Proactive Skin Care

The aspects of proactive skin care are cleansing and moisturizing of skin. Both, moisturizing and cleansing are defined on the basis of a persons skin type.

Skin Moisturizers - Overview

The surface of the skin, technically named as stratum corneum, is made up of dead skin cells. This layer consists of the water content varying between 10-30%. The stratum corneum, when is dry, tends to lose its luster and produce what we commonly know as dry skin. In normal circumstances there will be movement of water from the dermis up through the more superficial layers of the skin, the water then in turn will evaporate. Skin that has low water content will dry and fissure, this makes it more prone to both bacterial and fungal infection.

Moisturizers are designed to reduce water loss from the epidermis and are an important element in the proactive skin care. They do not reverse sun damage but they do prevent dryness. They also protect the barrier to soot and dirt and there is a temporary feeling of smoothness when these are used. The skin may swell slightly and cause some loss of fine wrinkles. The pores appear to be smaller because of this swelling. Moisturizing is not required for those with oily skin.

Moisturizers are a combination of occlusive and humectants. There are a number of different skin types that require different proactive skin care.

Skin Moisturizers and Different Skin Types

1. Oily Skin: The moisturizers used for oily skin type should be non-comedogenic or oil-free.
2. Dry Skin: There are few people who have dry skin on their face. These people have dry skin on the cheeks and the jaw line. Most of the people are those who work outside in rough environment, and also are those who are over 50 years of age.
   The reason for the paucity of dry skin on the face is that there is an abundance of sebaceous glands on the face to prevent dryness. These are particularly active in young people, in men, and in many normal women. If a person is scaly in the center of the face central forehead, around the nose, and on the central chin, this may be seborrheic dermatitis. For such skin type creamy moisturizer in a lotion or cream is most effective. The use of a heavy moisturizer in people who have central facial dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis) could lead to acne.
3. Normal - Combination Skin: The forehead, nose, and chin are called the T-zone. Most people have oily skin on the T-zone and dryer skin on the cheeks and neck. When the humidity is low, it may be necessary to moisturize the face. The most prudent of people, male or female, will select a non-comedogenic moisturizer which contains a minimum SPF of 15 in it for daily use. There are legions of such products reasonably priced, which will prevent cancer and photoaging.

Apart from the face to be moisturized it is extremely important that a person takes proactive skin care of the whole body. Because there are very few sebaceous (oil) glands on the arms and legs, moisturizers are very important for the human body. The environmental changes and Winter, dry climates, and windy climates are very hard on the skin of the body. Many body lotions incorporate sun blocks for a daily routine. This is very important for sun-exposed skin.

Often heavy moisturizers such as petrolatum Aquaphor, Cetaphil cream, Neutrogena Norwegian Formula, and other Jar or tube moisturizers are needed for dry climates. It must be noted that what may be appropriate for facial skin may be too thin for the arms, legs, hands, and feet.

Skin Cleansers - Overview

Cleansing helps the skin to maintain a healthy, attractive looking, surface. It removes dust, perspiration, and some of the breakdown products of sebum. They also help remove the makeup. Foreign substances such as dirt mix with the oil of the skin and become embedded. Water is not sufficient to remove this. Soaps help decrease the oil on the surface of the skin removing the dirt at the same time. There are various types of cleaners that help in proactive skin care. To name a few are Bar soaps, Lipid free cleansers, Cleansing creams, Astringents and toners, Abrasive scrubs and Facial masks.

Soaps are the important elements that work as skin cleansers and help in proactive skin care. The Phoenicians who combined goat fat, water, and potassium carbonate ash to form a solid soap first used soaps about 600 BC. In 1878, Harley Proctor and his cousin James Gamble developed a soap. They produced a soap by whipping air into a soap solution, this resulted in Ivory Soap, which is still used today.

Cleansers For Various Skin Types

1. Oily Skin: Many of the soap gels and stronger liquid cleansers are helpful for oily skin. Because the skin on the face, chest, and back is oilier than the rest of the body, it may be necessary to use one product on these areas, and a more moisturizing product on the arms, legs, hands, and feet. Many of the cleansers, which are appropriate for acne-prone skin, would be suitable for oily skin.
2. Dry Skin: The use of hard-milled face soaps and gentle synthetic detergents are very appropriate for dry skin. There are many liquid cleansers formulated by cosmetic houses, which are very useful in proactive skin care.
3. Normal or Combination Skin: Most people can cleanse with bar soap daily. The synthetic detergent soaps react better with hard water. Liquid cleansers and soap gels are popular at this time, the advantages, being cleaner dispensers in the bathroom. People with normal skin enjoy using a loofah-type sponge to clean themselves, these have been sold with some liquid cleansers.
4. Sensitive Skin: People with sensitive skin can react easily to fragrance and preservatives, and should avoid mechanical cleansers such as cleansing grains, brushes, and loofahs.

Apart from the above stated methods of proactive skin care other methods like moisturizers, fragrances, cleansing creams, Astringents and toners and Facial masks are used.

Moisturizers counteract the drying effect of soaps. The loss of the protective oil layer increases the chances of irritation. This can be counteracted by the use of moisturizing products such as glycerin, vegetable fats, or lanolin. Transparent soaps have high glycerin content and this tends to absorb water out of the skin, and in turn cause more irritation.

Fragrances are used to conceal the odors of the raw ingredients of soaps. A small residue of these substances remains on the skin, which at times inhibit bacteria.

Cleansing creams are used to both wash the skin and to moisturize it, they contain a mixture of mineral oil, petroleum, water, and some waxes. These are known also as cold creams, they are applied to the skin and washed off.

Astringents and toners are perfumed or fragranced alcohol-based solutions designed to remove oil from the skin. Astringents are available for oily, normal, and dry skin. The high concentration of alcohol certainly removes sebum especially in those with oily skin for example, individuals with acne.

Facial masks are applied to the skin in a thick layer and are left on for 15-30 minutes, they are otherwise known as facials. It is said that these will produce skin tightening as well as deep cleaning of the hair follicles and pores. They will leave the skin feeling moisturized, there is a general feeling of well being for some time after this is done, although it is not possible to fundamentally change the skin long term with these products.

Excessive cleansing with a mask can certainly cause irritation and occasionally there may be a secondary infection. Once these masks are removed, moisturizer should be applied to the skin to minimize the superficial peeling that follows.

Apart from the various external factors that have been stated above, one of the most important factors in proactive skin care is a well balanced diet and mental well being of a person. A balanced diet along with appropriate intake of water and salts help in a good, glowing and healthy skin.