Skincare do’s and don’ts

With summer coming up, it is more important than ever to maintain a good skincare routine. I have found that being consistent in a routine is very important. 

Breakouts can primarily be caused by stress. Stress and hormonal acne are usually the major cause for teenage acne.

According to Dr. Sonia Validan “(stress) pimples or acne lesions typically appear on the T-zone,” as these are the parts of the face that have the most oil. The difference between stress acne and hormonal acne is that hormonal acne is typically recurring in the same spot.

Dr. Michele Green shares on the lifestyle website Byrdie that “stress acne is often accompanied by telltale signs like redness and itchiness.”

When a pimple first appears generally the first instinct is to try to pop it, but it is better to apply a salicylic acid product and let it take its course. Popping and prodding can lead to damaging the skin barrier which can lead to acne scarring. 

You should avoid using pore strips. While they may clean out your pores for a short amount of time, using them excessively can lead to bigger pores, causing more breakouts.This is caused by the skin thinking it needs to produce more oil to make up for what is lost from the pore strips.

Exfoliating scrubs have gained popularity in the last couple of years, using an exfoliating scrub that is grainy can create microscopic tears in your skin which leads to long term skin damage. 

The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends finding an exfoliant that fits your skin type and to avoid using it excessively or aggressively. 

Although it does not sound safe, using an exfoliate that is higher in chemicals than gritty add-ins will benefit your skin in the long run. For example, products that have salicylic acid, glycolic acid and aha and bha. For people new to chemical exfoliants, it is recommended to exfoliate once a week and for less than the recommended time. 

Instead of using a cleanser that is scented, you should use a gentle unscented cleanser. Cleansers that are scented can lead to skin and eye irritation, as well as rashes if you are sensitive to the scents. 

Slugging has been all the rage on social media. Slugging is when you take a pea sized amount of a thicker moisturizer or petroleum based products and slather it on your face after your skin care routine before you go to bed. This practice helps to repair your skin barrier and act as a shield to the dirt that is on your pillowcase. If you have oily skin and still want to try this trend, you should do it every couple days instead of everyday. You can use a product like Vaseline or Aquaphor. Slugging can also be used to combat fine lines and wrinkles. 

With summer right around the corner it is important to wear sunscreen all the time and especially when using a chemical exfoliant. Using a sunscreen that is meant for your face is preferred as body sunscreens have a different amount of oil and using them on your face can lead to breakouts. 

Make sure to take good care of your skin so you can glow this summer.