Common Culprits That Cause Skin Damage

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Multiple factors, from sun exposure to annoying irritants, can cause you skin damage. You should know them and how to fight back.

As it is that sensitive, your skin is affected by everything from the excruciating light of the sun to irritating detergents and cigarettes.

Take a look at the most common culprits of skin damage and find out how you can fight them off.

  1. Sun Exposure

Given how busy you are each day, sun exposure might be inevitable but you have to make sure that doesn’t damage your skin. According to most dermatologists, the sun is the biggest cause of skin damage.

The ultraviolet rays of the sun break down the various components of the skin such as collagen and elastin that help keep your skin looking smooth. These rays also affect melanocytes, which can lead to changes in your skin’s pigmentation.

To avoid skin damage that can be caused by the sun, dermatologists advise staying out of the sun during the middle of the day when the sun’s rays are strongest, wear protective clothing such as a hat, and using a broad-spectrum sunscreen — one that protects against both UVA and UVB rays — with a sun protection factor of 30 or higher. Don’t forget to re-apply every two hours for maximum protection.

  1. Smoking Cigarettes

Overall, the skin of a smoker isn’t as healthy and doesn’t heal as well as a nonsmoker’s skin. It also has a tendency to wrinkle easily. That’s because smoking cigarettes causes your blood vessels to constrict, or become narrower, and that lowers the number of nutrients and oxygen that reach the skin and keep it healthy.

As a result, the skin loses elasticity, meaning it can’t snap back into shape as easily. This lack of nutrients also makes it harder for the skin to heal when you have a wound and can lead to skin ulcers. In women, smoking leads to lower estrogen levels, which dries out the skin.

Cigarettes can also cause the skin on your face to become dry, more prone to wrinkles and stretch marks, and appear dull and gray. Wrinkles can appear in smokers as young as in the early thirties, but quitting can help you avoid premature aging.

If you have trouble quitting, talk to your doctor about the best smoking cessation option for you. Nicotine gum, inhalers, lozenges, nasal spray, and patches can all help you quit, along with prescription medications such as bupropion, varenicline, nortriptyline, and clonidine.

Skin Damage Causes | Shinagawa Aesthetics Blog

  1. Free Radicals

One of the ways the sun damages your skin is through the production of harmful substances called free radicals, which are unstable oxygen molecules with a single electron. In short, dermatologists think that ultraviolet light from the sun can lead to damaged DNA and skin damage.

Free radicals may even play a role in the development of skin cancer. They are also the result of exposure to tobacco products or other environmental factors.

Some skin care products contain antioxidants such as vitamins C and E that can help lessen the effects that free radicals have on your skin. Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, which contain antioxidants (especially berries, broccoli, carrots, and spinach), can also promote healthy skin.

  1. Skin Irritants

Certain chemicals in cleaning products and laundry detergent can cause red, irritated skin and allergies in people who are susceptible. For instance, ammonia and bleach have a tendency to irritate the skin. These chemicals may cause contact dermatitis, which causes scaling, irritation, and sometimes even a chemical burn. People with sensitive skin may experience more skin irritation than others. There are also over 3,000 substances in our environment that can cause allergies.

The easiest way to protect your skin from irritants is to avoid contact, either by wearing gloves when you clean or wash dishes or by switching to less irritating products. Also, moisturizing your skin can help. Some people may need an antihistamine or steroids for treatment.

Knowing these culprits will help you be wary of what causes damage to your skin.

A healthy and proper skin regimen will most certainly help your cause along with religious skincare treatments.

Our dermatologists at Shinagawa Aesthetics are more than capable of protecting your skin from damage thru proper care and treatment.

Call our Patient Care Lines (+632) 368 5238 | (+63) 917 862 7454 | (+63) 921 217 0517 for a FREE derma consultation to know what’s best for your skin and wellness.

Your Cornea Is Sensitive, Make Sure You Take Care Of It | Shinagawa LASIK Blog

Your Cornea Is Sensitive, Make Sure You Take Care Of It

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Do you know that the cornea is the most commonly transplanted human tissue with the highest success rate?

Yes, it is and that’s because your cornea works really hard to the point that it is prone to accidental damage. The cornea is the outer layer that’s the first contact between your eye and the world.

Approximately, eye doctors perform more than 40,000 corneal transplants every year. Why do they have to? This five-layered surface of the eye takes a beating, often inadvertently.

People expose it to UV rays from the sun. They grind their knuckles into their eyes from habit or to stop itching. Worst of all, they leave contact lenses in so long — especially when asleep — that corneal ulcers occur.

Think of your cornea as a flexible windshield. It catches dust, grit and bacteria and keeps debris at bay. Tears rain over it each time you blink. If it’s damaged, you need to act quickly; a problem left unattended may get worse and prevent you from seeing clearly what’s in front of you.

Your cornea focuses two-thirds to three-fourths of the light reaching your eye. It bends light onto the lens, which refocuses light onto the retina. The retina converts light to electrical impulses that travel down the optic nerve to the brain and get interpreted as images.

The cornea has the densest concentration of nerves of any human tissue. At the same time, it has no blood vessels, which is why the body seldom rejects a transplant. And it’s resilient: It bounces back from minor injuries or scratches, though deeper injuries cause harmful scarring. Blurry or reduced vision, halos, glare or headaches may indicate various eye problems, but pain and redness specifically suggest corneal concerns.

