Every Time You Make One of These a Dermatologist Dies a Little Inside
When it comes to skincare, there is no such thing as a specialized treatment that can cure all the problems or one golden routine that works for all.
Everyone has their own unique genetic makeup, therefore everyone’s skin is different and has their own special needs. There is, unfortunately, no shortcut to a perfect skincare regimen without many trials and errors, and more often than not you don’t even realize that you are bagging some of the big mistakes.
We have compiled the most common and probably the most serious skincare slip-ups confirmed by dermatologists.
By evaluating your current skincare routine and eliminating these bad habits, your journey to better skin will be much smoother.
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Skipping your daily sunscreen application
Many people believe that sunscreen is only necessary for spending a long hot summer day out on the beach.
However, sun damage is the perpetrator of many major skin concerns and even skin cancer. It has been proven that frequent exposure to sunlight (UV radiation) breaks down collagen and elastin found in human skin which can cause hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and rough texture.
“If you spend 30 minutes a day in the sun without protection, over the course of the summer, that is the damage equivalent to spending two full days in the sun,” says the famed dermatologist Dennis Gross, M.D.
The damaging effects of UV light are all year round including cold winter days, and these UV rays could penetrate through clouds and windows. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily on exposed skin, applying 30 minutes before any sun exposure, then reapplying sunscreen every two hours regardless of its strength to prevent further sun damage.
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Focusing only on your face
We all spend too much time and effort on our face to make it look good, with makeup, grooming, or extensive skincare routines.
“One cannot treat their skin as a separate entity from the entire body.
The skin (being the largest organ of the body) performs many functions, all of which either work in partnership with or depend upon the functions of the internal vital organs,” explains Rachael Pontillo, a holistic skincare advocator and educator for Dermascope.
In recent years, many skincare companies and dermatologists began to promote holistic skincare for the reason that your skin health is determined by your overall health, your diet, your lifestyle habits, and environmental elements.
For example, too much sugar in the diet can break you out, frequent smoking and drinking can lead to premature aging, and harsh winter days can dehydrate your skin. To improve the appearance of your facial skin, you need to factor in all these concerns to improve your overall health which in turn will benefit your skin.
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Not moisturizing enough
Having a proper moisturizer that works for your skin is the fundamental of any effective skincare routine.
A good routine could be as simple as having a proper cleanse and a solid moisturizer, yet many people tend to skip these two most important steps. Celebrity aesthetician Renee Rouleau notes that any skin type can suffer from dehydration.
“Dehydrated skin is a skin condition, it lacks water content, but it still produces oil, in fact, it’s probably producing more oil to compensate for the lack of moisture in the skin.”
Dehydrated skin leads to fine lines, wrinkles, flakiness, enlarged pores, excessive sebum, and oil production which will worsen your skin conditions regardless of it being dry, oily, or combination.
If you have dry skin, you need a heavy-duty moisturizer that still allows your skin to breathe properly. If you have oily skin, you want a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer with calming properties.
If you have combination skin, you can opt for a consistency that is in-between heavy and lightweight, a product that is packed with nutrients. Find the products that work for your skin through researches and trials, do not make blind purchases based on hype and price tag.
You can always switch up your moisturizers with the change of seasons but always remember to moisturize your skin even on the hottest summer day.
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Not cleansing properly
Remember the three Don'ts:
Don’t go to bed with makeup on, don’t go to bed without washing your face, and don’t sleep in the same unwashed bedding for too long. Dermatologist Amie Sessa believes that not washing your face before bed is actually the biggest skincare sin among all of them.
Oil, sweat, pollution, makeup’s chemical residues, dust, and other toxins can clog your pores, trigger irritations even disrupt collagen production if let sitting on your face for too long.
Let your skin rest refreshed and recover properly at night after protecting your body throughout the day, so it can pick up the functions better when you go out again.
Double-cleanse is a method recommended by experts if you want to deeply, properly cleanse your face.“The benefit of double cleansing is that the first cleanser will break down any makeup, remove dirt and excess oils from the day and clean your skin. The second cleanser will address your particular skin type or concern and should have ingredients to hydrate, smooth, or exfoliate and treat acne,” says NYC-based dermatologist Craig Austin.
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Over-exfoliating your skin
Exfoliating is a great step in a skincare routine to cleanse deeply and boost skin regeneration by removing dead skin cells from the surface of your skin.
It usually involves a chemical, a granular substance, or an exfoliation tool. Regular exfoliation can prevent clogged pores, increase collagen production, and improve the effectiveness of your other skincare products. Because of the great benefits and sometimes instant results of exfoliation, many people are over-exfoliating their skin.
Over-exfoliated skin suffers from irritation, redness, inflammation, and develop a tight waxy texture because the skin has been stripped away natural oils and nutrients. “Generally, skin should be exfoliated only one to two times per week to help expedite skin cell turnover without causing damage,” suggests Dr. Aanand Geria, a dermatologist with Geria Dermatology.
You might increase that frequency if you suffer from oily skin or you have found a gentler formula. Many physical exfoliators such as facial rubs with added natural granulate are harsh in nature and can cause micro-tears in your skin, it is better to find an acid exfoliator (AHA/BHA) that won’t cause too much irritation.
Building the perfect skincare routine is a long learning process. It doesn’t matter if you have committed some of these sins in the past or you are still making a few mistakes here and there, introduce small changes one step at a time and you will see results in the near future.
What are your biggest skincare mistakes to date? What advice you would like to give to your younger self or the rest of the Oia community? Here at Oia, we are learning, researching, and experimenting every day to find the best approaches and solutions to all your skincare concerns. Let our expertise be part of your journey to better skin, and let your voice be part of our growth.
Stay radiant,
Oia Skin Team