The 5 Things You Should Never Do Your Skin!

Since you will be living in your skin for the longest time possible, it only makes sense to treat it with respect and care it deserves. Your skin is not only amazing, but it’s also your largest organ and an important one at that. As such, looking after your skin is pretty important. That being said, there are a list of things we should never do to our skin, let’s have a look at them:

#1. Too Much Exfoliating

Whether knowingly or unknowingly, we all find ourselves exfoliating more than we should. While all that clearing dead cells business is genuinely vital, it can be a bit disrupting to your skin if done vigorously, or repeatedly. When that happens, you might end up scratching your skin’s natural protective barrier, and exposing yourself to infection, bruises, or environmental pollutants.

What to do? For starters, finding the balance between exfoliating adequately and overdoing it is key. To achieve this, make sure you avoid applying excess pressure. Instead, use a gentle exfoliator with small granules or a gentle scrub. Going the gentle way makes sure you are not being abrasive to your skin or causing unnecessary harm. If you have dry or sensitive skin, dermatologists recommend only one scrub a week. For people with normal or combination skin, twice a week is usually enough. As for people with oily or combination skin that is more oily than normal, three times a week is enough.

#2. Popping Pimples, Picking and Rubbing Skin

Our skin does an excellent job of protecting us. With such confidence, we sometimes forget how fragile and gentle we need to be with it.

You already know that we should not pick at our skin. Even with that knowledge, most of us still squeeze at our skin on the first sight of a giant zit or pimple. But the more you pop and rub at your pimple or zit, the more inflammation you create underneath. All the bacteria you collect with your fingertips can spread throughout your skin and enter the holes you create on your face.

Spreading that same bacteria means your pimples are still likely to return. Even worse, they might be more inflamed than before. If you feel that you absolutely need to get rid of a pimple or zit, follow the right guidelines for getting rid of pimples to avoid making the situation worse.

Popping cysts with your fingers is even worse. While a pimple lacks a true lining, a cyst is always ready to grow back whenever you shrink it. If a cyst is making you uncomfortable or giving you a hard time, consult a dermatologist to help you deal with it.

Every skincare expert will tell you to be gentle with your skin when trying to get rid of a cyst or pimple. You should always think of your skin like a baby. By rubbing your skin too hard, you can easily end up tugging it, causing wrinkles and sagging skin.

#3. Failing to Protect Your Skin

One of the most reliable and dermatologist approved ways of protecting your skin is wearing sunscreen daily. Without sunscreen, the sun will easily dictate 90% of how your skin ages. Although genetics play a huge role in aging, sunblock helps to keep your skin young and wrinkle-free. Of course, some lifestyle habits like smoking and drinking will significantly affect your overall look as well.

Overall, the sun affects collagen, which is responsible for keeping your skin looking youthful. On the other hand, UV rays activate melanin, the hormone responsible for pigment production, thereby causing dark spots.

To avoid all that, look for a sunscreen that has an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 30 and above. A high SPF protects the skin from UV rays that can burn the skin and destroy collagen. The best time to apply sunscreen is after layering the rest of your skincare products. If you are outdoors most of the time, apply sunscreen every 2 hours.

#4. Neglecting Your Neck Skin and Eyes

The face is undoubtedly the most critical part of a successful skincare routine. However, we spend too much time on our faces and sometimes forget our neck and eye skin areas. The neck is one of the most notorious tellers of age, even if your face looks flawless, your neck can still be a serious giveaway of aging skin.

For even skin, make sure to continue your skincare regimen down to your neck. That means double cleansing, toning, and moisturizing just like you do with your face. As for the eye skin area, make sure to hydrate and give it enough nourishment to prevent fine lines, wrinkles, puffy eyes, or dark circles.

#5. Using the Same Skincare Products Forever

You may have come across the moisturizer of your dreams, but as you might have guessed, every age group has different needs. That means you always have to adapt to your changing skin and use different ingredients. What might have worked for you in your 20s might not be as effective in your 30s. You must also evaluate your skin type every few months to stay ahead of multiple factors that can contribute to these changes.

Some of these factors can be anything from hormones, stress levels, age and, most commonly, environmental factors. As the seasons change, you should also consider switching up your skincare regimen to meet your skin demands. For example, hydration is vital for winter like lighter creams and stronger SPF are for summer.

Conclusion

While these are just a few picks from a full list of the things you should never do to your skin, they are among the most significant.

Honorable Mentions

Here some honorable mentions that also affect your skin’s overall look.

Sleeping with makeup on is a mistake that quickly causes skin conditions like acne. Leftover makeup can easily clog pores and consequently disrupt the skin’s natural process.

Also, not getting enough quality sleep is the next costly mistake for great skin. Lack of enough rest means the skin is unable to rejuvenate itself to stay healthy.

Finally, forgetting to moisturize is the last thing you should do to your skin. A well-hydrated and moisturized skin, minus all the skincare mistakes you could be making, are the cornerstone to healthy, youthful-looking skin.