Author: S1m0nDuff1l1

Description:

Excess hair refers to unwanted body and facial hair. We all have hair on almost every part of our bodies, but some people have more than others. This can be embarrassing, distressing and difficult to manage, for both men and women. Excess hair may be caused by increased production of a group of hormones called androgens. They are produced by both men and women - men just have more of them. These chemicals play a role in the development of male traits including male-pattern hair growth and loss.

In women, excess hair is often referred to as hirsutism, which is often thicker and coarser than normal. The hair may develop in areas where you'd typically expect to see it on men, such as the upper lip, chin, chest, tummy, lower back, bottom and thighs.

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In pre-menopausal women, a common cause of hirsutism is polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition which causes irregular periods and cysts on the ovaries.

Other possible causes for hirsutism can include hormonal conditions, side-effect of certain medications, obesity, and even simply getting older can lead to more hair to pluck, especially after the menopause. However, sometimes excess hair growth has no identifiable cause; this tends to be more common in skin types from a Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and South Asian background. It can also be hereditary.

If you suspect that your hair growth is abnormal, it is best to consult your doctor as it may be a symptom of another problem.

Description:

Acne scarring can sometimes develop as a complication of acne. Any type of acne spot can lead to scarring, but it's more common when the most serious types of spots (nodules and cysts) burst and damage nearby skin. Some people are left with pigmentation (darker or lighter patches of skin) after their blemishes have healed, and some may be left with pitted facial scarring, where the skin appears uneven and dimpled.

Inflamed blemishes or acne such as cysts, papules and pustules can result in pitted acne scarring. This is because the cysts form on the bottom layers of the skin and when the cyst has healed it leaves behind a gap between the skin’s layers. The upper layers of skin above ‘sink’ to fill the gap, causing a pitted, dimpled appearance.

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Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or dark marks (also known as macular scars) left behind after acne has healed are caused by a build-up of melanin in the skin. They aren’t strictly ‘scars’ as they aren’t usually permanent, however, they may take months or even years to disappear altogether without treatment.

People with dark skin tones are more susceptible to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Scarring can also occur if you pick or squeeze your spots, so it's important not to do this.

There are 3 main types of acne scars:

Ice pick scars – small, deep holes in the surface of your skin that look like the skin has been punctured with a sharp object.

Rolling scars – caused by bands of scar tissue that form under the skin, giving the surface of the skin a rolling and uneven appearance.

Box scars – round or oval depressions, or craters, in the skin.

Description:

The term ‘dull skin’ or ‘lacklustre skin’ usually refers to tired-looking which has lost its natural glow. Lips can sometimes appear too thin, unbalanced or have lines and wrinkles. While some people may have naturally thin lips, they can also be a sign of ageing, sun exposure or a result from smoking. As you get older the collagen in your lips breaks down and the muscles tire, leaving your lips looking and feeling thinner.

Dark circles and puffy eye bags, are often hereditary conditions caused by loss of fat volume under the eye.  In certain ethnic groups the dark circles are caused by ethnic pigmentation. Lines are caused by laughing, concentrating, squinting or frowning; whenever your face muscles contract.

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After years of frequent contractions, combined with environmental and lifestyle factors - such as exposure to sunshine, smoking or pollution - lines, wrinkles, dark circles and bags begin to form around your eyes, leaving them looking tired.

Dark circles - A dark, almost bruise-like crescent underneath each eye.

Puffiness - Swollen, fluidy skin underneath and above the eye area.

Fine lines and wrinkles - Crepey skin on the eyelids and under the eyes.

Sagging skin - Droopy skin which may pull the eyelid downwards, making the eyes look sleepy.

Description:

The term ‘dull skin’ or ‘lacklustre skin’ usually refers to tired-looking which has lost its natural glow.

Dehydrated skin is sometimes discussed synonymously with dry skin. However, these are two different phenomena.

Dehydrated skin means that your skin is lacking water. It can be dry and itchy and perhaps dull looking, too. Your overall tone and complexion may appear uneven, and fine lines are more noticeable.

