There are skin blemishes, broken capillaries and discolorations that can be treated; they can also be prevented if you know the cause. Yellow discoloration of the skin (that is not jaundice caused by a liver problem) can be caused by smoking. Nicotine gives your skin a yellowish cast-which should be an additional incentive not to smoke.
Broken capillaries can be caused by drinking too much alcohol. Ever notice how someone who drinks too much liquor has red splotches on the cheeks and the nose? These are broken capillaries or blood vessels, and they have been linked to alcohol consumption. Do yourself a favor-stick to wine or an occasional Scotch.
Other causes of broken capillaries are eating too much spicy food and living in areas of extreme temperatures. In the latter, where people go from hot heat at home to cold outdoor temperatures, skin with broken capillaries is common. The only thing to do is to protect your skin-clean and moisturize faithfully; try not to go outside with damp skin; al1d cover your face in extremely cold temperatures.
Skin spots have several causes. One is taking birth control pills. Another is sun, which causes “sun spots” on your skin to darken and/or get larger. These spots can be bleached and removed by a dermatologist, but you can avoid them by staying out of the sun, especially without protection and when you are taking any medication, particularly an antibiotic or a sulfa drug. Ask your doctor if the medication you are taking can make your skin sensitive to the sun.
Another reason for sun spots may surprise you-perfume. Putting perfume on your face or neck before going out into the sun may cause a “photosensitive” reaction which results in spots on your skin.
Other skin blemishes can be caused by allergies. I have a friend in her thirties who, three years ago, suddenly developed acne. She went to numerous doctors and no one could discover the cause of the problem. But, smart lady that she is-she discovered it on her own. A couple of months ago she got rid of her pillows and bought new ones, just as a redecorating step. The day she threw out the old pillows, her skin cleared up.
Thus, if you suddenly develop a skin reaction-small, hard pimples that seem to sprout up overnight-see a doctor, but also try to figure out if there is anything you are doing that is different from your routine. Are you wearing a new fabric, using a new detergent, spending more time around animals, using a new cosmetic-all of these can cause reactions on your skin. And what’s more aggravating and puzzling-you can suddenly develop an allergy to something you have been using for a very long time, whether it’s a skin care product or a pillow. So be aware that allergies can show up on your skin. Try to localize the source-and then treat your skin.