Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin is a thin or a fine-textured skin that reacts quickly to both heat and cold and therefore sunburns and windburns easily. It is commonly dry, delicate and prone to allergic reactions. Temperature changes, some detergents, cosmetics and alcohol (used on the skin) can all cause irritation, leaving the skin red and blotchy, with visible surface veins. The skin is the largest organ of the human body. Its size (about 20 square feet on an average sized adult) and external location make it susceptible to a wide variety of diseases, disorders, discolorations and growths, as well as to damage from the environment and the aging process.

More Resources

Even if your favorite star was born with a flawless complexion, she has a few tricks that help keep it that way. By far, the most important thing you can do for your skin is to be diligent about sun protection -- it's your best defense against skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, but it's also the most preventable. Passages Malibu Externally applied antibiotics such as erythromycin, clindamycin, Stievamycin, or tetracycline kill the bacteria that are harbored in the blocked follicles. While topical use of antibiotics is equally as effective as oral use, this method avoids possible side effects including upset stomach and drug interactions (e.g. it will not affect use of the oral contraceptive pill), but may prove awkward to apply over larger areas than just the face alone. Passages Malibu The skin on your face is exposed to a barrage of toxins and environmental damage on a daily basis. It must withstand pollution, ultraviolet rays, wind, and debris, as well as the harmful chemicals in 99% of all skin care products and cosmetics. The skin on your face is the most delicate skin on your body. Therefore there are many specialty products that have been developed specifically for your facial skin. It can be difficult to decipher which products perform which tasks, and which products would work the best with your skin type. Passages Malibu If a pimple is large and/or does not seem to be affected by other treatments, a dermatologist may administer an injection of cortisone directly into it, which will usually reduce redness and inflammation almost immediately. This has the effect of flattening the pimple, thereby making it easier to cover up with makeup, and can also aid in the healing process. Side effects are minimal, but may include a temporary whitening of the skin around the injection point; and occasionally a small depression forms, which may persist, although often fills eventually. This method also carries a much smaller risk of scarring than surgical removal. Passages Malibu For clear, pure, balanced and hydrated skin you need the gentle cleansing of our complete line of facial skin care products. Some skin care products will exfoliate and balance your skin and complexion by controlling excess sebum and exfoliating dead skin cells. Replenish, revitalize, soothe, calm, hydrate: our natural skin care products are designed to relieve environmental stress with natural properties that are ideal for all skin types, from dry and delicate to normal to oily. Many serious skin care products not only revitalize but some work as an excellent eye make up remover or as a simple spritz of refreshing revitalizing hydration. Passages Malibu A keloid is a type of hypertrophic scar with mainly type I and some type III collagen which results in an overgrowth of tissue at the site of a healed skin injury. Keloids are firm, rubbery lesions or shiny, fibrous nodules, and can vary from pink to flesh-colored or red to dark brown in color. A keloid scar is benign, non-contagious, and usually accompanied by severe itchiness, sharp pains, and changes in texture. In severe cases, it can affect movement of skin. Keloids expand in claw-like growths over normal skin. They have the capability to hurt with a needle-like pain or to itch without warning, although the degree of sensation varies from patient to patient. Passages Malibu In females, acne can be improved with hormonal treatments. The common combined oestrogen/progestogen methods of hormonal contraception have some effect, but the antiandrogen, Cyproterone, in combination with an oestrogen (Diane 35) is particularly effective at reducing androgenic hormone levels. Diane-35 is not available in the USA, but a newer oral contraceptive containing the progestin drospirenone is now available with fewer side effects than Diane 35 / Dianette. Both can be used where blood tests show abnormally high levels of androgens, but are effective even when this is not the case. Along with this, treatment with low dose spironolactone can have anti-androgenetic properties, especially in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome. Passages Malibu Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes which are found predominantly in skin but also in the bowel and the eye. It is one of the rarer types of skin cancer but causes the majority of skin cancer related deaths. Malignant melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer. It is due to uncontrolled growth of pigment cells, called melanocytes. Despite many years of intensive laboratory and clinical research, the sole effective cure is surgical resection of the primary tumor before it achieves a Breslow thickness greater than 1 mm. Around 160,000 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed worldwide each year, and it is more frequent in males and caucasians. It is more common in caucasian populations living in sunny climates than other groups. According to a WHO Report about 48,000 melanoma related deaths occur worldwide per annum. Passages Malibu Natural skin care is the care of the skin (the largest organ of the body) using naturally derived ingredients (such as herbs, roots, and flowers) combined with naturally occuring carrier agents (everything from natural soap to oils to pure water). Many people with senstive skin have turned to natural skin care solutions. Many people use natural skin care recipes to care for their skin at home. Many spas and skin care salons now focus on using more naturally derived skin care products. There is, however, no actual definition of "natural". All ingredients are chemicals by definition. "Derived" ingredients are "unnatural" both according to the original substance and the method of derivation.

