Why does your skin always act up?

The skin is the largest organ in the human body. From the outside to the inside, the epidermis is divided into the stratum corneum, the clear layer, the granular layer, the spinous layer and the basal layer. Further in is the dermis. Looking at the whole body, not all epidermis has a five-layer structure. The skin in some areas is thinner and has only three or four layers. Everyone's skin is basically the same in structure, but why does some people's skin always like to "throw a tantrum"?

Professor Yang Rongya, an expert in the National Health Science Popularization Expert Database and director of the Department of Dermatology at the Seventh Medical Center of the General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, recently visited the "Health Talk" live broadcast room and introduced how to deal with skin problems.

Don't over-care for your skin

For normal people, some common skin problems such as sun dermatitis or skin problems caused by dryness and dehydration are often transient and can be quickly relieved through scientific skin care and maintenance. There is no need to worry too much.

There are other skin problems, including allergies, red blood streaks, rashes, keratinization, scaling, dry itching, etc., which are mainly caused by the skin barrier's inability to tolerate external stimuli. We collectively refer to these problems as "sensitive skin syndrome."

From a medical point of view, sensitive skin syndrome refers to the phenomenon that after the skin is exposed to certain stimuli (stimuli that exceed its tolerance), it will show obvious symptoms such as stinging, itching, burning, redness, etc., but these symptoms cannot be explained by other skin diseases.

In the case of sensitive skin syndrome, some people also experience mood swings, such as seasonal anxiety (worrying that the skin condition will deteriorate in a certain season). This anxiety can cause people to over-care for their skin or even use medication blindly, further aggravating skin irritation and damage, gradually leading to a vicious cycle.

Once the skin is damaged for too long, the skin barrier function will be severely damaged. The skin will gradually enter a highly sensitive state. At this time, the skin may not even be able to withstand the stimulation of ordinary skin care products. Some people even feel burning no matter what skin care products are applied on their face.

Key point: The skin is very "delicate", don't "provoke" it too much, otherwise it will "throw a tantrum".

Skin barrier is damaged, moisturizing and maintenance are very important

When the skin barrier function is damaged, it is easy to cause skin sensitivity, dryness, desquamation, itching and other symptoms. At this time, moisturizing and caring for the skin is an important countermeasure. So, how to carry out scientific skin moisturizing and care?

First of all, it is recommended that you consult a dermatologist and undergo a professional skin analysis to determine the main skin problem.

Secondly, treat the main problem in a targeted manner. If it is excessive oil secretion, you can adjust the water and oil balance first; if it is clogged pores, you can perform pore cleaning treatment; if it is lack of water, you must perform necessary hydration treatment, or you can use hydrating spray at home.

When the skin barrier function is damaged, washing your face is also very important. Do not use water that is too hot or too cold. It is best to use warm water at 32℃ to 34℃ to wash your face.

In addition, it is recommended that you do not use a towel to rub your face directly, because the skin has been damaged and is very "delicate". Rubbing it further will cause further damage to the skin barrier function.

Key point: When the skin barrier is damaged, washing your face becomes a technical job.

Skin health problems, these practices are not advisable

× If you have allergic itching, scratch it.

Spring is here, and it seems that more people are suffering from skin allergies. When the skin is allergic or sensitive, the main symptom is itchy skin. When it itches, avoid scratching it at will to avoid dermatitis.

In fact, when the human body has skin allergies, as long as the allergens are identified, the causes are corrected, and scientific and gentle treatment is carried out, the allergic phenomenon can be gradually alleviated. Some patients with severe allergies need to take anti-allergic drugs under the guidance of a doctor and use some topical drugs appropriately.

× If your skin is dehydrated, drink more water.

When the skin is dry, some people choose to drink a lot of water, thinking that this can replenish moisture to the skin, but this is not the case.

Skin hydration requires both internal and external care. Drinking water in moderation to meet the body's physiological needs is of course necessary, but we should also pay attention to the humidity of the surrounding air. If the humidity is not enough (for example, using a heater or infrared oven in the room in winter), a humidifier should be used.

× If you have dry skin, take more hot baths.

Some elderly people particularly like to take hot baths, even scalding baths, and feel very comfortable. However, after taking a hot bath, the skin will be more prone to dryness and itching. Because the excessive stimulation of hot water will damage the skin barrier, reduce oil secretion, aggravate dryness symptoms, and make the itching more obvious.

It should be noted that if the skin is dry and itchy, it is recommended to undergo anti-itch treatment under the guidance of a doctor and use oral medication if necessary.

Bottom line: Restoring skin health should never be taken for granted.

Popular skin problems that everyone is concerned about

How to tell if you have dry, oily or combination skin?

A: The easiest way is to buy a skin property test strip and do a self-test. The best way is to go to the dermatology department of a hospital for professional examination and testing. Knowing the skin property can help with scientific skin care. For example, dry skin needs moisturizing, and oily skin needs oil control.

Why is oily skin prone to acne?

A: Oily skin with large pores is usually oily skin. Over time, seborrheic dermatitis is prone to occur on oily skin, causing erythema on the skin. At the same time, common parasitic microorganisms on the skin surface, such as Propionibacterium, Malassezia furfur, and mites, tend to over-proliferate in an oily environment, leading to skin inflammation.

What to do about enlarged pores?

A: Enlarged pores are mainly caused by oil plugs stuck in the pores and unable to be excreted. At this time, in addition to deep cleansing, adding fruit acid treatment (dissolving some oil) can generally achieve a certain effect of shrinking pores.

In addition, using oil-control facial cleansers and oil-control moisturizers, adjusting the diet structure (less oil, less spicy food), and drinking enough water can also help solve the problem of enlarged pores. Of course, you can also solve the problem of enlarged pores through skin laser treatment.

Is it better to start anti-aging as early as possible?

A: Not necessarily. As we age, no one can resist aging. People can only take some healthy skin care measures to delay aging.

For aging that has already occurred, some "fine-tuning" can be done through certain acquired anti-aging medical cosmetic methods, but these treatments must be performed in regular medical institutions.

How to hydrate dry skin?

A: For dry skin in winter and spring, moisturizing is the most important treatment measure, especially using moisturizers containing moisturizing factors.

Do skin care products also need to change with seasons?

A: Yes. For example, in winter, when the weather is cold and the air is dry, you can choose skin care products with good hydration and moisturizing effects to keep the skin moisturized and avoid dryness and itching. In summer, the skin sweats a lot and easily breeds bacteria, so you need products with good cleaning effects. You can also use a relatively refreshing shower gel every now and then.

There are many skin medical beauty institutions and projects on the market. How can we choose to avoid "pitfalls"?

A: At present, many people who seek beauty are very blind in seeking medical treatment and like to pursue trendy and popular medical beauty products. In fact, the more medical beauty projects you do, the better. The skin has a limited tolerance and cannot be over-"cared for".

Everyone must first clarify their skin needs and go to a regular medical institution for treatment. In addition, when seeing a doctor, everyone can also learn more about whether the doctor has medical qualifications and his medical experience.