Skin and Hair Health
How our skin anf hair look is importance to many of us. At the same time, your skin and hair are organs that do special...Good skin and hair care involve eating a variety of healthy foods...
Skin and Hair Health
How our skin and hair look is important to many of us. At the
same time, your skin and hair are organs that do special jobs
that support life. Skin protects your inside organs from injury,
bacteria, and viruses. Your skin, hair, and sweat glands help
control body temperature. Body hair also alerts you to heat and
touch. You can take steps to keep your skin and hair healthy.
You can also look to your skin and hair for clues to your overall
health. And, as a bonus, good skin and hair care will help you to
feel your best, too.
Caring for your skin and hair
Good skin and hair care involves:
l eating a variety of healthy foods rich
in vitamins and nutrients
l keeping physically active
l managing stress
l practicing sun safety
l limiting alcohol
l not using tobacco and other
recreational drugs
l drinking plenty of water
Unhealthy behaviors can take a toll on
skin and hair. For instance, habits like
smoking and sunbathing dry out skin
and cause wrinkles.
Caring for your skin
Follow this simple skin care routine to
keep your skin healthy and radiant:
l Bathe in warm—not hot—water using l Keep skin from drying out by drinking
mild cleansers that don’t irritate. Wash plenty of water and using gentle mois-
gently—don’t scrub. turizers, lotions, or creams.
Skin and Hair Health 305
l Practice sun safety to prevent skin
cancer. Sun exposure puts you at great- Age Spots
er risk of skin cancer, whatever your Years of sun exposure can cause flat,
skin color or ethnicity. To protect your brown spots called “liver” or age spots
skin: to appear on your face, hands, arms,
back, and feet. They are not harmful.
• Limit exposure to the midday sun But if the look of age spots bothers
(10 am-4 pm). you, ask your doctor about skin-light-
• Wear protective clothing, such ening creams, laser therapy, and cryo-
as wide-brimmed hats and long therapy (freezing). Use sunscreen to
sleeves. prevent more age spots.
• Use sunscreen with a sun protection
factor (SPF) of 15 or higher and with doesn’t heal, or a change in an old
both UVA and UVB protection. growth. Ask your doctor how often
• Avoid sunlamps and tanning booths. you should have a clinical skin exam
to check for signs of skin cancer. (See
l Check your skin for sun damage. Tell pages 53 and 54 of the Cancer chapter
your doctor about changes on the for more information.)
skin, such as a new growth, a sore that
l Ask your doctor if the medicines you
are taking can affect your skin. For in-
stance, blood thinners and aspirin can
cause you to bruise more easily. Some
antibiotics and vitamins make skin
sunburn more easily.
Skin and hair: Clues to overall
health
Healthy skin and hair are signs of good
overall health. Some skin and hair
changes can signal a health problem. For
instance, a “butterfly” rash on your face
can be a sign of lupus. Distinct rashes
appear with some viruses, such as the
measles and chicken pox. An allergic
reaction can cause hives, redness, and
itching. Diabetes and thyroid disease can
cause hair loss. Knowing how your skin
and hair normally look and feel will help
you notice changes to ask your doctor
about.
306 The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for all Ages
mon during pregnancy and menopause,
when hormones are changing. Medi-
cines, such as birth control pills, can also
lead to breakouts.
The cause of acne is unclear. We do
know that dirt, stress, and foods do not
cause acne. But stress and certain foods,
such as chocolate or greasy foods, can
make acne worse. Acne also appears to
run in some families.
To care for acne, use mild soaps, avoid
touching your skin, and wear oil-free
makeup. Your doctor may also suggest an
Nail Health
acne medicine. If so, ask about the side
Healthy fingernails and toenails are effects. Do not take isotretinoin (eye-
smooth, with an even color. Keep your
soh-trih-TIN-oh-in) (Accutane®) if you
nails clean, dry, and trimmed to pre-
vent ingrown nails. If you wear artificial
are pregnant or trying to get pregnant—
(fake) nails, check around the base it can hurt your baby.
and sides of the nails for redness, Dry skin
pain, and infection. Bacteria and fun-
gus can grow between the artificial nail Skin can dry out and become rough,
and your natural nail. Tell your doctor scaly, and itchy for a number of reasons.
if you notice nail changes, which also Dry skin (xerosis, zih-ROH-suhss) can
could be the result of health problems, be caused by:
such as diabetes or heart disease. l dry air
l overuse of soaps, antiperspirants, and
Common skin complaints perfumes
Sensitive skin
Women with sensitive skin may have
itching, burning, stinging, or tightness
after using products such as soaps or
makeup. Women of color are more prone
to sensitive skin. Look for products made
for sensitive skin. Talk with your doctor
if these products don’t help.
