We shall therefore look at general skin care concerns that affect many human beings in their lifetime.

What are the some of the most common skin care concerns?

Acne

Teenage Girl Popping Pimple

Of all the skin conditions known to the human family acne is the most prevalent. While it mostly affects teenagers who are undergoing hormonal changes, many adults suffer with acne as well. Acne ranges in severity, requiring topical treatment in some individuals and systemic treatment in others. The condition can cause scarring as well. If you have mild or moderate acne, you may be able to treat it with cleansers, soaps, or astringents that are widely available over the counter. If you have a more severe case of acne, you may require systemic treatment, which includes the administration of oral antibiotics or perhaps even hormonal therapies. What you do with your acne will be dependent on what the causative factors are. Some of the factors may be genetics, hormonal changes, bacteria, clogged pores or any combination of all these factors

Age spots or freckles

These are mostly caused by exposure to the sun. They both are generally known as pigmentation spots. Age spots, which usually appear later in life can actually affect any skin type but freckles will more often than not appear in people with fair skin.  There are several ways to treat each, including hydroquinone and Retin A. However, hydroquinone is not suitable treatment for persons with darker skin. If you have darker skin, you should plan to use a treatment that contains Kojic acid.

Aging skin

For most people aging skin is a truth they will not want to hear anything about. But the truth is that no matter who you are or your ethnicity your skin will change as you continue to age and will thus require special care as days go by. Chances are that as you age, you will experience increased dryness, changes in facial contour, changes in hair growth, and decreased sweating. These are the impacts of the aging process. However, several treatments have proven effective for warding off Father Time. These include: Alpha hydroxy acids, Vitamin A, copper peptide, alpha lipoic acids, L-ascorbic acids (Vitamin C).

Dark skin

People need to understand that different skin types will always require different kinds of treatment. Therefore it becomes almost obvious that people like  African American, Native American, Asian, Hispanic or Southern European, you may want to avoid certain treatments. Those with sensitive skin should be especially cautious: If you use products with alpha hydroxy acids you do risk hyper-pigmentation (chemical reactions can cause the creation of extra pigment, which may result in darker spots). You can, however, safely use one AHA, a less irritating substance known as mandelic acid. If you are seeking smoother, firmer skin, you can also benefit from copper peptide, which is safe for all skin types.

Eczema

Eczema is an itchy irritating skin condition that will present itself in many forms and is always triggered by a wide variety of factors which will include things like allergies, environmental factors or even genetics. The raised inflamed skin can simply appear anywhere in the body including places like your face, legs, hands and face or neck.  Some people believe it can be treated with coal tar, steroid creams, topical immuno-modulators (TIMs), a class of anti-inflammatory drugs that are non-steroidal. For worse cases of eczema, you may require oral antibiotics, antihistamines or oral corticosteroids. As with other skin conditions, be sure to receive a proper diagnosis from a dermatologist for proper treatment guidelines.

Melasma

This is a typical condition that discolors your skin and it is also known as chloasma. It typically causes brown or tan patches on the face, neck or lips. The condition is aggravated by sun exposure, but does not cause redness or swelling. If you think you have melasma, but you haven’t visited a physician or dermatologist, it is important to receive an official diagnosis before beginning any treatment. This condition is most common among women who are on birth control pills, pregnant, or taking hormone replacement therapy, but men also get melasma. This condition is commonly treated with hydroquinone, kojic acid, azelaic acid, L-ascorbic acids (Vitamin C), or mandelic acid. To ensure effective treatment, you should use a sunscreen at all times.

Rosacea

This is also another skin condition that will manifest with an array of symptoms such as redness and puffiness on several areas of the face which include the cheeks and the nose. In some of the later stages this condition causes small visible blood vessels on the face together with bumps or pimples as well. It is always important for your condition to be certified by a physician before you seek any treatment because there is almost no known cure for this condition. However,  Rosacea can be treated with topical metronidazole, retinoids, azelaic acid, salicylic acid, mandelic acid or Vitamin C. Oral antibiotics may be effective in more severe cases. It’s important to realize that rosacea is a condition that can worsen if treatment is ignored or delayed. You should consult with your dermatologist to determine what treatment will work best for you.