WHAT IS SENSITIVE SKIN?

Sensitive skin tends to react to the application of various products, specifically those that are traditionally tricky to tolerate, such as alcohol-based gels, exfoliants, soaps and perfumed formulas. Symptoms such as burning, tingling, stinging, redness, dryness and peeling can be associated with skin sensitivity.

Sensitive skin can be caused by genetics, and occur consistently, it can be linked to an underlying medical cause, such as dermatitis. People who have eczema, acne, rosacea and other inflammatory skin conditions are also prone to sensitivity. Conditions such as contact dermatitis and eczema should be assessed by a dermatologist or doctor.

WHAT IS SENSITISED SKIN?

Sensitised skin is skin that has been made sensitive through, practices that have created an imbalance, such as overuse, incorrect or underuse of skincare products, lifestyle factors such as sun damage, pollution. not washing your face, poor diet, stress and lack of sleep,

DRY SKIN

Dry skin is an issue that many people suffer with year-round. It’s very frustrating to deal with due to the unpleasant symptoms that accompany it. People who have dry skin can often find rough, dry, red patches on their skin, and these patches are often itchy.

What is the difference between dry and dehydrated skin?

Dry skin is often misunderstood. To put things simply, dryness refers to a skin type, and dehydration refers to a skin condition. When you have dry skin, your face has fewer oil-producing glands; therefore less sebum is present.

Dehydrated skin is a condition when your skin lacks water, as opposed to an impaired skin barrier. People with dehydrated skin don’t necessarily have dry skin—it could be oily, combination  or normal skin that is simply lacking hydration.

Dry skin sufferers need treatments and products which repair the skin barrier.

CLEANSER - use a gentle cleanser and avoid stripping soaps eg Super Soft Cleanser or Soft Foam Cleanser

Look for a ceramide-rich moisturiser - Hydra Max range for dry skin. 

What causes dry skin?

• Cold air
• Hot showers
• Not using appropriate moisturisers 
• Alcohol
• Dry heat
• Medications
• Hormones
• Poor diet
• Overusing products with acids or retinols

Ingredients to look for

Top 3 - humectants, occlusives, and emollients,

Humectants work by extracting water molecules from the air and pulling them into the skin’s surface. Popular humectant ingredients you may see include ceramides, alpha-hydroxy acids (lactic acid), sorbitol, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid.

Occlusives serve as a physical barrier to help trap water in and prevent moisture loss from the skin’s surface.

Emollients smooth over the skin and increase the rate of skin barrier restoration. Keep an eye out for lipids and oils, colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and isopropyl palmitate. 

Retinol s also a miracle worker for skin with a rough texture. When used incorrectly, your dry skin might be paired with major redness and irritation. How can you prevent dry skin?

Always moisturise at least once a day, within 60 seconds of coming out of the shower, while you are still damp. Your pores are open and products will absorb more efficiently.

When is dry skin something more?

Flaking and feeling "tight" are normal symptoms of dryness. But if they're accompanied by redness, swelling, excessive itchiness, or crusting, you should consult your dermatologist or doctor It could be contact dermatitis or psoriasis, all things that can be mistaken for dry skin.

5 common causes of dry skin.

Hydrated skin starts from the inside out. If your skin is showing signs of dryness or dehydration, start by looking into your diet. You may not be drinking enough water – aim to drink at least 2L a day. You can also replenish your hydration levels by eating foods with a high-water content, like watermelon, strawberries, celery and iceberg lettuce which contains over ninety percent of water.

2) Cold weather

Notice that when it’s winter, your skin becomes more prone to dryness? This is because when the weather gets cooler, lower temperatures coupled with high winds strip your skin of moisture and leave it feeling tight and dry. Keep your skin moisturised with a thicker product to create a protective barrier over the skin.

3) Dry air

Another environmental aggressor you need to look out for is dry air. You’re more likely to experience dry air in warmer climates and in spaces with air conditioning.

4) Unbalanced skin pH

Our skin’s ability to ward off the effects of environmental stressors is determined by something called a pH level. How acidic or alkaline your skin is can drastically affect your hydration levels. If you’re experiencing dryness, chances are your skin has high pH and is too alkaline – you need to balance out your pH levels, so your skin is able to protect itself more effectively. There are many causes of alkalinity, but common causes include over exfoliating and overuse of masks. So, try and reduce exfoliating to once a week.

5) Harsh Chemicals

Not all skin care products are created equally. Products that use synthetic ingredients can be harsh on the skin and strip away your skin’s natural oils. Take a closer look at your skin care ritual and get rid of the products that deplete your skin of moisture. A good way to figure this out is seeing if your skin feels tight or dry after use. 