While dehydrated skin can be a nuisance, it’s relatively easy to treat with the right lifestyle changes. Treatment begins from the inside out to replenish and maintain hydration throughout your body.

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Dehydrated skin can appear dry, but it's not the same as having a dry skin type. While dehydrated skin lacks water, dry skin lacks natural oils (sebum). Also, dry skin is a skin type, while dehydration is considered a condition. Skin types are classified as normal, dry, combination, and oily. You’re usually born with one type of skin, but it may change with age and season.

When you have dry skin, your sebaceous glands don’t produce enough natural oils. Your skin usually needs help with added hydration via emollient creams to protect from further moisture loss. At its definition, dehydration means that your body is losing more water than it’s taking in. Aside from not drinking enough water, this can be related to increased urination from caffeine or diuretics. It may also occur from lots of sweating from exercise. And even from incorrect use of cosmetic products.

Unlike dry skin, dehydration can cause the following symptoms:

• Itchiness
• Dullness
• Darker under-eye circles
• Sunken eyes
• “Shadows” around the face (especially under the eyes and around your nose)
• Increased incidence or appearance of fine lines and surface wrinkles.

Description:

Collagen depletion is one of the main factors which contributes to the appearance of ageing, including skin laxity, lines and wrinkles.

Collagen is an extra cellular fibre which resides within the dermis, offering tensile strength, structure and elasticity to the skin. From age 25-30 collagen begins to deplete, which is the time we start to notice changes in the skin, including the development of fine lines and enlarged pores. As the body ages and with contribution from environmental pollutants and sun damage, collagen depletion is accelerated.

From age 40, the body ceases to produce collagen, which is when we often notice a reduction in skin’s volume and elasticity. Gravitational changes occur, as there is the loss of the skins support and structure.

Description:

Your skin contains a pigment called melanin, which determines the colour of your skin, hair and eyes. People with darker skin types tend to have more melanin in their skin cells than those with lighter skin – but imbalances and disorders of the skin can lead to inconsistent colouration, patterning and ‘blotches’.

When skin cells are healthy, your skin will appear normal and even. However, when skin cells become damaged or unhealthy, extra melanin is produced to help protect your skin. Alternatively, the cells that produce pigment can be damaged, which prevents melanin production. As a result, parts of your skin may turn lighter (hypopigmentation) or darker (hyperpigmentation), both of which are recognisable skin conditions.

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Pigmentation, or hyperpigmentation as it is also known, can occur for a variety of reasons. The effects can also become more obvious as we age, and if left untreated and unprotected can worsen.

Common causes of hyperpigmentation are over-exposure to the sun, genetics, hormonal changes, medical conditions and trauma to the skin (such as burns or as a result of spots and picking).

The face, chest, and hands are the parts of our body which are most exposed to the sun, they are more prone to pigmentation. There are many different types of hyperpigmentation:

Melasma

A chronic skin condition which causes brown patches to appear on the face. It is more prevalent in women and those with darker skin types. It is believed to be linked to sun exposure and hormonal changes such as pregnancy.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation

This is darkening of the skin caused by inflammation (e.g acne, eczema, psoriasis) or trauma to the skin (e.g burns, aesthetic procedures such as laser, chemical peels).

Freckles

Freckles appear as multiple, small, brown flecks on the skin, often present from a young age.  Common in lighter skin types

Lentigo/lentigines (age spots)

These are very common over the age of 40; presenting as flat, brown, well-defined patches on areas of sun-exposed skin, such as the hands, face and chest.

Description:

Although ageing skin is a natural part of life, premature aging doesn’t have to be. How your skin ages will depend on several things. Genetics, skin type, gravity, daily facial movement, and even sleep position. However the biggest impact comes from our lifestyle choices, diet, cosmetics, sun exposure, and free radical damage.

Environmental factors, primarily sun damage and the use of inappropriate skin products, are responsible for up to 80% of premature skin aging and unhealthy skin. This is known as Photo ageing.

Natural, genetic ageing (also known as chronological ageing) makes up to ±20% of ageing.

