Skin Care for Women:
Your Common Questions Answered

A woman's skin—an introduction

A woman's skin is her body's largest and most visible organ. Skin performs a variety of critical functions, including regulating body temperature and housing touch receptors.

In today's society, a woman's skin also is considered an important beauty feature. The desire for an unwrinkled, blemish-free, youthful complexion helps finance a multimillion-dollar cosmetics industry.

But can a woman beat genetics—and the effects of aging—to prevent or reverse wrinkles, dry skin, and other problems? The following Q & A provides some answers.

Q. Can I prevent wrinkles and other signs of aging?

A. Some wrinkling is a natural part of growing older. As your skin ages, it loses some of its elasticity, as well as the fat that makes it look plump and smooth. Plus, over the years, the effect of gravity can cause skin to sag. However, sun damage is a major culprit in causing skin to age prematurely. So the best way to prevent future wrinkles is to avoid excessive sun exposure—particularly between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Standard Time. When in the sun, follow these precautions:

• Use a sun block with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, and reapply it frequently.
• Wear dark, tightly woven clothes when outdoors. These filter out the sun and help keep you cool.
• Remember to wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays.

The following healthy lifestyle choices can also keep skin youthful-looking:

• Quit smoking, if you smoke.
• Exercise regularly.
• Eat a nutritious diet.
• Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all.
• Avoid drastic weight fluctuations, which stretch the skin.
• Use a moisturizer to keep skin moist. Dry skin makes wrinkles more apparent.

Q. How can I reduce the "shine" that accompanies oily skin?

A. In general, women need to wash their faces only once a day—and when obviously dirty, such as after exercise. However, if you have oily skin, you may need to wash your face two or three times a day. But avoid excessive washing, which may actually cause skin glands to produce more oil.

Here are some other tips:

• Choose a mild soap and rinse with lukewarm water.
• Avoid scrubbing skin, which will only irritate it. But occasionally use a washcloth to remove dead skin cells.
• Use oil-free lotions, make-up, and sunscreens.
• Try oil-free, pressed powder to cover up shine.
• To prevent mild acne that often accompanies oily skin, you might try over-the-counter treatments that contain benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, sulfur, or resorcinol. Severe acne may need a doctor's attention.

Q. What can I do about dry, flaky skin?

A. Skin tends to become drier as women age because the number of sweat and oil glands decreases. However, many other factors can contribute to dry, itchy skin at any age. These include cold weather, wind, indoor heating, and frequent bathing.

To prevent and treat dry skin:

• Use warm—not hot—water when showering or bathing.
• Keep showers and baths short to avoid washing away your skin's natural oils. Or consider sponge bathing a couple of days a week.
• If you want to soak in the tub, add bath oil.
• Choose a mild soap.
• Apply moisturizer immediately after washing or bathing—while skin is damp—to seal water in your skin. For very dry skin, try petroleum jelly or lanolin, which keep skin moisturized longer than other lotions. If your skin is only mildly dry, experiment with moisturizers until you find the one that works best for you. There are many effective products on the market, such as lotions containing aloe vera. Most work on the same principle: forming a barrier on skin to keep moisture in.
• In cold weather, protect hands and face with gloves and a scarf.
• When exercising outside in windy weather, face into the wind first to avoid heading back into it covered with sweat.
• Hydrate from the inside out by drinking plenty of fluids.
• Use a humidifier to add moisture to heated air.
• Avoid sleeping all night under a heated electric blanket. Better: Preheat the bed and then turn the blanket off.

Women with very dry and itchy skin should mention it to their doctor. Some medical conditions can cause dry skin, including diabetes.

Q. Can stretch marks be prevented or treated?

A. These pinkish, silverish, or reddish brown streaks called striae commonly appear on skin that is stretched—usually by weight gain during pregnancy or during adolescent growth spurts. Weight lifters and women who gain a lot of weight also sometimes develop stretch marks.

The tendency to develop stretch marks depends on your heredity, skin type, and how much weight is gained. Unfortunately, you cannot prevent stretch marks that appear during pregnancy or normal adolescent growth. For others, avoiding rapid weight gain is the only preventive measure. There's no evidence that creams and lotions available over the counter can help.

The good news: Over time, stretch marks will gradually fade to normal or lighter-than-normal skin color. Research shows that prescription creams with retinoids may improve the appearance of stretch marks as they are beginning to form. In one study, about 80% of patients who used such a cream saw measurable decreases in the length and width of these lines. Another treatment option: Laser surgery or lipectomy—removing fat from beneath the skin—to minimize the appearance of stretch marks.

Q. What skin products really can reverse the signs of aging?

A. There's a wide array of skin products on the market that promise to provide a youthful glow, improve skin texture, or reduce wrinkles. But which ones really work? Here's a summary of what is known so far:

Retinoids. Studies show that prescription retinoids, such as Retin-A, can significantly reduce the appearance of fine wrinkles and increase skin firmness. Some over-the-counter lotions now contain related compounds—retinols—which provide similar but less striking results than prescription creams. Warning: Because retinoids increase the skin's sensitivity to the sun, users need to be extra cautious about sun protection. Some women also experience skin irritations and need to stop using these lotions.

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). These include lotions that contain glycolic acids and lactic acids. Available over the counter or in extra strength by prescription, AHAs slowly peel off the top layer of skin. Studies indicate that AHAs can reduce fine lines and improve skin texture, although not as dramatically as retinoids can. Warning: Same as with retinoids.