Skin Science and Health – March 16, 2022
Causes of Hair Loss—How You Can Stop It
Although it is common to lose up to 100 hairs per day, you may be looking at the hairs in your shower drain and wondering if there’s something wrong. Some have noticed hair loss associated with post Covid19.
Skin Science and Health – February 25, 2022
Hyperpigmentation.
The word hyperpigmentation is the umbrella term that loops together many different types and causes of excess pigmentation issues, from hormonal melasma, sun spots, age spots to PIP (Post Inflammatory Pigmentation) caused by scaring such as acne scaring or injury.
Skin Science and Health – October 17, 2021
Trans epidermal Water Loss – What is it and How to Stop It
If you are struggling with dehydrated or dry skin, one of the causes may be trans epidermal water loss (TEWL). You're losing water and moisture from your skin. TEWL can lead to a variety of dry skin conditions — including severe dehydration — but there are ways that you can keep your skin hydrated or prevent dryness from occurring in the first place. What Is Trans epidermal Water Loss? To understand TEWL, let's revisit the layers of our skin. Our skin is made up of three primary layers, the outermost being the epidermis (aka what you look at in the mirror). The dermis is the middle layer, and the hypodermis is the innermost layer. TEWL occurs when water passes from the dermis through the epidermis and evaporates through the skin barrier.
Skin Science and Health – October 17, 2021
Skin Barrier Issues
Skin Barrier issues is a causative factor for a lot of skin conditions to include acne, rosacea, dermatitis, sensitive skin etcReach for gentle skincare, avoid active ingredients until you calm the skin down first.
Skin Science and Health – October 17, 2021
What causes skin to age ?
Skin ageing is caused by a combination of different factors, both internal and external. Understanding the way that internal and external factors affect skin’s structure and function can help to inform skin care choices and prevent premature skin aging. Internal factorsYoung skin has a thick epidermis and a strong network of collagen fibres.Mature skin has a thinner epidermis and a weakened network of collagen fibres.
Skin Science and Health – October 17, 2021
How does skin change over the years?
Skin is a living organ and undergoes significant changes during a person’s lifetime: from the delicate skin of a new-born baby, through the teenage years when some are acne-prone, to the wrinkles of later life. Each stage has its own demands and skin care should reflect these changing needs. Choosing appropriate products to cleanse, protect, nourish and repair skin at each of these stages will help to keep it healthy and ensure that your skin looks and feels its natural best, whatever your age. How is skin different at each age and stage?
Skin Science and Health – August 20, 2021
The Difference Between UVA and UVB Rays.
When it comes to UV rays, we know one thing for sure: They mean trouble for our skin and health. Premature signs of aging and skin cancer are two of the major side effects of sun damage. What you might not know, though, is the difference between the two main types of rays, UVA and UVB, and how they can each affect skin. Understanding this can help you better protect your skin.The Basics of UV Rays The sun makes contact with the earth using two different types of rays: ultraviolet A (UVA, or long wave) and ultraviolet B (UVB, or short wave), according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Neither, of course, is visible to the naked eye, but they’ve both been proven to cause skin cancer, eye damage, a diminished immune system and premature ageing in the form of wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots. The Difference Between UVA and UVB Rays. UVA rays account for 95% of the rays we are exposed to. They’re always present — even on cloudy days — and can penetrate through glass like windows. They reach deep into the skin, which can cause an immediate tanning effect (depending on your skin tone) and are responsible for causing signs of aging, such as wrinkles and loss of elasticity, to form. UVA rays can also contribute to the development of skin cancer. Most UVB rays are filtered by the atmosphere, but they are a threat on sunny days and/or at higher altitudes. UVB rays cause surface-level damage, quickly burning and gradually tanning the skin, according to the World Health Organisation. These rays play a bigger role in the development of melanoma or other forms of skin cancer.What Are UVC Rays? There’s a third type of radiation that’s stronger still: UVC rays. Luckily UVCs don’t typically penetrate the ozone layer to reach our skin.How to Protect Against UVA and UVB Rays. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, our understanding of UVB and UVA rays is constantly evolving. This is why it’s important to stay vigilant by always wearing broad-spectrum sunscreen, which protects against both types of rays. Look for the phrase on the packaging of your sunscreen. If it doesn’t explicitly say “broad spectrum,” look elsewhere. One of our favourite broad-spectrum sunscreens for the body is from La Roche-Posay. For the face we have three key offerings; SkinCeuticals https://www.nualawoulfe.ie/collections/skinceuticals Heliocare https://www.nualawoulfe.ie/collections/heliocare-spf Dermaceutic https://www.nualawoulfe.ie/collections/dermaceutic-skincare
Skin Science and Health – August 01, 2021
Skin Barrier Issues.
