Is your sweaty, blemish-prone complexion dragging you down this summer? Go ahead, blame it on the staggering heat. Then, take a closer look at your skin care habits. You could be sabotaging your skin without even realizing it. Here are some of the most common summer skin care blunders to avoid so you can attain—and maintain—radiantly healthy skin every day of the year:
Running errands in sweaty workout clothes
We know how busy life gets. Squeezing in a workout between appointments and errands is usually the only way to get it done. Just be sure to squeeze in a shower, too. It’s tempting to postpone rinsing off when you have groceries, the post office, and the dry cleaners on your mind. But do your complexion a favor and promptly wash away accumulated sweat and debris. Sweat traps bacteria, resulting in body acne, rashes, infections, and other irritations.
Getting a tan to “dry out” pimples or give yourself a “glow”
They should rename the sun “Beauty Killer” because it’s the #1 cause of skin aging. Toxic UV rays destruct skin cells, resulting in fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, large pores, freckles, roughness, and countless other irregularities. Many of us think a little sun will clear up our blemishes and give our skin a “healthy” color. Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as a healthy tan. UV exposure is clinically proven to damage skin cells and increase your risk of skin cancer. As for acquiring that magic glow, it can be purchased at your local drugstore in the form of a tanning cream or bronzer—sans the UV damage.
Over-washing your skin
Your skin needs a certain amount of oil to be happy. Have you ever noticed that the more you wash your skin, the more oily it gets? The same is true for blotting papers. If you are constantly removing oil, your skin works even harder to replace it. (Oil-blotting papers can also backfire by pressing dirt and oil deeper into pores and creating blockage, which is the exact thing you are trying to avoid.) Try limiting your face washing to two times per day (am and pm) and restrict oil blotting sessions to once a day, if needed. You’ll be surprised how quickly your skin adjusts.
Periodically scheduling a professional skin treatment, such as the Oxygen Facial, is another helpful tool for refreshing your complexion and maintaining a healthy glow. The Oxygen Facial removes impurities and deep cleans your pores while infusing the dermis with oxygen, vital nutrients, and moisture.
Getting sun after laser skin treatments
It’s common knowledge that you can’t undergo a laser skin treatment with a suntan, but many people forget that it’s vital to avoid the sun AFTER laser treatments, too. Lasers and sun exposure do not mix. Period. Tanning around the time of your laser treatments can result in a rescheduling of your appointment, hyperpigmentation, and other unwanted side effects.
We can’t wait for you to achieve your best complexion! For more skin care tips and leading treatments, call 303.327.7300 or click here to schedule a consultation today.
