Healthy skin should be everyone's concern. The skin is not only the largest organ in the body, it protects the body from harmful invading bacteria. Examine the skin on your body every week to see if any skin changes have taken place. Healthy skin is beautiful skin, so pay attention to your skin if it looks as if you have a skin health problem and see a dermatologist if a skin problem looks serious.
Dry Skin
Dry skin can be caused by dehydration or an inadequate supply of sebum. The skin may feel rough to the touch, and it may feel tight and appear as if it is flaking off if it is dry. Dry skin may feel itchy, too. Dry skin in the elderly can especially be a problem as the skin thins out with the aging process, leaving an elderly person vulnerable to infection should she scratch her skin and break the skin open. Sleep can be disrupted due to dry and itchy skin. Assess whether or not diabetes or kidney disease is an underlying cause of dry skin.
Oily Skin
Oily skin occurs when the body makes too much oil, or sebum. People with oily skin will find that their skin is thicker. Pores may enlarge and act as reservoirs for debris. Pimples may also be a problem, along with blackheads and whiteheads. In severe cases, acne may erupt and bring with it painful cysts and lumps that may leave scars.
Rosacea
Rosacea is a skin health problem that causes redness, blood vessel enlargement, inflamed bumps, and in men, sometimes, a red and bulbous nose. Rosacea is difficult to treat and is believed to be caused by a parasite called the human demodex. Foods that aggravate rosacea include tomatoes, chocolate, hot beverages, fruits in the citrus family and alcohol, such as red wine.
Skin Cancer
Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma are the three types of skin cancer that are most common. Basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas are small and can appear flat or lumpy. If the carcinoma is flat and shiny, it may look light in color. Lumps may feel firm and look red. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma lumps may also bleed. These two types of skin cancer grow at a slow rate and rarely spread to other areas, although squamous cell carcinoma is more apt to spread than basil cell carcinoma. A melanoma type skin cancer usually appears as an asymmetrical lump or dark spot on the skin and its borders are not identical. Melanoma lesions that rise up rapidly, bleed or ooze are signs that the skin cancer has progressed. Time is of the essence in this situation, and a doctor should immediately treat the melanoma at this point. Skin cancer is often caused by overexposure to the sun's harmful rays.
References
- National Institute on Aging: Skin Care and Aging
- Healthy Woman: Skin, the Largest Organ of the Body
- Womens Health: Acne Frequently Asked Questions
- "Milady's Standard Textbook for Professional Estheticians"; Joel Gerson; 1999
- "Linda Page's Healthy Healing, All New Eleventh Edition"; Linda Page; 2001