The term "natural" has considerable market value in promoting cosmetic products to consumers, but dermatologists say it has very little medical meaning. Passages Malibu A hair follicle is part of the skin that grows hair by packing old cells together. Attached to the follicle is a sebaceous gland, a tiny sebum-producing gland found everywhere except on the palms, lips and soles of the feet. The thicker density of hair, the more sebaceous glands are found. Also attached to the follicle is a tiny bundle of muscle fiber called the arrector pili that is responsible for causing the follicle lissis to become more perpendicular to the surface of the skin, and causing the follicle to protrude slightly above the surrounding skin (piloerection). This process results in goose bumps (or goose flesh). Stem cells are located at the junction of the arrector and the follicle, and are principally responsible for the ongoing hair production during a process known as the Anagen stage. The average growth rate of healthy hair follicles on the scalp is .04 cm per day. Passages Malibu Genital warts often occur in clusters and can be very tiny or can spread into large masses in the genital or penis area. In women they occur on the outside and inside of the vagina, on the opening (cervix) to the womb (uterus), or around the anus. They are approximately as prevalent in men, but the symptoms may be less obvious. When present, they usually are seen on the tip of the penis. They also may be found on the shaft of the penis, on the scrotum, or around the anus. Rarely, genital warts also can develop in the mouth or throat of a person who has had oral sex with an infected person. Genital warts may disappear without treatment, but sometimes eventually develop a fleshy, small raised growth. There is no way to predict whether they will grow or disappear. Genital warts (or Condyloma, Condylomata acuminata, or venereal warts) is a highly contagious sexually transmitted infection caused by some sub-types of human papillomavirus (HPV). It is spread through direct skin-to-skin contact during oral, genital, or anal sex with an infected partner. Passages Malibu A skin tag is a common, benign condition which consists of a bit of skin that projects from the surrounding skin and may appear attached to the skin. Skin tags can vary quite a bit in appearance. They may be smooth or irregular, flesh colored or more deeply pigmented, and either simply be raised above the surrounding skin or have a stalk so that the skin tag hangs from the skin. Americans spend billions of dollars each year on skin care products that promise to erase wrinkles, lighten age spots, and eliminate itching, flaking, or redness. But the simplest and cheapest way to keep your skin healthy and young looking is to stay out of the sun. Sunlight is a major cause of the skin changes we think of as aging — changes such as wrinkles, dryness, and age spots. Your skin does change with age. For example, you sweat less, leading to increased dryness. As your skin ages, it becomes thinner and loses fat, so it looks less plump and smooth. Underlying structures — veins and bones in particular — become more prominent. Your skin can take longer to heal when injured. Passages Malibu Natural oils contain hundreds of organic constituents such as hormones, vitamins and other natural elements that can be beneficial for the skin. Natural oils can be divided into two general categories - essential oils and carrier or base oils. Essential oils are volatile compounds found in plans. They give fruits, flowers, herbs and spices their fragrance and flavor. Obtained by distillation or expression, essential oils are highly concentrated and used at a very low concentration. Carrier oils, such as almond, sunflower, olive, walnut and other oils are used in higher concentration in cosmetics, or they can be applied directly to the skin to nourish, soften and protect it. They are used as a base in which essential oils are diluted. Oils are highly penetrating. They easily enter through a cell wall delivering essential vitamins, oxygen, and nutrients. This helps to stimulate cell metabolism and regeneration process. Ability of oils to penetrate and carry nutrients through the the cell wall to the cell nucleus can prevent cell deterioration that can lead to infections and diseases. Passages Malibu Sunscreen agents are used to prevent sunburn. Limiting your exposure to the sun and using sunscreen agents when in the sun may help prevent early