Page 42 - You - South Africa (February 2020)

YOU LIFESTYLE

What’s

going on?

Any kind of mark, spot or discol-
ouration on the skin can be classi-
fied as a blemish. Most aren’t
harmful to your health, but they
can cause distress when they
appear on your face.
One of the most common types
of blemishes is acne – pimples,
white heads or blackheads. Acne
can also lead to dark spots or scar-
ring when exposed to bacteria.
Other types include scars, cysts,
nodules (skin tags and warts), age
spots, papules (small pink or
brown skin lesions or rashes such
as chickenpox, eczema and derma-
titis) and cold sores.

Banish

Learnwhyyougetmarksandscars,

howtopreventthemandhowto

coverthemup BY ALEXIS TSHANGANA

Cutouttheculprits

S Stub out that cigarette Smoking is dehy- skin, causing sunspots, premature ageing your nearest dermatologist or work out
drating, causes early wrinkles and, in severe and cancer. what you’ve eaten when you notice your
cases, tissue damage. Nicotine constricts S Be careful around household detergents skin has more blemishes than usual.
blood vessels, inhibiting blood flow and oxy- The chemicals in items such as air freshen- S Keep calm Stress can wreak havoc on
gen to the cells, which causes skin to lose its ers, detergents and bleach can irritate the your body, especially your skin, resulting in
healthy glow. Smoking also causes collagen skin. various dermatological ailments, including
to break down, which can lead to premature S Watch your meds Certain medications acne.
wrinkles and blemishes. can cause acne as a side-effect. S Watch out for infections Bacterial and
S Avoid pollution Living in an environment S Ditch bad foods Drink lots of water to viral infections such as chicken pox and cold
where there’s a lot of smoke and dust can ir- keep skin hydrated but remember your diet sores can also cause blemishes.
ritate your skin, causing it to break out. can have a negative effect on your skin.The S But . . . Some people are just more prone GALLO IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES
S Don’t stay in the sun too long Excessive types of food that can cause your skin to to blemishes such as acne because it’s in
exposure to the sun’s rays can damage your break out differ from person to person. Visit their genes.

40 | 6 FEBRUARY 2020 you.co.za