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Common Skin Care Mistakes

For a dermatologist in Pleasanton, a part of the work of helping patients fix their skin issues is also trying to figure out what caused the problem in the first place. This isn’t just to make diagnosis more effective, but also to make sure that issues don’t recur when it comes to after they get their skin treatment in San Francisco done. With this in mind, here are some common skin care mistakes that well-meaning people make, that may end up causing more problems in the end.

Protecting Your Skin

Probably the first thing that a dermatologist in Placerville is going to tell you when it comes to anti-aging advice is to try and protect yourself from sunlight. However, there are layers to this advice. A lot of people think that as long as they aren’t actively sunbathing or going to the beach, they don’t need to worry at all about the sun. However, the truth is that any sort of sun exposure will lead to damage, and even little 10-minute bursts of this while you are running your daily errands can lead to problems over time. As a result, you want to make sure that you use a moisturizer with SPF, to add protection into your daily skin regimen.

On the topic of sun protection, those who already are wearing sunscreen are doing well for themselves. However, there’s a right and a wrong way to apply sunscreen. A lot of people make the fundamental mistake of not putting on their sunscreen until they are already for the sun. Remember, sunscreen needs time to settle and become active before it can actually do its work. Ideally, you want to try and apply it around 10 to 15 minutes before you plan on going outside. Along with this, you also want to make sure that you cover as many areas as possible, including those that get missed often like the ears and lips. The forehead by the hairline also often gets neglected.

In some cases, advancements being made in some skin care products isn’t enough to circumvent some common issues (yet). For example, more and more makeup formulas are being designed to be more lightweight. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you can still leave them on overnight. The primary reason that makeup isn’t meant to be left on overnight is because it still clogs your pores, no matter how light it feels. When our skin secretes oil, the makeup them covers it up, causing buildup. This can lead to them looking larger and even leading to breakouts. A simple wash before you go to bed at night can do a lot.

On the topic of makeup, some people are just naturally more prone to breakouts than others. This is unavoidable, but you can make some smart purchasing decisions to try and minimize the problem. As a start, make sure that all the makeup products you are buying are oil-free. The easiest way to ensure this is the case is making sure that any products you buy clearly say they are oil-free on the label. One of the best ingredients you can use to get around this issue is hyaluronic acid, as it internally hydrates the skin.

Proper Skin Care

In some cases, people just have a fundamental misunderstanding of what may leave to skin imperfections or issues. Large pores are a good example of this. Most of the time, people believe that these generally step from clogs caused by oil, dirt, or makeup. However, aging plays a surprisingly large role in this as well. The main factor here is the fact that as we get older, collagen is doing to diminish around a pore. Collagen is the firming protein in the skin. As these skin fibers start to get looser, the pore itself appears bigger. If this is the root issue, scrubbing or unclogging products aren’t going to help, because they’re not fixing the root problem.

Instead, you want to make sure that you’re getting more vitamin C and peptides against your skin. These will help strengthen the collagen fibers in your skin and keep pores smaller.

Another thing that some people do is skip out on shaving cream, either to save time or because they are forgetful. However, shaving cream is more important than you think. When you use a razor, this helps the razor glide over the skin as opposed to you having to press down on it. As a result, this will lead to less risk of injury. In addition, these creams often help soften the hair, making it easier to cut and giving you a closer shave that lasts longer. With cream, you can go over the same area 10 times and not cause the problems you may see from doing it just once or twice slowly.

One thing that may surprise you is that toothpaste can actually cause trouble if you have naturally dry and cracked lips. Because a lot of toothpastes are made with some sort of minty derivative, it can actually hurt lips when they are dry. If you’re dealing with this issue, you can mitigate it a little by taking the time to coat your lips with some Vaseline before brushing. This helps your lips recover faster and minimizing any irritation.

As a final note, many people preach the importance of moisturizing for healthy skin, and indeed, hydrating is very important. However, there’s one area where it may backfire, and that’s while working out. When you exercise, your skin is going to naturally release sweat. However, if you put on cream before your workout, this can trap the sweat, and end up leading to breakouts or heat rash. Make sure you give your face and chest a quick wash before working out.

Overall, prevention is surprisingly important when it comes to skin health. By combining this with a consultation with a dermatologist in Cameron Park, you have the perfect platform to make your skin look its best at all times.

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