Top 10 of skin conditions and problems everybody should know

Sunday, 18 April 2021

Disclosure: I am not mediacl doctor. All the information shared in this post comes from reading different scientific articles and my own experience. If you have doubts about what is the best treatment for your skin, consult with your doctor. 

This is the final post dedicated to the skin. In the previous posts, we have seen the skin structure and functions, the different skin types and how to care for each one. In this post, we will see different skin conditions and problems.

As we mentioned in the previous post Different Skin Type, the type of skin one has cannot change during life as it is partially influenced by genetics. However, during a particular time and under certain conditions we can suffer from different skin problems and concerns. Among the conditions that can cause skin problems, we can include weather, environmental pollution, medication, stress, skincare product you are using, and many more.

Most common Skin Problems

It is important to analyse how your skin will be at different moment as that will help you to maintain healthy skin. What can you check to evaluate your skin conditions? Some of the signs of skin you should pay attention to are:

Ageing signs.

Skin changes with the age, most of the time to drier skin. As skin ages, it loses density and elasticity, which cause fine lines and wrinkles.

Skin colour.

As we explained in the first post of this series, the amount of melanin in the epidermis is responsible for the colour of your skin. You should be alert about any change in the colour of your skin and call on a dermatologist.

Sebum and sweat production.

The sebum produced by the skin helps to keep a healthy skin barrier.  The excess of sebum can lead to acne problem while low sebum production makes your skin dry.

Sweat is produced to regulate body temperature. A high or low sweat production can lead to skin conditions.

Natural hydrating factors.

These are molecules, such as amino acids, which help to keep water inside the skin. When the skin barrier is damaged, the skin can lose these natural agents and the skin can look dehydrated.

Most common skin concerns

 There are lots of different skin problems and, as soon as you detect any change in your skin, let’s say colour, texture, feeling, etc., you should get in touch with your doctor.

I am going to mention the most common problems and tell you how to fix them if there is no underlying condition. If in doubt, please consult your doctor.

Dark circles.

Most of the time, dark circles are a consequence of a lack of sleep. Dark circles appearance can be reduced with a cold massage (as with the roller) or with a good eye green.

You can also use some concealer to minimise the dark circles’ aspect.

Dark spots.

This problem is also called hyperpigmentation. The main cause of dark spots is sun damage, but they can also appear after an acne period breakdown. Unfortunately, you cannot eliminate dark spots, at least with at-home treatment. You can use some products such as Alpha hydroxy acids or Alpha arbutin to reduce them a bit but they will never eliminate completely.

An important piece of advice I can give you is that you should avoid the increase or first appearance of the dark spots, for example using good sun protection.

Eye Bags.

They can be due to a lack of sleep or tightness but they also appear when you cry. The best way to eliminate them is to cover the eye bags with a cold patch and leave for some time.

Redness.

This can be due to different reasons. Try to cover the redness with makeup and consult your doctor to know the cause of redness.

Dull Skin.

Skin becomes dull when there is an accumulation of dead cells. This problem is very easy to sort out, just exfoliate your skin with your preferred method.

Large pores.

This is common in people with oily skin and it is not easy to solve this problem. Try to keep your pores clean and finish your face wash your skin using cold water.

Blackheads.

They appear when the pores are clogged with an excess of sebum, dead cells, or even bacteria. They are easy to eliminate by simply cleaning the pores. You can do this using a peel-off mask, facial spatula or steam.

We can keep mentioning skin problems, but the ones I mentioned are the most common and most of us will suffer them at some point in our life. Some of them are very easy to treat, while others are not treatable, such as dark spots or hyperpigmentation. You can avoid this problem, to some extent, keeping clear skin, exfoliating it frequently, and most importantly, always protect your skin from sun radiation, even in winter or if you have dark skin.

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