Total Skin Care

1. Dry skin

Dry skin is characterized by one or the combination of following symptoms

• Skin that has a rough feel to it
• Little or major peeling
• Itchiness
• Cracks and fine lines on skin
• Flaking of skin
• Dandruff on scalp
• Dry riverbed like look to legs

However the symptoms may change according to your age, health status, skin tone, living environment and sunlight exposure.

2. Oily skin

Oily skin is just opposite of dry skin that it has a shine to it due to excessive production of oil by the oil glands and is also very smooth. This property however makes it worse in case of acne as the chances of flare ups of acne are increased greatly.

3. Combination/balanced skin

Combination skin as the name suggests has some areas such as forehead, nose and chin are oily and have shine while the jawbone, cheeks and the hairline are dry thus combination skin. The reasons for development of combination skin can be attributed to over usage of some products or even environmental factors and your inherited genes.

4. Sensitive skin

Sensitive skin is actually not a type of skin but a diagnosis on itself. Sensitive skin develops when your skin becomes reactive or sensitive due to some hidden condition or when certain products such as dyes, chemicals, fragrences present in skin products cause an allergic reaction when they come in contact with your skin.

5. Normal skin

Normal skin represents the perfect balance between dry and oily skin i.e. it is identified by having small pores, smooth skin texture as well as less susceptible towards blemishes or developing any kind of sensitivity.

In order to take care of your skin effectively it is necessary to make a routine which may include some or all of the below mentioned skin care tips.

1. Diet

Include five parts of fruits as well as vegetables daily in your diet, get enough Vitamin C from citrus fruits, strawberries etc while dry fruits like almonds, nuts can help you stock up Vitamin E,tomatoes,broccoli,eggs,lentils can provide you with needed Selenium which is a capable anti-oxidant,wholegrains,poultry,nuts and grains can provide you zinc which is important for skin repair process as well as normal functioning of the oil glands, unsaturated fatty acids like omega 3 can keep your skin plump and nourished which can be obtained from avocados, oily fish and nuts, and not but the least drink at last 6 to 8 glasses of water on a daily basis which prevents dehydration and dryness.

2. Cleanser

Your cleanser plays the main part of removing dirt, impurities off your skin. You should choose your cleanser according to your skin type.
For dry skin: Choose a cleanser that has hydrating properties and is having milky as well as no foaming texture.
For oily skin: Choose a cleanser that has foaming properties and Salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide in its ingredient list
For combination skin: Choose a cleanser that has clear and jelly like consistency which contain Vitamin E and Allantoin.

3. Toner

3 types of formulas are present in market i.e. alcohol based, glycerine/glycol based and water based. Use alcohol based toner cautiously. Choose your toner based on your skin type. Toner does 3 functions which are deep cleansing, balancing your pH as well as balancing your complexion.

4. Moisturizer

The work of moisturizer is to lock moisture in your skin thus preventing dryness and associated irritation. The ultimate choice depends on your skin type such as
For dry skin: Use heavier oil based formula
For oily skin: Use lighter water based formula
For normal/combination skin: Use lighter water based formula

For sensitive skin: See for soothing ingredients like aloe vera.

5. Sunscreen

Sunscreens are divided into three types: one which block UV rays, second which block infrared rays and third the regular ones. Choose sunscreen which gives SPF of 50 and above. Apply at least 2 to 3 times throughout the day after cleaning your face and other frequently exposed body parts. For those who spend more time in front of computer screen chose sunscreen which has infra red blocking property, for children mineral sunscreen is preferred, for acne and oily skin use sunscreen which is oil free
, for those who have pigmentation problems choose tinted sunscreen that has iron oxide.

6. Vitamin C serum

Vitamin C offers multiple benefits to your skin when applied in the form of ascorbic acid such as can lessen redness, pigmentation in addition to providing hydration and help give radiance to your skin and many others. The concentration between 10% and 20% is considered as safe to use and does not interfere with other skin care products having alpha hydroxyl acids, retinol and SPF.It is advisable to start using this after you cross age 25.

7. Retinol

It is a form of Vitamin A and is added in many skin care products such as in creams,lotions,gels,ointments etc.It offers multiple benefits such as unblocking pores while also exfoliating skin as well as reducing appearance of fine lines as well as wrinkles.

8. Anti-ageing cream

Anti-ageing creams contain a mixture of ingredients which insist to have anti-ageing properties such as retinol, epidermal growth factor, alpha hydroxyl acid, equol,coenzyme Q10, vitamin C etc.They also have moisturizer as the base in the cream which also provide moisturizing property.

9. Special indications

Special conditions require use of special products those which do not aggravate the condition. For example if you have acne then look for salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, adapalene and azelaic acid.
If you have rosacea then ditch products that have alcohol, benzoyl peroxide, hydroquinone, sodium lauryl sulphate, and salicylic acid as these will further irritate your skin. If you are looking for skin whitening options then look for glutathione, azelaic acid, phytic acid, kojic acid etc.

10. Professional treatments

If you feel that home remedies are not working as per your expectations then you can seek professional treatments from a board certified dermatologist such as Intensed pulsed light or Charcoal Laser for treatment of acne/acne scars or if you are interested in skin lightening procedure then you can go for chemical peels or Laser treatments or Glutathione injections of if you need to plump up your skin or a increase in volume in certain areas then you can try body fillers treatment or fat injections. Similarly for elimination of fine lines many treatments like Botox treatment or Laser treatment like Fractional CO2 Laser are available.

Q: WHY SKIN CARE IS IMPORTANT?

A: Taking care of your skin is very important as it can make a large improvement in the way your skin looks by the usage of the right skincare products combined with daily skincare routine like hygiene habits etc.

Q: WHICH SKINCARE PRODUCTS TO AVOID DURING PREGNANCY?

A: Avoid these ingredients at all costs during your pregnancy period. These include retinoids, phthalates, high dose of salicylic acid, hydroquinone, formaldehyde and products containing it’s and its derivatives and chemical sunscreens containing oxybenzone.