
A physician or aesthetician can help manage your skin and provide specific medical treatments that are not available over the counter. One of the more common procedures is a chemical peel. There are several different chemicals that can be used to remove unwanted dead skin more effectively than an exfoliant. These chemical can also stimulate the dermis that overtime fine wrinkles can be reduced. Lactic and glycolic acid are two of the milder chemicals that can be used on someone with sensitive skin or who has never had a chemical peel before.
In addition to chemical peels there are several different laser therapies that are now available. There isn’t one laser that does everything but several different lasers that each focus on different aspects of you skin. Some lasers are especially good at removing red or brown spots while other lasers help with wrinkles. The perfect blend of laser therapy is a procedure that gives good results with minimal pain and recovery. This is difficult to achieve but some of the latest facial resurfacing lasers such as the fractional laser technology come very very close.
The hardest thing about skin care is that it requires significant trial and error to find a regimen that is right for you. Even when you do settle on an acceptable regimen the benefits may not be evident for several years. Many people become disgruntled with their skin care regimen when they don’t see immediate results. Everyone wants to age with grace but it is impossible to remove 20-30 years of abuse in just a few weeks. Developing good habits early in life make skin care later in life much easier.
Adrian Smith, MD can be reached at Face & Body Center 601-939-9999 / 866-939-4999 or on the web at faceandbodycenter.com
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What is Excelle?
It is a fast-acting antimicrobial skin cleanser that demonstrates persistence against a broad spectrum of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, yeast and mold.
What is the active ingredient in Excelle? Is it better than others?
4% chlorhexidine gluconate with 4% alcohol has been shown to be one of the most effective antimicrobials available and an agent specifically recommended by the CDC in the latest set of guidelines for Hand Hygiene (2002). It is a powerful antimicrobial and demonstrates persistence of antibacterial action up to 4 – 6 hours after scrubbing.
Does Excelle meet the CDC guidelines for hand hygiene?
Yes! Agents used for surgical hand antisepsis must have broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, be fast-acting, non-irritating and have persistent effect. Excelle’s special formula of antimicrobials and emollients are ideal for all levels of hand hygiene from routine handwash to surgical antisepsis.
What is the CDC recommendation for hand hygiene for surgical procedures?
Excelle antiseptic skin cleanser meets all the CDC recommendations for pre-surgical hand hygiene. The CDC guidelines specify that products for hand hygiene prior to surgical procedures must include antimicrobials demonstrating broad spectrum activity and persistence. Alcohol – based (water-less) hand rubs alone are NOT adequate for presurgical hand hygiene. Hand scrubbing should be conducted for a minimum of 2 to 6 minutes. Avoid the use of coarse scrub brushes that might abrade intact skin.
What are the CDC recommendations for storage and dispensing of hand-care products?
Store liquid hand-care products in either disposable closed containers or closed containers that can be washed and dried before refilling. Do not add (ie. top off) soap or lotion to a partially empty dispenser. Recent studies indicate significant bacterial crosscontamination from wall-mounted dispensers that are not periodically emptied and rinsed out.
What type of dispenser is available for Excelle?
The dispenser is a 16 ounce bottle labeled to meet OSHA guidelines and featuring a special pump that dispenses Excelle in a light foam. This feature reduces waste and sticky drips, allowing the soap to be quickly dispersed in the hands for effective cleaning.It is easily rinsed out prior to refilling.
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