What is your skin trying to tell you?

As a Beauty & Skin Care Therapist I find myself explaining many things about the skin and their tell tale signs of care to many of my clients. Many of these conversations revolve around common mistakes we can easily make when it comes to the care of our skin. This blog will cover a few of basic signs and symptoms that we can experience with our skin and what our skin is trying to tell us.

Seasonal changes, stress, hormones and good old genetics all contribute to your skins overall appearance. But often a sudden change; for e.g. an outburst of acne, means there is something going on beneath the skins layers.

So what is your skin really trying to tell you?

Is your skin oily or greasy?

If you are experiencing oily or greasy skin, you might have overactive sebaceous glands, which secrete sebum which is a waxy substance that protects the skin from bacteria. Unfortunately this means your skin will appear shinier than usual. The worst part is that you are probably contributing to the problem! When you over cleanse, over exfoliate or use harsh products, your glands start to over produce oil to counteract what you are stripping away. The skin needs a healthy balance of oil and this vicious cycle turns our sebacious glands into very efficient oil pumps as the more you remove the more it replaces.

How to fix this?

Simply; stop over cleansing, over exfoliating and using harsh or incorrect products. Cleansing twice a day is all that is needed, morning and night and using a cleanser that is correctly formulated to balance your skin. Over time the sebaceous glands will slow down the over production of sebum only replacing what it needs to keep the skin in perfect balance. A cleanser should be a gentle product that will not strip the skins natural oils away, if in doubt always seek professional advice.

Is your skin dry or flaky?

If your skin is experiencing this, you may be having a reaction to harsh soaps, additives, fragrance or simply using harsh products. Over scrubbing and over exfoliating can also dry out your skin. Washing your skin with water that is too hot will also suck moisture from your skin leaving it feeling, tight, dry and flaky. Lifestyle factors can also contribute to dryness and flakiness, poor water intake, poor diet or diet which mainly consists on restriction of low fats, no fats depletes the body of essential fatty acids. Sun damage or burn, wind burn and artifical heating and cooling can also dry the skin out.

How to fix this?

By making a few simple lifestyle changes can make a world of difference. Only use tepid or cool (not cold) water when cleansing and avoid foamy cleansers and soaps to maintain your skin natural moisture barrier. Avoid all alcohol based products and only use products recommended for your skin type and condition. Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day (no this does not include coffe and tea - good try). Wear sunscreen or other protective cream to prevent damage from the elements.

Is your skin tone/colour uneven or reddish in colours?

If you are experiencing this; your skin may be irritated from sun exposure, harsh products, allergies, internal health issues or is generally lacking and unhealthy. A healthy skin should have an even colour that almost glows. Lifestyle can effect the colour and tone of our skin as well as some pivitol times in our lives. Sun damage causes a multitude of issues, but can also cause the over production of Melanin causing pigmentation, severe damage could kill Melanocyte cells all together leaving fair to white unpigmented patches on the skin. Other serious sun damage can lead to skin cancer. Other issues like stress, smoking, alcohol consumption, lack of sleep, poor diet and nutritional intake all starve the skin of its essential needs leaving it looking grey, dull, lacking energy and lifeless, tired sallow or ruddy.

How to fix it?

Again simple changes in your lifestyle and skin care habits will bring life back to your skin. Always wearing a high broad spectrum SPF every day, even on overcast days, especially during pregnancy as hormones are unbalanced and sun damage at this time can lead to difficult pigmentation to treat that may be permanant.

These are but a few problems that can occur in your skin. Learn to love your skin and treating it with utmost respect will help to ensure that the only concerns you have are the ones we have no control over, i.e. ageing healthy. Seeking professional advice to guide and educate is always a recommended option.

I am passionate about all apsects of skin care and will do my utmost to guide my clients in the right direction within your budget. Healthy skin care isnt scary and doesnt have to be an expensive saga. By making small changes one step at a time and introducing good skin care a bit at a time, you will be amazed at how affordable it can be. I use, stock and recommend professional only skin care that caters to all budgets. To book a skin health analysis $40 fully rebateable on product purchases or treatments booked within 7 days or a 15min Skin Teaser Facial $15 to give you an idea of just how great your skin can feel using good products call 0404852215 or contact me through the website or my facebook page.