Compared with other primates, humans have very little hair on their bodies. However, what hair we do have serves various important functions, depending on its location. Hair collects sweat and protects us from damaging sun rays and from particles of debris and foreign objects that could hurt the skin or enter the body.

A scar is a sign that your body has mended an open wound. Regardless of what caused the injury, your skin automatically produces fibrous tissue to replace normal skin. When the damaged area of skin is large, it will take your body more time to heal the wound and this will increase the likelihood of detectable scarring.

Oatmeal milk baths combine the soothing properties of milk and oatmeal, both of which are associated with reducing skin redness and irritation. Oatmeal is especially known for its skin moisturizing benefits, while milk helps to quench the skin and relieve redness.

If a food allergen were responsible for acne, you could simply cut that food out of your diet and have clear, smooth skin in no time. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Food allergens do not cause any kind of acne, including cystic acne.

If your skin is marked as the result of acne or an injury, or if you are healing from a surgical incision, you may wish to use a product to help minimize scarring. Vitamin E has long been touted as a useful treatment for scars. You can also purchase a commercial product, Mederma, which claims to diminish scars.

Oils are an essential for those people with dry hair and scalps, and none is more accessible than olive oil. Olive oil is thick and more hydrating than cream-based options and is able to coat hair from the outside in instead of simply sitting on top of it.

Some forms of hair removal, such as depilatories, use harsh ingredients to break down the hair strands. This process can leave skin stained slightly. The discoloration of the skin is an after-effect of the chemical process and will sit primarily on the top layer of the dermis.

Cosmetic products often contain a variety of compounds with unusual names. These chemicals, such as olefin sulfate, typically work to tweak the underlying chemistry of the soap or beauty product and generally are present only in small amounts.

Tiny red bumps clustered all over your bikini area can ruin your look and make you feel less than confident in your bikini. While aesthetically unappealing, the small red bumps are a normal post-wax symptom for many women, according to Dr.

Stretch marks can be the enemy of a teenager's growing body. These reddish-purple lines can form when the skin stretches beyond its normal limits and scar tissue forms in its place. They are common in areas where you may experience growth spurts, such as the hips, thighs, buttocks and abdomen.

When you get a tattoo, you might be surprised to discover that your skin on and around the tattoo will itch for days while your body heals itself. When you compare the process of dermatological healing to the process of tattooing, it is easy to see why a new tattoo itches.

Discoloration and brown spots -- typically harmless effects of aging, known collectively as hyperpigmentation -- are best addressed with prevention. Start using sunscreen before spots appear and protect commonly affected areas -- such as your face, shoulders and the back of your hands -- with clothing and hats.