How do I Heal Dehydrated Winter Skin With Pimples?
You may wonder how it is possible to have dehydrated skin with pimples, but these two conditions go hand in hand. Lack of moisture creates dehydrated skin and an abundance of dead skin cells. When dead skin combines with oil, acne results. A successful acne treatment will absorb oil, exfoliate dead skin cells, add moisture to the skin, and stop the bacteria that cause inflammation and pimples. You need a combination of products to achieve optimal results. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Wet your skin with warm water and apply a dime-sized amount of cleanser. If your skin is irritated and cracking from the dehydration, avoid cleansers that contain salicylic or glycolic acid, since these products can make the skin feel more irritated. "Excessive washing and scrubbing also can irritate skin," says the Mayo Clinic "See Reference 1." So use wet hands to gently cleanse instead of scrubbing with a cloth.
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Apply a scrub twice weekly to exfoliate the skin. Select a scrub that has small grains, and use wet fingers to gently massage it in a circular motion. Do not massage vigorously with the scrub. The action will stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce more oil, causing further congestion of the skin.
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Pour toner onto a cotton ball. Use a rosewater toner or one that contains chamomile to soothe the skin. Avoid toners containing witch hazel or alcohol, which can cause further dehydrate the skin. Blot the toner gently into the skin. Alternately, choose a chemical exfoliant with glycolic or lactic acid in a concentration of less than 10% if your skin is not inflamed "See Reference 2."
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Apply a dime-sized dollop of moisturizer to the skin. Choose a moisturizer containing hyaluronic acid. It naturally occurs in the skin, so you probably won't have an allergic reaction. It is also hydroscopic, meaning that it attracts water to the skin. It will hydrate the skin and stimulate new skin-cell growth.
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Perform all steps in the morning and at night.
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Tips & Warnings
Skin Inc. magazine recommends drinking 5-8 glasses of water each day and eating lots of fruits and vegetables to stay hydrated "See Reference 3."
If your dehydrated skin has resulted from using prescription retinol to reduce acne pimples and inflammation, talk to your physician about reducing your dosage.
If you use central heat, use a humidifier to put moisture back into the air and your skin.
Do not use hot water, which dehydrates the skin.
Avoid moisturizing products that contain mineral oil or petrolatum; these oils can clog the skin and create more pimples "See Reference 4, pigmentary disorders."
References
- Photo Credit beauty girl in towel after shower image by Anatoly Tiplyashin from Fotolia.com
