How to deal with ingrown hairs…

What is an ingrown hair?

An ingrown hair is either a hair that fails to grow out of the hair follicle and stays embedded under the surface of the skin or a hair that when it starts to grow changes direction and begins to grow back in on itself. Although they can happen naturally, usually it is waxing or shaving that causes them. Usually you first notice one because they itch or feel uncomfortable and if left untreated can be painful and become infected. Ingrown hairs can look a little like a small pimple in the later stages. If the inflammation extends beyond the immediate area of the ingrown hair or after you have treated the ingrown hair it still persists you should consider getting it checked by a do

What do I do?

Ingrown hairs can be simply treated by following the instructions below and you will need to arm yourself with a clean washcloth and some warm water, a mild antiseptic, pointy nosed tweezers and a small needle you have sterilised in boiling water.

• Gently apply a washcloth to the ingrown hair until it grows cool down and repeat again – this often helps bring the hair closer to the surface and softens the top of the skin covering the hair.
• Use a small needle to pierce any pimple that has formed over the ingrown hair and gently try to remove the ingrown hair by teasing it out.
• If a head has formed gently squeeze with a tissue until it has all gone and you can see the ingrown hair.
• Don’t try to pull the hair out – it may form again – you are trying to release the hair to grow normally.
• Apply an antiseptic to the area with a cotton wool ball to minimise the chance of infection.

How do I minimise ingrown hairs?

• Wear looser clothing if you suffer from ingrown hairs, tight clothing is a big cause of causing ingrown hairs to form, especially on the legs.
• Exfoliating regularly will help ingrown hairs. Exfoliating gloves are easy and quick to use and can be thrown in the washing machine to keep them clean of bacteria.
• Don’t use harsh exfoliators that can strip the skin of oils and dry it out making ingrown hairs more likely to form.
• Don’t use loofahs as they can’t be washed very easily and can harbour bacteria.
• Use cleansers and moisturisers that are non comodegenic, that is they won’t block the pores and make ingrown hairs more common.
• Cleansing the skin morning and night will keep the hair follicles and pores clear and remove grime and dead skin cells allowing the hair to grow more freely.
• Do not use products with alcohol that dry the skin.
• Use a long lasting hydrating moisturiser that will keep the hair soft all day and help prevent it in growing.
• Many men suffer ingrown hairs from shaving. Try leaving the hair fractionally longer by not using a multi blade razor as the hair is less likely to become ingrown if it is not shaved too closely.
• Don’t pull the skin too tight as this also makes the shave closer than you need.

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Eczema

What is eczema?

Eczema (pronounced ek-sma) is a very common allergic skin condition that affects the skin of people in all age groups. Another name used for eczema is dermatitis. Usually it looks like a pinkish-red scaly rash appearing anywhere on the body.  Dry and scaly looking skin forms over red inflamed areas causing intense burning and itching. The area can feel hot and is usually very itchy and Babies can have eczema when they are young and then grow out of it as they get older and some people don’t get eczema until they are adults. Most people with chronic eczema will get their first patch of eczema occurring before they are school age.

Why do you get eczema?

It is not exactly known why we get eczema, it does have some connection to allergic reactions and the immune system it is not the typical allergic reaction.
Some types of eczema have a genetic link and a family history of allergies, asthma and eczema mean you may be more susceptible.

Some types of eczema happen after the skin comes into contact with a trigger or allergen which may happen immediately or only come after repeated contact. Common allergens are soaps, detergents, wool, animal fur, plants, chemicals and many others so it may be difficult to establish the cause. Sometimes physical stress like an illness or mental and emotional stress can trigger an attack. Although this skin condition often looks as though it might be contagious, it isn’t, you can’t catch eczema from someone else.

What can I do?

• If you are unsure about the diagnosis, consult a skin specialist or a doctor. Allergy testing may be necessary.
• If you are so uncomfortable that your sleep, work, or other daily activities are disrupted, you should also seek medical help.
• Avoid what you know you are allergic to wherever possible.
• Try not to scratch it – fingernails can harbour bacteria and can cause an infection if you scratch and break the skin.
• Try to avoid washing clothes in harsh detergents and soaps.
• Avoid showering or bathing excessively – once a day and only use soap where you really need it. Pat the skin gently dry.
• Avoid hot water as this will only make the itching worse.
• Clothing should be cotton where possible, wool can irritate.
• Keep cool and out of the sun, getting hot and sweaty can make it worse.
• Avoid strenuous exercise when your eczema flares up.
• Avoid physical and mental stress. Eating a well balanced diet, reducing stress and adequate sleep will help you stay healthy, which can help prevent flares.
• Clean the area with a hypoallergenic cleanser every day.
• Gently apply a moisturising cream after washing that has been formulated to be calming and soothing as well as moisturising with no perfumes or colours.

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How to deal with blackheads…

What are blackheads?

A good, basic skin care regime is necessary to have smooth, blemish free skin – however blackheads can be hard to eliminate. Blackheads, or to give them their technical name comedones, start off life in the pores and hair follicles. Blackheads develop when a pore or the opening at the base of the hair follicle slowly fills with sebum which is oil that is naturally produced by the sebaceous glands and keeps our skin supple and smooth. This combines with dirt from the environment, makeup and old skin cells and fills the pore.

