February: Get your Sweetheart a Spa Package for $99

Help! Ingrown Hairs!

We get the question all the time…what are those unsightly little red bumps that surface after waxing or shaving? Psuedofolliculitis Barbae, but we know them as ingrown hairs, razor burn, or razor bumps. Ingrown hairs are caused by improper or just aggressive hair removal techniques, such as shaving or waxing. The irritation especially shows up in places where coarse hair grows, commonly in the bikini area for women. Symptoms include break outs of red bumps, irritation, itching and in some cases a painful outbreak of acne like bumps. They are frustrating but help is on the way! Ingrown hairs can be prevented and cleared up using some helpful tools. We suggest exfoliating the area with a loofah or facial scrub prior to and after hair removal, applying aloe to the irritated area, as well as wearing loose fitting clothes while irritation heals. We have also seen some great results using Finipil, a product we sell here at Jungle Red. Finipil effectively slows the growth of new hair cells, cools the affected area, and protects against ingrowns. So don’t worry, we at Jungle Red have the answer to ingrown hairs!

THE ‘SKINNY’ ON DRY SKIN

According to the estheticians and stylists at Jungle Red Salon, roughly 50% of clientele have varying degrees of dry skin. Today with the help of Jodi and Laura, the salon’s estheticians, and medical facts provided by the world renowned Mayo Clinic, we’ll show you how to take an irritating skin situation and discover some soothing solutions.

SYMPTOMS

Do you have dry skin? If you have dry skin, you’re likely to experience one or more of the following:

• A feeling of skin tightness, especially after showering, bathing or swimming
• Skin that appears shrunken or dehydrated
• Skin that feels and looks rough rather than smooth
• Itching (pruritus) that sometimes may be intense
• Slight to severe flaking, scaling or peeling
• Fine lines or cracks
• Redness
• Deep fissures that may bleed

But where does dry skin come from?

CAUSES

Most cases of xerosis, also known as dry skin, are caused by environmental exposures. Of course, there are certain diseases that can significantly alter the function and appearance of your skin.

Potential causes of dry skin:

• Weather. Your skin is driest in winter when temperatures and humidity levels plummet.
• Central heating & air conditioning.Wood-burning stoves, space heaters, and fireplaces all reduce humidity and will dry your skin.
• Hot baths/showers & pools. Those long luxurious soaks in the tub or steamy showers could be causing your skin to dry out, especially if they’re frequently part of your routine. Swimming in heavily chlorinated pools will damage your skin too.
• Soaps & detergents. Your favorite soap or laundry detergent could be stripping the lipids and water from your skin making you uncomfortable. Deodorant and antibacterial soaps are usually the most damaging, as are many shampoos that dry out your scalp.
• Sun exposure. Like all types of heat, the sun dries your skin. Yet damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation penetrates far beyond the top layer of skin (epidermis). The most significant damage occurs deep in the dermis, where collagen and elastin fibers break down much more quickly than they should, leading to deep wrinkles and loose, sagging skin (solar elastosis). Sun-damaged skin may have the appearance of dry skin.
• Atopic dermatitis. This is one of the more common types of eczema, and those affected have more sensitive and drier skin. Many persons with mild eczema confuse this skin condition with excessive dryness. Areas commonly affected include the face, sides of the neck, and fold areas around the elbows, wrists, knees and ankles.
• Psoriasis. This skin condition is marked by a rapid buildup of rough, dry, dead skin cells that form thick scales.
• Thyroid disorders. Hypothyroidism, a condition that occurs when your thyroid produces too little thyroid hormones, reduces the activity of your sweat and oil glands, leading to rough, dry skin.

So if you have dry skin, what can you do?

FIGHT BACK

Jungle Red Salon is armed with the products you need to fight back with to keep your skin looking great! Our team of estheticians recommends Glo Therapeutics which is perfect for normal to dry to extremely dry skin.

The Glo Conditioning Tonic and B5 Hydration are specifically targeted for normal to dry skin and should be used both morning and night. L-Hyaluronic Acid (Sodium Hylauronate) an active interest in the product “delivers and maintains water hydration to protect against free radical damage caused by environmental aggressors. Holds 1000 times its weight in water and prevents transepidermal water loss.” The Glo Conditioning Milk Cleanser works well for normal to dry skin and can be used any time. Just as with B5 Hydration, Glo Conditioning Milk Cleanser is also comprised of Hyaluronic Acid to help heal the skin.

For extremely dry skin Glo offers Moisture Rich Cream which is intense and extremely hydrating. It’s safe to use both morning and night for extreme cases of dry skin, but if your skin is considered more normal to dry, use only at night.

You can begin to keep your skin moist and healthy at home by following these simple steps at home:

• Moisturize your skin. Moisturizers provide a seal over your skin to keep water from escaping. If your skin is extremely dry, you may want to apply an oil, such as baby oil, while your skin is still moist. Oil has more staying power than moisturizers do and prevents the evaporation of water from the surface of your skin. However, you do NOT want to apply baby oil to your face.
• Use warm water and limit bath time.Limit your bath or shower time to about 15 minutes or less and use warm water.
• Avoid harsh, drying soaps. If you have dry skin, it’s best to use cleansing creams or gentle skin cleansers and bath or shower gels with added moisturizers. A good rule of thumb is that your skin should feel soft and smooth after cleansing, never tight or dry.
• Apply moisturizers immediately after bathing. After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on the skin. Immediately moisturize your skin with an oil or cream to help trap water in the surface cells.
• Use a humidifier.A portable home humidifier or one attached to your furnace adds moisture to the air inside your home.
• Choose fabrics that are kind to your skin. Natural fibers such as cotton and silk allow your skin to breathe, but wool, though natural, can irritate even normal skin. When you wash your clothes, try to use detergents without dyes or perfumes, both of which can irritate your skin.

If dry skin causes itching, apply cool compresses to the area. To reduce inflammation, use a nonprescription hydro-cortisone cream or ointment, containing at least 1 percent hydro-cortisone. If these measures don’t relieve your symptoms or if your symptoms worsen, see your doctor or consult a dermatologist.

Laura and Jody, our estheticians, remind us that hydrating is the easiest thing you can do to take care of your skin. Drink lots of water! Also, remember to stay away from chemicals that are going to completely dry out your skin such as salicylic acid. However, using salicylic acid to spot-treat acne is okay.

If you have any questions, please feel free to stop into the salon. We’ll help bring back your natural glow in no time!

Michael