wrinkling and skin cancer. There are two kinds of sunscreen agents: chemical and physical. Chemical sunscreen agents protect you from the sun by absorbing the ultraviolet (UV) and visible sun rays, while physical sunscreen agents reflect, scatter, absorb, or block these rays. Sunscreen agents often contain more than one ingredient. For example, products may contain one ingredient that provides protection against the ultraviolet A (UVA) sun rays and another ingredient that protects you from the ultraviolet B (UVB) sun rays, which are more likely to cause sunburn than the UVA sun rays. Ideally, coverage should include protection against both UVA and UVB sun rays. The sun protection factor (SPF) that you find on the label of these products tells you the minimum amount of UVB sunlight that is needed with that product to produce redness on sunscreen-protected skin as compared with unprotected skin. Sunscreen products with high SPFs will provide more protection against the sun. Passages Malibu Laser surgery has been in use for some time to reduce the scars left behind by acne, but research has been done on lasers for prevention of acne formation itself. The laser is used to produce one of the following effects: to burn away the follicle sac from which the hair grows, to burn away the sebaceous gland which produces the oil to induce formation of oxygen in the bacteria, killing them. Since lasers and intense pulsed light sources cause thermal damage to the skin, there are concerns that laser or intense pulsed light treatments for acne will induce hyperpigmented macules (spots) or cause long-term dryness of the skin. In the United States, the FDA has approved several companies, such as Candela Corp., to use a cosmetic laser for the treatment of acne. However, efficacy studies have used very small sample sizes (fewer than 100 subjects) for periods of six months or less, and have shown contradictory results. Laser treatment being relatively new, protocols remain subject to experimentation and revision, and treatment can be quite expensive. Also, some Smoothbeam laser devices had to be recalled due to coolant failure, which resulted in painful burn injuries to patients. Passages Malibu Benzoyl peroxide cream is a Topical bactericidals. Widely available OTC bactericidal products containing benzoyl peroxide may be used in mild to moderate acne. The gel or cream containing benzoyl peroxide is rubbed, twice daily, into the pores over the affected region. Bar soaps or washes may also be used and vary from 2 to 10% in strength. In addition to its therapeutic effect as a keratolytic (a chemical that dissolves the keratin plugging the pores) benzoyl peroxide also prevents new lesions by killing P.acnes. In one study, roughly 70% of participants using a 10% benzoyl peroxide solution experienced a reduction in acne lesions after 6 weeks.Unlike antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide has the advantage of being a strong oxidizer (essentially a mild bleach) and thus does not appear to generate bacterial resistance. However, it routinely causes dryness, local irritation and redness. A sensible regimen may include the daily use of low-concentration (2.5%) benzoyl peroxide preparations, combined with suitable non-comedogenic moisturisers to help avoid overdrying the skin. Care must be taken when using benzoyl peroxide, as it can very easily bleach any fabric or hair it comes in contact with. Passages Malibu The skin is the largest organ of the human body. Its size (about 20 square feet in an average sized adult) and external location make it susceptible to a wide variety of diseases, disorders, discolorations, and growths, as well as to damage from the environment and the aging process. The severity and appearance of skin problems vary considerably. The skin is one of the most vulnerable organs of the body. Though seldom life threatening, skin disorders can be uncomfortable and may cause chronic disabilities. In addition, because the skin is so visible, skin disorders can lead to psychological stress. Skin Conditions:
