Skin & Hair Care
Acne
Acne develops in and around the hair follicles
and their oil-producing glands called the sebaceous glands.
The oil produced by sebaceous glands is called sebum and
it begins to appear soon after puberty. Acne usually starts
during the teenage years but it may also begin in the twenties
or thirties. The exact cause of acne is unknown.
Allergic Skin Reactions
Contact allergy is a sensitivity reaction
of the skin that some people develop on contact with substances
usually harmless to others. These substances, or allergens
as they are called, can enter the skin and cause the skin
to react in a rash.
Athlete’s Foot
Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection between
your toes that is itchy, and the skin becomes scaly and
may peel.
Dandruff
Dandruff is the result of excessive shedding
of the skin cells on the scalp, and is characterized by
white flakes on skin that accumulate on your hair, shoulders
and clothing, usually accompanied by an itchy scalp. Dandruff
is usually the result of a fungus called Pityrosporum ovale.
Eczema /Dermatitis
Eczema, also known as dermatitis is dry,
sensitive skin which results in an itchy, inflamed rash.
The ability to stop the itch is critical to minimize scratching
and the potential for an infection. It is estimated that
10% of Americans has eczema at some time in their life,
and it affects all age groups. There are several types
of eczema, including:
Atopic Dermatitis
Most common in babies and young children.
Atopic eczema is thought to be hereditary.
Seborrhoeic Eczema
Most often seen in babies and younger adults,
this type of eczema tends to affect the oily parts of the
body, such as the scalp, face, groin and chest. Seborrhoeic
eczema is not generally itchy.
Discoid Eczema
This condition is usually confined to the
arms and legs and consists of scaly, itchy, coin-shaped
patches that can blister and weep.
Irritant Dermatitis
This condition is caused by exposure to substances
such as soaps, detergents, hair dyes and bleaches.
Skin Fungus
Fungal infections of the skin appear as white
spots, and are common in children and adults. The white
spots may or may not be itchy. It appears as fine scaly
white patches on brown skin, and is generally distributed
on the face, neck, shoulders, arms, trunks or legs.
Ringworm
Ringworm is a parasitic infection that appears
as scaly reddish ring-shaped patches with the tendency
to form rings with raised borders.
Scabies
Scabies is a parasitic infection caused by
a mite that is transmitted in close person-to-person contact.
The mite burrows into the skin and causes an itchy rash,
typically on the hands, wrists and fingers, but it can
also affect the elbows, armpits, nipples and buttocks.
In males, the genitals are often affected.
Sun Damaged (and Aging) Skin
The natural aging process generally produces
lines and wrinkles, age spots, splotches and pigmentation
problems, broken capillaries, dull skin texture and color,
and other skin flaws. Sun-damage compounds the aging process,
because ultraviolet light from the sun penetrates not only
the outer layer of skin, but also those layers underneath
which fortify the skin and lend it resilience.