The oily mixture in the pores or hair follicle opening mixes with air and reacts chemically with melanin in the skin. The surface or head then turns black, giving rise to the name blackhead. Unlike a pimple, a blackhead does not form above the skin but is flush with the skin’s surface.

What can we do about blackheads?

If you have numerous blackheads or have tried to remove them yourself and have had no success, a beauty therapist or dermatologist may be the best person to manually remove them. A good skincare regime is essential to help treat blackheads and to prevent them from forming again.

Removing blackheads:

• Cleanse the skin thoroughly but gently – you can’t remove blackheads by scrubbing at the skin and it will only damage it.
• Use warm but not hot water or try to remove then after a shower as the pores will open and it will be easier to remove the blackheads.
• Gently exfoliate to again avoid damaging the skin but to remove dead skin cells on the surface – a washcloth will do the job.
• With clean fingers gently squeeze the skin to the sides of the blackhead to allow the head to ‘pop’ and the rest of what is in the blocked poor to be pushed out.
• Pore strips can be bought – these are adhesive strips you can apply to the affected area and when they are quickly pulled off should remove the blackhead with them.
• Large areas of blackheads can be difficult and painful to try to remove yourself – you may need to get some expert help from a beauty therapist or dermatologist.

How to prevent blackheads:

• Gently cleanse the skin daily, preferably morning and night to prevent build up of dirt and sebum. Here is a link to a gentle yet effective cleanser.
• All makeup should be thoroughly removed at the end of the day.
• Sunscreen, especially waterproof should be cleansed from the skin before sleeping.
• Apply the cleanser with a damp facecloth to gently exfoliate skin cells that have been shed.
• Use lukewarm water to rinse away the cleanser.
• Use a moisturiser that is non–comodegenic – that means it is formulated not to block skin pores. Here is a link to skinsaviour’s non-comodegenic moisturiser.

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What do I do about oily skin?

Oily skin is caused by overactive oil glands in the skin that produce sebum that keeps our skin lubricated. If you look in the mirror and see a greasy shiny face looking back you most likely have an overproduction of oil. Sometimes people with excessively oily skin have large pores and the skin can look quite heavy in texture and blemishes occur more frequently. Women may find that makeup doesn’t stay in place and begins to slide. If you are still unsure, wash and gently cleanse your face and leave to dry for 30 mins. Place a clean tissue on the face and pat down gently. If you look at the tissue and see areas of oil on the tissue, you have oily skin.

What do I do?

Oily skin needs to be treated gently. Often people with oily skin will try to scrub the skin with hot water, harsh soaps and exfoliators to try and remove all the excess oil. This often has the reverse effect and can cause the skin to produce even more oil to try and compensate for the oil being removed. We do want some oil on our skin as this is what causes the skin to be lubricated and comfortable and helps to prevent wrinkles forming. Oily skin needs to be gently cleansed and a minimum of moisturiser applied, making sure it is one that is comodegenic, that is, it won’t block the pores and cause blemishes to form.

Following some of these suggestions below should help ease oily skin conditions:

• Cleanse the skin thoroughly but gently, using a cleanser with no harsh soaps or detergents.
• Cleanse the skin morning and night to keep the skin free of built up oil and grime.
• Use lukewarm water and pat dry to avoid stimulating oil production.
• Do not use alcohol based toners and astringents as they can over dry the skin.
• Use a moisturiser that is formulated not to block your pores.
• Use a tissue to blot excess oil during the day rather than over wash your face.
• Avoid fatty foods with a high fat and oil content.
• Use non oil based sunscreens.
• Use non oil based cosmetics.
• Consider visiting a skin specialist or your doctor if these measures don’t help as there may be underlying physical causes.

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What do I do about dry skin?

How do I tell if I have dry skin?

Dry skin is a very common skin condition and is often linked to sensitive skin as well. The medical term for dry skin is xerosis. If our skin is mildly dry we can experience a feeling of tightness and the skin being uncomfortable. Sometimes we will experience dry patches and flakiness that you see and in its extreme form dry skin can crack and bleed. Dry skin often looks dull and lifeless with none of the healthy glow we associate with skin in good condition. It is important to look after dry skin as it often ages more quickly than any other skin type.

What can I do?

Mild dry skin can be easily treated but severe dry skin that has cracked, bled or formed lesions should be seen by a doctor. Dry skin responds well to a skincare regime that includes a gentle, effective cleanser that doesn’t strip away natural oils in the skin and a moisturiser that has emollients and natural moisturising factors such as plant oils and extracts. Dry skin should be treated gently and not subjected to hot and cold winds, too much sun, a central heating and air conditioning. A humidifier and effective skin care products should help in the times you can’t avoid these.

Following some of these suggestions below should help ease dry skin conditions:

• Use lukewarm water to wash your face and pat gently dry.
• Use a cleanser without soaps, sulphates or detergents
• Apply moisturiser immediately after washing the skin to retain the moisture.
• Keep well hydrated throughout the day.
• Use skin care products that are high in moisturising factors and keep the skin moisturised throughout the day.
• Eat a diet high in fresh fruit and vegetables – flaxseeds, avocados, salmon, walnuts, virgin olive oil all help lubricate the skin.
• Reduce alcohol, tea and coffee.
• Invest in a humidifier if you are constantly in heating or air conditioning.
• Avoid the sun if you can and always wear sunscreen.

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