The skin you live in
There is so much hype about lotions for your skin, it is hard to know what is actually true. Our skin is a dynamic organ, consisting of a few layers. In this article, I will focus on the outermost layer, the epidermis and ways of improving your skin health with some key ingredients.
The epidermis contains skin cells that protect us from the environment, keeping water and nutrients in, and also pollution and infection out. The predominant skin cells in the epidermis are called keratinocytes, and they rise from the base layer to the top over a period of around 28 days. This does slow down considerably as we age. As the keratinocytes travel up from the base layer, they carry with them melanin (otherwise known as tan), waste products, water and other important growth factors.
An interesting fact about the epidermis is that there are no blood vessels located here at all. This means that nutrients needed by the keratinocytes, can only reach this area by being carried up from the deeper skin layers below. This relies on great hydration and a fantastic circulatory system within your body to carry nutrients. Not only this but our skin needs support from an incredible diet able to deliver spare nutrients to this outermost layer.
As we get older, our hydration levels and circulatory system can be less efficient than in youth, compromising our skin health. This can show up as dry and dehydrated skin, fine lines and wrinkles, breakouts and other skin health changes. To really assist in our skin health, good quality skincare is essential to help deliver key ingredients right where they are needed, through absorption.
There are so many skincare brands and differing ingredients available. As a dermal therapist, I believe that the first step is to determine your skin type and also diagnose any underlying conditions. Without this information, you are really just guessing at what might work for you. At Dermal Distinction, I use an avant-garde imaging system to analyze and photograph your skin. This is important to track changes to ensure your skincare and treatments are having a positive effect.
Most people will benefit from using a Vitamin C serum in the morning, providing the skin with the building block for collagen production, and it is also a great antioxidant. Sunscreen is so important to block harmful UVA and UVB rays, from causing melanin production and also from degrading your collagen. Moisturizer helps to seal the skin, and most incorporate great ingredients like resveratrol, which is a potent anti-ageing ingredient. Retinol or Vitamin A are best used at night, and this helps to regulate the skin cycle by gently dislodging the dead skin cells on the surface. To find out your skin type and what ingredients will benefit you most, I recommend that you find a dermal therapist to analyze your skin health.
