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9 Skincare mistakes you should avoid explains dermatologist Dr Nivedita Dadu
We have Dr Nivedita Dadu giving us her expert tips on how all the skincare mistakes to avoid. Check it out
Among the organs of the body, the skin is one of the first to bear the brunt of sun, wind, cold, heat, humidity and pollution, leading to problems like suntan, sunburn, dark patches, blackheads, pimples, acne, rash, dryness of skin-sensitivity. Common skincare mistakes can actually aggravate these problems. A skincare regimen should be devised according to the skin type and according to the seasons. Sometimes our skin needs toners and refreshers to close the pores, remove sweat deposits and refresh the skin. On the other hand, sometimes our skin needs moisturisers and emollients. We follow many skincare routines that not only disturb our skin but can cause many problems in the skin.
Here are a few common skin care mistakes we all should avoid:
- Avoid using harsh astringent lotions for oily skin. This can disrupt normal balances. An astringent is useful in summer, especially for oily skin, as it reduces oiliness and prevents clogging of the pores. If it is too harsh, mix the astringent lotion with rose water in equal quantities and keep in an airtight bottle in the fridge.
- Not taking your makeup off - Makeup helps to clog the pores only if we do not take it off properly. Every night, make sure to wash off your makeup and ensure you double cleanse so no residue is left off. Make sure to use brushes and sponges that aren't used on other people.
- If the skin is oily, dirt and pollutants adhere to the skin. So, avoid touching the face with your hands. The hands actually carry germs and bacteria, conveying them to facial skin and leading to eruptive skin problems. If there is acne, it can get aggravated by touching the face.
- Taking long showers - Skincare routine starts with cleansing and if we do this step wrong, then all other things don't really matter. Taking long showers, especially hot ones, end up stripping the skin off its natural oils. This dry skin then becomes prone to fine lines and wrinkles.
- Avoid applying nourishing cream for normal to oily skin. Even for normal to dry skin, smothering the skin with cream and leaving it on all night does not help. The pores should be free of cream so that the skin can “breathe.” Whether summer or winter, avoid leaving cream around the eyes all night. This can lead to puffy eyes. Wipe off the cream around your eyes gently, after 15 minutes, with moist cotton wool.
- Skipping out on sunscreen - No matter what your skin type is what season you're in, never miss out on sunscreen. It is one of the most important steps in any skincare routine. It not only protects your skin from the harmful UV rays of the sun but also works as a protective layer against all other environmental factors like pollution.
- Most people with oily skin tend to wash their face frequently with soap and water, in the effort to reduce the oily look. This is actually a mistake. The soap may be too alkaline in nature and too much soap-and-water washing can disrupt the normal acid-alkaline (pH) balance of the skin. This leaves the skin prone to pimples and acne.
- If you think that oily skin produces enough oils to moisturise the skin, you're wrong. The sebaceous glands produce natural oils to compensate for the dryness. So, always apply sunscreen and moisturizer even if you have oily skin. Make sure to use a water-based moisturiser instead of a cream-based.
- Our skin always needs to breathe. So overdoing it with serums, creams, products and masks will only confuse the skin. Make sure you use minimal ingredients and products that give maximum benefits. Don’t over-exfoliate and give your products some time to work before you switch them. Make sure to apply your products from the lightest of consistency to heaviest.
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