What Is This Bumpy Skin On My Arms And Thighs?

 

Keratosis Pilaris, also known as chicken skin bumps, is a common condition in which a protein in the skin called keratin forms hard plugs within hair follicles.

 

Symptoms include :

• small white or red bumps typically on the upper arms or thighs
• dry, rough  and sometimes itchy skin in the areas with bumps
• worsening in the winter when humidity is low and skin tends to be drier

Best Treatments Include:

Cleanse – use a mild cleansing lotion to provide moisture and prevent dry, red irritations

Exfoliate – professional micro exfoliation treatments gently removes the outer layer of dead skin cells leaving a smoother texture

Moisturize – use moisturizer frequently and avoid any products that might dry the skin.

http://www.allureaesthetics.com

Advertisement

Has Acne Already Damaged Your Skin?

Acne, a skin disorder of the sebaceous glands, is characterized by comedones and blemishes and is a hereditary trait which is also triggered by hormonal changes.

Acne ranges from mild breakouts to disfiguring cysts and scarring. Causes of acne include the following:

• clogged pores – a plug of mixed dead skin cells and sebum in the follicle.
• bacteria – when follicles are blocked with sebum and dead skin cell build-up, oxygen cannot reach the bottom of the follicle, resulting in bacteria growth.
• cosmetics and products – moisturizers and sunscreens should be water based.

Acne is broken down into four grades. The number of lesions, comedones, papules, pustules or cysts present determines the severity of the acne.

• Grade I – Minor breakouts, mostly open comedones, some closed comedones and a few papules and pustules.
• Grade II – Many closed comedones, more open comedones and more papules and pustules.
• Grade III – Red and inflamed, many papules and pustules.
• Grade IV – Cystic acne. Cysts with comedones, papules, pustules and inflammation are present.

 

Hormonal changes, stress and certain foods may aggravate acne.

• Hormones – during puberty, androgens stimulate sebaceous glands and testosterone causes an increase in oil production. Adult acne is more common in females. Hormonal fluctuations from birth control pills, premenstrual changes, pregnancy and menopause can lead to acne inflammation in women.
• Stress – stress causes hormonal fluctuations and increased sebum production.
• Foods – eating fresh vegetables and fruits and increasing water intake seem to help those with acne experience fewer breakouts.
• Irritations – pressure or friction from rubbing or touching the face, phone use, or wearing hats can contribute to acne breakouts. Dirty pillow or makeup brushes can also transfer bacteria to the face. Keeping hands and items that touch the face clean can help keep the skin from breaking out more.

In the field of skin care, we define the process of removing excess accumulations of dead cells from the outer layers of the skin as superficial peeling. Peels are used to control skin conditions such as acne, hyperpigmentation, clogged pores, eczema and dry skin.

After treatment, skin looks and feels smoother and softer. Peels dramatically enhance the skin’s health and appearance. After having a peel, you should not necessarily expect to “peel.” However, you might have light flaking in a few localized areas for a couple of days. Most clients who undergo these treatments have only residual redness for anywhere from one to twelve hours.

http://www.allureaesthetics.com

Tips To Help Control Acne Prone Skin

Most acne stems from the following:

• 5 – 10% is hereditary
• improper hygiene
• diet/health issues
• medications
• the use of wrong products

What is the fastest way to get results with acne prone skin?

• Change pillow cases often.
• Never use a wash cloth as it transfers the P-acne around.
• Cleanse face two times a day at a minimum, more if you are into sports.
• You need to moisturize. Be sure to use the correct one to balance out oil production.
• Get clinical treatments (peels, facial, extractions) at least once a month.

Acne is a complex disease and the degree of control varies. It is not necessary to let acne make your life miserable and it need not be feared as something as untreatable. Most cases can be controlled, minimizing the severity and resulting scarring. Left untreated, it can result in permanent scarring and affect your self-image.

http://www.allureaesthetics.com

Mature Skin and Hormones

As we age, our skin goes through significant changes as a result of shifts in hormone balance. Microcirculation is affected by this balance.

 

As women enter perimenopause  in their 40s and continue into menopause (50s) there is a decrease in estrogen. As estrogen depletes, the skin begins to lose its tone, all tissues begin to thin, vascular and capillary walls begin to weaken, there is less moisture in the tissues, cell turnover is reduced and protective pigment lessens.

Hormone replacement is often suggested for women experiencing menopause. These therapies may be derived from animal-source estrogens and plant-source estrogens. Estrogens from plants are about 400 times weaker than animal estrogens.

Hormonal changes are the cause of the microcirculation problems that are common in mature skin. One such problem is red blotches and rosacea. Some of the causes of couperose veins are:

• alcohol
• smoking
• sun damage
• harsh cosmetics
• heat/cold fluctuations
• topical corticosteroids
• inflammation

These all lead to permanent dilation of the capillaries. The following ingredients are proven to have a positive effect  on mature and rosacea skin:

• green tea
• squalane oil – rich in vitamins A,D, and E
• seaweed
• camomile
• allantoin

Microcirculation problems are best controlled with a combination of medical therapies, including in-office treatments, daily care products and lifestyle considerations.

http://www.allureaesthetics.com

Ingrown Hair (pseudofolloculitis barbae)

One of the more common problems we see particularly in individuals with coarse, curly hair is pseudofolliculitis barbae  (ingrown hair).  These bumps caused by shaving are most common in the bikini line of women and neck area of men. Shaving produces a sharply pointed hair that re-enters the skin. This causes an inflammatory response around the ingrown hair tip. Scarring can result from the inflammatory response. Shaving not only causes but also aggravates the condition. This persistent inflammation on the skin can be dramatically improved with laser hair removal treatments.

 

 

http://www.allureaesthetics.com