As skin specialists, we believe it is our job to educate our clients so that even when they are not at the clinic with us they are able to keep their skin happy and healthy. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about how to care for skin and skin conditions and we frequently have to re-educate people. This month we have included the 6 most common mistakes clients make with their skin. How many are you guilty of?

1. Drying out acne …

Acne is a very complex skin condition, which occurs due to a number of factors. Your skin cells creating too quickly and not shedding off quick enough, acne bacteria and waxy sebum. The skin itself needs oil to function, there is a reason your body produces it. If you strip your skin of all it’s oil the skin usually has a rebound affect and will try and produce more oil. Stripping the oil with harsh products also dehydrates the skin, and if there isn’t enough water in the skin, the oil in your pores becomes trapped causing congestion and breakouts. We would also like to note that spot treating breakouts with tea tree oils and similar products can cause an increase in inflammation which often leads to a nasty scar being left behind. Rather than taking all the oil away, focus on controlling the oil as well as improving the quality (good quality oil doesn’t clog your pores). Increasing water levels is also a key factor in treating acne and congestion.

2. Relying on the SPF in your make-up…

It’s no secret that sunscreen is the key to preventing premature ageing and pigmentation. To protect your skin, a sunscreen needs to be ‘broad spectrum’. This means that it protects against the two main types of Ultra Violet radiation; UVA and UVB rays. Majority of make-up (with the few exceptions; e.g ColoreScience) that claim to have sunscreen, it only protects against UVB rays. Although this is better than nothing, UVA rays are the main cause of premature ageing as well as melanomas.
Another big difference between a professional sunscreen and the sunscreen in make-up is that the SPF in skincare is TGA regulated. This means that the SPF rating must be accurate in professional skin care, however make-up is not regulated.

3. Using strong granular exfoliants…

Who doesn’t love the feeling of freshly exfoliated skin?! Exfoliating is an important and integral part of any skincare regime, it helps to remove dead skin cells, unclog pores, reduce fine lines and even the skin tone. As we learn more about the skin, we are discovering that scrubbing the skin causes a lot of trauma and damage to the upper layers of the skin. Granular exfoliants cause micro-tears in the skin leaving your skin prone to redness, sensitivity, and generally un-healthy skin. The new generation of skin care has seen a rise of liquid exfoliants, e.g.; Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA’s) and Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA’s). These exfoliants are generally in serum form, and they encourage the natural desquamation of skin cells. Acids like BHA’s are fantastic for congested skin as they seek out oil in the skin, meaning they are able to penetrate the hair follicles and pores, dissolving congestion. Liquid exfoliants still can over-exfoliate your skin and cause problems, so for a healthy skin you should only be exfoliating 1-2 a week!

4. Not using skincare on your neck…

A growing concern of women 50+ is skin laxity and lines on their neck. Although there are many treatments available to improve this concern, prevention is the key! Taking your skin care down onto the neck will ensure the delicate skin on your neck is kept healthy and happy. This will help to support the collagen and elastin and delay the natural decline of these structures as we age. If this is already a concern of yours, there are many treatments and products available to help improve skin laxity and lines, using a Vitamin C serum as well as an SPF is always a good start.

5. Using dry shampoo and hairspray regularly…

If you find that you are getting breakouts or small little bumps that don’t go away around your hairline and forehead, it could be your hair care to blame. Dry shampoo is designed to mop up oil which is how it makes your hair fresher, so it would make sense that if applied to the skin would do the same. By dry shampoo soaking up the oil and leaving product on your skin, it prevents the natural desquamation of your dead skin cells. This is very similar for hairspray, it glues the dead skin cells to your skin and traps oil = breakouts and bumps on your skin. The solution; apply these products before washing your face so your cleanser will remove the product residue, or protect your face by using your hand as a barrier.

6. Spraying perfume on your neck and décolletage…

Perfumes are made of a blend of essential oils and other scents in an alcohol base. What a lot of clients don’t realise that this can make your skin sensitive to sunlight. A common skin condition we see in mature clients is poikiloderma, this presents on the skin is a combination of broken blood vessels making it look constantly red as well as splotches of pigmentation. Poikiloderma is often caused by repetitive fragrance use paired with sun exposure. Once again, this is a skin condition we are able to effectively treat but prevention is always best. Instead of spraying your neck and chest, apply your perfume to your inner elbow, between your cleavage (if it is protected from the sun) or a light
mist over your hair.

If any of these conditions discussed are a concern of yours, or you would like more information about how to look after your skin best, chat with us live now or call us to book in a complimentary skin consultation. Ph: 8820 5801