Everyone wants to look younger or at least retain the level of youthfulness they currently enjoy. The skin unfortunately reveals the truth much more than many people would like. Caring properly for the skin makes a huge impact on how fresh and young people look, but not all traditional skincare is actually beneficial. There are many instances where good intentions are actually paving the road to, well, wrinkles. 

Taking Steamy Showers

Steam is a wonderful way to open up the pores and hydrate the skin. At least, it is wonderful if the steam is all the skin is receiving and it is only an occasional treatment. Long, hot showers on a daily basis will strip oils from the skin and cause it to become dry. That all-over wintertime itchiness and peeling facial skin in the winter may not be from the cold air outside, but the too-hot showers people take to counteract the cold. Switch to a cooler shower and keep it as short as possible. 

Cleaning Pores Manually

Pore cleansing creams are effective and safe, but manually emptying out clogged pores is dangerous. Picking at the skin irritates and inflames the surrounding area and puts it at risk for a worse infection. In addition, many people overdo it and squeeze until they see clear fluid. That fluid is the oil the skin needs to stay soft and healthy. Removing it can lead to dry spots and additional blackheads and acne.

Changing Products Frequently

Many women have shelves covered with unused skin products. It is not uncommon to purchase a product, use it for a week or two and stop using it when there are no obvious changes. They move on to something else and repeat the previous steps. Many products need at least several weeks of consistent use before there will be any noticeable improvements. This is because the skin takes this long to shed and reveal a fresh layer. Changing products constantly will mean never benefiting from anything and could lead to skin irritation with no real way to know which brand caused the problem. 

Layering on Moisturizer

The theory that "if a little is great, a lot must be better," is not true in the instance of moisturizer. If the skin feels greasy after applying moisturizer or if it continues to have dry patches or is prone to breakouts, it is entirely possible too much is being applied or the wrong type is in use. Exfoliate before applying moisturizer to ensure it is clean enough for the lotion to soak in. Use the smallest amount to cover the skin and if clogged pores and breakouts are a continuous problem, seek out a moisturizer made specifically for oily skin. 

Washing Too Often

Just as too much moisturizer or the wrong brand can dry out the skin, so can washing too often. Washing in the evening to remove all makeup and accumulated dirt from the day is important and should become a nightly ritual. However, in the morning, the skin only needs a splash of water to rinse away any excess oils that accumulated during sleep. Over-washing leads to redness and dry skin that can develop into fine lines.

Good skin care slows down the appearance of aging and helps people to look fresh and healthy. However, it will only go so far. Genetics and other lifestyle habits play a role in the appearance of the skin too. Anyone that wants to remove five or more years from their appearance will need the assistance of their dermatologist to provide the professional products and treatments that make this possible. 

For more information, contact A Beach Medical Group For Dermatology or a similar organization.