HEALTHY SKIN CARE

What can I do to keep our skin healthy?

For the protection and care of the most important barrier that protects us from the outside world and maintain the internal balance of the human body, the Italian dermatologists reveal the Decalogue to a healthy skin.

1) Hydration is the salvation of the skin: note that the stratum corneum of the skin is likened to a "wall": in fact it has a unique structure, organization with a brick (the cells called corneocytes) and mortar (intercellular lipids) . When the skin is particularly dry and tired is appropriate to use local treatments based emollient creams and moisturizers. This variety can lead to normalization of the skin barrier in patients with dry skin, while providing protection against external agents. Today, dermatologists use two instrumental techniques, non-invasive, and the TEWL corneometry to study the skin. TEWL is derived fromcomes from TEWL Trans Epidermal Water Loss indicating "water loss transpidermica. The new cosmetic formulations are getting closer and closer to what is the composition of natural skin lipids Members of our defense. The barrier is more or less resistant to the environment.

2) Keep a clean skin: cleanse the skin carefully is always important, but to do good is very important to use a foaming cleanser, not to alter the hydro-lipid film surface and reduce its non-barrier effect. Aggressive cleaning agents can, in fact, deplete the thin film made of water and sebum that protects the skin. The skin becomes exposed to the irritation but also to small infections. It is also useful to spend the evening after cleansing the face before going to sleep and an ice cube on face and neck and prr about a minute. This measure facilitates vasoconstriction, ie narrowing of the capillaries, produced by the cold and the subsequent reactive vasodilation, that is their spread. Actions that will play a physiological "exercise" to the capillaries and promote oxygenation and cellular metabolism.

3) Because the skin can be properly hydrated is necessary that is also smooth. To achieve this it is useful to regularly once or twice a week is a scrub on your face on the body. If in some areas as a special thickening of the dermis is also recommended that a medical peeling. But in these cases, if you must go to the beach and sunbathe, it is important to think about at least a month before.

4) To eat well and get a supply of antioxidants: the first beauty care for the skin comes from within. Oxidative stress is a major cause of cellular aging. This aging process is the basis for many chronic degenerative diseases (arteriosclerosis, diabetes, skin cancer and other organs). Over the past 50 years it was observed that the power supply is a crucial factor in environmental protection for all complex diseases and aging. It was so clearly demonstrated that the "Mediterranean Diet", based on fruit, vegetables, legumes and whole grains, including fish and reduce the consumption of animal fats for olive oil - rich in antioxidants - perform an action protection for the various diseases, including cardiovascular, cancer and for aging. In particular, it was shown that substances such as resveratrol (contained in red wine), apigenin (indicated in orange), lycopene (in tomatoes), hydroxytyrosol (contained in olive oil) influencing the complex mechanisms that regulate both the proliferation differentiation of epidermal cells (keratinocytes) may be a factor in prevention against aging processes, exerting a powerful anti-aging effect. There are also a powerful anti-inflammatory effect and a strong antiproliferative activity of these molecules, which expand their scope in common skin diseases such as psoriasis, acne and photoaging.

5) Always check in: a good rule is to control the moles, especially those little brownish and found which are in melanociatri and can always increase in size and number. Always follow the ABCD rule, where "A is for asymmetry, B for border, C for color, size D and E for age or evolutionary. If there is a rapid increase in size, the worsening of the pigmentation ol'estendersi, ol'ulcerazione spontaneous bleeding of a mole, there is danger that the newly transformed melanoma. In these cases you should immediately contact a dermatologist.

6) Finally, a friend, the sun! There are indeed risks to those who are exposed to the sun today? The truth is that exposure does not involve any special rational, especially if preceded by the application 'correct' in a sunscreen. But it is essential to apply sunscreen often, in adequate quantity and 10 or 15 minutes before sun exposure, so that the product may have sufficient time to penetrate the skin. No exposure so indiscriminate, but also remember that the sun can make them very well. That's right, in fact, meet the natural need and just need to escape and vacation, but convincing people to make proper use of means of sun protection, which are not only represented by sunscreens, but also by common clothing, as a light-colored T-shirt which is perfect when the sun is at peak and the complexion is very light or why not, from a traditional umbrella. For screens today, there is simply spoiled for choice. The infinite range of solar products is so great in number and quality, to confuse an unwary buyer. There are many companies, large product range, the infinite series of numbers (10, 30, 40, 50 +) and promises of protection (medium, high, very high ....).

