SPECIFIC CARE FOR DRY SKIN

WHEN THE SKIN CALLS FOR HELP...

Dry skin surely is the most common skin type. Its characteristics are known: Oil and moisture factors are reduced, the skin is flaky and itching and feels brittle and raw.

Besides, certain skin diseases, such as neurodermatitis, which symptoms are characterized by dry, raw skin with itching and eczema. It is scary, that eczema today actually affects 20 - 30% of the population.

DISTURBED SKIN BARRIER

With dry skin, the structure of the skin oils, i.e. the lipids in the callous skin layer between the cells, is undergoing the main modification. The proportion of moisturizing factors (NMF) is reduced.

Normally, the fat- and moisture components mentioned above  gather fat- and moisture building blocks in the skin to produce so-called lipid double-layers in a manner as to create a relatively impermeable skin barrier. The skin is therefore optimally protected from the penetration of deteriorating products, and the own moisture of the skin can be retained in the skin to the highest possible extent. However, if the necessary substances for the construction of the barrier are not present in sufficient amounts, this natural barrier cannot be built up anymore. The result: The skin dries out and is more sensitive to the penetration of irritating agents.

DISTURBING FAcTORS FOR THE SKIN

Besides a constitutional, reduced presence of so-called epidermic lipids, many external factors can also disturb the function of the skin barrier.

Besides the wrong skin care, especially aggressive tensids in foaming cleansing products are able to emulgate and bloat the epidermic lipids present in a barrier the function of which has been disturbed which further deteriorates its state. This is the reason why the cleansing of the skin should rather be done with lipid-replenishing cleansing products, such as the CLEANSER I.

THE ROLE OF MINERAL OIL IN COSMETICS

Covering the skin surface (occlusion effect) with highly concentrated mineral oils, mineral waxes, silicones or other layer-forming agents in cosmetics produced with mineral oil may disturb the order of the barrier structure. The reason: The skin barrier is composed of a certain proportion of oil and water. An intact skin barrier may optimally retain the moisture, an excess water may however always evaporate as well. If the skin is now completely sealed, for example by an impermeable foil, no water can escape from the skin at all anymore. The result: The fat-water balance of the skin barrier is shifted - the barrier loses its double-layered structure and becomes more permeable.

These relations also explain why suddenly stopping the application of the usual cream containing mineral oils leads to a sudden loss in water, and a temporary degradation of the state of the skin. It is quite accurate to speak of a “paraffin addiction” of the skin.

SOOTHING OF THE SKIN BARRIER

A sensible care of dry skin should therefore support the construction of an intact skin barrier, and provide moisturizing factors. In this regard, it seems logical to provide the skin with the necessary building blocks in the form of epidermic lipids (such as ceramids, liposomes and gamma linolic acid), like in the BASIC CARE II, as well as moisturizing factors (such as hyaluronic acid) like in the CONCENTRATE II or the SENSITIVE CARE I and to avoid substances which disturb the structural construction of the skin barrier.

VALUABLE EPIDERMAL LIPIDS

On the other hand, the names relations also explain why a normal, oily skin care does not offer any improvement of the skin state, even when it is made exclusively out of valuable mineral oils. Skin surface oils, which correspond to excretions of the talcum glands (talcum gland lipids), which leads the skin barrier to not be “repaired”. Oils such as jojoba oil which correspond to the talcum glands cannot compensate a lack of epidermis lipids, as is the case with flaky, brittle skin appearances for instance.

One must be reminded however that many dry skin states are missing epidermic lipids and talcum gland lipids, and a maximum improvement of the skin complexion is only possible, if both these components are applied.

The BELICO® system care meets these requirements by using the BASIC CARE, in possible combination with the CONCENTRATE IV. The completion of lacking skin-surface oils is insured in the form of an INTENSIVE or SENSITIVE CARE and the valuable natural oils contained within.

To compensate drying environmental factors such as dry heating air, the highly concentrated moisturizing factors in CONCENTRATE II and the MASK III are able to bind the moisture in the skin durably. The hydration and tension of the skin can thus be improved greatly.

COPYING THE SKIN BARRIER

Unfortunately, the completion of skin lipids does not achieve much on intensively washed areas such as the hands, since these are bloated time and again due to cleansing processes. Moreover, the use of valuable skin-identical lipids can be quite expensive on the long term if used on large areas, such as the whole body. Here, the HAND CARE I and the SPECIAL CARE I are alternatives: New sugar isomers which deposit on the skin calls and cannot be washed off anymore practically copy the barrier function of the skin. In this manner, you can enrich the sugar ions in the skin for about 28 days and create a protective and yet slightly penetrable layer on the top-epidermic areas. The skin is protected from irritating products, and an excessive loss of water is prevented. Natural moisturizing factors such as urea keep the skin soft and smooth as well.

DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR YOUR SKIN!

Ask your BELICO® cosmetician how to treat your skin in the most sensible and effective manner. Because next to a specific care at home adapted to the requirements of your skin, a regular visit in a cosmetic institute can contribute a lot to a visible and noticeable improvement of the skin complexion.