What causes skin problems? Discover the reasons and solutions you should know!

Skin problems are quite common and can have many different causes. To treat them effectively, it’s important to understand what triggers them.

Naturally beautiful skin – unfortunately, most people can only dream of it. While some struggle with breakouts, others deal with redness and itching. Still others look in the mirror with concern as hyperpigmentation continues to increase.
 
The skin is our largest organ, with a complex structure and processes. As strong as it may sometimes appear, it can also react with great sensitivity. And the fact is: while skin aging cannot be stopped, its effects can be softened.
 
But there’s no need to despair! Knowing what your skin needs – and what puts a strain on it – can help reduce the effects of skin problems or even get rid of them completely.

Our skin – protective barrier and point of contact with the outside world

Even though it is usually only a few millimeters thick, our skin is one of our most important organs. Without it, our body’s interior would be unprotected and would overheat and dry out within hours. Beyond that, the skin is also involved in vital metabolic processes – keyword: skin respiration.
 
Our skin is a powerful protective barrier, yet at the same time highly sensitive. It is also the body’s largest sensory organ. Through the skin we experience and sense the outside world – whether cold or warmth, a gentle touch, or a painful bump.
 
Roughly speaking, the skin consists of three layers, each with its own important functions.

Subcutis (hypodermis):

Consists mainly of fat cells located directly on the connective tissue of the muscles. They protect the body’s interior from external impacts, such as bumps. This is also where the supply lines run – larger blood vessels that provide nutrients to the other layers of the skin.

Dermis:

This is where most of the skin’s processes take place, such as sebum production, hair growth, sweat transport through pores, sensory experiences, and much more. This layer consists mainly of the fibrous proteins collagen and elastin, which ensure that the skin is both firm and tear-resistant while remaining elastic.

Epidermis:

When the skin is healthy, it has all the abilities to renew and heal itself. In a continuous cycle of about 28 days, the skin regenerates and renews. The skin’s microbiome helps defend against harmful pathogens.
 
Healthy skin doesn’t need much more than regular cleansing from impurities and a bit of moisturizing care. Dry patches or breakouts are nowhere to be seen. Yet for many people, this ideal state remains just a dream.

Physical causes of skin problems

Skin problems caused by the natural aging process

As we age, the skin loses strength. Metabolism and cell renewal slow down, elasticity and firmness decrease. This natural aging process makes the skin more sensitive – and skin problems may develop.
 
Hormonal changes also play a role. While men benefit from higher testosterone levels, which lead to a generally oilier and firmer skin structure, estrogen levels in women gradually decrease. The result: both collagen renewal and the production of the skin’s natural lipids decline.

As the skin’s renewal processes and the production of natural lipids slow down with age, the skin becomes drier, thinner, and more sensitive. Its firmness also decreases – leading to the formation of wrinkles. These signs of wear can be accelerated by lifestyle factors such as an unhealthy diet, stimulants, and excessive sun exposure.
 
If skincare is not adjusted accordingly, unpleasant skin problems may follow. Dry skin feels tight, flakes, and itches. When the skin barrier is compromised, dirt and germs can easily penetrate – leading to skin inflammation.

Health-related skin problems

There are many skin conditions or health-related skin problems. In many cases, the help of a dermatologist is essential. Still, we want to give one example here to help build understanding of the connection between skin appearance and the body.

One trigger for health-related skin problems can be malfunctions of the immune system, whose defense mechanisms promote inflammatory processes in the skin. When the processes of cell maturation and keratinization are disrupted, more horny cells than usual may develop, causing the outer layer of the skin to thicken. The result: red, scaly, itchy patches of skin. A well-known condition of this type is psoriasis.
 
For persistent or severe skin problems, it is always important to seek the advice of a dermatologist. They can recommend the appropriate treatment options.

Herbacin skincare tip: For red, itchy, or heavily stressed areas of skin, care with Dead Sea salt can provide relief. The minerals support skin renewal and help reduce itching.

External causes of skin problems

Our skin is the body’s shield – designed to withstand a certain level of harmful external influences. That’s a demanding job, which is why we use skincare products like cleansing cream, exfoliants, and moisturizers to support it.

Inappropriate skincare products

What may sound simple at first is not always that easy in practice. Many factors play a role in finding the right skincare product for you. That’s why it’s important to know your skin type and its specific care needs.

If oily skin is treated with overly rich skincare, it can become overloaded – leading to breakouts. Combination skin is especially challenging, as it often tends to develop blemishes on the forehead, nose, and chin while being dry in other areas. Here, it’s important to find the right balance of care for each specific skin area.

Herbacin skincare tip: Especially practical for people who only tend to have blemishes in certain areas is spot treatment of blackheads and pimples. Why? If skincare products for blemished skin are applied to the entire face, unaffected areas can be unnecessarily stressed and dry out. Click here for the Anti Blemish Gel!

When choosing skincare products, it’s worth taking a closer look at the ingredients. Sensitive skin may react to certain substances. Herbal cosmetics manufacturers like Herbacin naturally avoid irritating and harmful ingredients, relying instead on the power of high-quality plant and herbal extracts.

Skin stressors: cold, pollution, and UV radiation

Through our sense of touch, we perceive our environment – so it’s no wonder that environmental conditions affect our skin. You probably know the feeling: on a cold winter’s day or during a windy autumn walk, the skin begins to feel tight. The body switches to its warming mode and reduces blood circulation in less vital areas.
 
With prolonged cold, blood circulation decreases, and the skin’s metabolism, repair, and defense functions slow down. Sebum production is reduced, and the skin’s natural protective film becomes thinner. Without the right care, the skin dries out. The result: redness, irritation, flakiness, and itching. Dry indoor heating air further contributes to dehydration.

Herbacin skincare tip: Care for dry skin, especially in winter, with a rich cream that provides plenty of moisture and soothes irritation – for example, with herbal extracts of chamomile, marigold, and aloe vera. Click here for the Special Care Cream!

Another major environmental challenge for our skin is UV radiation from the sun. On the one hand, it is essential for the production of vitamin D. On the other, too much UV radiation damages our skin deep down. To a certain extent, the skin can protect itself by producing the pigment melanin. This creates different shades of tanning and provides minimal protection against the sun.
 
But the skin’s natural protective functions are not enough to prevent problems during prolonged sun exposure. Especially lighter skin types or people who are only occasionally exposed to the sun feel the effects of excessive UV radiation very quickly – from sunburn and accelerated skin aging with wrinkle formation to severe skin damage and skin cancer.
 
That’s why it’s especially important to protect your skin from the sun in everyday life and to use sunscreen or at least a day cream with UV protection when UV exposure is high. This is the only way to reduce another burdensome side effect of too much sun exposure: the development of hyperpigmentation, also known as age spots.
 
Hyperpigmentation is a result of the skin’s natural protective mechanism – the production of melanin. If melanin is not fully broken down after sun exposure, brown spots can develop on the face.
 

Herbacin skincare tip: Once hyperpigmentation has appeared, you can reduce the intensity of the brown coloring with so-called age spot primers. The Herbacin Age Spot Primer uses an active ingredient from the leaves of the Langsat Tree to help diminish both the size and intensity of age spots and to prevent new ones from forming. Ideally, the Age Spot Primer should be applied regularly – as a complementary day care product under makeup.

Conclusion:

Skin problems are part of life and no reason to despair, because herbal cosmetics offer solutions to support problem skin in its regeneration – gentle yet effective with the power of plants.