atrophic=thin, wrinkled, blister=fluid-filled bump, crust/scab=formation of dried blood, pus, or other skin fluid over a break in the skin, cyst=deep lesion that is filled with pus, excoriation=hollowed-out or linear area covered by a crust, hives/wheals=pink swelling of the skin, lichenification=skin that has thickened, macule=smaller version of a patch; a flat discolored spot, nodule/papule=solid, raised bump, raised bumps=bumps that stick out above the skin surface, patch=flat, discolored spot, pustule (pimple)=inflamed lesions that look like pink bumps, scales=dead skin cells that look like flakes or dry skin, scar=fibrous tissue that has formed after a skin injury Passages Malibu There are many products available for the treatment of acne, many of which are without any scientifically-proven effects. Generally speaking, successful treatments show little improvement within the first two weeks, instead taking a period of approximately three months to improve and start flattening out. Many treatments that promise big improvements within two weeks are likely to be largely disappointing. However, short bursts of cortisone can give very quick results, and other treatments can rapidly improve some active spots, but usually not all active spots. Modes of improvement are not necessarily fully understood but in general treatments are believed to work in at least 4 different ways (with many of the best treatments providing multiple simultaneous effects): 1. normalising shedding into the pore to prevent blockage 2. killing P. acnes 3. anti-inflammatory effects 4. hormonal manipulation. A combination of treatments can greatly reduce the amount and severity of acne in many cases. Those treatments that are most effective tend to have greater potential for side effects and need a greater degree of monitoring, so a step-wise approach is often taken. Many people consult with doctors when deciding which treatments to use, especially when considering using any treatments in combination. Passages Malibu The skin is the largest organ of the body and is the most visible. Although many skin diseases are isolated, some are manifestations of internal disease. Hence, a dermatologist is schooled in aspects of surgery, rheumatology (many rheumatic diseases can feature skin symptoms and signs), immunology, neurology (the "neurocuteaneous syndromes", such as neurofibromatosis and tuberous sclerosis), infectious diseases and endocrinology. osmetic dermatology has long been an important part of the field, and dermatologists have been the primary innovators in this area. In the 1900's dermatologists employed dermabrasion to improve acne scarring and fat microtransfer was used to fill in cutaneous defects. Dermatologists specializing in cosmetic dermatology typically use non-invasive procedures to reverse the signs of aging. Botox has been used since it was FDA approved for the treatment of wrinkles. It is used to minimize wrinkles such as frown lines and crow's feet. Fillers are used to "fill in" lines on the face and to minimize the appearance of wrinkles. Brand names of fillers include Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm, Radiesse and Cosmoplast among many others. Dermatologists are also the pioneers of energy based treatments for the skin and these include lasers, intense pulsed light, radiofrequency, infrared light and photodynamic treatments. Passages Malibu Acne vulgaris is a skin disease caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units (skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland). Severe acne is inflammatory, but acne can also manifest in noninflammatory forms. Acne lesions are commonly referred to as pimples, spots, or zits. Acne is most common during adolescence, affecting more than 85% of teenagers, and frequently continues into adulthood. For most people, acne diminishes over time and tends to disappear—or at the very least decrease—after one reaches his or her early twenties. There is, however, no way to predict how long it will take to disappear entirely, and some individuals will continue to suffer well into their thirties, forties and beyond. The face and upper neck are the most commonly affected, but the chest, back and shoulders may have acne as well. The upper arms can also have acne, but lesions found there are often keratosis pilaris, not acne. Typical acne lesions are comedones, inflammatory papules, pustules and nodules. Some of the large nodules were previously called "cysts" and the term nodulocystic has been used to describe severe cases of inflammatory acne. Aside from scarring, its main effects are psychological, such as reduced self-esteem[5] and, according to at least one study, depression or suicide. Acne usually appears during adolescence, when people already tend to be most socially insecure. Early and aggressive treatment is therefore advocated by some to lessen the overall impact to individuals.