Skin solutions with Clarins

 Fear not: having a skin ailment isn’t a life sentence and you don’t have to resign yourself to living with it.
Men and women no longer have to accept less-than-perfect skin as recent advances in laser surgery, skin care and prescription medicine are now available, on the local market, for clearing up awkward skin conditions. Problems that once seemed like mountains can be smoother than a molehill or gotten rid of altogether.
Central to the Clarins Gentle Range of skin care products is the Skin Beauty Repair Concentrate. This wonderful product can be used for any skin ailment — it will immediately soothe and repair!
Below are the most common skin conditions and the best ways to prevent and treat each.
Flesh-coloured bumps: Up to 40 percent of adults suffer from keratosis pilaris, tiny bumps on the upper outer arms and thighs. The condition is genetically inherited and caused when the skin’s top layers don’t slough off normally. The hair follicles are elevated above the surrounding skin, resulting in a dead-skin-cell backlog. We recommend using moisturisers which will help make the surface less rough. Microdermabrasion, a procedure which exfoliates skin with tiny aluminum oxide crystals, can also help.
Ingrown hairs: People with dark, wiry body hair are more prone to these often painful bumps that frequently appear after waxing or shaving. When growing hair is blocked by dead skin cells or curls at the skin’s surface so the tip re-enters the follicle, the follicle and surrounding skin can become infected, causing the bump.
Our professional advisor suggests using an exfoliating product and loofah on the area. “It takes longer on the arms and butt,” she says, “but it will make ingrown hairs disappear.” For stubborn and painful ingrown hairs, most dermatologists prescribe a topical or oral antibiotic. Recurring problems can also be solved by laser hair reduction. “Just two treatments can reduce the density of hair and therefore reduce the number of ingrown hairs.”
If you don’t have ingrown hairs or bumps but your skin seems a little rough or dull, exfoliate regularly. Follow this guide to find the right exfoliant for your skin.
Face
Normal skin:  A mild facial scrub helps keep skin soft and smooth.
Acne-prone skin: Wash your face with a beta-hydroxy-acid cleanser or a purifying cleanser.
Skin with fine lines:  Alpha-hydroxy acids digest the “cement” that keeps dead skin cells attached to one another which makes lines more visible.
Sensitive skin: Products containing lactic acid are gentle exfoliators.
 Body
Normal skin: Because body skin is thicker than facial skin, rough exfoliants like salt scrubs and crushed natural ingredients are most effective.
Rough skin: Use AHA body products on rough areas like elbows, knees and feet.
Sensitive skin: Body exfoliators with jojoba beads are gentle.
Dry skin treatment
It may sound obvious, but the most important part of treating dry skin is to moisturise correctly, and to use the most effective lotions and creams.
You lose a lot of moisture just in the atmosphere, plus, many people over wash and use harsh soaps when they should be using something that’s fragrance free, or milder. It’s important to make sure that your moisturiser can penetrate the skin, so exfoliate first. Exfoliate regularly with a scrub or loofah, or chemically, with peels or foams.
In addition, it’s important to limit bath and shower time to 10 minutes.  Use lukewarm rather than hot water, which decreases the skin’s natural moisture, and opt for less-drying body washes over harsh soaps.
Skin rash treatment
A rash can often result if you don’t take care of dry skin properly. When treating a rash, try not to scratch, which will only inflame it more. For a mild rash, an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream should help relieve itching, swelling, and redness. For a more severe rash, dermatologists suggest a topical cream, such as prescription-strength hydrocortisone or pimecrolimus, which stimulates the immune system. If your rash persists and is not relieved by over-the-counter medication you must seek a professional’s advice.
Eczema treatment
Unlike a rash, eczema affects only people with allergies or those with a family history of allergies or asthma. The first step in treating eczema is to see a dermatologist to get help in identifying your triggers so you can learn how to avoid eczema flare-ups. You can also lessen episodes by sticking with milder laundry and soap products, and by avoiding wool in favor of softer fibers such as cotton and bamboo.
 Again, dermatologists suggest applying an over-the-counter hydrocortisone ointment (one percent) twice daily to the affected areas for two weeks. If that doesn’t work, a prescription-strength steroid can often bring eczema under control.
Psoriasis treatment
Psoriasis treatment can be a real challenge because it’s so persistent. For milder cases using a moisturising cream that contains retinoids (vitamin A) or topical steroids. Psoriasis sufferers should also use an ointment with salicylic acid or another exfoliant to remove dead skin cells. For more severe cases, internal medications are effective. Eating foods high in omega-3 oils, such as salmon and tuna, and avoiding red meat can also be beneficial to the treatment of psoriasis.
Acne treatment
Luckily, there are plenty of options for treating acne. Benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and antibacterial washes are all made for acne-prone skin, but acne can take a good four to six weeks to clear up, and the biggest problem is not using a product for a long enough time. Be consistent in your routine. One of the most common causes of acne in women is hormonal imbalances. Birth control pills are sometimes prescribed to help control breakouts. If you are prone to acne, avoid touching or leaning your face on your hands, and make sure you change sweaty clothes immediately after a workout to prevent acne breakouts on your face and body.
We hope this benefits you all. Here is wishing you all a good skin day, every day, with Clarins whatever your needs.
– For all your queries or to be added onto our database  e-mail  — missk@zol.co.zw.