Menopause is commonly connected with hot flushes and night sweats – most women are familiar with these. The lesser known problem of dry skin that commonly accompanies menopause is also a side effect of changing hormones or more specifically one hormone – estrogen. When women enter menopause and this varies widely from 40 to late fifties, the ovaries stop releasing eggs, periods cease and the production of the hormone estrogen begins to decline.

Estrogen has many functions to do with the reproductive function of a woman’s body but also stimulates the production of collagen and sebum that keeps the skin supple and well lubricated. When this declines, dry and itchy skin can begin to appear as the body also loses its ability to lock moisture in to the skin.  Not only is this noticed on the face but commonly all over the body.

Dry skin is treatable in menopause – try these ideas below to help keep your skin soft and smooth.

• Use a creamy cleanser and moisturiser that will help hydrate and lock the moisture into the skin. You need a skincare regime that has no perfumes, colourings, alcohol or soaps and detergents that may cause dry skin even drier.

• Use a sunscreen daily – even on cloudy days. Dry skin can be made worse from exposure to the sun.

• Essential fatty acids in the diet are important to focus on – omega 3’s as found in deep sea fish such as tuna, salmon and sardines. Add nuts, soy, olive and flaxseed oil to the diet on a daily basis.

• Keep showers and baths to a minimum. As pleasant as a long steamy shower can be – it is also very drying for the skin.

• Pat dry gently and apply moisturiser all over the body on a daily basis to moisturise and help prevent moisturise loss.

• Avoid soaps with too much perfume, antibacterial action or deodorant ones as they all tend to dry out the skin further.

If dry skin continues to be a problem after following a dry skin care regime, it may be time to consult a doctor or dermatologist. Most simple cases of dry skin should respond well to the suggestions above over a period of a few weeks.

Stress can cause oil production to be increased as hormones are also produced when we experience strong emotion. Although stress does not cause pimple outbreaks, people often find it makes existing outbreaks of pimples or acne worse. When we become extremely stressed or have high stress for long periods of time the adrenal glands produce a substance called cortisol which is released into the bloodstream. Part of this chemical chain reaction that is caused by the initial stress is an increase in sebum production.

Male hormones are responsible for the start of sebum production and are found in both males and females at puberty, but in differing quantities.

What we can do

• Oil production is one of nature’s responses to irritation – gentle cleansing will reduce irritation and therefore oil production.
• Avoid soap – squeaky clean is not what we want for oily skin.
• Stripping away natural oils will cause more to be produced.
• Don’t over wash – Morning and night is sufficient for even the oiliest skin.
• Clay masks may help soaking up excess oil. It can leave the skin looking fresher and less oily for some hours after.
• Use a moisturiser that is non-comodegenic.
• Reducing stress will reduce the production of hormones that signal oil production.

Our bodies are losing water all the time –through evaporation, perspiration, organ function and cell processes and excretion. Add to this the water we lose through heating, cooling, flying, exercise, being in hot climatic conditions and air-conditioning and you have a large quantity of water that needs replacing on a daily basis. Heavy exertion and exercise vastly increase this loss. Some medications and illnesses cause us to lose more water than usual.

The drier our skin the more prone it is to fine line formation.

Signs of dehydration:

• Dry skin
• Fatigue
• Dry mouth
• Dry lips
• Decreased urination
• Dark coloured urine
• Loss of appetite

Seek medical help immediately if you suspect someone has severe dehydration – it can be a life threatening condition but is quickly treatable.

What to avoid:

• Exposure to the sun without adequate protection such as hats and long sleeved shirts.
• Not re hydrating adequately after exercise or exertion.
• Alcohol and caffeine are diuretic – meaning they cause us to lose water. Compensate if you drink either of these with a glass of water.
• Prolonged exposure to central heating, sitting too close to a radiator or heater.
• Air conditioning robs the air and therefore your skin of moisture.
• Windy conditions both hot and cold winds.
• Letting ourselves become thirsty – rehydrate frequently throughout the day.

