LENA BLOG

I would prefer saying normal cheeks, not necessarily “true-dry” What is combination skin?   The “T-zone,” technically known as the facial axis, includes the forehead, nose, and chin area. If you have enlarged, congested pores, and/or are oily in this “T” area, you could categorize your skin type as combination skin. The highest concentration of active oil glands is on and around the nose. That’s why almost everyone has some congestion there. The chin and forehead come next in terms of activity. Because you have more active oil glands in this T-zone region, it makes sense that you are oilier there. It is inaccurate, however, to suggest that the skin on the cheeks is dry while you have an oily T-zone. Technically, you can’t have both dry and oily skin—not at the same time—so combination skin is somewhat of a misnomer. Combination skin is essentially normal skin with an oily T-zone. In comparison, normal/no-problem skin functions perfectly. It is neither too oily ...

I have many clients who have been diagnosed at their dermatologists as having “adult acn e. ” When these clients are in my treatment room for a facial and upon further examination, many times it turns out they simply have a minor breakout. Usually it is caused by improper diet , stress , or perhaps a hormone imbalance . Their breakout certainly needs to be addressed, but I dislike the term adult acne , although it is widely used nowadays to describe problem skin in adults. Technically, even a blackhead has the potential for acne. But it is rare in these individuals diagnosed with adult acne that I see true acne, as opposed to a small breakout. It is all a matter of degree, but the kind of acne I use the term acne for is the full-blown type. An adult can certainly have true acne. But I don’t like overusing the term adult acne when it makes a minor breakout sound much more intense than it really is, lessening the weight of having true acne. Regardless whether you have tr...

What is oily skin? This is a condition where the sebaceous glands are producing too much oil. The passageway from the oil gland to the skin’s surface is via the hair follicle. Along this route, if too much oil is being produced, a traffic jam or backup will occur. This backup produces any number of problems: blackheads ( comedos or open pores), whiteheads ( milia or closed pores), pustules (debris inside a closed pore is infected with pus), and potentially acne (infected cysts deep within the skin). Why is it oily? Your skin can be oily for a number of reasons. Of course, you may be predisposed genetically to having oily skin (one or both parents had oily and/or problem skin).   Diet plays a big role in how much oil is being produced. Climate (temperature) will affect your oil gland activity. Heat stimulates glandular activity, so a hot summer’s day can cause your skin to be oily. Puberty and the onset of hormonal surges can cause oily skin to appear. Eve...