The clichéd ‘beauty is only skin deep’ may have proven to be an equaliser in the beauty-obsessed world of cosmetics, but the dictates of our time demand a modern approach to the desired ‘flawless skin’, as it defines the very paradigm of beauty in our world. The stress, obviously, is on skin and its endearing qualities to reflect beauty and even health. Care of skin takes precedence as Linden Tyler, beauty expert and Look Good Feel Better Educator commands, ‘Invest in your skin…it is going to represent you for a very long time.’
But how does one go about defining healthy skin or finding the difference, if any, between healthy skin and flawless skin?
With dermatologists zeroing in on the importance of skin in identifying a variety of health issues, the focus is on skincare, whether the motive is beauty or healthcare. Pointing out that skin is the largest organ of the body, Dr. Ahmed Al Waily, Senior Consultant Dermatologist at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, warns that this organ is, generally, exposed to diseases, trauma and even apathy to skin care. “It reflects diseases inside the body, as sometimes the person has an internal disease, which can start with a skin complaint – for example, pruritus (itching),” he cautions, adding: “The person should seek medical advise if he has a skin complaint, especially if it is persistent and is worsening or has a mole which is changing from what it was before.” Although there is no defined scientific term for a healthy skin, Dr. Waily notes that the skin is, generally, accepted as healthy if the person has no skin problem. “The skin is said to be healthy if it is smooth, has even colour and is well hydrated,” he adds.
Explaining the importance of diet in maintaining skin health, he points out that the skin renews itself every 28 days, making it imperative to supply it with a steady portion of nutrients, more so as this renewal is a continuous lifelong process. “Any alteration in the person’s diet can be reflected in the skin… If a person loses weight, he/she gets loose skin with unsightly lines and he/she looks older for age. On the other hand, if he/she gains excess weight, then the effects are seen as unhealthy looking skin,” he describes. For healthy skin, he suggests care and diet that includes a balanced amount of healthy food, with attention to antioxidants such as vitamins C, E, A and Zinc.
There is no denying that skin is the index of overall health, but skin diseases, per se, vary from continent to continent due to weather changes and the amount of ultraviolet rays exposure from the sun, he states. However, he hastens to add that there are diseases such as psoriasis, which affect equal number of people worldwide. “In this part of the world, we see more of sun exposure effects and less skin cancers compared to the west and Australia. This is because we have a natural protection from the sun induced skin cancers, especially melanoma,” explains Dr. Ahmed Waily.
He agrees that cosmetic procedures are becoming a trend all over the world and growing into a multi-million dollar business, but he advices people seeking cosmetic procedures to press the caution button and exercise care. “One should take care in choosing the right medical centre, getting a proper examination and obtaining a consent written with proper explanations with percentage of improvement and side effects,” he advises, stressing on the need to read well about the specific procedure. “Also, do not overspend,” he counsels.