Chapter 3: Lesson 3.1 Caring for Your Skin, Hair, and Nails

Skin

The , which is the of the human body, is the outer covering of the entire body and is part of the system. Your skin plays a very important role in keeping you healthy. First, the skin protects everything inside the body. This includes , , and other organs, such as the , , and . The skin serves as a for keeping and from entering your body. Your skin also plays an important role in regulating your body temperature. In this section, you will learn techniques to care for your skin. You will also learn about common types of skin conditions and how to prevent and treat these conditions.

Caring for Your Skin

Keeping your skin requires care. Take a bath or shower to remove sweat and bacteria, which cause body odor. When bathing or showering, use a mild soap and warm water to rid your skin of dirt and oil. After bathing, applying or can keep skin from becoming too dry. Also, apply or to help prevent body odor (Figure 3.1). A deodorant covers up odor, while an antiperspirant actually stops or dries up sweat.

In addition to these basic skin care steps, caring for your skin also involves making healthy lifestyle choices. Eating healthy foods, such as and , and drinking lots of water can help keep your skin looking its best. Getting each night, managing your stress, and avoiding tobacco products are all choices that can also keep your skin looking healthy.

Spending too much time in the sun can your skin. Therefore, applying sun protection whenever you go outside is very important. A sunscreen protects the skin by absorbing, reflecting, or scattering (UV) light. Ultraviolet (UV) light is an invisible kind of that comes from the sun, tanning beds, and . UV light can seriously harm your skin.

Common Skin Conditions

People may experience several common types of . Examples of conditions that affect the skin include , , and . Body decorations, such as and body piercings, may also cause skin conditions.

In the following sections, you will learn about these skin conditions. You will also learn how to prevent or treat them.

Acne 📷

, a skin condition characterized by , commonly develops during adolescence. Acne occurs when the oil glands produce too much oil and the pores.

are hair under the skin. The excess oil mixes with dead skin cells and creates a blockage in the pore. Over time, oil and bacteria leak into the skin surrounding this pore. This causes infection and , including redness, swelling, and pus.

A called a gets its name from the whitish pus inside a clogged pore that has only a tiny opening to the skin’s surface. In contrast, a is a or bump inside a clogged pore that is more open to the air. When air gets inside the follicle, it causes the oil inside the follicle to become darker (Figure 3.2).

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent and treat acne breakouts. The following strategies can help:

• your gently with soap or face scrub twice a day. After washing your face, rinse well so that the soap does not stay on your skin.

• Do not . Doing so can lead to permanent acne .

• touching your with your fingers. This can spread bacteria and cause inflammation and irritation to other parts of your face or body.

• Make sure anything that touches your , including glasses, headbands, and hats. Keep your hair clean and pulled away from your face.

• Protect your skin from , which can make acne appear even worse.

• Wash any makeup off your skin before going to sleep. Throw away old makeup as it can contain bacteria.

• Shave your face lightly, and not too frequently, to avoid accidentally cutting a skin blemish.

• Use acne medication to clear and prevent acne. For serious cases of acne, consult a (doctor who is a skin specialist). A dermatologist can give you useful information about caring for your skin type, and prescribe medication, if necessary.

Eczema

, or , is a condition that causes swollen, red, dry, and itchy patches of skin on one or more parts of the body (Figure 3.3). Eczema is a , which means it typically reoccurs over time. or other minor illnesses, , and stress may all trigger eczema flare-ups. Eczema is not contagious, meaning you cannot catch it from someone else.

You can often treat of eczema using over-the-counter products. To relieve the dryness and itching of eczema, or cream when the skin is damp, such as after bathing or washing your hands. This locks in moisture and can help . Avoid any patches of eczema. Doing so may cause an infection.

Suntans, Sunburns, and Skin Cancer 📷 Spending too much time in the sun’s can damage your skin. and sunburns are both indicators of damage to the skin because of too much time in the sun. Scientific evidence suggests that overexposure to and damage to the skin can lead to skin cancer. There are types of skin cancer (Figure 3.4). Two types of skin cancer are common and curable. These two types are and . is the most of skin cancer because it spreads rapidly throughout the body, sometimes before the initial skin cancer is recognized.

To protect your skin and prevent skin damage, which can lead to skin cancer, reduce intentional UV exposure and increase sun protection. Other ways to protect your skin are shown in Figure 3.5. Sometimes you might feel pressure from friends to spend time in the sun without protection. You can resist this influence by encouraging others to be safe too.

