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What Is Your Skincare Routine?

What is your skincare routine?

It can be tempting, with all the amazing machines and injectables that we have available now - to focus on procedures for that wow factor. It can be easy to forget that your day-to-day habits, both in terms of general health and your skincare, play a critical role in your overall skin health and ageing.


Whether you suffer with acne, other skin conditions or have flawless skin, you WILL have a skin routine - whether it is acknowledged to be one or not. You will be washing your face with something and applying at least the occasional moisturiser or (hopefully) suncream. I always tell my patients - ‘since you will be putting something on your face, it might as well be something beneficial’.


So, what comprises a good anti-ageing skincare regime??

This will always depend, of course, on your skin type - oily, dry, combination, sensitive, rosacea prone, acne prone or if you’re lucky, simply normal healthy skin. Your skincare regime may change with the seasons as well, as your skin responds to the drying weather of winter vs the humidity of a summer holiday. However, I will outline my recommendations for a good basic skincare regime in the absence of any underlying skin disease.


AM:

1] A gentle wash or plain water depending on skin type and season. In the morning there is no need for harsh cleansers. Your skin has benefited from a night of rest and should have a healthy glow with a normal amount of sebum which is your skin’s natural emollient. There is no need to eliminate this only to replace it with synthetic chemical - filled moisturisers. In the winter when it is cold and dry, a gentle tepid wash with plain water may be sufficient.


2] Antioxidant serum or moisturiser- a serum containing combinations of Vitamin C 10 -20%, Vit E and Ferulic acid potentiates the effect of a suncream by mopping up free radicals generated by UV light. Vitamin C also reduces pigmentation. If you have sensitive skin, you will need advice as there are many different formulations of Vit C and some can be irritating.


3] A sunscreen that blocks UVA, UVB, visible and infra-red light with a minimum SPF of 30 is ideal as sun exposure is the biggest single factor in skin ageing and in the causation of skin cancer. I tell my patients not to even bother looking outside. It doesn’t matter if it is raining or overcast. If you can see without needing artificial light, then there is UV radiation around - just make it a habit. Apply 15-20 mins before sun exposure and reapply every 2 hours if outdoors. Remember that UVA penetrates through glass so even if you’re working from home near a window sunscreen is still recommended. There is such a huge range of sunscreens available now that everyone can find one to suit their skin-type and even to improve specific conditions such as rosacea, acne, and pigmentation. There are compacts and sprays which allow for re-application throughout the day. Vitamin D supplementation is advised.


4] Make up appropriate to skin type can be applied if desired. This should be non-comedogenic if you are acne-prone.


PM:

1] Remove make up - especially eye make-up - on its own with a gentle product such as micellar water. I like Clinique’s ‘Take the day off’ liquid make-up remover.


2] I favour a gentle exfoliating wash here. I do not recommend physical exfoliators to my patients - I prefer gentle chemical exfoliators such as glycolic acid, salicylic acid, pyruvic acid, mandelic acid and lactic acid or milder fruit enzymes depending on the vulnerability of the skin. Patients with rosacea may do well to avoid these and stick to a gentle hydrating or anti-redness wash instead.


3] A retinoid is an essential part of the anti-ageing toolkit. Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives which should never be used in pregnancy but otherwise protect against sun damage, pigmentation, wrinkles, oiliness and acne. They increase cell turnover and bring new cells to the skin surface, giving a fresh glow and improving skin texture. They come in different forms e.g. retinol, retinaldehyde, tretinoin and there are slow release and encapsulated preparations which reduce the irritation that they can initially produce. Most patients benefit from a retinoid - you just need to find the right one for you!


4] Moisturiser with or without peptides- you may choose to complete your evening regime with apeptide - rich night cream. Peptides are small molecules involved in cellular signalling, and they play a key role in anti-ageing. Often other emollients like hyaluronic acid or shea butter may be added to ensure your skin is hydrated and healthy.


Don’t get lost in the sea of products out there. Whether you have healthy skin or a skin condition, if you need effective skincare, please contact me at Aventus Clinic, Hitchin to get bespoke recommendations for your skin issues and start your skincare journey today.

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