Skin Articles

Julie shared her knowledge about was the of-the-moment natural alternatives for sensitive skin problems. With alternative treatments thriving, Julie says: "When companies use the word natural in skincare it is always very interesting. Although it is always your choice, remember that some natural products don’t necessarily treat your condition. In fact, there are some around that are very worrying because they don't go through the same regulation as pharmaceutical products." 

What's more, a lot of tested and regulated products for skin conditions contain moisturising factors that exist in your skin already, you can't get more natural than that. "Hyaluronic acid is a Natural Moisturising Factor found in the skin already but it is also added to good moisturisers to give the skin an extra boost," explains Julie. 

When people have problematic, sensitive or ageing skin, they have fewer Natural Moisturising Factors (NMF). These are the elements in the skin that keep the outer layer of the skin protected and well hydrated. Those with psoriasis have around 80% less whilst those with eczema have 20% less NMFs than people with healthy, 'normal' skin. The number of NMFs in your skin also reduces as you age and your hormones change, which is why people, particularly women, find that they need to moisturise more when they reach middle-age or menopause. 

On top of how to deal with dry skin, Julie warns against scrubbing sensitive skin: "In dermatology, there are two words we don't like: scrub and rub!" she explains, "The skin is a very clever organ for excretion. If you don't have a skin condition, your skin overturns every 28-days anyway and your pores work as a filtration system. So, scrubbing can cause damage to sensitive skin that's already clean."

Given the time of year, another hot topic of the coffee morning was insect bites and allergic reactions. If you have experienced increasing swelling around insect bites or have realised that your skin reactions to allergies are getting worse, this is common. Julie shares why this happens, saying: "Once you have had a series of bites and you meet another insect (or allergen) the reaction can build up and become a little bit worse every time. The most practical thing to do to stop this from happening is to stop the cause from reaching you by wearing suitable clothing or take antihistamines in preparation."