HEALTHNET

Skin care in winter

Ah wing is a "typical guy" and pays very little attention to personal grooming and skincare. Despite the cold and fry weather, he is too lazy and cannot be bothered to use any skincare products. As a result, his skin is dry and rough and his lips are sometimes so chapped that they bleed.

Unable to turn a blind eye to Ah Wing's sorry state, his resourceful girlfriend bought him a bottle of facial moisturizer from the drug store that claims to deliver multiple beneficial pack of "foot mask" which she saw in magazine advertisements. Ah Wing obediently followed his girlfriend's instructions and they both expected at least some improvement to Ah Wing's sorry state. To their utter surprise and disappointment, Ah Wing's skin problems actually got worse with the pampering! His face became red and swollen and his feet became itchy and burning. The problems got out of hand and Ah Wing made an urgent appointment to see a dermatologist.

 

• Dry skin if not managed well may progress to eczema
• Addictive - free skincare products make the wise choice for the sensitive skin people
• The elderly should exercise extra care for their oil-deprived skin
• What to Eat for Wrinkle-Free Skin
• Replenish water proportionally for plump and healthy skin
• Elders and children should be cautious using foot pack to remove dead skin

Source: Dr. Kingsley Chan, Specialist in Dematology; Elaine Hsieh, Registered Dietitian

Dry skin if not managed well may progress to eczema

The sebaceous glands in the skin secrete less sebum when the humidity is low. Therefore, the skin is usually more dehydrated during the dry and cold winter. If the skin's dryness is not managed well, it may turn into eczema. Eczema is characterized by one or more of the following symptoms: Redness, dryness, flaking, coarseness and itchy rashes. In severe cases, infector may develop and patients may complain of discharge over the skin surface and pustules may occur.

Treatment of eczema is not difficult. In mild cases, patients should apply emollient on the affected area regularly. Steroid cream and oral antihistamines may be prescribed in severe steroids somewhat "dangerous". On the contrary, steroids, when used according to medical instructions, are very safe and effective medication for eczema and steroids can be safely administered to newborn baby or pregnant women. When applying steroids, remember to apply just a thin layer and strictly follow the doctor's instructions. Once the eczema has been treated, you should stop applying the steroid cream. Early treatment is another key to successful eczema treatment. Don't simply ignore the problem when a small rash starts to appear as eczema can easily deteriorate when the patient scratches the affected area.

 

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Addictive - free skincare products make the wise choice for the sensitive skin people

Skincare products should not be limited just to women. Men should also take good care of their skin through using appropriate skincare products. When selecting a moisturizer, people with eczema should choose a moisturizer that contains no added fragrance or artificial coloring, as these additives may cause skin allergy and aggravate the eczema. Moisturizers of different textures should also be used for different parts of the body in order to achieve the best hydrating effect. Lotions and creams are most suitable for the face and thicker ointments are best for exposed areas such as the hands and feet.

Moisturizers with anti-wrinkle and whitening effects should be used with caution in patients with eczema. This is because the anti-wrinkle and whitening ingredients may cause skin allergy and may cause more harm than good to the patients. When selecting a new product, you should always do a "patch test" by applying a small amount of the product onto the neck or the wrist to test for possible allergic response.

The lips is an area that is often overlooked. Lips are easily affected by the dry winter weather. Lip balm is therefore absolutely necessary and a lip balm with SPF would be even better as it would protect the lips from harmful UV rays.

Although it is tempting to take a hot shower in the cold chilly winter, overlying hot water will dehydrate the skin and worsen eczema. Patients with eczema should choose mild soaps or cleansers that are mild (one that does not leave the skin feeling tight and stretched) and fragrance free to avoid allergic reaction. Also remember to apply moisturizer to the skin after cleansing as moisturizers are more easily absorbed when the skin is still slightly damp. When applying moisturizer, it is far more effective to apply a thin layer of moisturizer repeatedly than to apply a thick layer once, as a thick layer of cream may clog the pores and lead to other skin problems, such as acne or folliculitus (inflammation of the skin follicles).

 

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The elderly should exercise extra care for their oil-deprived skin

As we age, the skin secretes less sebum and therefore the elderly should apply emollients more frequently in order to keep their skin moisturized. Further, while elderly people often enjoy long hot baths, soaking in hot water will damage the skin's natural protective layer and may make the skin itchy and more sensitive.

 

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What to Eat for Wrinkle-Free Skin

The dry weather of autumn and winter can cause wrinkles. The skin and other parts of the body produce collagen, a type of protein that provides our skin with strength, smoothness and elasticity. As we age collagen production declines and weakening of the skin occurs, this is when skin wrinkles. In addition, unhealthy lifestyle habits such as smoking, alcoholism sleep deprivation and frequent consumption of deep-fried foods can increase the amount of collagen-destructive free radicals in our body, further accelerating the skin aging process.

Antioxidants can slow down the loss of collagen by fighting off free radicals. Natural food sources of antioxidants include:

Although foods such as chicken skin, chicken feet and pork feet are rich sources of collagen, they are high in animal fats which can raise our blood cholesterol levels. Fish maw, snow fungus and swallow's nest, on the other hand, are better dietary options of collagen. To strengthen the body's ability to manufacture collagen and to utilize the protein effectively, a sufficient amount of vitamin C from the food sources mentioned above is also very important.

 

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Replenish water proportionally for plump and healthy skin

Skin that is oily doesn't necessarily be sufficiently moisturized. When your body is dehydrated it simulates the sebaceous gland to secrete more oil in order to prevent further water loss. Besides inadequate water intake, frequent consumption of dehydrating beverages such as coffee and milk tea is also one of the main causes of dehydration. Each cup of caffeine-rich beverage depletes half a cup of water in the body. Apart from using the general rule of having 8 glasses of water each day, try plumping up your skin by drinking 30 to 35 ml of water for each kilogram of body weight.

Besides, sufficient intake of 'essential fatty acids' also plays a role in maintaining healthy skin. These so-called omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids balance sebum secretion. The former can be found in deep-water fish such as tuna, sardines and mackerel, and flaxseeds; while the latter is present in plant oils such as grapeseed oil, safflower oil and sunflower oil, and in nuts and seeds such as walnuts, almonds and sunflower seeds. Bear in mind that the soybean oil and corn oil that are excessively used in restaurants are themselves high in omega 6 fatty acids. Frequent consumption of restaurant foods can therefore lead to an imbalance intake of these essential fatty acids. Hence, staying away from high-fat restaurant foods while consuming more omega-3 rich foods is as important in maintaining delicate healthy skin.

 

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Elders and children should be cautious using foot pack to remove dead skin

Scales that occur over the feet in winter is usually caused by dryness. Frequent application of emollient can enhance the moisturizing effect. Do not soak your feet in hot water as this will destroy the protective barrier of your feet and make the situation even worse.

Recently, a new type of skin care product called 'feet pack' has become the talk of the town. Most of them remove dead skin and calluses using salicylic acid. Children, elders or diabetic patients should be cautious about using these products. This is particularly important for diabetic patients who have delay in wound healing. A tiny injury can result in severe consequence. Further, one should follow the instructions on the package when using such products. If any unusual reaction occurs, stop using it immediately and consult your physician.

 

Source: Dr. Kingsley Chan, Specialist in Dematology; Elaine Hsieh, Registered Dietitian

 

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