Dermatology Toronto - Your Skin Type And How To Care For It.

Your Skin Type And How To Care For It

Skin Type: Dry

Characteristics - skin feels tight, especially after washing; may be flaky, rough; fine wrinkles or red patches are common

Care - when cleansing, skip the hot water and use a non-soap cleanser; apply oil-based cream or ointment immediately after cleansing; avoid products that contain alcohol

Special Considerations - see a doctor if your skin is red and weepy you may have an infection


Skin Type: Oily

Characteristics - skin is shiny; pores are larger; tendency for blemishes or acne

Care - clean with a mild cleanser; exfoliate; use a toner that doesn't contain alcohol; select a water-based moisturizer

Special Considerations - yes, you're more likely to have acne, however, your skin will be more youthful looking as you age


Skin Type: Combination

Characteristics - moist; healthy coloring; medium-size pores; may have some oil on forehead, nose and chin

Care - clean with a mild cleanser; use an alcohol-free toner on oily skin and moisturizer on dry areas

Special Considerations - his skin type is the most common, which is why it's often called "normal" skin


Skin Type: Sensitive

Characteristics - thin; delicate; prone to flushing; easily irritated by sun, cosmetics; prone to rashes

Care - keep skin clean using mild cleansers but don't scrub roughly; limit the number of products used on your face at one time; always test products on a small area of skin before use; steer clear of products that contain benzoyl peroxide, propylene glycol or salicylic acid

Special Considerations - sensitive skin isn't as effective a barrier from external substances, so you'll need to be more vigilant in avoiding exposure to the sun and chemicals


Skin Type: Aging/Sun-Damaged

Characteristics - tight; wrinkles; dry; slack tone; leathery; broken capillaries

Care - keeping dry, aging skin moist is important; wash gently with warm water and mild cleansers' then slather on moisturizers immediately while your skin is still wet

Special Considerations - reduced number of oil and sweat glands, loss of elasticity and thinning of the skin make it more vulnerable to skin diseases; wounds heal more slowly and are prone to infection; the elderly bruise more easily


Is your skin telling you something about your health?

Pay attention to what your skin says about your overall health. Although most of the following symptoms are not serious, in some instances they are signals that it's time to seek medical advice.

Jaundiced (yellow) skin or eyes - liver disease, cancer

Extreme itching and skin color changes - diseases of the kidney or liver

Yellowish spots on the eyelid - high cholesterol

One (not two) nipple has cracked skin or bleeds - fungal infections, eczema, breast cancer

Thick, leathery skin, normally on the hands and neck - diabetes

Very dry skin and brittle hair - thyroid disorders

Patches of discolored skin, normally on the abdomen, chest and/or face - vitiligo, often associated with diabetes

Dry, itchy skin with cracks, brown, scaly patches on legs, loss of hair on legs, numbness, ulcers on legs or feet - nerve damage and poor circulation often go hand in hand with diabetes

Pale, brittle toenails and fingernails, spoon-like dent on toenails - anemia


Dermatologists' own skin secrets

- Apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp from bathing to lock in moisture.
- Use moisturizer before applying your makeup foundation. Then lightly pat more moisturizer on top.
- Puffy eyes? Dark Circles? Apply used, refrigerated coffee pods (individual servings in what look like tea bags) to your eyes for about 10 minutes. The caffeine and cold reduce swelling. Eye moisturizer with vitamin K can help reduce the visibility of blood vessels under your eyes.
- Always wash your face before you go to bed to prevent makeup, moisturizers and oils from seeping into your pores.
- Don't shave the minute you pop out of bed, gentlemen. Wait about half an hour to let your facial muscles firm up, which helps the hairs move upright. Then shave with the directing of your beard to reduce ingrown hairs.
- Your skin reacts to changes in the seasons, so don't use the same products all year.