Your skin barrier is the lipid matrix found in the outermost layer of your skin, the stratum-corneum, and essentially sits on top of this layer. When healthy, the skin barrier helps keep moisture in and external irritants out (e.g., UV, free radicals, bacteria) - acting as your skin’s bodyguard.What is the skin barrier?The skin barrier, or moisture barrier, is mainly composed of three lipids: ceramides, cholesterol, and free (AKA essential) fatty acids. These lipids work together to prevent water loss and to protect your skin from the environment. Damage to the skin barrier occurs in the form of miniscule cracks through which moisture can easily escape and irritants can enter more easily.Signs your skin barrier is damaged:When your skin barrier is healthy, your skin generally looks plump and smooth and feels soft to the touch. If you have oily skin that’s also dehydrated, that’s a common sign that you may have a damaged skin barrier. (Yes ... Your skin can be both oily and dehydrated.
Skin Science and Health – July 24, 2021
Pigmentation - the story continues.
Hyperpigmentation is an umbrella term used to define common skin conditions — including post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), melasma and sun spots — in which patches of skin become darker than the surrounding area. The darkening of the skin results from an excess in melanin — the natural pigment that determines skin, hair and eye colour — and frequently appears on the face, hands and other parts of the body regularly exposed to sunlight.
Skin Science and Health – July 24, 2021
Pigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is defined as darkening patches of skin. This occurs when the skin produces more melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour. Sun damage is the main cause of pigmentation. The initial melanin production from sun exposure acts as a natural sun screen to protect from harmful rays. However excess UVA/UVB exposure disrupts the melanin production, which leads to increased pigmentation.
Skin Science and Health – June 08, 2021
Human Skin -Microbiome and Acne.
Research in to microbiomes of the human body , to include skin and gut tell us that a diverse and physiologically important array of bacteria, viruses, fungi and archaea make their home on the skin. Typically, a person has around 1,000 species of bacteria on their skin. And, as might be expected from such a large area — roughly two square metres for an average adult — the skin offers a variety of distinct ecosystems, which create conditions that favour different subsets of organisms. We harbour roughly the same number of microbes as we have cells. This complex ecosystem is crucial to our health, affecting many processes including immunity, child development and bone density regulation. Research in this area has been extensive, with exciting work on how the microbiome develops, its influence on brain and behaviour and implications in both contributing to and treating various disorders.A person’s gut microbiome is seeded in early life according to the bacteria they are exposed to and how successfully these microbes colonise the intestines. Populations of bacteria in the gut are highly sensitive to the food we eat, so sensitive, in fact, that changes in species variation and gene expression appear within three or four days following a major sift in diet.
Skin Science and Health – April 05, 2021
The impact of sun damage on skin- ageing
Unprotected sun exposure is the number one cause of premature skin ageing. If you do not believe this - look at an area of skin that is rarely exposed to the sun and compare to an area of skin that is front and centre when exposed to UV damage. UVA / UVB. UV radiation is part of the light spectrum that reaches the earth from the sun. It has wavelengths shorter than visible light, which are classified as UVA and UVB rays. Both types of radiation damage the skin in different ways. UVB ( shortwave radiation) these are responsible for burnt, redskin, whereas UVA,(longwave radiation) can penetrate deeper in to the skin and cause DNA damage. Sun damage can have short and long term consequences, depending on the level of the damage. The immediate visible signs of sun damage is sunburn, redness, dryness, peeling. In more severe cases it may show with blisters, along with nausea and dizziness.
Skin Science and Health – January 26, 2021
The Science behind daylight/ darkness and restful sleep.
What can you do to optimise light for better health? The simple rule of thumb is to expose yourself to as much daylight as possible during the day (without looking directly at the sun!), as little light as possible in the evening, and absolutely no light when you sleep (i.e. sleep in complete darkness).
Skin Science and Health – January 25, 2021
Antioxidants Explained.
Antioxidants - When we’re exposed to UV, pollution or other stressors such as smoke and chemicals, free radicals form in the skin. At a cellular level, these free radicals can kick off a chain reaction that causes a huge path of destruction and often, ultimately, the death of the cell.
Skin Science and Health – January 07, 2021
Lipids such as Cholesterol, Essential fatty acids and Ceramides and their role in ageing skin.
Essential fatty acids, Ceramides and Cholesterol are all naturally occurring lipids in the correct ratio in healthy skin. Lipids are the good fats in your skin that make it look healthy and young; as you age, your skin loses them, causing dullness, dryness, and wrinkles. These healthy fats play a critical role in maintaining a healthy functioning skin barrier. The skin barrier is Crucial for this skin barrier function is the lipid matrix in the outermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum.