Dr med.Christine Schrammek's Hydrating Range specifically targets DRY and DEHYDRATED skin - CLICK HERE to discover the full range

PIGMENTATION 

If you pay attention to your skin, it's likely you'll have noticed small areas of discolouration and darkening. Yes, freckles are cute, but we're not talking freckles, these are larger, uneven dark patches that seem to persist on your face, neck, shoulders and hands.

CAUSES OF PIGMENTATION

Hyperpigmentation is usually a harmless discolouration of the skin. The spots can exist since birth or may develop in the course of life - in which case they are referred to as acquired hyperpigmentation. The cause is a local overproduction of pigment, melanin, or a local increase in pigment-forming cells, melanocytes.

Triggering factors :

• UV radiation - sun damage
• Hormonal influences  - melasma
• Genetic predisposition
• Ageing processes - age spots
• Injuries and inflammations of the skin

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK

Beauty salons reopen in April which is good news, A skin care professional can classify the existing pigmentation using a magnifying lamp or the "pinch test".

By assessing your skin and recognising the type of pigmentation you have the skin care professional can prescribe a treatment plan and products to suit your condition and skin type.

Deep-lying dermal pigment is always more difficult to treat. In addition, an experienced skin care professional should be familiar with brightening or pigment-mitigating ingredients and their advantages and disadvantages.

" THE PINCH TEST "

If the pigment can still be seen when the skin is pinched, it is superficial, i.e.epidermal.

If the pigment disappears when the skin is pinched, it is more likely to be deeper i.e. dermal.

UNDERSTANDING INGREDIENTS

With some ingredients for skin brightening, the aggressiveness towards the skin can increase with the effectiveness - the results are irritations of the skin eg kojic acid. It is controversial because it can cause inflammation when it is applied on the skin.

Although many brightening ingredients effectively inhibit tyrosinase, they can also have a cell-damaging effect at the same time.

Some brightening ingredients have therefore already been banned for the use in cosmetics, such as hydroquinone

SAFE & EFFECTIVE INGREDIENTS

VITAMIN C (Ascorbic acid) - inhibits tyrosinase, brightens skin & stimulates collagen synthesis.
 
VITAMIN B3 (Niacinamide) reduces uneven pigmentation, brightens the skin, prevents melanin from penetrating into the upper layers of the skin.

HEXYLRESORCINOL comparable to that of hydroquinone, but without the accompanying side effects. Skin-brightening effect by reducing the melanin content.
 
ARBUTIN is a very effective ingredient in brightening products that is approved for cosmetics and safe in small doses.

MELA WHITE PRODUCT RANGE

MELA WHITE products gently brighten dark areas and even out differences in tone. MELA WHITE combines its brightening effect with non-aggressive ingredients that have highly effective moisturizing and regenerating properties.

* We recommend using the products for 12 weeks and combine with visiting a clinic or salon who are trained in GREEN PEEL herbal peeling for a course of MELA WHITE treatments.

SHOP MELA WHITE PRODUCTS

Of course, you clean and care for your skin every day. But how often do you give it the time to visibly recover and regenerate? Our skin care masks have active ingredients which target skin care issues or simply give your skin a boost.

Masks – the individual beautifiers

Masks are an integral part of a classic cosmetic treatment and offer pure relaxation. During the 10 to 15 minutes while the mask is taking its effect, you can come to a rest and relax. But that’s only one aspect. “Masks are effective beauty products, which, in addition to the relaxation effect, also contain highly concentrated active ingredients that deeply release their potential in your skin,” says Dr. med. Christine Schrammek-Drusio.

Masks are therefore both: quick beautifiers and effective problem solvers. Dr. med. Christine Schrammek derma.cosmetics has developed seven masks for application at home: Sensiderm Mask, Black Clearing Mask, Hydra Maximum Mask, Revitalan Mask, Mela White Gel Mask and AloCalm Gel Mask.

The masks are tailored to different skin needs and application objectives. Basically, masks can be applied whenever you need a quick beautifier or feel that your skin urgently needs support – such as when your skin is showing stress symptoms, appearing pale or seems out of balance. To do something lasting for your skin a ‘mask day’ once a week is recommended. If you have blemished skin, you should even treat your skin with a mask two to three times a week. “Of course, a mask takes some effort. But it’s well worth it to include such a product in your care routine. They not only permanently improve the appearance of your skin, but also provide you and your skin with a little break,” says Dr. med. Christine Schrammek-Drusio.

Are you ready for a mask?

First, thoroughly clean your hands and face.

With a gentle peeling, clear your skin of calluses, scales, sweat and make up residues. This allows your skin to better absorb the mask’s active ingredients.

Evenly apply the mask with a spatula or cosmetic brush, avoiding the area around your eyes.