Many eye ailments become more common with age.

Ways To Take Care of Cornea | Shinagawa LASIK Blog

The most common corneal loss of clarity mainly affects people in their teens and 20s. It’s keratoconus, a progressive thinning and distortion that afflicts one American in 2,000. A new treatment, corneal cross-linking, doesn’t cure the condition but keeps it from getting worse: Doctors saturate the cornea with riboflavin, expose it to a wavelength of UV light, and a chemical reaction with oxygen stiffens the tissue permanently.

This is an exciting time for corneal research. Ophthalmologists now treat individual layers of the cornea, making partial transplants instead of full ones. For example, Fuchs’ dystrophy affects the back layer, where pumping cells carry fluid out of the eye to prevent swelling. Physicians go in from the side, remove a defective area, insert donor tissue containing healthy pumping cells and push it against the front of the cornea with an air bubble.

Doctors use drops as an ongoing defense against mild corneal problems, but two types need drastic measures. The first is any chemical burn or splashback; those require immediate medical attention.

The second is a corneal ulcer, which can get painful – and dangerous – quickly. The likeliest causes? Foreign body material in the eyes or contact lenses left in while you sleep. Whatever advertisers claim about soft or extended-wear lenses, take them out every time you plan to get at least four hours of shuteye.

Your eye health should be as much of a priority for you as your overall health. Shinagawa has the ability to give you the corresponding eye care that you need.

Let’s take a look at your eyes and cornea to see how they are doing. Call our Patient Care Lines: (+632) 368 5238 l (+63) 917 862 7454 l (+63) 921 217 0517 to schedule an appointment for eye consultation or LASIK screening.

Veneers — Your Solution For A Better Smile | Shinagawa Dental Blog

Veneers — Your Solution For A Better Smile

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Since veneers are thin shells designed to be placed on the front of teeth to conceal dental damage, they are often used to improve the look of poorly-shaped, misaligned, crooked teeth and stains.

Veneers are made out of porcelain or a resin composite, yet porcelain has become more popular because it completely resists staining and looks more like your natural teeth.

The dynamic features of veneers present a lot of positives and benefits as they are:

  • Very natural looking
  • Stain-resistant
  • Made to match the precise color, shape, and size of your natural teeth
  • Demands less removal of tooth structure than cosmetic dental bonding or dental crowns

As long as you take care of your veneers, they can stay strong and attractive for more than 10 years.

When it comes to caring for your veneers, here are some effective tips you can use to keep them in top condition:

  • Practice good oral hygiene like daily brushing and flossing to prevent veneers from becoming decayed.
  • Avoid bad dental habits like nail-biting and chewing ice, which can damage thin veneers.
  • Visit a reliable dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings.

At Shinagawa Orthodontics, our dentists can take a good look at your teeth to see how veneers can fit you perfectly.

Your desired killer smile is always just a step away from being achieved with the help of veneers. Call our Patient Care Lines: (+632) 368 5238 l (+63) 917 862 7454 l (+63) 921 217 0517 to schedule your FREE dental consultation with us.

Rejuvenating Your Skin The Right Way | Shinagawa Aesthetics Blog

Rejuvenating Your Skin The Right Way

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As you continue to get up there in age, your skin naturally loses some of its softness and vibrancy.

Still, there are a number of simple lifestyle changes that can help rejuvenate the skin, such as wearing sunscreen, moisturizing more and getting enough sleep.

Start with the simplest things you can do. Here are some simple tips that can get you started with your skin rejuvenation:

Use a gentle cleanser

Rise your face with the cleanser, but don’t scrub. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

Apply Toner

Skin toners help soak up oil and remove dirt. They should be applied before moisturizers.

Use an Exfoliator

Exfoliators remove dead skin cells. They should only be used two-to-four times a week since your skin needs time to regenerate. Mechanical exfoliators use small, rough particles to sand away the outer layer of your skin. They are best for oily skin.

Chemical exfoliators increase your cellular turnover rate to slough off the dead skin. Some chemical exfoliators, such as those with a high concentration of vitamin C, may not be appropriate for dry or sensitive skin.

Those helpful skin rejuvenation tips can most certainly help but it’s best to combine them with essential treatments as well to keep your glow.

Skin Rejuvenation procedures correct changes in the appearance, tone, texture, and elasticity of the skin. Skin Rejuvenation treatments can do wonders for you as they effectively help your skin be healthier and look younger.

Shinagawa Aesthetics presents various treatments that aim to rejuvenate skin in a safe, effective, and healthy way.

Advanced and innovative derma treatments like Fractional Co2 Laser, Synchroderm Plus, Beauty-Tox, ShrinkAge, Placenta Collagen, DermLift (Vampire Facial), and Skin Pigmentation Treatment are big boosts in rejuvenating your skin the right way.

Have your favorite skin rejuvenation procedures at Shinagawa Aesthetics. Call our Patient Care Lines (+632) 368 5238 | (+63) 917 862 7454 | (+63) 921 217 0517 for a FREE derma consultation to know which procedures fit you best.