Knowing Your Outer Layer: 6 Things You Must Learn to Take Proper Care of Problematic Skin

Everyone has skin, but each individual’s skin is different and requires specialized care. Someone with oily skin should not use too much moisturizing lotion and someone with dry skin should not use a drying lotion. However, everyone should wash their face at least twice a day.

There is a lot of information available for taking care of your skin, especially in a beauty blog. One must think about how their skin reacts to different chemicals and stimulants before taking on a new skincare routine.

Below are 6 things you must learn to take proper care of problematic skin:

1. Acne-Prone Skin

You may think your acne-prone skin magically disappears when you hit your twenties, but that is not the case for everyone. Some individuals will continue to have acne-prone skin well into their thirties, forties and beyond.

The sebaceous glands within the skin are charged with creating sebum, the oily, waxy substance that is supposed to hydrate and protect the skin. When your skin produces too much of this natural substance, it causes pimples by clogging your pores.

To combat this type of skin condition, opt for products that contain the following: Benzoyl peroxide, Salicylic acid, Beta-hydroxy acid or Glycolic acid. These types of products will help to balance the amount of sebum your body will produce. Leaving your face and body soft and acne-free.

2. Dry Skin

The weather, dry atmosphere in the house or office, hot showers and some skincare products that are actually supposed to hydrate your skin can all be contributing factors to drying your skin. Dry patches can also be a problem caused by various medical conditions and if they cannot be treated, they should warrant a visit to your regular doctor or a dermatologist.

Avoid skincare products that contain Salicylic acid, Benzoyl peroxide, Retinoids, and alcohol. These will further dry out your skin rather than create a moisture barrier that will help keep your skin soft and moist.

3. When to Wash Your Face

Everyone should wash their face at least once a day, no matter what type of skin they have. However, if you have dry skin, you may opt for only washing your face in the evening before bed. You may want to splash some cool water on your face or use water only in the morning to rinse off your face. This will help to get any residual cleaner off your face as well as help to get you going in the morning without drying you out.

If you have oily skin, washing your face twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, is ideal. You will also want to wash your face after working out or being outdoors for long periods of time to help keep the dirt and pollutions out of your pores.

4. What to Eat

To ensure your skin is properly balanced within a good pH range, you should add the following foods to your diet on a regular basis:

• Avocados – high in healthy fats that help to keep the skin moisturized as well as flexible
• Fatty fish – rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which keep skin supple, thick and moisturized for longer periods of time
• Sweet potatoes – chock full of Beta-carotene and a good source of vitamin A
• Red and yellow bell peppers – another good source of vitamin A and Beta-carotene
• Tomatoes – have an abundance of lycopene, one of the major carotenoids
• Walnuts – also high in essential fatty acids that help skin stay supple and moisturized
• Broccoli – high in vitamin C, A, and zinc, as well as has an ingredient that helps to block the sun’s harmful rays
• Sunflower seeds – filled with skin-boosting nutrients
• Dark chocolate (in moderation) – this is high in antioxidants
• Soy – this plant-based ingredient contains isoflavones, an estrogen-blocking ingredient
• Red wine (in moderation) – contains resveratrol, an anti-ageing ingredient
• Green tea – contains catechins

Each of these foods has what your skin needs to be beautiful from the inside out.

5. What Not to Eat

To help keep your skin looking and feeling supple and flawless, avoid the following foods:

• Dairy products – they increase oil production and will clog pores
• Deep-fried foods – another category of foods that can produce excess oils on the skin
• Lunch Meat – these thin slices of processed meats are loaded with sodium and causes water retention and swelling of the skin
• Coffee – caffeine is a drying agent to your skin, balance out a daily coffee with equal glasses of water
• Alcohol – this type of drink is a drying agent for your skin as well
• Gluten – many people are fine eating gluten, however, if you have sensitive skin or are prone to breakouts, lose the gluten
• Soda – even the diet sodas are filled with sugar, which and will really do a number on your skin
• Fruit juices – another drink that has a high sugar content
• Doughnuts and other sweets – too much sugar can have a damaging effect on your skin, causing premature ageing, wrinkles, lines, and easy scarring

Eating a better variety of plant-based foods will not only allow your body to become healthier; this type of food will help your skin maintain a healthy glow.

You should also opt for drinking more water to help flush the toxins out of your system and help keep your skin soft and clear.

6. Get More Sleep

One of the most important things you can do for your skin, as well as your overall health, is to get plenty of sleep. Similarly to the other organs in your body, your skin needs time to rest and repair from the day’s constant bombardment of chemicals and stress.

To maintain a youthful and healthy look about you, take care of your skin by eating better, avoiding too much stress and harmful foods and get plenty of rest. Your older self will thank you for the skincare you provide now.