THE SKIN COMPLEXION AND TEXTURE
The skin condition is commonly talked about in terms of complexion and texture. The face is the visual assessment of skin colour, tone and clarity. The skin texture describes the appeal of the skin to touch. Together, complexion and texture reflect the apparent character and the skin’s general health.
As explained in the previous chapter, different skin types have different complexions and textures. Genes and age are the two unalterable determinants responsible for people’s skin type differences.
Extreme weather conditions, improper skin care, use of wrong cosmetics and specific skin disorders such as acne and pigmentation also adversely change the skin’s colour, tone and texture.
THE ‘UNALTERABLE’ GENETIC
AND AGE FACTORS
Let’s first understand what is meant by ‘unalterable’ to understand the role of the two factors. A genetic factor is an immutable, changeless identity code e is born. Age is an irreversible process of nature.
Each individual is different from the others. The differences in facial features, body structure, skin type, complexion and texture are due to the different genetic codes inherited by the individuals.
Research reveals that people of different races are genetically endowed with varying numbers of oil glands, sweat glands, hair and other skin variations. This can help us understand how skin type, colour, and tone differences occur among people.
With age, we find that skin loses its qualitative appeal. The skin texture becomes thin, dry and loose. The cell renewal process diminishes with age.
OTHER AFFECTING FACTORS
The changes in our skin complexion and texture with age are natural, but the more severe and damaging complexion complications can occur due to wrong nurture. Some of the factors are :
IMPROPER SKINCARE
• Improper cleansing of oily skin results in the darkening of the complexion and engenders blemish—causing acne.
• The texture of the oily skin worsens if the enlarged pores are not arrested with proper steaming and toning.
• Moisturizing and nourishing are the most important aspects of dry skin care. If not carried out properly, the texture turns extremely dry and flaky, and the complexion looks dull and pallid.
USE OF WRONG COSMETICS
• Application of creamy, oil-rich beauty soaps and oil-based chemical makeup products adversely affects oily skin conditions. The complexion turns sallow yellow, and the texture becomes thick and greasy.
• Some fairness creams contain mercury drug preparations. They are photosensitive and cause patchy discolouration of the skin in the sun.
• Dry skin treated with medicated or strong soaps loses all its radiance. The texture may feel rough and taut.
SUN
Excessive sun and tan darken the skin’s complexion and colour. It can also dry up the skin of its fluid, thereby affecting the finesse of the texture. Certain medications like birth control pills and blood pressure drugs react unfavourably in the sun, causing pigmentation or red irritation.
ACNE
Severe and moderate acne leaves blemishes and temporary dark spots that clear up with time. If the pimples and blemishes are picked and squeezed, it causes indentations and small pits on the skin’s surface. The texture no longer remains smooth.
Apart from acne blemishes, skin irritations, redness, and chapping occur in eczema and allergies skin disorders.
ANAEMIA AND POOR BLOOD CIRCULATION
Dark circles under the eyes, paleness and loss of tone are common skin irregularities that bother women suffering from anaemia and other circulatory disorders.
OVER-ABSORPTION OF NATURAL
COLOURING PIGMENT
The most common complexion problem that occurs with time and due to certain other conditions is the darkening of skin colour.
The main reason for the darkening of skin colour is the over-absorption of the natural colouring pigment, melanin, by the topmost cell layer in our skin. Melanin is produced in the basal cell layer, and dead cells on the surface absorb this colouring pigment.
A gradual decline in skin rejuvenation and improper skin surface sloughing also affects the complexion. The general deterioration in the skin is pronounced with age. The diminished blood circulation, loss of oil and sweat glands’ activity and body tissue degeneration cause skin dryness and wrinkles.
CARE OF SKIN COMPLEXION AND TEXTURE
The skin complexion and texture aspects that need our maximum attention are skin colour, clarity and excessive dryness, roughness and oiliness.
There are a host of potent homemade recipes that can improve our complexion and enhance the texture of our skin.