CHARACTERISTICS OF SKIN BY FACIAL AREA.
FOREHEAD:
The skin of the forehead contains very little fats and fits closely to the broad, flattish frontal bone underneath. There are numerous sebaceous glands present and the area is contained in the greasy T’ zone of a typical Combination skin. Pimples, pustules and blackheads – characteristics of the greasy skin often affect the forehead. These become aggravated if the hairs are also greasy and worn with fringe.
Horizontal creases develop across the forehead as the muscles and skin lose their tone. Deep vertical creases between the eyebrows are also a sign of aging but can occur as the result of prolonged eye strain and stress.
EYE.
The area surrounding the eyes consists of two moveable folds, the upper and the lower eyelids. The skin of the eyelids is very thin and does not usually contain fats. There are very few sebaceous glands, so the skin easily become dehydrated and develops lines, wrinkles and creepiness before any other part of the face. The skin underneath the eyes become, even thinner with aging and the blood supply network shows through as a reddish blush colour. Glands can also be seen as tiny skin- coloured lumps.
The contour of the eye area changes where the lower eyelid meets the upper cheek. Aging causes a rift to develop between the two as support is lost from the dermis . Eventually, a broad, thin skinned, semi- circular depression cleaves itself into the tissues below the eye, causing a deeply shadowed groove.
Dark circles beneath the eyes are a common complaint and can worsen on excessive exposure to the sun light, particularly if plain glasses are worn which focus light on the lower lid and upper cheek. The eyelids and the sockets are danger zones in the sun as reflected ray’s bounce onto them from from the frames of the sunglasses. Tiredness and ill health can also cause dark shadows beneath the eyes. The conditions can be inherited and is common in races with a very sallow complexion.
Tiredness, hay fever, sinus problems and catarrh congest the tissues around the eyes and make them swell up. Very greasy and heavy creams clog up the pores and lead to fluid retention and puffiness. This is particularly a problem when the cream is left on overnight and seep into the eyes. Heavy creams also drag the skin, encouraging it to slacken.
Rubbing and pulling the skin around the eyes cause wear and tear. Constant rubbing can result in splits capillaries and over stretching of the skin. Malia (whiteheads), often occur near the eyes.
Crow’s feet lines develop over the Orbicularis oculi muscle and fan out over the temples and upper part of the cheeks. They’re a characteristic of aging, and are much more noticeable on skin which has thickened as a result of weathering. Crow’s feet can be caused prematurely by any prolonged habit of screwing up the eyes, in bright sun light or when smoking. Laughing and smiling are the most acceptable causes of Crow’s feet.
NOSE.
The Nose is the most prominent of the facial features and varies in width and shapes between individuals and different races. Only the upper part of the nose is constructed from bone. The main part of it is made up of cartilage which is soft and flexible.
The skin of the nose is abundantly supplied by sebaceous glands which are larger than normal and situated near the surface. The nose is contained in the T-zone of a typical combination skin and generally has a tendency to greasiness with the associated problems of open pores, blocked pores and comedones (blackheads). Spots and pustules often occur here. The creases at either side of the nostrils accumulate grease and sweat and make-up often buildup in them if they’re not cleansed, thoroughly. The prominence of the nose exposes to the effects of the sunlight and harsh winds . If adequate protection is not worn, the capillaries in the skin dilate and possibly rupture, leaving a permanently red nose. Spilt capillaries can result from pressure put on the nose when rubbing too harshly, perhaps, when washing the face or during a heavy cold with continued blowing.
Indentations at either side of the nose are characteristics of people who wear glasses
Constant frictions between the skin and the heavier type of frames can rupture the underlying blood vessels.
CHEEKS.
The skin of the cheeks are smooth, firm and plump in youth, but gradually, as moisture, fat and support are lost from the deeper layers, they lose their full contour and the underlying bone structure become more prominent. It’s usually only people who are overweight that don’t develop a more gaunt appearance as the get older..
The contour of the cheek bones is determined by the structure of the zygomatic arch. This is formed where the zygomatic and temporal bones join. A prominence is created which gives shape to the upper cheek. High cheek bones are generally regarded as being an attractive feature .
The prominence of the cheek bones push the superficial blood capillaries nearer to the surface of the skin. This makes them more likely to be damaged by lack of protection or incorrect skincare. Dilated capillaries often occur over the cheek bones, particularly on skin which is dry and sensitive.
The skin of the cheek easily become dry and dehydrated if it is not kept soft and well moisturized. Milia often occur above the cheek bones and up towards the temples. The main muscles which move the mouth are located in the cheeks. As the zygomatic and risorius muscles become slack, they cause the nose-to- mouth lines to deepen. The skin above the creases creates the Maso-labial folds which are characteristic of aging. The folds can be produced prematurely by rapid weight loss after illness or dieting.
MOUTH.
The shape of the mouth slightly become smaller and less well defined with aging. The gum shrink slightly, pulling the skin of the lips inwards and lines develop across the fibres of the orbiticilaris oris muscles. The deeper these lines get, the more difficult lipstick application becomes. Tensions and smoking can also cause lines to appear around the mouth. Deep creases also develop down from the corners of the mouth, as the levator muscles of the upper lips lose their tones and the skin slackens .
These lines are exaggerated in people who wear ill- fitting dentures.
Many women become aware of an acceleration in hair growth above the upper lips as they approach their middle- age. Dark hair growth in these area is a particular problem in races with tendency to excessive facial hairiness .
The lips don’t contain melanin and burns more easily in the sun: the mouth is a prime site for skin cancer.
CHIN AND JAW.
The front part of the chin is contained in the T-zone and tends to be more greasy than other areas of the face: it is a common site of blocked pores, comedones, pustules and pimples. The area of the lower jaw is similarly affected when acne is present. The horizontal crease in the chin becomes particularly congested if it is not cleansed properly.
The contour of the chin and jawline drops or softens with aging. Hawks appear at the angles of the jaws , caused by list tone in the Masseter muscles. The skin hangs loosely and break up the previously sharp, angular shape.
A double chin develops when the deep digastric muscle loses tone. Depending on the severity of the condition, the slackened tissue drops behind the prominence of the chin and fills in the area between it and the upper neck. Although age is the most common cause of a double chin, bad posture is also a factor..
NECK.
The is often a neglected area in a skincare routine. It is not deep cleansed and massaged as often and can look sallow and sluggish compared with the face.
The lack of bony support and relatively small amount of fat mean that the skin is attached fairly loosely to the underlying structure. It is pulled and stretched quite easily.
Gradual loss of fat from the neck also occurs during the aging process. There are very few sebaceous glands in the neck, so dryness and crepiness are common problems