Breakouts happen to the best of skin sometimes, regardless of age. Whenever you find yourself in a sudden ‘skin gone mad’ situation, you need to be able to fix it quickly. Quick fixes for problem skin focus on inside and outside treatment for skin nuisances like acne, melasma which flare up out when you are under pressure.
Flare-Up
The fact is you can figure out when a flare-up is about to happen. Your skin becomes oilier than usual as stress causes the skin’s sebaceous glands to secrete more oil. This can lead to breakouts. Your skin looks pale or flushed because stress causes the blood vessels to constrict or dilate abnormally. Consequently, there is either too little or too much blood flow to the skin. Also, your skin may be more sensitive than usual, since stress causes inflammatory neuropeptides to be released in the skin.
Quick Fixes For Problem Skin: Flare-Up
Address the source of the stress
Take good care of your body. Eat better, sleep more, exercise, and set aside time each day for relaxation.
Adhere to your skincare routine
There is a tendency to skip the skincare routine when under pressure. Remember a regular skincare routine is essential to clear skin.
Use a toner
A toner will help remove excess oil. For instance, try Yves Rocher White Botanical Exceptional Toner. It removes the oil and dirt, without drying the skin.
Use treatment products on time
Try to apply treatment products before a break-out appears. Look for products with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Try Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser Mask.
Melasma
This is a common disorder that causes uneven pigmentation on the face. In order to confirm if you have it, for black women, it will appear as dark or brown patches of pigmentation on the forehead. Also on cheeks, and/or upper lip when the skin is exposed to sunlight. It will also appear if you have recently undergone hormonal changes from pregnancy, birth control, and menopause. Or hormone-replacement therapy.
Quick fixes for problem skin: Melasma
Use sunscreen
Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day. Put on creams or lotions that boost an SPF of at least 30 before you go into the sun. If you go unprotected, the sun makes the patch darker and prominent.
Apply bleaching cream
In areas where you find a particular patch stubborn, apply creams with natural bleaching active. For example use products with fruit acids or licorice extract. These products help fade and lighten dark areas, though it may take longer to see results. You may want to try Veet Gold or Daggett & Ramsdell Lightening cream for those dark patches on the face or eye area. Hydroquinone is not recommended if the content is above 2% in creams.
Get a peel
Six to eight glycolic peels or microdermabrasion every two to four weeks can help even out skin tone. Ask your dermatologist for help.
Dull Skin
Youthful-looking skin, a subtle glow, and sheen that shout health and vibrancy can still be yours with relatively little effort. What you need are some clever complexion habits. You cannot miss dull-looking skin, but other ways to tell if your skin needs some radiance-boosting tender loving care:
- Your skin looks tired. You look in the mirror and your complexion does not shout radiance.
- Your skin feels rough and/or dry. When your skin is poorly hydrated, it tends to lack that dewy glow.
- Light reflects unevenly against dead or dehydrated cells, giving skin a dull appearance. On the other hand, when cells are smooth and moisturised, light reflects off them evenly. And gives the skin a healthy sheen.
- Your skin has uneven pigmentation. Dark or brown spots are signs of sun damage and can also be a sign of dull skin.
Quick fixes for problem skin: Dull Skin
Exfoliate
Make exfoliation a part of your daily routine. Use facial scrub with fruit enzymes daily.
Hydrate
Keep skin hydrated. Essential-fatty –acid-based products are recommended for normal/dry skin.
Use light-reflecting products
Apply light-reflecting products. If you use foundation, ask your cosmetologist for a moisturising and light-reflecting treatment type.
Power peel
Get a power peel or microdermabrasion. Get this once a month to help jump-start your skin’s radiance. Ask your dermatologist for help.
The Good Skin Diet
You are what you eat. What you eat does affect how you look. Here’s a rundown of the nutrients you need for healthy, glowing skin.
Quick fixes for problem skin: The good skin diet
Vitamin A
This fat-soluble vitamin is important for maintaining and healing epithelial tissues, skin being the largest area of epithelial tissue. The best sources of vitamin A are egg yolks, oysters, and skimmed milk. You can also get it from foods rich in beta-carotene, which the body can convert to vitamin A.
- Best sources: dark coloured produce, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelon, papaw, spinach, and pumpkin leaves.
Vitamin B
These vitamins help convert calories to energy for skin metabolism. They are components of enzymes that maintain normal skin function which keeps skin hydrated. This is the main reason why the poor intake of almost any B vitamin can result in dry or scaly skin.
- Best sources: poultry, red meat, fish, bananas, whole grains, peanuts, and eggs.
Vitamin C
This vitamin when taken orally helps maintain collagen which is the underlying structure of the skin. But sun exposure and stress can drain vitamin C from the skin, leaving it vulnerable to damage from the environment.
- Best sources: citrus fruits (grapefruit, oranges, tangerines, tangelos), kiwi, strawberries, cantaloupe, tomatoes, sweet peppers, broccoli, and green peas.
Vitamin E
This antioxidant helps slow the ageing of skin cells by reducing the production of an enzyme called collagenase. Collagenase breaks down collagen, causing the skin to sag and wrinkle. Therefore, sun exposure can rob the skin of vitamin E making it more susceptible to sun damage.
- Best sources: salmon, legumes (beans, peas), extra-lean meat, almonds, leafy vegetables, and olive oil.
Selenium
This antioxidant mineral minimises the damaging effects of ultraviolet light, thereby reducing your risk of sun damage. As a matter of fact, low levels of selenium increase your risk of skin cancer.
- Best sources: eggs, tuna, dairy products, wheat germ oil, and whole grains.
Zinc
This trace mineral helps maintain collagen and elastin fibres that give skin its firmness. And helping to prevent sagging and wrinkles. It also aids in wound healing.
- Best sources: seafood, turkey, pork, soybeans, and mushrooms.
The Ultimate Skin Smoothie
This blend of fruits boasts a healthy dose of beta-carotene, vitamins C and E. To make the ultimate skin smoothie, combine in a blender and puree ½ diced firm sweet mango, ½ cup diced papaw, ¼ cup apple juice, 1-teaspoon lime juice.
It contains only 120 calories. It’s a good alternative to a full breakfast or afternoon snack.
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/anti-aging/g19567060/skin-problems/
Photo Credit: Creative Commons
