Why Do You Need Medical Skincare?

Almost all of us have had suffered some skin disorder at one point in life. We all understand the mental trauma associated with these ghastly skin problems.

Medical skincare clinics are gaining popularity. Probably people have begun to realize that over-the-counter skincare cosmetics do not work always. Moreover these commercial products cannot serve as a substitute for an expert’s advice. Besides this, many insurance companies have now begun to cover medical skincare in the health insurance cover. This is a good reason for people with disorders to seek medical skincare advice.

As you go to an expert to discuss your problem and find a solution thereto, be honest in your answers. If you have ever tried to self-examine the problem with routine commercial skincare products and the dermatologist asks you about this, be direct and frank in your answer. This may make a great deal of difference in the medication the doctor has to suggest. Some people are ashamed and rather unwilling to disclose the self-examination of their problem. There is nothing to hide. The doctor is there to help and if he wants to know the history of the problem, the patient must provide absolutely true information, if effective solution is desired.

Some people think that medical consultation is needed only in most grave skin disorders. As opposed to this common misleading belief, medical skincare is as much recommended for mild acne as it is for severe acne vulgaris.

If you are in the grip of some type of skin problem and you have not seen a specialist so far, make it soon before it gets too late. Delay in medical skincare may further deteriorate the problem.

Another word of caution to all the readers- please do not play with your skin. If you sense even the slightest of all skin problems, consult a skincare expert as early as you can.

How to Care for Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. It occurs when the immune system sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis is not contagious. Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder that is characterized by inflamed lesions and silvery white scales. It may appear in only a few isolated spots, or can be widespread over the body, and most typcially appears in people between the ages of 15 to 35.

There are five types of psoriasis: plaque, guttate, inverse, pustular and erythrodermic. The most common form, plaque psoriasis, appears as raised, red patches or lesions covered with a silvery white buildup of dead skin cells, called scale. Psoriasis can occur on any part of the body and is associated with other serious health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and depression.

Things You’ll Need:

* Vitamin A
* Zinc
* Evening primrose oil
* Aloe vera
* Flaxseed oil
* Vitamin C

1.            Get some sun. Natural sunlight has been shown to sigificantly improve, or clear, psoriasis. Get regular daily doses, but keep them short and avoid the sun from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., when the rays are strongest.

2.       Add over-the-counter tar solutions, bath oil, oatmeal, Epsom salts and Dead Sea salts to your bath. All of these will help soften the skin.

3.         Use moisturizers after bathing and periodically during the day. These may not clear the psoriasis, but will help reduce itching and retain moisture in the skin.

4.        Try using aloe vera gel, jojoba oil, vitamin E oil or natural vegetable oils as moisturizers. They are a natural and relatively inexpensive way to moisturize the skin.

5.       Take flaxseed oil or evening primrose oil according to directions on label. They supply essential fatty acids which are important for the skin and preventing dryness.

6.       Take natural beta-carotene, 25,000 IU per day. It helps protect skin tissue.

7.    Take zinc, preferably in the form of zinc gluconate lozenges, for maximum absorption. Do not exceed 50 mg per day.

8. Try shark cartilage. Take 1 gm per 15 lbs of body weight. Divide it into 3 doses a day. Shark cartilage has been known to stop the spread of psoriasis, but you will need to give it 2 to 3 months to see results.

9.   Take vitamins A (10,000 IU daily) and E (400-1200 IU daily).

10.   Take Vitamin C (2,000 to 5,000 mg a day) in divided doses. It is necessary for immune system function and for formation of collagen and skin tissue.

11.   Brush scales lightly with a loofah, then apply an alcohol-free extract of the herb goldenseal. This will help reduce inflammation and swelling.

12.   Keep a record of your outbreaks. Psoriasis typically flares up and then improves. Write down what you were doing, eating, or what was going on in your life at the time of a flare-up. Triggers to flare-ups include stress, tension, illness, sunburn, certain drugs and alcohol.

13.   Decrease or eliminate red meat and dairy products. They contain arachidonic acid, a substance that can cause inflammation and, in turn, make your psoriasis lesions swollen and red.

By eHow Health Editor