skin care

Skin deep

Your Health DR GITA MATHAI

You will seldom come across a person who is happy in their skin — they don’t like its colour or its texture or its appearance or its tendency to crack in winter and itch in summer. Problem-free skin is a rarity and naturally so. The skin is our largest organ, accounts for 16 per cent of our weight and has a surface area of around two square metres. It’s thickness varies from 0.5mm on the eyelids to 4mm or more on the palms and soles. It also has a rich supply of blood vessels, sweat glands and hair. The entire skin is replaced every 30 days. New cells grow from below while the cells on the surface flake off. This action needs to be a perfectly coordinated. Otherwise unsightly cracks and fissures can appear. If the dysfunction is confined to certain areas, white or reddish scaly lesions may appear in those areas. If skin is damaged, it does not necessarily mean that there is a medical problem. As a person ages, the number of collagen and elastic fibres in the skin decreases and it begins to sag and develop wrinkles. Smoking destroys elastic fibres under the skin, aging it prematurely, as does stress. Many skin problems can be tackled by nourishing, polishing and maintaining it, much like a well-loved pair of shoes. You can apply coconut oil, a combination of equal quantities of coconut and sesame (gingili) oil, or equal quantities of coconut, gingili and olive oil. Japanese women have traditionally applied rice bran oil on their face. This is believed to be one of the reasons that Japanese women have unlined faces, even in old age. It is best to massage babies with coconut oil. Leave it on for at least 10 minutes and then wash off with a mild moisturising soap. Remember, antibacterial soaps are harsh and tend to dry the skin. After the bath, apply baby oil. Adults who are too busy to apply oil before a bath can also use baby oil at night. Commercial moisturising creams are expensive, but they provide the same benefits. The quality of our skin is also influenced by the food we eat. A diet overloaded with processed foods and trans fats makes skin appear oily and unhealthy. Fruits rich in vitamin C — such as guava, orange, papaya and lime — are good for the skin. To enable the skin to produce its own oil, it needs the essential fatty acids — omega-3 and omega-6 — found in fish and sunflower oil. Garlic and onions contain sulphur which helps produce a smooth skin. Nuts contain vitamin E and zinc, essential to maintain and repair the skin. Ideally, an adult who exercises an hour a day should eat at least two portions of fruits and three portions of vegetables (cooked or raw) every day. One portion is equal to two small fruits — such as chikkus or 15 grapes or six lychees — or one medium-sized fruit, such as an apple, a banana or an orange or two slices (about two inches thick) of a mango. It is also important to drink at least two litres of fluid — including tea, coffee or juice — to keep the skin hydrated. Exposure to sunlight can make the skin dry and itchy and it can even develop discoloured patches. It also increases the pigmentation (unacceptable in India) and is one of the risk factors for skin cancer. To protect the skin, try not to go outdoors between 10am and 4pm. If you must, wear loose, light-coloured and long sleeved clothes made of natural fibres and carry an umbrella. Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going out and reapply it if there is sweating as perspiration can wash it off. In most cases your skin will improve within a few weeks of oiling it and eating the correct food. Consult a doctor if there is no improvement, the skin becomes red and scaly, areas are itchy, or raw or there is a discharge. If the skin is persistently dry, a thyroid function test should be done. Shiny stretched skin may be due to underlying fluid retention and swelling. All these need tests and treatment. Dr Gita Mathai is a paediatrician with a family practice at Vellore. Questions on health issues may be emailed to her at yourhealthgm@yahoo.co.in