| ACNE SCARS
Acne scars are the result of pimples that have become inflamed or haven't healed properly. While some women are more prone to scarring because of heredity or skin color, there are precautions you can take to prevent scars and treatments available to significantly reduce their appearance. There are two types of acne scars: pigmented scars, and ice pick scars.
ACNE
Most people develop acne during adolescence. It is most prevalent in those aged 16 to 18 years. Acne usually becomes less of a problem after the age of 25 years, although about 15% of women and 5% of men continue to have acne as adults. Diet has little effect. Acne may cycle with the menses, and it may improve or worsen during pregnancy. Although cosmetics rarely aggravate acne, the traditional advice to avoid greasy preparations seems prudent.
AGEING SKIN
As the body ages, the appearance and characteristics of the skin alter. Ageing is accelerated in those areas exposed to sunlight (ultraviolet radiation), a process known as photoaging. This is particularly apparent on the face, and occurs at an early age in fair skinned people who have spent much time outdoors.
BIRTHMARKS
There are two categories of vascular birthmarks. These are hemangiomas, which are the most common tumor of infancy, and vascular malformations. These two categories, while related, are very different. It is very important to know the difference because the treatment is different depending on the lesion type.
BROKEN CAPILLARIES
Broken veins of the face and vascular birth marks can be unsightly and difficult to conceal. Traditional treatment using diathermy or thermolysis systems have been superceded by less painful, safer and more effective light and laser therapies.
BROWN SPOTS
Commonly known as age spots or liver spots, the correct term for a single lesion is benign solar lentigo (plural lentigines). Lentigines are due to accumulated pigment cells (melanocytic hyperplasia) and don't disappear in the winter (though they may fade). It is important to distinguish the benign solar lentigo from an early malignant melanoma the lentigo maligna. If the freckle has arisen recently, is made up of more than one colour or has irregular borders, see your dermatologist for advice.
CHEEKS
High, prominent and chiseled cheekbones are one of the facial features most frequently associated with beauty. But most of us are not born with them, or even worse, we loose a lot of our high cheeks as we age. There are a few procedrues that can quickly and permanently give you the high cheeck bones you have always wanted.
CHIN
Strong chin has been an essential ingredient of classic beauty. When the chin is undersized, it undermines the entire face. The nose may look larger. An overbite appears much more pronounced. A double chin may result because the chin is too short. Small chins may even project an image of weakness.
DARK CIRCLES
Many factors contribute to the appearance of dark circles under the eyes. These include; food allergies, particularly dairy products, kidney disorders, cardiovascular insufficiencies, toxicity and aging. Aging factors relate to genetic inheritance. In some people, one aspect of aging is significant thinning of skin around the eyes and loss of "fat padding" in the face, both of which can result in dark circles.
DISCOLORATIONS (MELASMA)
Skin discoloration is especially common in women and men aged 20-40. It affects the forehead, cheeks and upper lips. It occurs frequently during pregnancy and is more common in dark skins than in fair skins. Often called "the mask of pregnancy", chloasma is more pronounced during the summer months as a result of sun exposure.
DROOPY EYELIDS
Many factors may contribute to loose skin and fat pads of the eyelids. There may be a hereditary predisposition (several members of the same family may have this problem), or perhaps there are other contributing factors. Whatever the cause, the result is the same—baggy eyelids and fat pads that are depressing to look at in the mirror everyday and that make you look tired and older than you are.
LIPS
If you've always wished your lips were fuller, or you wish your lips were still as full as they once were, today there are a variety of procedures you can have. These procedures, both temporary and permanent, can give almost every woman or man the lips they wish they still had…or never had
MIGRAINE
A migraine is a very bad headache that tends to recur. With a migraine, you may feel nauseated and might vomit. The pain is usually on one side of your head and you may be very sensitive to bright lights and noises. Moving around can make the headache feel worse. There are many forms of migraine headaches. Classic and common are the two major varieties.
MOLES
Moles are common harmless skin lesions. Moles may be flat or protruding. They vary in color from pink flesh tones to dark brown or black. The number of moles a person has depends on genetic factors and on sun exposure; most people have 20-50 of them. Moles begin to grow in infancy but new ones can appear at any age, sometimes in crops. Moles may darken following sun exposure or during pregnancy. During adulthood they often lose their pigmentation, and may disappear in old age.
NOSE
The size and shape of your nose may be the most dramatic feature of your face. Reshape your nose by reducing or increasing size, removing hump, changing shape of tip or bridge, narrowing span of nostrils, or changing angle between nose and upper lip can each change your looks dramatically. Some changes can be temporarily or permanent.
ROSACEA
Rosacea is a facial rash that occurs in middle aged men and women. The cause of rosacea is unknown. It affects people mainly in the 30s and 40s, especially those with fair-skin, blue eyes and of Celtic origin. The red spots and pustules are dome-shaped rather than pointed and there are no blackheads, whiteheads, deep cysts, or lumps.
SCARS
There are lots of different causes of scarring - accidents, surgery, skin disease, burns, acne, infection and crime - but not all scars are the same. It is important to realise that no scar can ever be removed completely. All scars are permanent, though they may improve naturally over a period of time. Sometimes it is possible to improve the appearance of a scar by surgical removal or other scar therapies.
UNDER EYE BAGS
Bags under the eyes, formed of fatty tissue and fluid, form early in some families. Shadows from overhead lighting may cause the appearance of circles, or thin skin on the lower eyelid may let the dark-red or purple inside of the lid show through. If fluid is retained in the body, the bags can get even bigger. Some conditions that cause fluid retention include heart, thyroid, kidney and liver problems, high blood pressure and premenstrual bloating. Some medications can also cause fluid problems.
| |
