Skin care is the collection of practices that support skin health, improve its look and alleviate various skin related conditions. Skin care includes a variety of approaches including exfoliation, chemical peels, laser resurfacing and moisturizing. They all aim at providing you with the best possible results in both preventing and curing skin conditions, while improving your skin’s quality and appearance. The various components of these practices may be divided into 3 main categories as follows:
Skin exfoliation is the main article in this skin care practice. It involves a series of surgical or non-surgical procedures aimed at removing dead and surplus skin cells and encouraging the formation of new cells and increasing the skin’s collagen content. Its main component is abrasive agents. The main effect of exfoliation is to remove superficial irregularities such as fine lines and wrinkles. However, it can have negative side effects such as irritation and scarring.
Chemical peels are an important element of your skin-care routine. They consist of substances such as beta hydroxyl acids (BHA), salicylic acid and glycolic acid, which help to unclog pores and slough off dead skin cells. When properly used, they can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as improve the complexion. However, they can have side effects such as redness, dryness, and irritation.
The third category of elements used in a skin care routine is a face mask. Face masks are used to restore the face’s natural moisture levels by exfoliating the skin and replenishing essential nutrients. Common ingredients in a face mask include kaolin, bentone gel and olive oil. These ingredients work to restore your face’s natural moisture levels. This allows for your skin to heal itself and prevent further damage caused by free radicals.
One last category of components in a skin care line is antioxidants. These are natural ingredients that prevent damage caused by everyday exposure to environmental irritants. Common active ingredients in skin care products in this category include Vitamin A, Coenzyme Q10, grape seed extract and citrus seed oil. Antioxidants reduce the signs of aging such as wrinkles and also fight damage done by environmental irritants.
While a good dermatology professional can help you determine which of these categories of ingredients are right for you, it is ultimately your responsibility to choose the product that best suits your skin care needs. The key to choosing the right cleansers and exfoliants is to look for those with high quality ingredients. Then, you should follow the directions on the label to ensure that you are using a reliable dermatology skincare brand.