What to do:

• Increase raw foods and fruit in the diet that have a high water content such as grapes, tomatoes, oranges and on.
• Increase your water intake – little and often is a good way to start if you are not used or do not like to drink large quantities of water.
• Water can be made more palatable for those people not to keen on drinking it by adding a squeeze of lemon, lime or mint. Use a small amount of fruit juice to flavour if needed.
• Change the temperature – some people find it easier to drink warm water rather than cold.
• Carry a water bottle to remind you to increase your daily intake.
• Drink frequently to avoid becoming dehydrated – especially if you are not a ‘thirsty’ person.
• Compensate water intake with water loss when doing manual labour or exercising that causes you to sweat.
• Use a humidifier or a water spritzer to keep moisture levels high in heating and air –conditioned places.
• Ensure the diet has adequate good fats such as avocado, flax seed and olive oil. Water is not the only answer to keeping our skin cells hydrated. We must have adequate good fat intake in order for our bodies to produce water for our skin cells.
• Use a moisturiser that provides the skin with long lasting hydration in order to reduce the water lost through the skin and keep the skin cells from drying out.

Rosacea (which can be pronounced as ro-zay-sha)  is a skin disease that causes redness and pimples on your nose, cheeks, chin, and forehead. Rosacea can come and go with people suffering from flare-ups. Tiny red veins can form on the face that look like a cobweb of red veins – these are permanent. People sometimes call rosacea “adult acne” because it can cause outbreaks that look like acne and often happens to us as we get older. Sometimes there can be an associated soreness of the eyes and the eyelids. Although rosacea should not affect your vision, it can cause eye problems and a doctor should be consulted if you experience any symptoms. Rosacea can cause a lot of embarrassment and discomfort for sufferers but there are things we can do to minimise flare-ups.

What causes rosacea?

There is some evidence that people with fair skin and who have a tendency to blush are more prone and that a family history can also predispose you to developing rosacea. In an attack of rosacea the blood vessels in the face expand, filling with blood and causing the face to redden. While there is no one cause for all people there are certain common triggers it would be best to avoid.  Some attacks may last minutes or in severe cases can last for days. If you can work out your own personal triggers it will help you manage your rosacea and some people find keeping a trigger diary helpful.

Some triggers include:

Exercise or heavy exertion
Exposure to the sun and wind
Alcohol
Spicy foods
Hot food and drink
Stress or anxiety
Emotional changes such as embarrassment or laughing
Hot baths and showers
Menopause
Some medications – ask your doctor

Medical help should be sought and exposure to triggers reduced as rosacea can worsen and turn into advanced rosacea where bumps on the nose and cheek area can form, giving the area a swollen, lumpy look. While there is no cure medical treatment includes antibiotic creams and drugs. Laser treatment can also help to reduce the size and number of the veins.

Prevention by avoiding triggers is an important part of learning to manage and lessen rosacea attacks.

• Cut down on food and drink that causes symptoms
• Try shorter work outs more frequently when exercising
• Have lukewarm showers and baths and keep them short
• Drink plenty of water in hot conditions
• Cool the face with a damp, cold washcloth if you become overheated.
• Keep alcohol to a minimum – it doesn’t cause rosacea but it can make it worse.
• Always hear sunscreen and a hat when outdoors
• Use a skin care regime that has products with no perfumes, colourings or fragrances that will help soothe and not irritate the skin such as skinsaviour cleanser and moisturiser.
• Skinsaviour Cream and Cleanser are specially formulated for skin that is sensitive and easily irritated.

People who have very sensitive skin can often have a very low tolerance level for certain things in their environments, what they eat and drink and also to ingredients in their skin care products. Usually the skin reacts by becoming inflammation that shows as red, blotchy patches and sometimes lumpy swellings. It is difficult for those with sensitive skin as what will be no problem for one person will not suit someone else. Also to establish what it is that actually bothers you can be a time consuming exercise.

How do we deal with sensitive skin?

The more natural a skin care product is the less the chance of them irritating sensitive skin. Having said that, there are many essential oils that are very irritating to the skin or one of their components is. Conversely not all synthetic ingredients are harmful for your skin and may be a suitable alternative to a natural ingredient that can be an irritant. So the best thing is to choose a skin care product range that has been designed to be non-irritating, to calm and soothe a sensitive skin. skinsaviour has designed its cleansers and moisturisers to be very gentle yet effective on a sensitive skin.

What to look for in skin care products?

• Cleansers with no harsh soaps or detergents.

• Skin care products with low levels of preservatives.

• Moisturisers that provide a long lasting barrier to external pollutants.

• Skin care products formulated to avoid ingredients known to irritate sensitive skin.

• Skin care products that come in dispensers to avoid contaminating your skin care products with bacteria from dipping fingers in.