Pimples (acne)
Pimples form when hair follicles under
your skin clog up. Although most com-
mon in the teen years, many women get
pimples into their 50s. Acne also is com-
Skin and Hair Health 307
l not drinking enough water of cellulite. No amount of weight loss,
l stress exercise, or massage reduces cellulite. Spa
wraps, creams, and vitamins also do not
l smoking help. Liposuction can make it look even
l the sun worse. To prevent cellulite, try eating
Doctors report a higher rate of dry skin well, being active, and not smoking.
in African Americans. Try the skin care Stretch marks
routine on pages 305 and 306. If dry
Rapid growth and weight gain, such as
skin does not improve, talk to your doc-
with puberty and pregnancy, can stretch
tor. Sometimes, dry skin signals a health
your skin, leaving pink, red, or brown
problem, such as diabetes or kidney
streaks on your breasts, stomach, hips,
disease.
buttocks, or thighs. Medicines, such as
Cellulite cortisones, and health problems, like
Cellulite is fat that collects just below diabetes or Cushing’s syndrome, also can
the surface of your skin, giving it a cause stretch marks. Creams that claim to
dimpled look. Women of all sizes can prevent stretch marks are of little value.
get it. Once formed, you cannot get rid Yet stretch marks often fade over time.
Skin and Scalp Conditions
Condition Symptoms Possible treatments
Athlete’s foot • Red, itchy, and cracked skin on the • Antifungal cream
toes
Fungal infection • Wash feet daily, wear clean socks,
• Thick, yellow, and crumbly toenails and do not walk barefoot
Burns • Swelling, blistering, and scarring • Antibiotics
Tissue damage caused by • Damage to outer layer of skin, • Hospital care may be needed
heat, sunlight, electricity, which can extend into body tissues • Deep burns with tissue damage
chemicals, or radiation • If serious, shock and even death may require skin grafts
Cellulitis • Hot, painful, or tender skin • Antibiotic cream
Bacterial infection • Tight, glossy look to skin • Clean area with soap and water
• Sudden rash on face or legs • Call your doctor if symptoms worsen
Cold sores • Tingling, itching, or burning on • Medicine to rub on sores
mouth, gums, or lips
Fever blisters caused by • Medicine taken by mouth
herpes simplex virus • Small, painful blisters filled with • Wash sores with soap and water
fluid
• Ice sores to reduce pain
May spread by kissing or touching, or
sharing razors, towels, or dishes • Without treatment, sores usually
heal in 2 weeks
Corns and calluses • Thick and hardened skin, which • Wear shoes that fit
may be flaky and dry
Skin layers that thicken • Wear gloves during weight lifting,
because of too much rub- • Usually on hands or feet gardening, and other activities that
bing or pressure on the cause pressure
same spot • Use a pumice stone to gently rub
off dead skin
308 The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for all Ages
Skin and Scalp Conditions
Condition Symptoms Possible treatments
Dandruff • Itchy, scaly scalp • Over-the-counter and prescription
shampoos
Chronic scalp disorder • Flakes of dead skin on scalp and
usually caused by an shoulders • Manage stress
overgrowth of fungus nor- • Don’t use styling products
mally found on the scalp
Eczema (EG-zuh-muh) • Dry and itchy skin • Special skin care routine
Chronic skin condition; • Rashes on the face, inside the el- • Avoid triggers, like perfumes,
also called atopic derma- bows, behind the knees, and on the smoke, and stress
titis (ay-TOP-ihk DUR-muh- hands and feet • Medicine
TEYE-tuhss)
• Sometimes, redness, swelling, • Light treatment
cracking, crusting, and sores that
seep clear fluid
Head lice • Itchy scalp or tickling feeling in your • Medicine applied to the scalp
hair
Insects that live on your • Wash clothing, combs, bedding,
head Spreads through head-to-head con- and other personal items
tact and by touching personal items
like hats, scarves, and combs
Impetigo (im-puh-TEE- • Tiny, itchy blisters on face, arms, or • Antibacterial cream
goh) legs
• Medicines taken by mouth
Skin infection caused by • Thick, light-brown scabs
• Wash with antibacterial soap sever-