When a person requesting a "tan" was told by the dermatologist who must use a screen with SPF (Sun Protection Factor) 40, it is absolutely predictable reply: "But I'm not so abbronzerò ever !!!". The truth is that especially in the early days, when the skin is unaccustomed to UV light, it needs real protection, not an excuse: "My skin is protected from the filter and, therefore, I can be in the sun as it seems to me." And then the sun can also be good to those who have certain skin disorders: acne, psoriasis, vitiligo, eczema, as some of those children avail themselves of sun exposure or even have a vital need. The light therapy is effective in these cases as other therapies, in fact allows the reduction or suspension of the traditional ones, with good peace of patients and, if small, of their parents.

7) Special attention should be paid to the protection of the skin of children and pregnant women: the sunburn in childhood are in fact associated with an increased risk of skin cancer in adulthood. So you have to avoid them being in the sun during the hottest hours, must be protected with protection factors higher than 15, often renewing the application. Even pregnant women should take particular care. The sun may in fact lead to a worsening of dark spots (chloasma gravidarum) that often occur naturally mainly on the face (cheekbones, upper lip, forehead), until they become indelible. Heat can also cause a dilation of blood vessels, increase the itching "pregnancy" and lower the blood pressure. Remember, finally, to apply a moisturizing cream after sun exposure so that the skin remains perfectly elastic.

8) Pay attention to the spots on the skin: If spots appear 'suspect' on the skin can be white or dark it is essential immediately contact the specialist. Today, dermatologists have access to various weapons to eliminate them. For those dark using substances such as azelaic acid. Now, using substances such as azelaic acid, kojic acid, and combinations of the two products. Still semi-experimental acid acetilcisteaminilico, but are also used chemical peels and laser. But you must also remove the possible causes: eliminating scented creams and then, when possible, the photosensitizing drugs. More often, however, the white spots that appear on the skin of an Italian two. It is not just the fault of vitiligo, which affects about one million of Italians. A discoloration of the skin, for 4-5% of the population, there are also signs of atopic dermatitis most pronounced when the tan goes away with the typical 'leopard'. Small round spots, however, can affect the course of life, 50% of the population, and are due to a very common fungus that feeds on keratin. Congenital, however, the piebaldism or white pigmentation of the skin.

9) Be careful taking of drugs and cosmetics: in fact there are many side effects that may arise in the course of administration of two or more drugs with different mechanisms of action. The skin is in fact the favorite target of these reactions and is the organ most affected in young adults, children and the elderly. But attention to cosmetics, the first case of skin irritation. A problem of easy evaluation and still underestimated, because the lesions are often of little relevance critical and are not documented. In all these cases the diagnosis can be performed in dermatological centers that have provided specific allergens to be tested on the skin of patients with suspected allergy.

10) Face: Botox and fillers are bad or good? Mitigate or to wipe out wrinkles and imperfections seem a "must" but as in many areas of medicine, everything depends on the operator. The quality of materials and substances used, together with the skill of the operator-dermatologist-expert are the best guarantees for success. The appearance, at any age, is now essential for those individuals who carry out a public activity, or so they believe the most. But it must however be noted that the dermatologist does not have a magic wand . We often find themselves asked: "I want to remove this mole from his cheek, can eliminate it?". The weeklies are often filled with promises of medical and surgical equipment which is not always possible to maintain, because the removal of a mole, as performed by hand highly skilled, will always leave a trace, even if minimal. And then the attitude of the doctor must be to really understand what the 'neo-blemish "is a ground of dissatisfaction and impaired quality of life for the patient.

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