5 Skin Journey Questions The Whole World Needs Answers To

Skin needs consistency. I could end this entire article with those 3 words but I think that these questions deserve a little more love and attention, particularly as I hear them so frequently.

Often, we want favourable results from our skin and we also want our skin to feel as though it is constantly improving. Neither of these wants are bad but there are often unrealistic expectations that come alongside these wants. I feel that it is part of my duty a practitioner to provide sound knowledge and information to anyone that I meet. That includes you if you’re reading this article. As we may be ‘meeting’ for the first time, please understand that this is a safe place, where skin health is paramount and finding ways to help you optimise your skin health is the goal.

This is article is going to answer 5 of the most common questions that practitioners answer far and wide. The idea is to shed light on some common occurrences that may be happening with your skin. There are usually solutions out there somewhere (even when others tell you there aren’t.) The questions below are everywhere. Inside clinics all over the world, all over the internet, in homes and offices. I think it’s important for everyone reading this to understand that you aren’t alone. The questions you have, others have them too.

Let’s get into it…

Question 1: I don’t have a skin regime, I feel overwhelmed when it comes to my skin. What should I do?

Answer: There are times in life when Google isn’t your friend. This is one of them. There are many professionals who have the job of finding you answers and solutions so that you don’t have to. This is why consultations are an important part of investing in your skin. The truth is, nobody goes it alone. Even professionals speak to their peers and colleagues when we don’t have the answers. It’s the human way. If you are feeling overwhelmed and you aren’t sure what to do next, then book a consultation with me here. Alternatively find a professional that you feel comfortable with and speak with them. It is not your job to have all of the answers for your skin. Speaking to a professional saves you time (money), mistakes (money) and unnecessary stress and anxiety.

Question 2: I’ve been using these new products for a few weeks and I’m not seeing any changes, what should I do?

Answer: Keep going. When most people ask this question, most people haven’t been using the skincare products in their regime for an appropriate amount of time. Skincare ingredients and formulations are designed to work effectively in the skin but change takes time to be seen by the human eye. Additionally, skincare products need to be used for the same amount of time that a clinical trial was conducted for. This applies to skincare that is backed by science and on average clinical trials last from anywhere between 4 -24 weeks across the industry as a whole. Most brands, laboratories and manufacturers perform clinical trials for a period of 12 – 16 weeks. On that basis you should be using your skincare for a similar amount of time before you can expect to see results. Clinical trials are one of the reasons why science backed skincare is more beneficial. There is proof of what you should be expecting to see as the consumer. This not only gives more confidence to you as the customer, but it also gives your practitioner a system that enables them to advocate for you with manufacturers, laboratories and distributors.

Question 3: I’ve started using new skincare products and I’m breaking out, are these products for me?

Answer: It depends. Purging is the process by which the skin has a reaction to active ingredients within products that increase the rate of cell turnover. Purging can be caused by several different key ingredients which may include L-Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and Retinol, Retinaldehyde and Retinoic acid (Vitamin A and derivatives) as well as Alpha Hydroxy (AHA) and Beta Hydroxy (BHA) acids. Purging is not a necessarily a bad thing and sometimes it’s a necessary evil. Many of my clients/patients who have either visited me in clinic or had an online consultation often here me say:

I say this to manage expectations as skin improvement is not usually a linear journey. Setbacks are often part and parcel of achieving skin health. Unfortunately, so many people don’t give their skin enough time to achieve this.

Question 4: I think I’m having an allergic reaction, what should I do?

Answer: There is a difference between purging and an allergic reaction and here are a few ways to tell:

Allergic reactions are usually itchy, may include getting spots or rashes in places that you don’t normally experience breakouts and can sometimes make skin warm and red (where applicable). Skin may also become scaly. Allergic reactions are usually early onset but may develop after some time too.

Purging is slightly different in that you may develop whiteheads, blackheads and congestion under the skin. Purging usually lasts for 4 to 6 weeks and doesn’t always begin when you start a new regime.

If you believe that you’re having an allergic reaction, then please discontinue the use of the products that you believe may be causing them. Read the ingredients list of your products to identify which ingredients may be causing the issues that you are experiencing. If you aren’t sure which products are causing your allergic reactions then use a process of elimination by either removing products over time or stripping all of your products back and using them one by one.

Question 5: I’ve tried everything and my skin is still dull, how do I get that glow?

Answer: Have you really tried everything? Review your regime, active ingredients, and skin habits. Often the answer lies somewhere in one of these 3 areas unless you have a specific condition. You may be using products that contain ingredients that aren’t right for your skin. You may also have picked up habits that aren’t good for your skin either such as over exfoliation (yes, you can exfoliate too much!) and using water that is far too hot (this strips moisture from the skin.) It’s also very important to remember that skin cells become more ‘sluggish’ as you age. In clinic treatments such as chemical peels and microneedling, boost collagen and ‘wake’ skin cells up. At home and in clinic treatments such as LED really help to boost the skin by stimulating Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) which is essentially the ‘battery’ of cells. ?

It’s important to understand your skin and to treat your skin on the basis of good knowledge, science backed products and procedures and a well thought out plan that works for you. Skin Health can be achieved with the right components, however relying on limited knowledge, google and a regime that isn’t specifically suited to you or your skin needs, is counterproductive. I’m a firm believer in doing what is right for you, but more than that I believe that you have to take the correct actions in order to achieve the right results. Skin health is not one size fits all. Please do what works best for you (with the help of a trusty professional of course!)