bacteria, usually staph May spread through personal contact, al times a day, gently remove scabs
or strep or by sharing towels, razors, or cloth-
• Use clean washcloth and towel
ing
each time you wash
Pigment disorders • Skin with too much or too little pig- • Creams to lighten the skin
ment (color)
Darker or lighter area of • Cosmetics to mask area
skin; called a “birthmark” • Usually on elbows, knuckles, and
• Avoid direct sun and use sunscreen
if present at birth knees
• Bronze color on soles and palms
Psoriasis (suh-REYE-uh- • Thick red patches, covered with • Medicine
suhss) scales, usually appearing on head,
• Light treatment
elbows, and knees
An autoimmune (aw-toh-
ih-MYOON) disease • Itching and pain, which can make
it hard to sleep, walk, and care for
yourself
Rosacea (roh-ZAY-shuh) • Redness and flushness on the face, • Green-tinted makeup to hide
mainly in adults with fair skin redness
Chronic skin condition;
more common after • Small red lines under the skin, • Medicines
menopause bumps on the skin, and inflamed
• Laser surgery
eyes
Scabies • Mark that looks like a pencil line • Creams to rub on infected area
Infection caused by a • Itchy bites or sores on hands and • Medicines taken by mouth
type of insect called a feet • Cool baths and calamine lotion
mite laying eggs beneath
• Pimples on your abdomen
your skin • Wash clothing and bedding to re-
May spread by sharing clothing and duce spreading
bedding
Skin and Hair Health 309
Skin and Scalp Conditions
Condition Symptoms Possible treatments
Shingles • Rash of raised dots or red blisters • Medicines to reduce pain and other
symptoms
Painful skin rash caused • Small fluid-filled blisters with scabs
by the chicken pox virus • Shooting pain on one side of your
body
Most people 60 and older should get
the one-time-only herpes zoster vac-
cine, which can prevent shingles. Ask
your doctor if you can get it.
Vitiligo (vit-ihl-EYE-goh) • White patches on areas exposed • Steroid creams to rub on patches
An autoimmune disease to the sun, or on armpits, genitals, • Medicines taken by mouth
(See page 84 of the Auto- and rectum
• Light therapy
immune Diseases chap- • Hair turns gray early
ter for more information.) • Cosmetics or tattoos to cover
• Loss of color inside your mouth patches
• Counseling to cope with changes in
appearance
Caring for your hair
Your hair is one of the first things that
others notice about you. The shape and
structure of your hair depend on your
race. For instance, African hair is typi-
cally flat with tight curls. Asian hair is
typically round and thick. Caucasian hair
may be fine and straight or thick and
wavy. Natural oils from hair glands also
affect the look and feel of your hair.
Basic hair care involves a healthy lifestyle
and proper care. Wash oily hair daily and
limit how much you touch your hair. For
dry hair, keep blow-drying time short
and avoid overstyling, which can lead to
dryness and breakage. Protecting your
hair from wind, sun, and chlorine in wa-
ter also will help to keep it from drying
out and breaking.
310 The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for all Ages
If you color or relax your hair, carefully l Certain medicines, such as birth con-
read the product label. Hair dyes and trol pills or those to treat cancer, ar-
relaxers can harm both your skin and thritis, depression, or heart problems.
hair. Talk with your doctor if your skin l Extreme stress, such as from a major
or scalp swells or gets itchy after using illness.
any hair product. Even natural products,
such as henna dye, can cause an allergic
l Hairstyles that twist or pull hair.
reaction. Whether or not hair will grow back
depends on the cause of hair loss. Some
Hair disorders medicines can help speed up the growth
Living with a hair disorder can be hard, of new hair. If hair loss is permanent,
especially in a culture that views hair as you can try hair weaving or changing
a feature of beauty. To cope, try to value your hairstyle. Or talk with your doctor
yourself for who you are—not by how about other options, such as a hair
you look. Also, play up your best fea- transplant.
