5. TREAT SERIOUS SKIN CONDITIONS

    Acne
    Psoriasis

If you delve into your skin-care regimen with an eye toward healing a serious skin problem, you should know about two major sources of information: The American Academy of Dermatology and the New Zealand Dermatological Society. Bear in mind, though, that these are the places to go for hardcore coverage of skin-care issues and are intended more to provide information about skin diseases than to inform the average narcissist of how to stay pretty. If you do get that bad case of acne or psoriasis, click over for a full run down on everything you could possibly want to know about your particular problem: its causes, how to manage it, specific treatments . . . even the possible adverse psychological effects of the condition.

Acne

The American Academy of Dermatology web site will give you a lifetime's worth of details about that dreaded scourge of all our teenage years. Of course, acne can last well beyond adolescence and for serious situations, you'll need a comprehensive program of treatment and prevention that goes beyond a simple daily regimen.

The New Zealand dermatology resource outlines the causes of acne, explaining how the excess level of hormones in teenagers and some adults stimulates oil glands to enlarge. When oil glands are thus stimulated, they will produce copious amounts of sebum (a more technical name for the oil) which, together with keratin (dead skin cells), can block pores. A blocked pore is an unhappy pore, and you'll be its unhappy owner if you allow it to fester, since it will swell to become the pimple you hate so much.

For mild or moderate acne, your doctor can prescribe topical treatments such as benzoyl peroxide and retinoids to clear up the sebum and unblock your pores. Sunlight and ultraviolet light can also help acne briefly, though always be aware of the solar horrors we touched on earlier. When acne becomes particularly chronic, you may need to take medication orally, in the form of high doses of antibiotics for six months or longer. The above resources help explain the various medications and can give you a good primer before you visit your dermatologist.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is another prevalent skin disorder that occurs in as many as 2% of adults. The condition manifests itself through red patches on the skin which are covered by silvery-white scales. Though the precise causes of psoriasis are not known, most researchers believe the problem is triggered by an abnormal immune reaction against some component of the skin— common causes include stress, injuries to the skin, and less frequently, certain medications. The reaction leads the skin to grow at about seven times the normal rate.

Again, sunshine is a good curative to this problem, though only in moderation. Other treatments include soaking the affected area in warm soapy water, which will soften the hard exterior of the rashes. The main goal in treating psoriasis is to keep the rash from hardening, so another helpful step is to moisturize the area—and we all know how useful that can be. Yet another approach is to use an occlusive covering, which is a waterproof bandage.

Of course, for more severe cases, you will want to consult your physician, though you can prepare for your appointment by gaining an excellent working knowledge of the condition at the www.dermnet.org.nz web site. Once you've dealt with the really tough stuff — and that's up to you and your doctor — you can then begin to follow our recommended skin care regimen. The goal is to put your best face forward without spending hours a day on the project. We're looking for the Noxzema girl — not the soap fetishising Jack Nicholson in As Good As It Gets.

Now go ahead: put on a happy face.