Thalassotherapy is a hydrotherapeutic treatment meaning it uses external application of water for a health or beauty benefit. It involves using the natural properties of the seawater and ocean-dwelling plants for skin rejuvenation. Having originated in France, thalassotherapy is considered a natural remedy, used with a combination of mineral elements from seawater, skin care products and hot water.

A dark discoloration around the mouth or lips  is a result of increased pigmentation of the skin (hyperpigmentation) which may arise for a number of reasons. This common cosmetic problem is characterized by the darkening of the skin around the mouth area, particularly at the corner of the lips,  as a result of the over activity of the melanocytes, which are the skin cells that are responsible for the production of melanin. Melanin is a natural pigment responsible for the color of our skin and provides protection against the sun. Discoloration around the mouth is more common in females and occurs more commonly in persons with a darker skin.

Cracked heels, which are also referred to as foot fissures, are a result of an abnormal accumulation of thick skin growth (callus) along the surface of the heel line. The heels appear dry and are often discolored yellow or brown. The skin on the heel becomes excessively dry due to the absence of sebaceous glands (oil glands) resulting in the formation of cracks or fissures. This common foot disorder is usually a cosmetic problem but if the cracks on the heel line begin to deepen and bleed, an infection can occur and medical treatment may be required.

What is skin dehydration?

A dehydrated skin lacks water content in the intercelluar structure of the skin, the fluid between cells. This skin type often appears dry and dull with a rough, crepe like texture. Dehydration can affect all skin types in any age group although it is most commonly seen in dry skin types. If the moisture content is not replenished in the epidermis (upper skin layer) and dermis (middle layer of the skin), dehydration occurs. Dehydrated skin is dependent on the epidermis and dermis as the smallest change in the skin’s water content can cause the skin to become dry and cracked. This can often cause thinning of the skin which can eventually lead to the loss in the skin’s elasticity and radiance. The skin can become taut and itchy with the development of fine lines and wrinkles appearing around the eye and cheek areas.

Stretch marks are common condition affecting both men and women and commonly appear on the thigh, upper arms, stomach, breast, and buttock areas. It is usually seen in conditions such as pregnancy or obesity, although stretch marks may occur in certain medical conditions like Cushing’s Syndrome, which is an adrenal gland disorder, where high levels of cortisone are present in the blood. Cortisone ‘weakens’ the elastin fibers in the skin thereby contributing to stretch mark development, even when there is no obvious or significant stretching of the skin. Stretch marks can be treated to reduced the severity but cannot be removed completely or ‘cured’.