So many times I have people in the clinic who have skin issues due to overdoing something that should be good for the skin, but doing it too much!
What am I referring to?? Exfoliating!
A lot of the time people unwittingly use the same product, but with different names and don’t realise that they’re using a product that does the same thing, exfoliate.
So how often should you exfoliate your face?
Once a week is absolutely fine!
Why shouldn’t you do it more??
Ok, let’s start with the basics, your skin barrier is basically your outer layer of the skin, it’s dead, not alive, and it's made up of dead cells, lipids, proteins and fats that help protect your skin from the environment.
The rest of your skin is a living organism. But your skin barrier's role is to keep that living organism well protected from things that could harm it. Think of it like armour, protecting all the delicate skin just beneath the surface, it works to keep water in and to keep chemicals and infectious bacteria out.
What can damage your skin barrier?
Let's go back to that armour analogy. Imagine your once sturdy armour has taken some hits, and it's not in the same shape it used to be, maybe it's thinner than before or the material has warped. Maybe it even has some kind of visible damage, like a hole or a tear. It once kept you fully protected, but now it leaves you vulnerable to harm.
So what are the signs your skin barrier has been compromised?
In short, if you’re experiencing some sort of issue with your skin, it’s likely that your skin barrier has sustained some damage. That damage may be evident just based on the way your skin looks and feels, including:
Acne.
Dry, scaly and/or flaky skin.
Infection.
Inflammation and irritation.
Itchiness.
Rough patches.
Stinging, especially when you apply skin care products.
Tenderness or sensitivity.
Can you repair it?
Well the good news is yes! Stop exfoliating for now and start using gentle products and treating your skin with ‘kid gloves.’ But it typically takes three or four months to start seeing the benefits of your efforts.
Also keep your skin's pH balanced!
‘pH’ stands for ‘potential hydrogen,’ and in a nutshell, your pH number indicates how acidic your skin is. Skin's normal pH is about 5.5, but if yours is higher or lower, it can throw your skin barrier out of whack.
Your skin has a memory
In ten, twenty, thirty years from now, your skin will show the results of how it was treated today.
So treat it kindly and with respect
Debbie Clayton
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