4 Things All Dermatologists Want You to Know

As the body’s largest organ, looking after your skin this winter is essential to prevent dryness, sensitivity and irritation. Using specially recommended sensitive skin care products is one way to ensure your skin isn’t battered by the winter weather we’re about to face, but if you’ve ever visited a dermatologist, you’ll know that there are certain things they’ll want you to know about your skin and how to care for it long term.

1.Things Take Time

Patience is key when it comes to your skin treatments as you will rarely get instant overnight results with products you use at home. Going for professional chemical peels and facials is great for those who need results fast, however skin concerns such as acne and uneven skin tone take a while to see an improvement. If you have sensitive or easily irritable skin, you also need to be careful not to overload it with products, as too much can have a damaging effect. Using Paula’s Choice Clear Daily Skin Clearing Treatment or any other product for 28 days is the ideal length of time to start judging whether a product has worked or not, as it takes that long for skin cells to regenerate.

Top tip: On the product, use a sharpie to note the date you started using it to keep better track of when the 28 days have passed.

2. Not Everyone’s Skin is the Same.

All skincare products are not suitable for everyone’s skin type, and one cream does not solve every skin concern out there. Skin care needs to be tailored to your needs, especially if you have sensitive skin or acne. [Read more: 3 Of The Best Makeup Products For Sensitive Eyes].

There are countless different ingredients that are used to treat different skin concerns, for example those with acne should be using specialised anti-bacterial formulas such as Biotherm Pure-fect Cleansing Gel to clean deep beneath the skin’s surface, and those with sensitive skin should be using products that are of a neutral pH, with soothing aqueous properties such as Guinot Facial Soothing Hydra Sensitive Face Mask.

My Beauty Matches is a great place to find products that are actually suitable for your skin type. Whether you have acne, rosacea or hyperpigmentation, our beauty quiz will give you an unbiased personalised recommendation on the right product for you, and help you find the cheapest price!

3. You are what you Eat

Taking care of yourself on the inside as well as managing your skin on the outside is the one secret you need to know. Eating a healthy, balanced diet and drinking plenty of water is key to keeping those breakouts at bay. For sensitive skin, eat lots of foods that are high in antioxidants, omega-3 and vitamins C and E to strengthen your overall immunity and sensitivity. You can give this an added boost with products such as Avalon Vitamin C Vitality Facial Serum to get faster results inside and out. Taking care of your skin through the food you eat will not only get you glowing, immaculate skin in no time, but will also get you feeling great, more awake and energetic, it’s a win-win [Read more: Are You Eating This For Healthy Hair?]

4. Stress Gives you Wrinkles

Just as stress is said to make your hair go grey, the same is said for your skin. Emotional stress actually causes a knock on effect with your health and your body [Read more: Is Stress Making You Ugly?]. Mindfulness is something that is often overlooked, but it has been proven that 10 minutes a day to just relax, unwind by meditating or even just shutting yourself away from the world for a short time each day will vastly improve your health, your mind and your skin. When the mind is stressed, cortisol levels rise, which speeds up the ageing process. For those with skin concerns such as acne or sensitive skin, care needs to be taken as these problems will only be made worse by the rise in cortisol. Take 10-30 minutes out each day to release any tension and use Decleor Prolagene Lift (Lift and Fill Wrinkle Mask) to stop the ageing process in its tracks. Ensure to keep up with your anti-acne or sensitive skin care routines too. [Read more: Beauty Products that Actually Reduce Stress]

Getting your skincare right is essential to keeping that gorgeous glow, by following these 4 things, you can hold off on booking that dermatologist appointment for now!

Be sure to take our beauty quiz to find products that are recommended for your skin type!

N.B. If you do have any serious skin concerns that no product has been able to help, do make sure you consult your GP or dermatologist who may be able to prescribe medical treatment for your skin.