Skin Science and Health – January 11, 2021
Acne-Rosacea
Acne Rosacea -Rosacea is a complex skin condition , with inflammatory triggers, in which environmental factors can interfere negatively or positively in its evolution. Our skin barrier can be disrupted due to many possible reasons. When it’s damaged the tight junctions between the skin cells are lost. This allows external irritants to get in our skin a lot easier and lead to more water leaving our skin, leading to a dry tight feeling. Damaged skin barrier is characterised by an easily irritated, dehydrated and flaky skin, red skin. Improving the skin barrier function can significantly reduce symptoms, plus reduce inflammation. Up to 30% of rosacea sufferers have a family history of the condition leading researchers to believe it involves as yet unidentified genes, and for some, this is an inherited condition.
Skin Science and Health – January 03, 2021
Sinusitis
Bee Pollen Sinusitis is an inflammation of the nasal sinuses Sinusitis can either be acute or chronic. Acute Sinusitis is frequently caused by a bacterial or viral infection of the nose , throat & upper respiratory tract , such as the common cold .
Skin Science and Health – January 02, 2021
Free radicals & Antioxidants.
What are free radicals?Natural chemical reactions in our cells produce unwanted by-products called reactive oxygen species (ROS) – better known as free radicals. These furiously ping about inside cells causing havoc, particularly a type of damage called oxidation. Seen an apple go brown? Smelt oil or nuts that have gone off? That’s oxidation. Unchecked, a disastrous chain reaction would occur in which cell’s most precious elements – their fat rich membranes, their proteins and DNA - would degrade and suffer irreparable harm.There’s also a whole other source of free radicals - the environment. The skin is bombarded by sunlight (UV, infrared, visible light), weather and pollution which trigger the production of free radicals.
Skin Science and Health – January 02, 2021
What can be done to slow the ageing process?
We start losing collagen from the age of 20, starting the creation of lines and wrinkles. Healthy skin reflects overall health, and poor nutrition can contribute to factors that accelerate skin ageing.Environmental factors such as ultraviolet radiation, pollution, nutrition and stress, play a key role in the way we age. Research also suggests that a diet rich in sugar contributes to the loss of collagen in the tissues as the result of a process known as glycation, which can destroy collagen. Smoking kills vitamin C and in turn damages collagen.
Skin Science and Health – May 28, 2020
Resveratrol Explained
Over the past 10 years, resveratrol has come to be known as the “longevity molecule.” Resveratrol works in a number of ways to improve skin function and appearance, and studies have proven it to be one of the top antioxidants in anti-ageing skincare. This potent antioxidant’s unique multi-action approach helps neutralise free radicals, which damage cells leading to tissue damage, and promotes the production of the skin’s natural antioxidants1.
Skin Science and Health – May 27, 2020
On Skin That’s Feeling Sensitive
Cleansing your skin may be the first step of your morning ritual, but if your skin is on the sensitive side, it’s not as easy as grabbing whatever happens to be there. If you have sensitive skin—easily irritated by chemicals and fragrances, or prone to redness, rashes and irritation—it’s essential to avoid harsh ingredients and opt for gentler cleansing products and methods.
Skin Science and Health – May 03, 2020
Discolouration and Dark Circles Under the Eyes
Dark circles, also known as periorbital hyperpigmentation, are a commonly encountered condition best described as the darkening of skin pigmentation around the eyes. Whilst dark circles are not usually caused by an underlying medical condition, many people think they make them look tired, sad or older than they are, and therefore can affect their emotional well-being .
Skin Science and Health – May 02, 2020
Why is daily sun protection so important?
Skin ageing is 93% sun damage.The sun damages our skin every day, all year round – even on the cloudiest of days. Sun and environmental damage are associated with 93% of skin ageing. Wearing daily sun protection is essential in maintaining your clients’ skin health and helping to prevent premature skin ageing. In fact, rather than sun protection we should think of it as daylight protection. That’s because while UVB is strongest in the Summer, UVA, visible light and infrared-A are present all year round.
Skin Science and Health – May 03, 2020
Antioxidants help to protect against Free Radical damage.
Free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause damage to our cells. What makes them unstable is that they are missing electrons from their outer shell. This causes them to search for other atoms or molecules that have these electrons, in order for them to feel whole again and become stable. Due to their reactive nature, free radicals can wreak havoc on your skin and other cells in their quest to find an electron and feel whole again. In order to stabilise themselves, free radicals try to bond to other atoms or molecules.
