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Southern Cross Health Features

Welcome to our online health and healthy lifestyle magazine. This information is necessarily of a general nature. You should always seek specific medical advice for treatment appropriate to you.

Skin: From Eczema to Eternal Youth

One in six visits to the family doctor involves a skin problem, according to the New Zealand Dermatological Society, with pre and actual skin cancer, and dermatitis among the most common.

Dermatitis, also called eczema, involves swollen, red and itchy skin. Although not life-threatening or contagious, it can make people feel uncomfortable and self-conscious. It’s often a long-term problem.

A number of health conditions, including allergies, genetic factors and physical and mental stress can cause dermatitis. Don’t make it worse by scratching. Keep your fingernails short so you don’t unwittingly exacerbate the problem in your sleep. And don’t try to treat skin conditions yourself – always consult your doctor or dermatologist. Things you can do to help dermatitis include:

Reducing how often you bath or shower and replace standard soap with a mild soap-free cleanser
Wear soft, smooth, cool clothes (avoid wool)
Protect your skin from dust, water, solvents, detergents and injury
Ask your doctor to recommend an emollient cream and medicinal creams if appropriate.

Eternal youth

Skin problems are one thing - skin preservation is another. We’re living in an age when youth is so celebrated that an increasing number of people, particularly women, are reported to be spending small fortunes on serums, creams and pottles of goop that purport to contain anti-ageing, wrinkle-smoothing properties. And this is not taking into account the large numbers who top up their mortgages for more invasive beauty therapies such as laser peels and treatment using Botulinum Toxin Type A (commonly known as Botox® Cosmetic) to de-wrinkle the skin.

Do they work? Scientists are cautious. The consensus seems to be “yes” but many admit the effects are only temporary.

“Beauty regimens may be useful in those with dry or elderly skins,” says Auckland dermatologist Dr John Wishart, “but they are harmful in those with young and oily skins. Vitamin C has an extremely modest effect as an anti-ageing agent in cream form. It would be more use to restrict sun exposure and stop smoking (this accentuates wrinkles). Retin A compounds also help at a modest level.”

Only a certain amount of cream actually penetrates the epidermis. Combine with good nutrition acting from within, and healthier skin will be the result. Deficiencies of certain nutrients, such as vitamin A, B-complex and essential fatty acids are known to cause various forms of dermatitis and other skin conditions. Mild deficiencies, which are very common and often go unnoticed, may not create “problem skin” but they clearly impair the skin’s ability to heal and renew itself.