What is your skin type

The skin of your face is generally the best guide in classifying skin type. Examine your skin closely, especially the pores.

Oily Skin. Oily skin is caused by overactivity of the sebaceous glands. Oily skin is thick and has large pores. Oily skin has a greater tendency to develop acne (прищ) but not wrinkles. Most people with oily skin also have oily hair.

Dry Skin. Dry skin can be caused by underactivity of the sebaceous glands, environmental conditions, or normal aging. Dry skin is usually thinner and most easily irritated. It often is associated with dry hair and small pores. There is a greater tendency to develop wrinkles but not acne. Your skin tends to become drier as you age.

Balanced Skin. Balanced skin is neither oily nor dry. It is smooth and has a fine texture and few problems. However, it has a tendency to become dry as a result of environmental factors and aging.

Combination Skin. Combination skin consists of oily regions (often on the forehead and around the nose) and regions that are balanced or dry.

Ex. 26. Read and translate the following text: skin disorders

Because it is a complex organ constantly exposed to the elements, the skin is susceptible to various problems. The skin protects the body from the environment. It is surprisingly resistant to a wide variety of insults.

However, it may become irritated and inflamed, a condition called dermatitis. Its capillaries may become enlarged as a result on sunburn. So the term dermatitis simply means an inflammation of the skin. It has many causes. It may appear as contact dermatitis, prickly heat rash, atopic dermatitis, stasis dermatitis and some others.

Direct contact with one of a number of substances can cause a skin inflammation called contact dermatitis. The signs of it are redness and itching, blisters and weeping from the sores in severe cases, and skin changes limited to the area of contact with the causative agent. If the person is sensitive to material in a watchband or ring, his/her skin beneath the object can become inflamed. Red, sore eyelids can result from the use of certain cosmetic products or from touching the eyelids with other material on the fingers. In allergic dermatitis, the allergen may be something that the person has used for years with no problem. Mild chemicals such as hexachlorophene in soap and acetone n nail-polish remover can produce contact dermatitis. Treatment consists primarily of identifying the offending agent and avoiding it. Sometimes, some medicines or ointments are necessary.

The cause of psoriasis is unknown, although there may be a genetic predisposition that affects the life cycle of skin cells. Normally, it takes about a month for new cells to move from the lowest skin layer, where they are produced, to the outermost layer, where they die and scale off in tiny flakes. With psoriasis, however, the entire cycle takes only 3 or 4 days. As a result, dead cells accumulate rapidly, forming thick, silvery scales. If the scales scraped away, bleeding occurs from the blood vessels at the top of the dermal papillae. Psoriasis is a chronic disease that can be controlled but as yet has no cure.

Eczema describes an inflammatory condition of the skin. There are some forms of eczema. Cause of inflammation may be allergy, infection, poor circulation, or exposure to physical factors such as chemicals, heat, cold, or sunlight. The signs of this disorder are extreme, persistent itching and thickening of the skin in patches. Coal-tar ointments are often used when the condition has been present for months or years and the skin has become thickened. Corticosteroid creams and ointments are very useful in reducing the inflammation and itching.

OVERVIEW

The skin is a unique organ. It contains many specialized nerve endings for sensing heat, cold, and pain. In addition, skin contains numerous oil glands, hair follicles, and sweat glands. The skin protects the internal organs and serves as heat regulator. Capillaries and blood vessels in the skin dilate or constrict according to the body's temperature. The skin is composed of the epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous tissue. The epidermis is the top layer. The outermost surface of the epidermis is made up of dead skin cells. Squamous cells lie just below the outer surface. Basal cells are at the bottom of the epidermis. The dermis, found beneath the epidermis, makes up 90 percent of the bulk of the skin. It is a dense layer of strong, white fibers and yellow, elastic fibers. This layer includes blood vessels, muscle cells, nerve fibers, lymph channels, hair follicles, and glands. The dermis gives strength and elasticity to the skin. Beneath the dermis the subcutaneous tissue lies. It is composed largely of fat through which blood vessels and nerves run.