Skin Care Basics

Basic Care Rituals

A.M. Cleanse with an appropriate skin cleanser. In the A.M. it is not usually recommended to wash twice. Once should be sufficient enough. After cleansing, pat dry. Use an an appropriate serum, moisturizer, eye cream and SPF 30. If treating hyperpigmentation, use of a tyrosinase-inhibitor product without AHA.

PM: Cleanse with an appropriate skin cleanser. Twice is usually recommended in the evening to remove make- up and/or pollutants. Once dry use a serum, moisturizer and eye cream. If treating hyperpigmentation, use of a tyrosinase-inhibitor product without AHA is necessary.

Caution: Sun screen is a must when using products to remove hyperpigmentaion. Not only can the sun cause worse sun damage, the products can oxidize with the sun and cause an orange tint which may remain on the skin for a few days.

Keep In Mind

• Ultraviolet radiation - Not all sunscreen will give you the coverage you need. Understanding your sunscreen and its potential will help you minimize aging and skin cancers.
  
• Harsh detergents- Harsh detergents, particularly the so-called ionic detergents, may be harmful for the skin. They are called ionic because their molecules become charged when dissolved in water. The most common and ubiquitous ionic detergents are sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate (both acronymed SLS) and their analogs, such as ammonium lauryl sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate and others. In facts, SLS is often used to produce experimental skin damage in clinical studies of skin protectors. As they are powerful detergents, SLS and analogs are widely used in household and body care products, such as shampoos, soaps, dishwashing liquids, laundry detergents, and so forth. (FYI, even regular soap contains primarily ionic detergents albeit not as strong as SLS).

  Read the ingredient list on all products that come in contact with your skin. If they contain ionic detergents, eliminate or minimize such contact by using similar products with nonionic detergents, alternative cleansing methods, wearing gloves when washing dishes, etc. For example, if your shampoo or soap has SLS or its analogs, you can switch to non-irritating baby shampoo and glycerin-based moisturizing soap.

• Chlorine and hot water- Not only is Chlorine a toxic chemical, using hot water with it will cause aging to the skin and dry it out as well. Warm filterd water is always best.

• Inflammation- Inflammation is a reaction of the body in response to various types of damage including infection, trauma, abrasions, burns and so forth. Occasionally, inflammation is a result of an autoimmune response (a malfunction of the immune system), in which case it may exist without external cause. Inflammation is an important and necessary part of the healing process. The most common cause of skin inflammation is acne. Chronic acne should be treated. Keep in mind that some acne treatments (e.g. benzoyl peroxide) are irritants and can themselves cause skin damage if used improperly or excessively. Treatment should never cause more damage then the disease. Work with your dermatologist to find an effective nonirritating or minimally irritating treatment appropriate in your case. Don't settle for treatment that improves your acne but leaves your skin chronically irritated. Other common skin conditions causing chronic inflammation include eczema (exema), psoriasis, dermatitis and inflammatory form of rosacea.