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When we ages chronic exposure to the sun as well as the use of chemical irritants on the skin, e.g. soap and perfume, give rise to specific changes in the skin. These are:

• Rough texture
• Small capillary blood vessels
• Uneven pigmentation
• Lines and wrinkles
• Dryness/oiliness
• Thinning and transparency
• Skin becomes more easily bruised.

Description:

Vascular conditions causing redness are also referred to as Thread veins, Telangiectasia, Angiomas and spider angiomas, Poikiloderma of Civatte, Spider veins, or broken veins. They are small veins that classically appear on the face, chest, thighs or calves. They are completely harmless, but can affect a person’s self-confidence. They are very common in both men and women.

They are very small blood vessels in the dermis which have become visible, and can range from red to purple to blue. They can affect people of any age, but are more common in those who are older.

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Vascular conditions like these are generally genetic and there is a strong chance if your family suffer with broken veins then so will you. However, trauma to an area can also cause them.

They can also be caused by a range of things that are not genetic, such as smoking, alcohol, stress, environmental damage and chemical influences such as incorrect product and treatment applications.

Most Vascular conditions can be treated using laser and IPL. The. Where the light is absorbed by the red blood cells in the vessels which causes the cells to become sticky (coagulated) and then causes the vessels to collapse and shrink. These collapsed vessels are then absorbed by the body in the following weeks.

If you are experiencing redness, but also other symptoms, such as spots, visible blood vessels and dry and thickened skin, you could be suffering from a skin condition called Rosacea. Please refer to the rosacea page for more information.

Facial flushing can also be attributed to an impaired barrier function meaning irritants can penetrate the skin and moisture can escape which is where home care products are also essential to help the skin repair its protective barrier.

Nimue’s Interactive Range includes products suitable for skins that manifest temporary sensitisation due to ill health, medication, skin resurfacing procedures generally stressed skin and skin with severe environmental damage due to pollution and effects of global warming. The primary focus of the Interactive Range is for skins that manifest typical symptoms of hypersensitive or sensitised skin.

Description:

Problematic skin, also classified as acne, presents in varying degrees and symptoms. It affects people of all races and ethnic groups.

Acne is characterised by comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) and pus-filled spots (pustules). It usually starts at puberty and varies in severity from a few spots on the face, neck, back and chest, which most adolescents will have at some time, to a more significant problem that may cause scarring and impact on self-confidence. For the majority, it tends to resolve by the late teens or early twenties, but it can persist for longer in some people.

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Developments of Acne

1. Hormonal fluctuations – triggered by puberty, pregnancy, stress, medications, lifestyle and incorrect use of products leads to an increase of a hormone known as DHT which some people are sensitive to.
2. Barrier Impairment – this sensitivity causes a reaction which affects the natural protective barrier of the skin, known as the Acid Mantel.
3. Sebaceous glands – in a bid to protect itself the skin begin s to go into overdrive to correct this impairment. Increasing the activity of the sebaceous gland. With high levels of oil production sebum develops a thicker consistency.
4. Skin cells – additionally the natural cell turnover starts to accelerate which leads an abnormal build-up of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin due to reduced shedding. Which mixed with the excess oil, causes blockages in the pores. Hair follicle - Hair is absent or weak therefore unable to act as a wick to assist in the removal of the blockage.
5. Bacteria – P –Acne (known as Propionibacterium acnes) lives on everyone’s skin, usually causing no problems. However, as a result of the surface blockage, it provides a favourable environment for P-Acne to breed and multiply. Inflammation – now that the follicle has an excess of sebum, dead cells and bacteria causing an irritation within the skin the natural healing process begins. This is the development of the acne characteristics.

There is no permanent cure for acne, but the symptoms and side effects can be controlled so your skin can be clear and spot free by effectively clearing the dead skin, controlling the oil and killing the P. Acnes bacteria.

Cysts - Painful, filled with pus and can cause you scars, and require professional medical treatment.

Whiteheads - Covered by a thin layer of your skin, appear as white bumps or spots.

Blackheads - Rise to your skin surface and appear as a dark bump (this is not due to dirt).

Pustules - May appear white or yellow on top and red at the bottom, generally pus-filled. Popping your pustules can lead to acne scarring.