Spring is well and truly upon us, the weather improves daily and the beer gardens have now been opened – hooray! As someone who has suffered from their skin for many, many years… I understand the urge of wanting flawless skin. There is no simple solution I’m afraid but working hard to maintain healthy skin is possible and these do’s and don’t will go a long way!
DO’s
Keep up a skincare routine – This is completely personal as routines differ for everyone. I would say that at the VERY minimum, make sure you are washing your face and moisturising. It is so important to get rid of the build-up of toxins that you accumulate throughout the day. If you make sure that you timing it with brushing your teeth – you will feel refreshed when waking up and relaxed before winding down for bed!
Get some Vitamin D – Sun exposure works wonders for the skin as it increases the production of melanin. This gives the skin a tan – reducing the appearance of spots and allowing the complexion of your skin to look better. For any fellow acne sufferers, don’t avoid the sunshine – at the first sign of sun, get out there! However, it is extremely important that you take the right measures when sunbathing. Make sure that you apply sunscreen before leaving the house. It may seem like a bit of a farse but it will prevent sunburn and more importantly, reduce the risk of getting skin cancer in half. The best thing now is that SPF make-up is massively on the rise, meaning you can get dolled up and protect yourself at the same time – what’s not to love?!
Change your bedding regularly – We’ve all been guilty of this but honestly, it is so important to keep on top of this job – even if it does require starfishing trying to get it back on after. By not washing it regularly, you are exposing yourself to bacteria, fungi, and pollen. Think about it, you get warm in the night, you sweat – that alongside your dead skin cells are just mooching around underneath you. I am cringing too. It is recommended by experts to throw it in a weekly wash but monthly washing is supported for you busy bees. Take this as your sign to load up the washer now!
Stay hydrated – This is a classic example of something we all know we should be doing but largely forget or don’t bother. Amongst a very long list of health benefits, water is also extremely good for your skin. It may make you pee more but, ultimately, the speed at which this fluid can help to flush out toxins is ridiculous! By drinking just two cups of water a day, your blood flow will increase to the skin and therefore allow for a more even skin tone – according to studies.
DONT’s
Keep touching your face – A study conducted in South Wales showed an average face-touching per hour at a phenomenal 23 touches. That is absolutely terrifying as I can’t imagine handwashing per hour having the same kind of statistic. Think of every surface that you may have touched within that hour, every germ that you’ve touched – being smeared onto your face. It is very unhealthy. Most of these instances with occur without any realisation but perhaps putting a higher emphasis on watching yourself will save your skin.
Wear the same face mask on a loop – Since Covid-19 came along, we all have had to do our part in halting the pandemic – one of the biggest introductions was the face mask. With many people complaining of face mask acne, it begs the question of whether we’re wearing them right. These face masks are here to protect us and they won’t be able to do that if you don’t keep them clean. Face masks should be washed after every use and you should have a few stocked up to avoid having to use the same one. Alternatively, you can use disposable medical-style face masks. Not only will not washing your masks reduce the level of protection against coronavirus but the build-up of bacteria can also lead to other health problems.
Pop your spots – I know, I’ve been there and worn the t-shirt. Walking around with a big yellowhead, it’s not pretty – but the scarring that comes from popping is seriously not worth it. There are plenty of methods out there to save you these days – clear spot covers, concealer, or my personal favourite… letting it breathe. I promise you, it’s better to walk around with a little spot for a day now than to have the scars haunting you years later.
Stress – This is a lot easier said than done and I massively appreciate that. There’s no quick fix to stress. It can also be a HUGE participant in acne, weight gain/ loss, the way that you view yourself. What I would say is just try to enjoy yourself and make the most of ‘good days’. Try to keep yourself occupied and make plans, short-term and long-term. Additionally, take time for yourself – have a bubble bath, lay down in bed, pop a face mask on.