Your skin is your body’s largest organ, so safeguarding it in the face of Australia’s temperamental seasons is an important practice to adopt. According to a survey by skin treatment specialists Syneron Candela, one-third of all women dread the thought of wearing a swimsuit, citing skin concerns such as stretch marks and broken veins.Add to that other skin niggles like eczema, acne and psoriasis, which can actually worsen in the heat, and it’s small wonder some of us feel uncomfortable (and self-conscious) when it comes to baring a little at the barbecue or a lot on the beach.But don’t stick your head in the sand and reach for the kaftan just yet.We’ve got your skin problems covered – all over. And remember to always consult your doctor for any skin condition.
Vitiligo
“Vitiligo is a chronic skin condition where the skin develops pale, white patches due to lack of the pigment melanin,” says consultant dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto. “It affects one per cent of the population and while the exact cause is not known, we are aware that it occurs due to the body producing antibodies against melanin.”
How to treat Vitiligo
At home: “Wear sunscreen as part of your treatment plan,” says Dr Mahto. “Areas of vitiligo burn very easily so choose an SPF of at least 30 and wear loose clothing to cover the affected areas.”
At the Clinic: “Under the guidance of a dermatologist, treatments involve topical agents that locally suppress the immune system (steroids, calcineurin inhibitors), artificial light therapy with either UVA or UVA light, or if the condition is very widespread, total body depigmentation.”
Psoriasis
“Psoriasis occurs due to overactivity of a certain part of the immune system (the T-cells) and it may run in families,” explains Dr Mahto. “In a person with psoriasis, the skin turns over more quickly (every seven days rather than every 28 days), resulting in the build-up of scaly red plaques.” As a result, the skin can feel itchy, irritable and rough.
How to treat Psoriasis
At home: see your GP for topical creams that you can apply. These may include vitamin D and steroid creams, which slow down the production of skin cells, plus coal tar – a heavy oil that helps to reduce inflammation and itchiness.
At the Clinic: if topical treatments don’t work you may be referred for UVB phototherapy, which can also help slow down the production of skin cells. Oral medications are designed to suppress inflammation and slow down skin turnover. If you don’t respond to other treatments, injection therapies to target overactive cells in the immune system may also be prescribed.
Ingrown Hairs
Ingrown hairs are hairs that have grown out of the skin, curled back round and re-entered the skin,” says clinic director Kelly Saynor from the UK’s Renew Medical Aesthetics. “They can cause raised red bumps that look like pimples – and can lead to folliculitis where the hair follicles become infected and form painful boil-like sores filled with pus. They’re particularly prevalent where you shave – your legs, armpits and pubic area – because the sharp edge of a shaved hair jabs more easily back into the skin.”
How to treat Ingrown Hairs
At home: “Stop shaving for a few days to see if your skin improves,” says Kelly. “If you do shave, use sterile tweezers to lift out ingrown hairs before you start and also exfoliate with a mix of oatmeal and sugar. Make sure your razor is sharp, that your skin is wet and that you shave in the direction of hair growth. Also try a mix of honey and baking soda to reduce inflammation. Tea tree oil is also a great mild antiseptic.”
At the clinic: You could try laser hair removal – it targets hair follicles and can inhibit growth from several months to even years. It may not be suitable for people with blonde, grey or white hair.
Eczema
“Eczema is a very common hereditary condition that has a strong family history link to other allergic conditions such as asthma and hay fever,” says Dr Mervyn Patterson, cosmetic dermatologist at Woodford Medical. “The condition tends to be itchy and the skin is dry, raised, often red and, in severe cases, oozing and bleeding.” Symptoms often get worse in hot weather.
How to treat Ecxema
At home: avoid scented cosmetics and household cleansers with chemicals. Synthetic fabric can irritate sensitive skin so choose cotton clothing to keep the skin cool and protect sun-exposed areas with a mineral-based unfragranced sunscreen (these will often be labelled hypoallergenic and “for sensitive skins”).Dryness makes the problem worse, so keep the skin well moisturised, especially after showering. Choose an emollient cream that’s unperfumed.As well as soothing and relieving the itch, it leaves an oily layer over the skin, which traps water beneath it, helping stop the skin from losing more moisture but also preventing irritants from penetrating it. Apply every 3-4 hours. Humectant creams (containing urea or glycerine) should be applied every 6-8 hours.
