The Complete Guide to Skin Health
The skin is the biggest organ in our bodies, it sheds old skin cells and replaces them with new ones everyday, protect us from pollutants and infections, but we still can’t seem to take proper care of it. A good skincare regime should be simple, and have some basic principles.
Know your skin type
Before diving into products, it’s useful to know which category your skin falls into, since that defines what products you can safely use instead of ones you can’t. There are four types of skin; oily, dry, combination, and sensitive. You can recognize each one by how your skin appears and feels. Oily skin tends to get greasy and breakouts are common for those with this skin type. Dry skin generally feels tight or flaky, while sensitive skin often burns/itches easily upon the application of a new product. Combination skin means you have both oily and dry areas, usually with your face being the ‘T-zone (forehead, nose, and cheeks)’ oily while your jawline, chin, and the rest of your face is dry. Due to Pakistan having a generally hot and moist climate for most of the year, many people here have oily skin especially during the summer season. This means their skincare regime revolves around oil control and frequent cleansing to remove excess oil.
Three non-negotiable steps
When it comes to skin health, the experts say there are three pillars of an effective skincare regime; cleansing your skin, moisturizing, and sun protection. Using a decent facial cleanser to wash away dead skin cells, excess oil, sweat, and impurities like dust and pollution twice a day is vital. Moisturizer on the other hand restores the protective barrier of the skin and adds moisture to it depending on your preference and needs. Sunscreen is arguably more important than the first two steps put together, it protects your skin from UV-A rays which are damaging to your skin. Dermatologists would say that applying a good quality, broad spectrum sunscreen with and SPF of 30 or higher every day is one of the best anti-aging routines one can implement into their everyday skincare regime especially in Pakistan where the sun is almost always out.
The role of ingredients
Besides the basic three, other products containing active ingredients also play a part in your skincare needs. Ingredients like Retinoids, Vitamin C, and alpha-hydroxy acids can do wonders for aging skin, reducing blemishes and dark spots, and unclogging pores. However, active ingredients should only be added to your skincare regime one at a time while giving your skin enough time to adjust and shouldn’t be used on sensitive skin. Most of these products also require the use of a good quality sunscreen due to them making your skin more sensitive to sunlight.
Other factors affecting your skin
Although the mentioned methods focus on topical applications for skincare, there are other things that affect the condition of your skin, namely a healthy diet, staying well hydrated, getting enough sleep, and being stress-free. Chronic stress and lack of sleep increase the risk of developing skin conditions like eczema or acne.
Don’t fall for unproven methods
It’s generally a good idea to avoid unproven treatments and harsh scrubs as recommended by unprofessional ‘skincare gurus’ on social media. Those kinds of treatments can cause more harm than good in the long run. A simple routine works best for most people as opposed to a complicated, constantly rotating one that most social media influencers use in which they switch between multiple skincare products frequently.
When to see a dermatologist
If you suffer from persistent breakouts, rashes or other skin irritations that don’t clear up after standard treatment, if you have strange moles anywhere on your body, or are simply just concerned with your skin health and want to prevent future issues, you should visit a dermatologist and have your skin professionally examined instead of experimenting with random skincare products on your own.
Conclusion
Having healthy skin boils down to the basics. Know your skin type, keep it clean, hydrated, and protected from harsh external factors. A good diet, adequate sleep, and being stress-free also contribute heavily towards better skin health. It’s important to follow a basic skincare regime free from unnecessary harsh chemicals and to avoid unproven treatments as recommended by dermatologists around the world.