tures, which can boost self-esteem. Many
women with hair disorders also find that Hirsutism
talking to others with the same problem When dark, thick hair grows on a wom-
is helpful. an’s face, chest, belly, or back, the condi-
tion is called hirsutism (HUR-suh-TIZ-
Hair loss
uhm). Health problems and family genes
It’s normal to shed about 100 hairs each can cause high levels of male hormones,
day as old hairs are replaced by new ones. which can result in hirsutism. If you are
But some women have hair loss—called overweight, try losing weight, which
alopecia (AL-uh-PEE-shuh). Hair loss reduces male hormone levels. Consider
can happen for many reasons: methods for removal of unwanted hair.
l Female-pattern baldness causes hair to (See page 312 for more information.)
thin, but rarely leads to total baldness. Also, ask your doctor about medicines to
It tends to run in families. slow or reduce hair growth.
l Alopecia areata (AR-ee-AYT-uh) is
an autoimmune disease that causes Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
patchy hair loss on the scalp, face, or
(PCOS)
other areas of your body.
Women with polycystic ovary syn-
l Hormone changes during and after drome (PCOS) make too many male
pregnancy. hormones. This can cause male-
l Underlying health problems, such as pattern balding or thinning hair and/
polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or or hirsutism. (See page 159 of the
thyroid disease. Reproductive Health chapter for more
information on PCOS.)
Skin and Hair Health 311
Trichotillomania l Throw out mascara after 3 months.
People with trichotillomania (TRIH- l Keep product containers tightly closed
koh-TIL-uh-MAY-nee-uh) have a when not in use.
strong urge to pull out their hair, which l Don’t share your makeup.
leads to visible hair loss. Some people
with this hair-pulling disorder also pluck l Call your doctor if a product causes
their eyebrows, eyelashes, and body hair. skin changes like itching and rash—
Hair pulling gives people with this dis- you may be having an allergic reaction.
order a sense of relief or pleasure. But
Tattoos and permanent makeup
it also is a source of distress and shame.
Behavioral therapy and medicines can Tattoos are colored inks inserted under
help a person stop hair pulling. your skin. Permanent makeup is a tat-
too made to look like eyebrow, lip, and
Cosmetic practices eye liner. If you like tattoos, keep these
Makeup health risks in mind: Needles that are not
properly cleaned can pass infections—
Good skin care is the foundation of
even HIV—from person to person. Al-
beauty. But many women enjoy us-
lergic reactions to tattoo ink are rare but
ing makeup (cosmetics) too. If you use
can happen. Also, poorly applied tattoos
makeup, follow these tips:
can be costly to remove. Temporary tat-
l Read the labels for product content toos and other skin-staining products,
and safety information. including henna dyes, can cause allergic
l Wash your hands before applying reactions. Henna is approved by the U.S.
makeup. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
l Throw out products if the color chang- only for use as a hair dye.
es or they get an odor. Hair removal
Cultural norms often affect a woman’s
choice to remove body hair. Many
women shave their legs and underarms.
Wet hair first, then shave in the direc-
tion that your hair grows. Chemicals
called depilatories dissolve unwanted
hair. Depilatories can irritate, so always
test on a small area of skin before using.
Never use chemicals around your eyes or
on broken skin. For laser, epilator (elec-
trolysis), waxing, sugaring, or threading
treatments, find a licensed technician.
Serious side effects of hair removal can
include swelling, blistering, scarring, and
infection.
312 The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for all Ages
Cosmetic Procedures and Surgery
Some women choose to have cosmetic proce-
dures to improve appearance and self-esteem.
But the decision to have a cosmetic procedure
should not be made lightly. If you are thinking
about having a cosmetic procedure, ask your
doctor:
• How is the procedure done?
• Am I good candidate for the procedure?
• How does my health history affect my risk of
problems?
• What results and side effects can I expect?
• What are the risks?
• When can I restart normal activities?
• How much will the procedure cost? (Cosmetic procedures usually are not covered
by insurance.)
• What is your training and experience?
• Can you provide references from patients you have treated?
Body piercing shop follows safety and sanitary steps as
Before piercing—poking a hole and set by the law.
inserting jewelry in—any part of your
Beauty tips to live by
body, learn about the health risks.
