Dehydrated skin is characterized by cross hatch marks on the skin's surface. Dehydration can occur on all skin types. It is usually found in climates where the temperature is above or below moderate, and caused in the winter by artificial heating. Winter weather is especially hard on the skin and therefore you must be very diligent in your skincare regime. Masking and peels are essential. Keeping your skin well moisturized is vitally important.

DRY

Dry skin feels taut and usually has small or fine pores. The key to caring for dry skin is quite simple - keep it well oiled. Dry skin is lacking in oil or lipids - not to be confused with water. You must use creams that will help bond not only water on the skin - but also provide a lipid balance on the skin. Soap is absolutely the wrong thing to cleanse with if your skin is dry. Use a gentle cleanser that has lipids and softening agents. Use creams day and night that are rich with oils such as shea butter and vitamin oils.

OILY

Oily skin is thicker with very active oil glands. Oily skin tends to clog, producing blackheads. Breakouts are more common. The key to caring for oily skin is regular cleansing and toning. Your moisturizer should contain ingredients to control oil gland activity. Exfoliating and masking can help in keeping oily skin clear.

SENSITIVE

Sensitive skin tends to be dry, but can be of any type. Sensitive skin tends to be reactive to climate changes, stimulating beverages, food, and stress. Important changes have occurred in the skincare industry. There are alot of products on the market designed to desensitize skin. Find these products and use them until your skin becomes stable and then you can switch to other products. But desensitizing first is of utmost importance. This is by far the most frustrating of skin types.

SUN PROTECTION

For the hot summer months, sun protection is a must. Remember that sun exposure can be a factor when skiing or doing any outdoor sport. Tanning is a natural reaction of the skin when exposed to the sun. In order to protect itself against UVA rays (pigmentation) and UVB rays (radiation). Sun exposure also introduces free radicals onto the skin, further speeding the aging process. Using a proper sunscreen will help prevent skin cancer and premature aging.

AGING SKIN
After age 40, the skin is marked by diminishing collagen and elastin fibers. The dead cell layer thickens due to the inability of skin to shed its dead cells rapidly. The skin begins to show sun damage done years ago in the form of keratosis, hyperpigmentation, and the appearance of wrinkles etc. Thanks to modern science and the return to the use of tried and true formulations such a glycolic acids, lactic acid, malic acid, salicylic acid, vitamins, and especially Vitamin C, there have been great strides in shedding the top layer of dead cells faster and helping the skin to produce collagen. The use of safe cosmeceuticals has improved the conditions of aging skin. Glycolic acid, combined with other fruit acids has allowed for better penetration of moisturizers which have in turn, improved the condition of aging skin on the vast majority of my clients. Aging skin can be improved and the aging process of the skin can be influenced by the use of fruit acids, vitamins, and very specific cream that super saturate the skin with moisture.

HYPERPIGMENTATION
Hyperpigmentation is caused by the clustering of melanocytes - the cells that cause pigmentation.
Treatment: There are several treatments that are available. One treatment is to use a topical bleaching agent known as hydroquinone. New topical treatments include the use of glycolic acid, kojic acid and hydroquinone. The topical treatment will lighten - but will not permanently alleviate the problem. Every time one is exposed to UV radiation, the pigmentation will return - the cells will turn darker with each exposure. The second treatment available gets to the source of the problem - the clustered melanocytes. While this treatment does not lighten quickly, it is the treatment that will de-cluster the melanocytes. The ingredient that does this is an enzyme that blocks the skin's reaction to tanning. The enzyme is extracted from mulberry. After prolonged usage, this product will de cluster the melanocytes so that you do not hyperpigment with future sun exposure - however minimal that exposure is. There are products that can be used at home - but the treatment is best started with in-salon treatments using galvanic current to penetrate the enzyme into the deeper layers of skin. The results will vary from individual to individual - the depth of the damage, age, your skin's metabolic rate all enter into the equation. Some see results right away and then they stall and see no progress - this is due to the fact that it takes time for the emerging cells to benefit from the treatment. The damage is done in the dermis - but the dermis varies in depth from person to person.