Ravensong Poetry And Writing Blog by Donovan Baldwin

Skincare is a simple word, but, skincare is not created equally! Women's skincare differs from that of children and men, and skin care even differs at various stages of life among women. 

A woman's appearance on the outside, her skin, indicates what's going on inside her body. Poor nutrition, unhealthy lifestyle choices, and stress may all contribute to the overall poor health and appearance of the skin. Bad habits such as smoking and consuming high-fat, high-salt diets deprive the body of the important nutrients the skin needs.

Although most women don't shave their faces, they DO shave other body parts, including very sensitive ones. Extra care should be taken to avoid further skin irritation, cuts, or ingrown hairs. 

A woman's body tends to retain water, causing the skin to look and feel more bloated. To keep water retention under control, women need to limit the amount of salt in their diets. 

Due to modern fashion trends, men are following in women's footsteps, including skincare, but still, women are more likely to undergo skin treatment procedures. Augmentation, dermabrasion, and laser treatments all will change the skin's appearance, but, too much interference with nature will ultimately wreak havoc.

Always weigh the risks versus the benefits before 'going under the knife'.

Additionally hormone-charged emotional ups and downs, which may influence the skin's appearance, wildly fluctuating hormones during pregnancy and menopause can cause changes in a woman's skin. 

Skincare during pregnancy 

Check the products you use to ensure they're safe during pregnancy. If you have any concerns, make an effort to find and purchase products that are labeled safe to use during pregnancy. 

Pregnancy can cause normal skin to become oily so you may have to change to skin care products that combat acne. Toners and exfoliating products can remove dead cells and deep-clean pores. Moisturize your skin, especially your growing belly, to reduce the chances of developing stretch marks. 

Your feet are also going to be getting an extra workout so be sure to massage with a foot lotion containing refreshing menthol. Pigmentation sometimes changes during pregnancy, increasing the likelihood of sunburn/tan. Remember to wear sunscreen to protect against sun-damaged skin. 

Skin care during menopause

Fluctuations in a woman's progesterone and estrogen levels during menopause may cause skin changes. Facial hair may appear and skin start to sag, wrinkle, and thin. During menopause, a woman's skin may also be drier due to slowed production of sebum. Interestingly, changing hormone levels may cause a new round of acne! Random dark spots and broken blood vessels are likely to appear. 

To counter the effects of dry skin, add humidity into the air, take shorter and warmer baths or showers, and moisturize. Risks of skin cancer will also increase, so, closely monitor moles and other skin discolorations. Most importantly, as always, be vigilant about proper sun protection.

Donovan Baldwin

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