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Lorraine Cormier

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Well summer is over, even though we thought it had just started, but now we need to take care of what the sun has done to our skin.

With our suntanned skin, dried-out feet and sun-bleached hair, the process of repairing what the heat and sun have done now begins. Our skin is our biggest organ and the one that protects us from the environment, so it is very important to take good care of it.

Pass your hand over your arms - does it feel as soft as your behind? Probably not, because your behind is not constantly exposed to the elements such as the sun.

Dried out skin cannot hold moisture so as you apply your moisture cream it just sits on the dead cells and dries out even more. That is why the exfoliating process is very important.

Some of my clients come to see me and talk about how they are already starting to show signs of aging, but in reality they are just showing signs of dried and dead skin. Through the summer we have neglected our skin of moisturizers and most of the time water was replaced by our favourite alcoholic beverage.

Since it is not usually explained to us on how our layers of skin work I will explain the process of elimination.

We have three layers of skin: epidermis, dermis and hypodermis.

They all have their own important role to play but in this article I will talk about the epidermis. This is not the only layer that is impacted with the aging process (this impacts everybody), but this is the one that is visible.

The epidermis has six layers, the top one (visible) is called squamous layer and the bottom one is called basal layer. The basal layer is where the new skin cells start and the squamous layer is where they shed. This is an ongoing process.

As we age the process slows down and with abused skin (sun, nutrition, lack of water and moisture) the process of elimination also slows down. It takes four to six weeks for this process of elimination and as this process slows down so does the sheen of our skin.

When our dead layer starts to shed certain cells will not fall off right away. When the next row of cells is ready to fall again some cells won't. As these cells gather they make our lines more apparent. Our body will keep producing new cells but they are stuck under the old cells that have not fallen. As we exfoliate this triggers our body to produce another layer of healthy cells at the bottom.

I know the explanation is very basic but this is how I explain it to my clients.

I highly recommend getting yourself a "Renaissance" glove and a foot paddle. These are two of your best home care products. The glove will last you a few years if you follow the home care instructions.

As for your face, home care will not rid you of all that accumulated dry skin. A visit to your esthetician will start the process and she will explain home care.

And last but not least get a good moisturizer for your body and another one for your face.

Take care of your body - pretend it's just a lease and if it's not in top shape you have to pay a penalty.

What's the penalty you ask? Looking older before your time.

* Lorraine Cormier is an esthetician who also has years of experience in the medical field. She now operates In Our Hands, a skin care and beauty consultation company. She can be reached at 855-4264 or nrhands@nb.sympatico.ca.