Skip to content
Call Us Today! 212-533-4646 | MON-FRI 12PM - 4PM (EST)
DONATE
SUBSCRIBE
Search for:
About Us
UNWLA 100
Publications
FAQ
Annual Report 2023
Annual Report 2022
Annual Report 2021
Initiatives
Advocate
Educate
Cultivate
Care
News
Newsletters
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Join UNWLA
Become a Member
Volunteer With Us
Donate to UNWLA
Members Portal
Calendar
Shop to Support Ukraine
Search for:
Print
Print Page
Download
Download Page
Download Right Page
Open
1
2-3
4-5
6-7
8-9
10-11
12-13
14-15
16-17
18-19
20-21
22-23
24-25
26-27
28-29
30-31
32-33
34-35
36-37
38-39
40
“НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ЛЮТИЙ 2020 WWW. UNWLA .ORG 33 PROPERLY CARING FOR YOUR LARGEST ORGAN by Ihor Magun, MD, FACP You may or may not know it, but your largest body organ is y our skin. With a plethora of “skin care” products available on the market , choosing the appropriate one (s) to use can be daunting and confusing because cosmetic companies are solely in the business of selling products and not necessarily in the business of guiding consumers to the correct choice. Moreover, skin care is not “one size fits all.” What may be good for one person may not be right for another. Another thing to consider is that some products can bring side - effects you don’t need. Most medical prac titioners, for example, recognize that some conditions, such as dry skin, may occur only because a product inappropriate to a specific user was used. In this month’s column I hope to shed light on some of the mystery. The first point to emphasize is that i t is important to understand the basics of proper skin care and product choice. So , let ’s start with the basics. G et to know your skin type. Be aware that skin can and usually does change over time as well as with the seasons. Also note that facial skin i s very different from the skin on the rest of your body in that it has more sebaceous (fatty) glands. Additionally, it is the area of your body most exposed to the elements. So it is logical that most individuals use one type of product for the face and an other for the rest of the body. F or individuals who have or are prone to dry skin, the choice is a mild, soap free cleanser that hydrates as it cleans. The product is called Cetaphil. It can be applied gently without water to the skin and rubbed gently. Ex cess can be removed with a soft cloth, leaving a thin film of the product on the skin. Cetaphil can also be used with a water - applied product , then rinsed. This product can also remove waterproof and water - based makeup. It can be purchased in stores and on - l ine and is available both in liquid and bar forms. There are two types of skin moisturizers (based on their mechanism of action). Humectants draw and holds water to the skin, whereas the other is a moisturizer and coats the skin with a combination of oil and water. Both of these work well if applied immediately after bathing and drying. The desired result is to maximize the amount of moisture from the bath. An e xample of a humectant is Amlactin and an example of the latter is Aquaphor. Many individuals cho ose a moisturizing body wash. They come in various scented versions and they provide a layer of moisture on the skin surface. One important factor is that this product works best if used with a sponge made of plastic netting. Dull skin can be treated with honey. Apply a thin layer and let it stay for fifteen minutes, then rinse off with water. And you should never forget application of daily sunscreen. Many products already have some form of moisturizer in the ir formulation. So i f you do apply other products, sunscreen should be the last product applied to achieve the desired protection. And d on ’ t forget about the neck area. Many people appl y moisturizers and sunscreen only to the face , leaving the neck vulnerable to the elements. Pay attention to expiration dates of cosmetics, especially those that have an “active ingredient .” Most cosmetics have a three to six month shelf life. Also remember that u s ing products used by others can lead to new skin issues because these products can harbor bacteria . A few words about scalp care may also be helpful . Contrary to popular belief, dandruff is caused by scalp inflammation due to rapid division of cells. Shampooing with a product intended for this condition on a daily basis is more helpful than less frequent shampooing. Us ing a conditioner is also helpful. Contrary to one prevalent belief, baby shampoo is not good for adults because a dults harbor yeast in the scalp , which is not addressed by a baby shampoo . If not addressed, the yeast can le ad to scalp issues. Another theory that needs debunking is that daily shampooing causes hair loss. Hair loss is genetic and is affected by use of strong chemicals that penetrate the hair shaft and destroy or affect its growth. Hair loss is not caused by sh ampoo and/or conditioner. Finally , remember that the surface of the body is also impacted by what happens inside the body, so make sure that you stay well hydrated, eat healthy (lots of colorful vegetables and fruit) and get adequate sleep and exercise. Finally, remember that knowledge is power. Now that you have a checklist of information about skin (and what happens beneath it), y ou should look forward to glowing outside and inside .
Page load link
Go to Top
1 
2-3 
4-5 
6-7 
8-9 
10-11 
12-13 
14-15 
16-17 
18-19 
20-21 
22-23 
24-25 
26-27 
28-29 
30-31 
32-33 
34-35 
36-37 
38-39 
40 