TIP: Lay a warm towel on your face, the heat intensifies the effects. And for extra eye care: apply freshly cut, cooled cucumber slices – the freshness kick for tired eyes

Leave the mask on for 10 to 15 minutes and enjoy your break.

After the application time, remove the mask with moist compresses and gently dry.

Sensiderm Mask Soothing cream mask for sensitive skin. Instant help for stressed and reddened skin. Relaxes and soothes with zinc and barley grain extract. The natural barrier function ad resistance of the skin can be strengthened. Avocado oil, macadamia nut oil and panthenol make the skin soft and smooth.

Black Clearing Mask Special cleansing mask with bamboo charcoal for greasy skin. Deep cleansing mask for impure skin with activated carbon, Kaolin and Sebuless™ reduces gloss and inflammations. The skin is cleared and refined, blemishes and impurities are reduced. Thanks to activated carbon, the new black mask releases the pores from dirt, sebum and dead skin particles and thus provides a clear and matt skin appearance.

Hydra Maximum Mask Beauty mask for a radiant skin. Provides the skin with intensive moisture and freshness. Calms and refreshes tired and stressed skin. Hydranov P and hyaluronic acid smoothen dry wrinkles. The skin feels fresh, smooth and supple. The ideal refreshment booster for in between.

Revitalan Mask Intensive mask for revitalized looking skin. Thanks to its highly-dosed ingredient power, the rich Revitalan Mask helps to regulate acute skin conditions. It helps to provide the skin with new tension and strengthens its natural defences. Due to the high-quality ingredient composition, the skin receives intensive care and feels noticeably smoother. Wrinkles appear reduced and the complexion radiates.

Mela White Gel Mask Moisturizing gel mask for an even looking complexion. The delicately cooling, light gel texture intensively supplies the skin with brightening substances without leaving a greasy film. It helps to improve the radiance of the skin. With a selected combination of highly-dosed Illumiscin®, Niacinamide and Vitamin C, Mela White Gel mask provides a brightened, even looking skin appearance.

AloCalm Gel Mask Calming and soothing gel mask. The cooling gel mask for versatile use contains highly-concentrated aloe vera, hyaluronic acid and panthenol. It soothes the skin after exceptional burdens and is suited for all skin types – even for blemished skin. The valuable gel of the aloe has anti-inflammatory effects and helps to reduce redness. Even irritated, reddened skin is soothed and provided with valuable moisture.

Does your skin looks a bit tired, the skin tone is pale or are you suffering from break outs ?

Your skin may need a bit of TLC and an energy boost

Perfect match – Water and Lemon

We all know how important water is, and can tell the signs when we have not consumed enough. We feel faint, have headaches and struggle to concentrate. The recommended amount of water which we consume daily is at least 1.5 litres of water.

Tip: Drink a glass of water with the liquid of half a lemon on an empty stomach. The boost of vitamin C provides a firm and fresh skin and it stimulates your metabolism.

Raw food 

Fresh fruits and raw vegetables are not only healthy, they are fantastic for your skin. Studies of the Berlin Charité indicate that vitamins and trace elements when consumed with food are stored in the skin and have an anti-oxidant effect. Researchers have developed procedures in which they were able to demonstrate that an increase of free radical neutralizers (antioxidants) in the tissue can be observed just a few hours after the consumption of carrots and raw food.

The reason: They are transported directly into the skin through the metabolism. The study also proved that people with a high intake of antioxidants resulted in firmer and thus younger skin than those with a lower intake.

Warm or cold?

Everybody has their own preferences when it comes to facial cleansing. While some people prefer warm water, others think cold water is stimulating. One thing is certain: if the water is too warm or too hot it removes moisture and lipids from the skin.

That’s why the face should be cleansed with lukewarm water. Cold water is great for good blood circulation, splash your face with cool water after cleansing for a rosy glow.

Going out

As soon as spring starts, go outside, take a deep breath and feel the awakening nature with all your senses. A walk in the forest or in the park is good for the soul and great for your skin.

The fresh air lets the skin revive and the more oxygen it receives the younger and fresher it looks. The largest amount of oxygen is absorbed through the lungs, but your skin also benefits.

Herbal Care Lotion - Fee Fresh

Herbal Care Lotion in the Essential Range is a wonderful product which we wold recommend adding into your daily cleansing routine.

After cleansing, the soft and delicately fragranced Herbal Lotion calms and refreshes the skin, leaving it smooth and supple. The very mild Herbal Care Lotion is also suitable for sensitive skin. Its stimulating effect is based solely on the natural ingredients of marigold, yarrow and melissa. Besides plant extracts, the product contains a very high amount of panthenol and provides for a pleasant skin sensation. Moreover, it soothes the skin once it has been exposed to too much sun. Herbal Care Lotion refreshes directly, the skin looks healthy and bright.

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