At the clinic: topical steroids can be prescribed for short-term use to dampen down an eczema flare-up (when the skin becomes especially red, sore and itchy). They work to reduce the redness, soreness and inflammation, making skin less itchy and giving it a chance to heal.
Keratosis Pilaris
If you have rough red bumps on the backs of your arms, thighs and derrière, it could be a condition called keratosis pilaris (KP) – often unflatteringly referred to as “chicken skin”. “These can range from small pinkish-to-red bumps that are not irritated, to red, inflamed bumps,” says Dr Harold Lancer.“The bumpy red spots are the result of pores clogged with keratin that become inflamed. Since about 50 per cent of those affected have family history, keratosis pilaris is largely thought to be a genetic disorder.”
How to treat Keratosis Pilaris
At home: “Exfoliation to unclog pores is effective,” says Dr Lancer. “Don’t scrub your skin though, because that will aggravate the inflammation.” Look for exfoliators with extra-fine particles or that contain salicylic or lactic acid.
At the clinic: “Talk to your dermatologist about prescribing ammonium lactate cream, retinoids and corticosteroids,” says Dr Lancer. These work to clear the hair follicle and relieve itching. “Gentle microdermabrasion and light peels can be useful in-clinic treatments to consider,” adds Dr Patterson. Both work to remove the top layer of skin and reveal a new layer without blemishes.
Spider Veins
If your shorts are getting longer every year in an attempt to hide your legs, perhaps you’re plagued by spider veins. “Spider veins are usually found on the arms and backs of legs and are easily visible through the skin,” says Dr Tapan Patel, cosmetic physician at PHI Clinic.“Sudden changes from hot to cold may cause capillaries to become damaged but they can also run in families, are prevalent in occupations that involve a lot of standing, plus obesity and the hormonal influences of pregnancy, puberty and menopause can be to blame.”
How to treat Spider Veins
At home: some creams purport to help reduce the appearance of spider veins, but many dermatologists say that the scientific data doesn’t support their effectiveness. “Using make-up to conceal the veins is the best home-care solution,” says Dr Ross Perry, medical director at Cosmedics Skin Clinics.
At the clinic: “For legs the best treatment is injection sclerotherapy – where a sugary solution is injected into the vein,” says Dr Perry. This solution irritates the lining of the vein, causing it to swell and seal closed. Your body will in time destroy the vein and it will disappear.
Stretch Marks
“Stretch marks are long, narrow streaks that differ in colour to our natural skin,” says Kelly Saynor. “They are found on the tummy, thighs, hips, breasts, upper arms and lower back as a result of the skin suddenly stretching, such as during pregnancy or weight gain, which causes the middle layer of skin (dermis) to break in places and blood vessels below to show through, resulting in red or purplish marks.”
How to treat Stretch Marks
At home: if you’re pregnant, keeping the skin on your tummy moisturised with emollients could help minimise any stretch marks. Otherwise, creams that include the retinoid tretinoin have shown some success (but be aware that the ingredient shouldn’t be used if you are pregnant or breastfeeding).
At the clinic: “Treating early stretch marks that are still red or purple with pulsed dye lasers can be effective,” says Kelly. “The laser makes the blood vessels underneath collapse so the colour disappears. Older stretch marks which have faded to a silvery-white are better treated by fractional laser treatment. The laser heats the skin tissue, instigating a natural healing process.”
Body Acne
A breakout occurs when a follicle or pore gets clogged with oil or bacteria. “Body acne usually affects the back and chest, as these areas contain sebaceous (oil-producing) glands,” says Dr Mahto.
How to treat Body Acne
At home: use acne washes and creams that contain zinc (to kill bacteria), salicylic acid (to unclog pores) and benzoyl peroxide – this is thought to kill acne-causing bacteria.
At the clinic: chemical peels (acids applied to the skin) exfoliate the top layers of skin, encouraging it to turn over more quickly and prevent pores from becoming clogged. Red/blue light therapy can help kill acne-causing bacteria and reduce redness. “If things fail to settle or there is scarring, see a dermatologist for antibiotics or oral isotretinoin,” says Dr Mahto.Antibiotics battle bacteria and reduce inflammation while oral isotretinoin helps to decrease the size of the sebaceous glands in the skin and how much sebum they produce.