• Skincare products that come in dispensers that block out the light to also avoid spoilage.

Sensitive skin has become more common. We used to have only three types of skin defined in skincare products… normal, oily and dry. Then combination came along to cover those people whose skin was dry in some areas and oily in others or a combination of normal and oily or dry. Sensitive skin has only been recently given a whole category of skin care to itself but has also been a skin type that continues to grow.

So why has sensitive skin become so common?  We define sensitive skin as skin that reacts easily and in a negative way to a number of substances with symptoms such as redness, swelling, itching and discomfort.

Some schools of thought say that the increasing number of chemicals in our food, in the water we drink, in our food, in our household cleaners, in our homes and cars – all contribute to a chemical overload on the body. Our bodies can only process so much of these chemicals and we become more and more sensitised as time goes by.  Long term exposure can have this effect in the same way people can have a reaction to a food that they have been able to eat all their lives and then suddenly start developing worse and worse reactions each time they eat it.

Sensitive skin can run in families, you can have a genetic predisposition to having sensitive skin and may do so since early childhood.

How do we reduce this overload?

• Replace toxic cleaning products and do some research on old favourites that are non toxic such as vinegar and baking soda and how to use them.

• See if you can incorporate more foods into your diet that are grown organically where chemical sprays are not used on the plants or the soil they are grown in.

• Make sure your drinking water is as pure as it can be – invest in a filter.

• Treat your sensitive skin gently with gentle yet effective cleansers that have no soaps, detergents or sulphates like our skinsaviour cleanser.

• Wash in lukewarm water and pat dry to avoid over stimulating and irritating sensitive skin.

• Patch test all your products you use on your skin on the inside of the wrist for a few days to see whether you have any reaction.

• Use a moisturiser that has been carefully formulated for sensitive skin that is free of harmful chemicals, colourings, perfumes, all that can irritate sensitive skin.

Most people suffer from some degree of redness and irritation when they undergo waxing.  Waxing at its most basic is literally pulling the hairs out by the roots so the area waxed has undergone some trauma. We all react so individually, the degree of redness, soreness and irritation will vary widely from person to person.  If the area waxed remains sore and red and is still causing you discomfort after 24 hours, seek medical advice as you may have an allergy to the waxing products used.

If you are concerned about how your skin may react to waxing it may be best to do a patch test on your leg first to see how your skin reacts. You can have this done at a salon as well. Make sure you have no skin that may be sun damaged, broken or already irritated on the area that you want to wax. Treat the skin area to be waxed gently before waxing and don’t use any harsh

How do I prevent redness after waxing:

• Ensure the wax is not too hot before using.
• Following correct procedure and ensuring the hair is removed in the direction of the hair growth.
• Applying a cold compress, an ice pack or having a cold shower can all help to reduce the redness and swelling.
• Clean the area with a cleanser with calming, soothing ingredients.
• Follow with a moisturiser that is hydrating, calming and soothing to help minimise the redness.
• Refrain from having hot showers afterwards for several hours.
• Avoid sun exposure, even if you use sunscreen.
• Don’t exfoliate for a few days before or after waxing.

Our skins need to produce oil which they do from tiny sebaceous glands hidden in the skin. Part of the job of this sebum that is produced is to maintain the protective acid mantle of the skin. The acid mantle refers to the sebum which is a complex blend of various lipids or fatty like substances, sweat and cellular debris that collects on the surface of the skin and hairs. The acid mantle has acid in the name as the pH typically ranges between 4.5 – 5.5.

The acid mantle is part of the skin’s defence system as the acidity helps to prevent bacteria invading the skin. The acid mantle forces the epidermal and the skin hairs to lie flat in a structured way to look a little like scales on a fish.

• Without an acid mantle the skin cells would pull apart leading to dehydration.
• Loss of the acidic protection would mean bacteria are more able to enter the skin.
• Hair would become more brittle and break more easily.
• With no acid mantle to protect it the skin would become more prone to irritation and sensitivity.

When we purchase products to wash and cleanse our oily skin we should not use harsh skin care products that strip away our natural oils. We need to use gentle but effective skin care that protects the acid mantle of the skin such as skinsaviour skincare products.

Skinsaviour skincare products are carefully formulated to gently and effectively cleanse the skin without stripping natural oils effecting sebum production.

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.

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.