The Nitrogen Family Elements at a Glance

Author: Jason Katzenback
Source: isnare.com

The fact is that any type of skin condition can happen regardless of the pigment of skin you have. When it comes to African American skin care and others with darker complexions however, there are a few skin care problems that are much more prevalent.

Here are five of the most common African American skin care issues?

Acne

Acne is a chronic disorder characterized by excess production of oil from sebaceous glands causing the hair follicles generally on the face, chest and back to become plugged. Pimples, papules, pustules and comedone, (black heads and white heads) cysts and infected abscesses can be treated in acne. Acne affects most teenagers to some extent. However, the disease is not restricted to any age group; adults in their 20s – even into their 40s – can get acne. In regards to African American skin care, acne may result in long lasting discolorations of the skin. Therapy is the same for all skin types but it is very important to use topical agents that minimize irritation of the skin.

Ingrown Hairs of the Beard (Razor Bumps)

Another African American skin care issue is Ingrown Hairs. African Americans have curved hair shafts and this is true of beard hair as well as other body hair. Often after a very close shave, the pointed hair may curl back into the skin and it may pierce the wall of the hair follicle, causing a reaction resulting in bumps called “pseudofolliculitis barbae.” If you can, growing a beard is a viable option for helping this.

African American men should try different methods of hair removal if they suffer with ingrown hairs, which are also called razor bumps. Shaving with a special type of safety razor that does not permit a very close shave may help. Do not stretch the skin during shaving and don’t shave on a daily basis. If hairs become ingrown, lift them up with an alcohol-cleaned needle (don’t tweeze or pluck) just before shaving. Sometimes using a rough washcloth before shaving can help to loosen hairs about to grow inward.

Hair removal chemicals do remove hair but should only be used once a week. They must be wiped off promptly according to package directions and wash your face twice with soap and water immediately afterwards to guard against irritation.

Permanent removal of hair performed by an experienced Electrolysis Operator may be an effective solution and there are new medicated creams that may slow hair growth and help. Be sure to consult your dermatologist about treatment options.

Variations in Skin Color

African American skin has larger melanosomes (cells that determine skin color ) and the melanosomes contain more of the pigment melanin than those found in white skin. Because of the protective effect of melanin, African-Americans are better protected against skin cancer and premature wrinkling from sun exposure.

Post inflammatory hyper pigmentation is quite common in dark skinned individuals, even after minor trauma. An area of the skin may darken after an injury such as a cut or a scrape, or after certain skin disorders such as acne. To avoid or reduce post inflammatory hyper pigmentation, avoid picking, harsh scrubbing, and abrasive treatments. Darkened areas of skin may take many months or years to fade, although topical (surface) bleaching agents may help. Also chemical peels (using alpha and beta hydroxyl acids) and microdermabrasion can be helpful.”

Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a common African American skin care condition where pigment cells are destroyed and irregular white patches on the skin appear. Many dermatologists think that the cause of this common disorder is an autoimmune process, where the cells of the body attack the pigment producing cells.

The extent of color loss differs with each person; some people lose pigment over their entire bodies. Some patients with vitiligo do not regain skin color, however some cases of vitiligo do repigment. See your dermatologist as soon as possible, as the extent of the disease will determine the appropriate treatment. .

Several skin care methods are used to treat vitiligo, but none have been perfected. Topical medications, including corticosteroids and new non-steroid anti-inflammatory preparations are commonly used. In cases where vitiligo affects most of the body, it is sometimes best to destroy the remaining normal pigment. A dermatologist can determine what treatment is best based on the extent of the disease.

Keloids

When the scar from a cut or wound extends and spreads beyond the size of the original wound, it is known as a keloid. Keloids may vary in size, shape, and location. They occur more often in brown or black skin making this a very common African American skin care issue.

Keloids are a common skin care issue on the ear lobes, neck, chest, or back, and usually occur after an injury or surgery. Occasionally they occur spontaneously, especially on the mid-chest area. Keloids often follow inflammation caused by acne on the face, chest, and back.

Keloids may be painful both physically and emotionally (from a cosmetic perspective), but it’s important to address keloids primarily as a medical, rather than cosmetic condition.

Depending on the location of the keloid, skin care treatment may consist of cortisone injections, pressure, silicone gels, surgery, laser treatment, or radiation therapy. Unfortunately, keloids tend to return and even enlarge, especially after treatment with surgery.

Author: Rebecca Prescott
Source: articledashboard.com

Comedones are tiny bumps that affect the skin, making it rough to the touch, and these bumps can be dark, white or skin colored. Most people know comedones by their more commonly used names – blackheads and whiteheads. These comedones are found at the opening of the pores on the skin, and on those prone to acne are usually found around the chin and forehead areas. The pigmentation of open comedones causes them to be dark, thus they are referred to as blackheads. However, those that are closed, and where the follicle is totally blocked, are referred to as whiteheads.

