Comprehensive guide to skin care

A skincare routine can mean a lot of things. It can be putting on the occasional acne-fighting sheet mask. Or it can be carefully applying the right amount of prescription cream to calm down a patch of psoriasis. Read on to learn more about the actual elements in a skincare routine and an overview of active ingredients that work best for certain skin conditions.

What do you mean by skin care?

It’s the basic care of your largest organ – your skin! It plays a significant role to protect you from outdoor pathogens. Don’t you regularly brush your teeth? Well, your skin requires some regular attention too to keep it functioning properly. Your skin has particular functions such as:

• It protects you from the outside world, including chemicals and bacteria.
• It regulates your body temperature and fluid balance through sweat.
• It’s the main reservoir for Vitamin D production in the body.
• It aids to feel heat, cold, touch and pain.

Why should you care about skin care?

With a good skin care regimen, you can reduce the presence of wrinkles, dark spots and sun damage. You can also quite effectively manage some more minor concerns like skin dryness or oiliness.

For those with specific skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and acne, skin care is not always optional and requires a bit more thought. Treating a definite skin condition means you need to employ a specific skin care regimen. Your condition might make your skin more sensitive to ingredients and products. Finding a skincare routine that works can offer a vital way to someone to manage and treat their condition.

Many people find that sticking to a skincare regimen gives them a routine and sense of control. Others find that applying the occasional mask relaxes them and helps them focus their attention on themselves.

What do you need to know before you begin a skincare routine?

It’s important to know your skin type. Do you have any major skin problems? You should keep them in mind while deciding on your skin care routine. It’s good to remember that everyone’s skincare regimen is distinct. What works for your friends or family might not be best for you.

How does your skin feel without any makeup or products on it a few hours after taking a shower? Does it get a little greasy or shiny? You probably have oily skin. Does it feel dry or flaky? You may have dry skin. Do you have dry skin in some places and oily skin on the T-zone? You have combination skin. If you have well-balanced skin i.e., neither too dry nor too oily, you’re considered to have normal skin. Knowing your skin type will help steer you toward products that will manage skin dryness and oiliness while effectively taking care of any other skin problems you have.

Does your skin tend to get irritated when you use certain products? Or did you ever have an allergic reaction to a product? Or do you have certain skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, etc.? You might have sensitive skin. People with sensitive skin can have oily, dry, combination or normal skin. But they might need to take extra care in selecting products that don’t cause irritation or exacerbate skin conditions.

Basic skincare steps

The three basic steps of a skin care routine are cleansing, moisturizing and applying sunscreen lotion. You should cleanse, moisturize every morning and night. You should also apply sunscreen lotion every morning. Use a moisturizer that has at least 30 SPF and broad-spectrum protection. You can use a daytime moisturizer with SPF at night as well. Serums, toners and exfoliants should be applied after cleansing but before moisturizing.

Why choose chemical-free skincare products?

If you know you have sensitive skin, it pays to choose skin care products with natural ingredients to minimize the risk of allergic reactions. The effect of chemicals on the skin can range from minor skin irritation and itchiness to a full-blown allergic reaction. You might feel you need the frothy foam of your current skin cleanser for it to work effectively. This is not true! The chemicals used to produce this foam might strip away moisture and the protective layer of the skin. This impacts your skin’s natural protective barrier. This leaves your skin exposed to other irritants and with no defense against disease-causing bacteria and allergens. This makes it vulnerable to infection and irritation. Hence, it’s always best to buy skin care products which are chemical-free!

When to see a doctor?

Mild skin problems can usually be treated with the right skincare routine. But if it doesn’t improve, you should visit the nearest skin clinic and consult an expert homeopathic doctor. He or she will take your detailed medical history and current skin care regime. Then he or she will examine your skin to determine your skin problem. Accordingly, you will be prescribed customized homeopathic medicine for skin disease. Don’t miss out on any of the instructions and go for regular follow-ups. You should be fine!