Do you scrub your face with soap, warm water and a washcloth? Well, according to dermatologists, you may have been washing your face wrong.
Exfoliating too much, washing with water that is too hot, and using too many disposable towels are some of the biggest mistakes people make when washing their face.
These techniques can destroy your skin’s natural barrier, drying it out and clogging your pores.
MailOnline spoke to dermatologists to find out what to avoid when it comes to keeping our faces sparkling clean.
Exfoliating too much, washing with water that is too hot and using too many disposable towels are some of the biggest mistakes people make when washing their face
product overload
Dermatologists warn that too many steps involving too many different chemicals can strip your skin of its natural oils, leaving it sore and dry.
And just because a celebrity has endorsed a product doesn’t mean it’s right for your skin.
DR Penelope Pratsou, consultant dermatologist and spokeswoman for the British Skin Foundation, said: “The most common mistake people make when it comes to skincare routines is that they tend to overcomplicate them.
“People like to follow the latest skin care trends as recommended on social media.
“This can often lead to complex therapies that may not be suitable for one’s own skin, leading to skin irritation.”
But there is no magic recipe for skin care. according to Dr Pratsou, your routine should be unique and tailored to your skin type.
Your routine should be unique and tailored to your skin type. Dermatologists warn that too many steps can lead to irritation, and just because a celebrity has endorsed a product doesn’t mean it’s right for your skin
“Don’t feel like you have to follow a certain regimen just because a celebrity recommended it,” she added.
Dr Salome Dharamshi, a dermatologist at a private clinic in Birmingham, believes “less is more” and suggests sticking to a simple routine, such as a two- to four-step routine.
She said, “Wash your face in the morning, put on moisturizer and SPF.”
Wash your face twice at night before going to bed, remove make-up, then wash again gently to ensure the skin is clean and apply moisturiser.
However, experts urge people to stay away from using bar soaps and other mild face washes.
This is because the alkaline chemicals in bar soap can be abrasive, drying and disruptive to your skin’s natural pH balance.
Your skin’s natural pH is slightly acidic, which helps keep out moisture and bacteria.
When this balance becomes more acidic, you’re more likely to develop skin conditions like acne and eczema, and when it’s too alkaline, your skin can look dry, red, and scaly.
stop scrubbing
Another common mistake people make is over scrubbing their skin.
While exfoliation removes dead skin cells, oil and dirt that keep the skin looking flawless, experts believe that it also removes healthy cells from the skin.
This can cause irritation, as can sticking to an overly complicated regimen.
Dr Pratsou said: “I’m not a fan of physical facial exfoliation as it can often be traumatic for the skin and cause irritation, dryness or breakouts.”
Instead, she recommends using a chemical peel like glycolic acid and retinols, as it takes about 10 minutes to gently exfoliate, with noticeable results in two weeks.
If the water is too hot or even too cold, the skin can become too dry, which in turn can lead to an overproduction of sebum, making it oily and consequently blotchy.
Dr. Pratsou added, “Microfiber wipes are said to be gentler on the skin and help exfoliate those with sensitive skin.
“So they can come in handy when you’re wearing makeup to remove at the end of the day.”
Dr. Dharamshi agrees that a microfiber cloth is a good gentle exfoliator, as is a soft sponge. However, some washcloths and stiff brushes can damage healthy skin cells.
However, Dr Kajal Babamiri, a dermatologist at private clinic CLNQ in Manchester, says we should put away the washcloth altogether and just use our hands to clean with water and a mild wash.
She said: “Make sure you use your hands to wash your face.
“A cloth can be too aggressive, you remove a lot of skin.
“What you want is to remove the dead skin, but not be too aggressive that it actually damages the skin.”
you were too much
According to dermatologists, washing your face twice a day is the optimal amount.
Wearing it only morning and night will wash away dirt and oil and keep blemishes at bay.
But if you try to clean it even more, you can end up with dry, irritated or even blotchy skin.
Washing morning and night just washes away dirt and oil and keeps breakouts at bay for normal skin types
My 10 Best Foods to Fight Pimples and Wrinkles: DR. MEGAN ROSSI reveals what we eat and how we treat our gut microbiota that really affects our skin
My 10 Best Foods to Fight Pimples and Wrinkles: DR. MEGAN ROSSI reveals what we eat and how we treat our gut microbiota that really affects our skin
Dr. Dharamshi explained that washing too much not only leads to dryness but also acne.
She said: “Washing your face too often can increase sebum production, which is one of the causes of acne.
“It can also damage the skin barrier and cause skin redness and dryness.”
Dr. Pratsou also warns that for those prone to eczema, even water can be irritating and cause flare-ups.
Medicinal moisturizing treatments are recommended by dermatologists when you suffer from eczema flare-ups.
For normal skin types, Dr. Pratsou: “Stick to the same principles, start the day and night routine by cleansing your skin with a cleanser suitable for your skin type and finish with an appropriate moisturiser.”
She added, “I would always recommend adding a sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun’s rays year-round.”
Hot water
If you use hot water, you can lower the temperature slightly.
If the water is too hot or even too cold, the skin can become too dry, which in turn can lead to an overproduction of sebum, making it oily and consequently blotchy.
Dr. Dharamshi said: “Water should be warm, very often people use water that is too hot or too cold.
“If the water is too hot, it can damage the skin, cause redness and dry out the skin.” It also damages the skin barrier.”
According to experts, lukewarm water is the happy balance for washing your face.
Experts say that while exfoliation removes dead skin cells, oils and dirt, it also removes our skin’s healthy cells. This can cause irritation, including sore or dry skin, and eventually breakouts
While some people use hot water to open pores and then cold water to close pores, Dr. Dharamshi that it doesn’t really work.
She even goes so far as to say that it is technically impossible to unclog your pores.
Because your pores are not muscles, they cannot open and contract, so there is little to no benefit from doing so.
But there is a certain logic behind the myth.
If you splash your face with hot water, the sebum, the oil on your face simply loosens and lets it slide off your face, explains Dr. Dharamshi.
When you splash cold water on your face, muscles contract, which makes the skin feel tighter, but doesn’t shrink your pores.
Throw away the wipes
Face wipes can come in handy as they seem to wipe your face clean in seconds.
But skin experts are not fans of the handy product sold for pennies on the high street.
Disposable face cloths may be good for removing makeup, but they are not suitable for washing your face every day.
Disposable face wipes may be good for removing makeup, but not all are suitable for daily face washing, and using water may be better, dermatologists warn
Dr. Babamiri said, “Facial tissue is good for removing makeup, but it should not be your cleanser and not for washing your face.”
If you have nothing else to wash your face that day, using water may be better than using ready-made wipes, dermatologists warn.
Dr Pratsou said: “Using an appropriate cleanser with water, with or without reusable facial tissues, is preferable to using disposable tissues.”
This is because wipes are also not as effective at wiping away all the dirt, make-up and oil of the day.
Leaving dirt on the face can lead to clogged pores, pimples and irritation from product residue left on the skin over time.
Source link
Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
