LIFESTYLE NEWS - While there is a wealth of skincare information available online, you should never believe everything you read on the Internet. We asked an expert in the skincare field to answer five of the most Googled skincare questions from last year to help you get the glowing skin you deserve.
Karen Bester, a medical trainer at Lamelle Research laboratories answers the most searched for skincare questions:
What does retinol serum do?
Retinol is used to increase the exfoliation of your skin and will improve the structure of the epidermis (or top layer of the skin) as this results in increased turnover of cells in the lower layers of the skin. Retinol is used to improve fines lines and texture in ageing skin.
It is also used in acne for its effects in improving congestion and in conditions where there is mottled pigment, or areas of hyperpigmentation, retinol will assist in removing cells that contain more melanin or pigment.
The challenge with using retinol, is that it is irritating to the skin, especially when used in high concentrations. This has necessitated the development of forms of Vitamin A that are non-irritating.
The advantage is that these forms of Vitamin A are as potent as prescription-strength versions, but have no irritating or sun sensitising effects.
When to use a cleanser?
Bester suggests cleansing your skin in the morning before your day starts and, in the evening, before you retire to bed. In sensitive or dry skin, this might be changed to using the cleanser once a day, generally at night, and doing a water-only cleanse in the morning. Your skin care professional therapist will suggest this.
How to minimise pores?
In summary:
- We cannot remove your pores – they are essential for life.
- Increase your skin turnover using a retinoid daily or using an exfoliating product that contains lipid-soluble chemical exfoliators like salicylic acid or Azelaic acid.
- If you are over 50 and live in a sun-exposed environment, use products containing Growth Factors, Vitamin C, Retinoids and Hyaluronic acid to improve the structure at the base of the pore.
What should I use for eczema on my face?
Use a product containing Ceramides – preferably ones that have proof that they replace the lipid-bi-layer structure of the skin. When changing a product, move from what you are using to the new product by phasing it into your routine. Add a little of the new product to what you are using. Increase the amount of new product slowly in the next few weeks to assist your skin in getting used to new ingredients.
Article: Caxton publication, The Citizen
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