Total Skin Care – Combination Skin Care
My daughters are in their early teens and obsessed with their skin. What can I advise them about eating right and taking care of their skin?
Skin care is extremely important for teenagers. Junk food, carbonated drinks, irregular sleep patterns, stress due to studies, exposure to sun and pollution take a toll on the skin making it dull and lifeless. Acne, dandruff, hair loss, premature graying and even early wrinkles could occur due to improper care. One must have plenty of brightly colored fruits and vegetables such as carrots, tomatoes, oranges, cherries, plums, berries, red grapes, spinach and broccoli. These have a high content of anti-oxidants in them especially vitamin C, E, beta carotene and selenium. Anti-oxidants are free radical scavengers and they protect the skin from oxidative damage, thus helping your skin to remain youthful and glowing. One must also drink 8-10 glasses of water to remain well hydrated. As far as skin care is concerned, don’t try different soaps and shampoos all the time. Use a mild face wash. Avoid going outdoors without applying a sunscreen with an SPF of 30. It is even better if you carry an umbrella. Do not coat your skin with too much make-up. This could block your pores and increase whiteheads and blackheads. If you have dry skin, don’t forget to apply a moisturizer on a slightly moist skin. You could use a scrub once in a week. You could even go to a dermatologist for skin polishing or a skin clean-up once a month.
I have oily skin but in winter my skin gets dry by the time it is evening. Trying to ease the situation, I apply a moisturizer but I get acne as a result. What should I do?
Usage of heavy oil-based or heavy moisturizers is probably blocking your pores leading to more acne. You should use a mild face wash with salicylic acid (saslic foam wash or Salvosh). Salicylic acid works by softening keratin, a protein that forms part of the skin structure. This helps to loosen dry scaly skin making it easier to remove. It also prevents clogging of pores and helps in breakdown of blackheads and whiteheads. Do not use a toner in winter as it would further dry your skin. Apply a gel-based sunscreen. At bedtime, use a mild cleansing lotion such as Cetaphil cleansing lotion instead of soap or a face wash. Soaps alter the Ph balance of the skin making the skin drier. Apply a thin coat of oil-free moisturizing lotion or Emolene cream but do not massage. The massage itself would stimulate sebaceous glands to secrete more sebum or oil. If you still get acne, please consult a dermatologist.