Clean skin with no pimples, skin inflammations or blackheads is anyone's dream. These tips will help you achieve smoother, more supple skin, whether you suffer from acne and large pores, or are unable to heal the redness caused by rosacea. Read this article to get healthy looking skin: you can choose between various home methods or consider different professional treatments.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Taking Care of Your Skin at Home
Step 1. Thoroughly cleansing your skin is one of the sure ways to achieve pure, radiant skin
However, if you don't do this correctly, you could be doing more harm than good. For example, using lukewarm rather than hot water is enough to penetrate the pores and wash away dirt and oil. If you scrub your face too hard, you risk increasing sebum production and breaking down collagen, leaving your skin oily and full of fine lines. When choosing your cleanser, be sure to take your skin type into consideration. If you are prone to acne, choose an alcohol-free soap that contains ingredients for its proper treatment, such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
- For rosacea sufferers, a soap-free cleanser such as Cetaphil is best, possibly with a pH level close to that of your skin.
- Aggressive and fragrant soaps are the main cause of eczema. The best choice for eczema sufferers are natural and soothing products, including baby soap.
- Washing the face more than twice a day is an unnecessary practice: it can dry out the skin and deprive it of its natural sebum, causing premature aging.
- Not rinsing the skin completely after washing can cause an accumulation of residues that can clog the pores and cause acne.
- Use the towel to gently pat your face dry, without rubbing.
Step 2. Good hydration is important for all skin types
It can soothe dry skin, make scars less visible and is especially important after washing your face. It is a good idea, in fact, to moisturize the skin within the next minute, in order to give back to the pores what they have lost during washing. Leaving the skin slightly moist after washing it will help hydration.
- If you have scars on your face, after hydration you can carry out a treatment, for example with Mederma, to promote progressive healing. The most effective treatment is based on collagen and moisturizing agents.
- An oil-free moisturizer is the best solution for acne-prone skin because it avoids excessive occlusion of the pores.
- For those suffering from eczema or rosacea, the goal is to moisturize the skin to soothe it. Wash your face in the evening and apply a cream immediately afterwards to improve the protective barrier.
Step 3. An exfoliating treatment will help you achieve an even complexion and clean the pores by removing dead skin cells
Among the most effective methods are scrubs and electric face brushes. The frequency of treatment depends on the type of skin: if you have dry skin despite acne, it is better not to do it more than once or twice a week; if you have oily skin you can lightly exfoliate once a day if needed.
- An exfoliating treatment is especially necessary if you are prone to acne, to free the pores of dead skin that accumulates causing pimples and blackheads.
- You should avoid exfoliating treatments if you suffer from rosacea, as they may be too aggressive.
- If you have eczema and are considering exfoliating, be sure to proceed gently using a face towel and not repeat it too frequently.
- If you are hoping to remove small scars with an exfoliating treatment, use a lotion based on glycolic acid or lactic acid.
Step 4. To achieve a longer lasting result, it is important to have good habits that keep the skin clean
In addition to proper cleaning, there are several daily practices that can help you have purer skin, including the constant use of sunscreen and particular attention to nutrition. Using a broad spectrum sunscreen is essential to repair the skin from UVA and UVB rays that cause premature aging and sun spots. Eating packaged foods can promote a dull complexion, so to have radiant skin, make sure you have whole foods in your diet, especially berries and nuts.
- Wash your makeup brush regularly with warm, soapy water to prevent the spread of dirt and oil.
- Keep your hair away from your face so that hair products and oil don't come into contact with your skin.
Part 2 of 3: Taking Care of Your Skin the Professional Way
Step 1. Do a facial cleansing every three to four weeks to help the cell growth cycle
With facial cleansing, not only impurities and dead cells are removed, but pores are also freed from any accumulations, thus ensuring complete absorption of the products used and a better result. If you suffer from skin rashes often, it is best to clean your face once every two weeks. Contact only a professional beautician with a good reputation.
- In case you have skin battered by blackheads and large pores, ask for them to be extracted. Extraction is the method by which hardened sebum is removed using a special tool or with the use of two fingers (the index and thumb).
- Rosacea and eczema need soothing facial treatments that do not involve steam or extractions. Chamomile and lavender are suitable for calming inflammation and redness.
Step 2. Microdermabrasion is a popular method of facial cleansing and is suitable for treating ailments such as acne, rosacea and blackheads
It consists in filing the outer layer of the skin so that the underlying layer emerges, smoother and healthier, and the clogged pores are eliminated. During microdermabrasion, a diamond-tipped wand is used to remove dead skin, while a vacuum sucks up the cells, instead of spreading them over the face and causing further rashes. This technique is suitable for almost all skin types, since the beautician can adapt the treatment to the specific needs of the skin.
- It is a treatment particularly suitable for light scars, dark spots and large pores.
- Microdermabrasion also stimulates the production of collagen which makes the skin more elastic.
- If you suffer from rosacea, this technique risks overstimulating the skin, causing further redness. Although it is often prescribed because it can lessen the redness in the short term, the problem may then recur in a more intense form.
Step 3. Although the Fraxel laser system does not allow you to eliminate existing pimples, it is probably the best method for eliminating scars caused by acne, spots and enlarged pores following a rash
The laser penetrates the epidermis to stimulate the production of collagen, thus renewing the skin. It stimulates the skin's self-healing process and replaces the damaged one with a new, younger-looking layer.
- Usually 4 to 7 treatments are needed, depending on the disorder to be treated.
- It can even be suitable for those without scars, because the laser also works on sagging skin, wrinkles and sun spots.
- The non-ablative laser is normally used for younger patients with mild skin disorders because it does not go deep and therefore does not act on deep wrinkles or scars. The rest time after this procedure is normally three to four days.
- The ablative laser targets the obvious signs of aging, deep scars and dark spots. The rest time varies between two and four weeks.
Part 3 of 3: What Not to Do
Step 1. Never squeeze pimples or tease the skin
If you don't know what you are doing, you risk severely damaging the pores in an attempt to squeeze pus out of the pimple. Teasing the skin can leave scars and redness.
In case you touch your skin, make sure your hands are clean or you risk causing infections
Step 2. If you stop using a product after a short amount of time, you risk losing the incredible benefits it can bring to your skin
New products usually take six to twelve weeks to show results on the skin. It is normal for the skin to react gradually to a treatment, so you may not notice any difference at first.
On the other hand, if you feel you have left the product to act for a sufficient time and you still do not see results, or even the situation has worsened, stop using it
Step 3. Even if you suffer from acute acne, you don't need strong chemicals to clean your skin
Too many fragrances and chemicals contained within the products you use could make the problem worse.
Find out if products like washing machine detergent or shampoo could leave harsh chemical residues on your sensitive skin
Step 4. Don't go to bed wearing makeup
It will help to further occlude the pores and worsen acne or other skin rashes. Not to mention that the more dirt penetrates inside the pore, the more it will be dilated.