Skin or hair care products claiming to
Piercings in your tongue, cheeks, and
reduce wrinkles or enhance shine are
lips may cause gum disease. Infection is
tempting to try. But keep in mind, the
common in mouth and nose piercings,
best beauty tips are free and up to you
so talk with your doctor about signs of
to follow. Living a healthy lifestyle and
infection as well as allergies. Also ask if
practicing sun safety can have you ra-
your shots, especially hepatitis and teta-
diating beauty from both outside and
nus, are up to date. And make sure the
within. n
Skin and Hair Health 313
One Woman’s Story
M y first bald spots appeared when I was 22 years old. A dermatologist gave me sev-
eral cortisone shots, but he never said that I had a condition. He attributed my hair
loss to stress. The shots worked; my hair grew back and I went on with my life. He didn’t
say it, but I left his office with the impression that I was “cured.”
I wasn’t. I had to go back for more cortisone shots, but he still didn’t give me a name
for what I had. The bald spots would happen more frequently and take longer to fill in,
if they filled in at all. I would get some regrowth, but it was sparse, thin, very fine, and
sometimes gray. It also did not stay. I finally
went to another dermatologist who told me
I probably had alopecia areata and that it
was not serious. Don’t let alopecia
Alopecia is an autoimmune disorder that
causes hair follicles to become inactive.
While alopecia is physically benign, the psy-
stop your life.
chological effects can be devastating and
debilitating. It can strike swiftly and without
warning; or it can happen over a period of
years, changing constantly.
Over the years, I have seen several dermatologists who used different treatments with
little success. Then I met a doctor who told me, “It’s only hair. Get over it.” His comment
sent me into a deeper depression.
Then I met a compassionate, but honest, dermatologist. After she took my history and
waited for me to stop crying, she explained alopecia to me in a way that I could under-
stand. She explained that the pattern of hair loss indicates the probability of regrowth.
Since my hair loss began around the perimeter of my head and was worse in the back of
my head, the probability of it growing back was very slim. Even though this was not good
news, it made sense. It gave me something to work with, allowed me to move on.
I used to think, “Why did this have to happen to me?” The answer is “Why not?” Once I
stopped whining and started to count my blessings, alopecia did not seem that bad in
the larger scheme of things. I’m not saying I would not like to have my hair, eyebrows, and
eyelashes back. I am saying that I’m still all right without them.
Don’t let alopecia stop your life. Go to a support group. It gets easier knowing you are
not alone. I don’t intend to get over it, but I do intend to deal with it and support other
alopecians.
Cassandra
Columbia, Maryland
314 The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for all Ages
For More Information…
Office on Women’s Health, HHS American Society for Dermatologic
200 Independence Ave SW, Room 712E Surgery
Washington, DC 20201 5550 Meadowbrook Dr, Suite 120
Web site: www.womenshealth.gov/faq/ Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
cosmetics.htm Web site: www.asds.net
www.womenshealth.gov/faq/varicose.htm
Phone number: (800) 994-9662, American Society of Plastic Surgeons
(888) 220-5446 TDD 444 E Algonquin Rd
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
National Institute of Arthritis and Muscu- Web site: www.plasticsurgery.org
loskeletal and Skin Diseases Information
Clearinghouse, NIH National Eczema Association
1 AMS Circle 4460 Redwood Highway, Suite 16D
Bethesda, MD 20892-3675 San Rafael, CA 94903-1953
Web site: www.niams.nih.gov Web site: www.nationaleczema.org
Phone number: (877) 226-4267, Phone number: (800) 818-7546
(301) 565–2966 TTY
National Psoriasis Foundation
Office of Women’s Health, FDA 6600 SW 92nd Ave, Suite 300
5600 Fishers Ln Portland, OR 97223-7195
Rockville, MD 20857 Web site: www.psoriasis.org
Web site: www.fda.gov/womens Phone number: (800) 723-9166
Phone number: (888) 463-6332
National Rosacea Society
American Academy of Dermatology 800 S Northwest Highway, Suite 200
PO Box 4014 Barrington, IL 60010
Schaumburg, IL 60618-4014 Web site: www.rosacea.org
Web site: www.aad.org/public Phone number: (888) 662-5874
www.skincarephysicians.com
Phone number: (888) 462-3376 Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors
1835 R W Berends Dr SW
American Academy of Family Physicians Grand Rapids, MI 49519-4955
PO Box 11210 Web site: www.phoenix-society.org
Shawnee Mission, KS 66207-1210
Web site: www.familydoctor.org
Skin and Hair Health 315
