TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A good skincare routine can help preventing inflammation of the skin.
Inflammation not only causes temporary irritation like rashes and breakouts, but will actually cause premature aging if left unchecked. This is because inflammation can break down collagen and elastin, compromise the skin barrier, make skin more prone to dryness, trigger dark spots to form, and more. A good skincare routine will help stop this process and better yet, prevent it from happening in the first place.
However, some skincare habits are actually pro-inflammatory or promote inflammation. Many common rituals can actually cause inflammation of the skin, along with other accompanying damage. The effect is not only red-red skin because in fact, inflammation is often more dangerous. Chronic inflammation of the skin can present itself as tiny microscopic pressures invisible to the naked eye, but it is destructive beneath the surface.
Here are three bad skin care habits that tend to cause inflammation:
1. Excessive exfoliation
Exfoliation or peeling is the act of removing the top layer of the epidermis (stratum corneum). These are actually dead skin cells that serve as a protective buffer from environmental stresses so that the functioning skin cells underneath don't have to be bombarded with free radicals.
When this layer gets built up, it can cause pores to become dull or clogged, which is when exfoliation can help by sloughing off dead skin cells. But when done too much, it essentially strips the skin of its natural barrier from inflammation and stressors.
Ife Rodney, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Eternal Dermatology, shares his most important tip for exfoliating: Less is more. "You want to exfoliate just enough to increase cell turnover and reveal fresh, new skin," she says. "But make sure not to scratch or damage the skin by overusing the device or product."
Exfoliation is recommended once a week for the face and 2-3 times a week for the body.
2. Skip sun protection
Sun exposure can trigger inflammation and damage to the skin, even if you don't see signs of burns. UV radiation has the ability to penetrate the epidermis and wreak havoc. Inflammation from UV radiation can reduce collagen, trigger the formation of dark spots, and affect the DNA of skin cells. This all leads to photoaging. "Photoaging of the skin is the result of oxidative stress from UV radiation," says board-certified dermatologist Kautilya Shaurya.
3. Using harsh facial cleansers
From facial cleansers to body soaps to hand washes, cleansers are an overlooked skincare step. Since these products don't last long on the skin, people think they don't need to use cleansers with good quality.
Cleansers, especially those which use harsh, irritating cleansing agents, can affect the skin barrier. These skincare products can strip the skin of natural oils, disrupt biomes, and can cause micro-cracks in the epidermis, all of which can cause inflammation of the skin.
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