Tattoos and Piercings

Since ancient times, people have chosen to their bodies in permanent ways. Two of the most common types of body decoration, or body art, are and piercings. These types of body decorations can potentially impact health.

Tattoos are designs on the skin made by using a to insert colored ink under the skin. Body piercing involves the use of a needle to make a hole in the skin to insert jewelry. The most common body piercing is to the . Other pierced body parts often include ear cartilage, the belly button, the nose, and the tongue.

In most states, people are required to be at least of age or have written permission by a legal guardian to get a tattoo or body piercing. To reduce the risk of complications from , people should have them done at clean, safe, and well-regarded facilities by licensed professionals. In addition, following the care instructions closely can help decrease the possibility of infection.

Although getting a tattoo or a may seem harmless, it is a big decision—and a permanent one. People should think carefully about the risks involved with these procedures before making a decision (Figure 3.6).

Hair

Although you have more than on your head, you lose about 50 to 100 hairs every day through normal activities such as , , or your hair. These hairs are replaced by new hairs, which grow from the same . Practicing good hair care will help you keep your hair looking clean and healthy. Maintaining the health of your hair can also be easy when you understand common hair conditions and know how to prevent and treat them.

Caring for Your Hair

Keeping your requires routine care. One simple hair care technique is to regularly your hair and scalp. This helps keep hair clean and prevents it from becoming too dry. When washing your hair, get it really wet. Use only a small amount of and gently massage it into your scalp. Then, rinse really well to remove all the shampoo from your hair.

After showering, gently dry your hair with a towel. Let your dry when possible. Using a too often can dry out your hair and increase the chance of breakage. In addition, comb your hair carefully. Do not tug on it to decrease the chances of breaking or pulling the hair out.

In addition to washing your , following are some other techniques that can help keep your hair healthy:

• Eat a (Figure 3.7). Some hair conditions are caused in part by a lack of certain vitamins and fats.

• items that have touched your hair with other people, such as combs or hats.

• Wash your hair , especially after swimming in a chlorinated pool.

• Get a , such as every six to eight weeks, to remove split ends.

Common Hair Conditions

A common hair condition many people experience is having . This is especially true for adolescents who are going through puberty. Every is attached to a gland that produces oil. When these glands produce too much oil, such as during , a person’s hair may look greasy.

can be treated by washing hair regularly. People can also use shampoos designed to help treat oily hair.

Another common hair condition people may experience is , which is the flaking of dead skin cells from the scalp. A common cause of dandruff is having dry skin. People who have dandruff because of dry skin often notice white flakes of dead skin in their hair and on their shoulders (Figure 3.8). is usually worse in the fall and winter, when indoor heating can dry out skin. Infrequent shampooing, which allows oils and skin cells from the scalp to build up, is another common cause of dandruff. too often or using too many hair care products may the scalp and lead to dandruff, too. If you have dandruff, try using a medicated shampoo that can be purchased at stores. If the dandruff continues, see your doctor or for treatment options.

A hair condition some people may contract is . Lice are tiny insects that attach to the hair and feed on human blood. Lice can easily from one person to another through head-to-head contact or if people share combs, brushes, or hats. Although lice do not cause any major health conditions, they are and uncomfortable. If you become infected with lice, use a to kill the lice and their eggs (or nits). You also need to wash all , towels, and other items that have touched your hair in hot water.

Nails

and are made up of layers of a hard protein called . This hard substance protects the sensitive tissues on the tips of your fingers and toes. Nails grow out from the area at the base of the nail. As new cells continuously grow, are pushed out.

It is relatively easy to keep your nails and . Keep your nails dry and clean to and other from growing under them. If you must soak your hands, such as while washing dishes, or if you must use , wear gloves. Be sure to trim your fingernails regularly using clippers, , or a nail file.

In addition, your hands regularly, including your fingernails and cuticles. Do not bite your fingernails, pick at your cuticles, or pull off your hangnails. Doing so can cause infections.

Before using the services of a salon for nail care, make sure the salon and the nail technician are . All tools should be properly sterilized between customers to avoid spreading infections.

fingernails and toenails are smooth, free of spots or , and consistent in color. Some in the nails, such as white spots or vertical ridges, are normal. Other conditions, however, such as nail discoloration, , or redness and swelling around the nail, can sometimes indicate health concerns (Figure 3.9). Some common nail conditions can be treated at home while some may need to be treated by a professional.