Comedones are a primary sign of acne. With the open comedone, or blackhead, excess oils collect in the duct of the sebaceous gland and the pigmentation makes them appear as black bumps on the surface of the skin. With a closed comedone, or whitehead, the trapped sebum remains underneath the skin, causing a bumpy effect but no actual coloring is visible.

These comedones can vary in size – for instance, comedones that are larger than around two or three millimetres in diameter are known as macrocomedones. Acne is not a condition that is exclusive to teenagers, as many people assume, and therefore both comedones and acne can affect a person at any age, such as during pregnancy or during a highly emotional period.

What can aggravate comedones?

There are a number of factors that can aggravate and exacerbate comedones, and these include:

* Injuries that result in rupture of the follicle, such as abrasive facial washes or pimple squeezing
* Over hydration or over moisturization of the skin
* Excessive hormonal activity
* Free fatty acids caused by bacteria
* Various chemicals, such as those found in dye and some cosmetics
* Emotional factors

Treatment for comedones

There are various treatments available for those with comedones, but these treatments may take some time to be effective and are certainly not overnight miracles. Depending on the severity of the condition sufferers may need to see a dermatologist in order to get effective treatment. Amongst the treatments available are: Tretinoin, Isotretinoin, Benzoyl Peroxide, and even extraction, which can be used on open comedones.

Those with open or closed comedones also need to ensure that they look after their skin properly. This means avoiding the temptation to scrub at the skin in a bid to get rid of blackheads, as the dark coloring is not dirt that can be scrubbed away, and scrubbing or abrasive washing may actually make the condition worse. Using a mild wash once daily, and patting the skin dry is the best way to keep skin clean. Also, those with comedones should avoid using oil based cosmetics, as these can aggravate the condition by adding to the build up of oil in the follicles.

Author: Mr. Pom
Source: articlesbase.com

Hyper pigmentation of the cells in the body leads to what is called the skin moles. Proliferation of the pigment cells, exposure to sunlight and hereditary factors can be the most common causes of moles. What exactly is a skin mole? Pigmented cells clustered together and having a raised surrounding area having a brown or black color is known as a mole. They are round or irregular in shape and a number of them can vary from one person to person. Get rid of Moles in Just 3 Days They are generally harmless in nature but many people prefer to get rid of moles purely for cosmetic reasons and a few when it becomes painful or infected. What are the possible treatment options that are available through which one can safely get rid of moles? Surgery is something which suggested by the experts for treating this condition. At the same time, recurrences are also noted in most of the cases. There also alternative simple methods opted out these days such as shaving and cutting of the mole.Natural remedies are available that has the ability to eliminate the illness from its root. They are affordable and have no side effects when compared to the conventional modes of treatment. Following are some of the home remedies that will help you to get rid of moles.•

Author: CD Mohatta -
Source: articledashboard.com

When acne resolves, it leaves a mark on the skin. That is most commonly PIH. PIH is Post Inflammatory hyper- pigmentation. This color is due to natural healing process of the body. It fades in about a year. The color of PIH depends upon the individuals skin color. PIH is not a scar. A true scar does not fade away, but PIFH fades away. How to hasten the fading away of the PIH? Let us find out about the acne treatment that hastens this process.

Acne Treatment -

Any medication or product that multiplies the skin cell turnover will remove the darkened skin in shorter time. Molecules such as Retinoids increase the turnover of skin cells. They are therefore useful in resolving PIH fast. Retinoids are derivatives of Vitamin A. Adaplene, Tazarotene and Tretinoin are common retinoids. Retinoids can cause dryness of the skin and may also cause itching in some individuals. Sun protection is a must while using retinoids because they make the skin more sensitive to sun.

AHAs and PIH-

Alpha Hydroxy Acids are very useful in skin rejuvenation. AHAs remove the dead skin cells on the skin. They loosen the bonds between the skin cells and remove the dead cells. This increases the speed of growth of new cells. AHAs are also called as fruit acids. They are also found in milk. Now days, AHAs are chemically synthesized. Glycolic is one of the common AHAs and many formulations are available with Glycolic Acid. Use of these formulations will remove the dead skin cells and help resolve the PIH fast.

Sun exposure-

PIH have higher density of melanin the skin color pigment. The sunrays selectively darken such spots more than the other skin. It is therefore important to protect the darkened spots from sun. A good sunscreen must be used till the color fades away.

Bleaches- Skin bleaches such as Hydroquinone, Azelaic Acid are very useful in removing the excess skin color. They should be used carefully otherwise they may lighten the spot compared to the surrounding skin.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.