TOKYO NOTICE BOARD is a free English weekly magazine providing information, classifieds including budget accommodation, furnished apartments, guesthouses, used furniture, second hand goods, garage sale...

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Dry skin is one of the winter worries in Japan. The cold and dry air in wintertime is harsh on your skin. Not only does it deprive the skin of moisture but with low ambient humidity the dead skin layer gets thicker and dries out. Cracks appear in the skin surface (imagine a dried up river bottom!), reducing the barrier function of the skin and rendering it vulnerable to irritation.

“Eczema“ may result from dry skin if skin irritation induces an excessive inflammatory response. Chemical substances that mediate inflammation cause blood vessels to dilate and stimulate nerve endings. The effect of these processes is red and itchy skin. More blood flow promotes damage repair, but also increases cell turnover. The build-up of dead skin cells causes dryness, and the shedding of skin layers is experienced as flakiness and peeling. Thus the vicious cycle has closed.E

Moisturizers prevent dry skin and effects of skin dehydration. There are two ways a chemical substance moisturizes the skin. Humectants retain moisture by binding water. Oil and oil-related substances prevent loss of water through evaporation. Most products combine both types of moisturizing agents and also contain water. The type of moisturizer (toner, milky lotion, cream, etc.) is based on the relative content of water and oil.

What can I do about my dry skin?
Use a room humidifer. Wear a scarf outside. Washing with soap is necessary, but limit frequency: once or twice a day for the face and once a day to three times a week for the body. Mild-acid soap is less drying. Apply moisturizer after washing. You can use any product that agrees with your skin, but high-oil content moisturizers are recommended for dry skin. There is no need to combine different types as recommended by some manufacturers.

What should I do if my skin gets irritated by a moisturizer?
The last resort for very dry and irritable skin is white vaseline, the least irritating of moisturizers. It is used as a vehicle in which a test allergen is dissolved in skin allergy testing. If even vaseline irritates your skin, it is time for you to see a doctor for a prescription.

Translated from a fragment of the book “Skin Trouble” written by Dr. Yuri Okabe and Dr. Rene´ du Cloo

Dr. Okabe and Dr. du Cloo from Tokyo Skin Clinic will talk about the most asked questions and topics on skin care for our readers!! Send in your questions and topics that you would like them to talk about. Next Topic : [ Send your question now!! ] Deadline : Feb. 2012 Most asked topic will be discussed in : Mar. 2012

Please include the answers for questions below in your e-mail.
*NAME
*AGE
*SEX Female / male
*SKIN TYPE Dry / Normal / Combination / Oily
*TOPIC
*QUESTION

All dermatological problems & skin surgery. Cosmetic surgery procedures: laser treatment, chemical peels, Botox, hyaluronic acid injection, liposuction/-filling, sclerotherapy, eyelid surgery, etc. STD checks & gynecological exams available. EU-licenced multi-lingual doctors, also trained in primary care.

Mon, Thu & Fri: 2:00pm~7:00pm Tue, Wed and Sat: 9:00~2:00pm Our closed days are irregular. Please check our web calendar. telephone : 03-3585-0282 (English line) or 3585-0272 http://www.tokyo-skin-clinic.com/

address 2 - 4 - 9　2F, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032 The clinic is on the second floor of a building, facing Roppongi Dori Avenue. public transportation 4-min. walk from Roppongi Station (Hibiya Line / Oedo Line) Exit 6 4-min. walk from Roppongi 1-chome Station (Nanboku Line) Exit 1