Common skin FAQ to address your question about skin care
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Frequently Asked Question About Skin Care
Here are some FAQ about skin care. Click on the specific question of your interest to go directly to the answer, or you can read through all the questions and answers.
Q 1 : How often should I cleanse my skin?
Q 2 : Do I really need a serum, night cream, eye gel, neck cream?
Q 3 : How do I avoid premature aging or wrinkle?
Q 4 : Can sun beds caused photo-aging?
Q 5 : Why should I have a facial treatment?
Q 6 : What type of facial treatment should I have?
Q 7 : What can I expect from my facial treatment or microdermabrasion?
Q 8 : What does pH mean, and why is it important to the skin?
Q 9 : How can I tell what type of skin I have?
Q10: What can I do to even out my skin tone and get rid of dark spots?
Q11: Do I need to use a toner after cleansing?
Q12: What is exfoliate?
Q13: What is Glycolic Acid?
Q14: What is the difference between AHA’s and BHA’s?
Q15: Is Microdermabrasion or an Acid Peel better or more effective for rejuvenating the skin?
FAQ About Skin Care
Skin Care FAQ 1 : How often should I cleanse my skin?
Cleansing twice a day should be sufficient. If you are using mild and well formulated product it won't damage the skins.
Skin Care FAQ 2: Do I really need a serum, night cream, eye gel, neck cream ?
Cleansing and moisturizing is the most important part of skin care. Aside from moisturizer, there is a host of other skincare products out there in the market. Many dermatologists scoff at them, but many skincare expert swear by their benefits. However, do remember there is only so much your skin can absorbe. How you may want to add to your basic routine is up to you and always consult a professional when in doubt.
Skin Care FAQ 3: How do I avoid premature aging or wrinkle?
First and foremost, wear a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen and avoid the sun with protective hats, clothing, and sunglasses, particularly when the sun’s rays are the strongest, between 9 AM and 4 PM.
Second, try to eat a diet filled with steamed (not boiled) antioxidant-rich vegetables like artichokes, beetroot, cabbage, broccoli, red chicory, red chili, and yellow pepper. Use topical antioxidants with documented independent research behind them as well, particularly vitamin C, vitamin E, lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10, glutathione, idebenone, coffeeberry and kinetin (of course you don’t have to use them all!).
Lastly, be healthy. The skin is often an early indicator of disease, so what’s good for your body is ultimately good for your skin. Take care of yourself.
Skin Care FAQ 4 : Can sun beds cause photo-aging?
The ultraviolet light used by this indoor tanning system is as dangerous as that of the sun although it filters out the burning UVB rays. Sun beds are, in essence, automatic ageing machines and you should never lie on a sun bed if you are concern about your skin.
Skin Care FAQ 5: Why should I have a facial treatment?
Most people have facials as a form of relaxation, or as a reward. We really should see having a professional facial treatment as much more than an occasional treat. Professional facials incorporate using products with stronger active ingredients, which promote visible benefits immediately. These treatments boost the efficacy of home care products, as well as decongest areas impossible for individuals to do themselves.
Skin Care FAQ 6: What type of facial treatment should I have?
There are treatments that nearly everyone can have, unless allergies prevent them. The two treatments Therapeutic Facial, which focuses on each individuals problem areas, and is followed by a glycolic acid peel. The second treatment we recommend is Microdermabrasion.
Skin Care FAQ 7: What can I expect from my facial treatment or microdermabrasion?
Your skin should begin to feel smoother and silkier. Dark spots should begin to lighten or fade, and fine lines and wrinkles should diminish over time. Blackheads will be extracted and, with proper home care, do not reappear as quickly. Acne breakouts typically subside, and may disappear altogether. Home care products will become more effective. The skin will take on a more even tone. Immediately after a treatment, the skin may look red or irritated. This usually lasts only a short period of time, and then the skin tone and texture improves.
Skin Care FAQ 8 : What does pH mean, and why is it important to the skin?
pH stands for potential of Hydrogen. It is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. The pH scale ranges from 0 on the acidic end to 14 on the alkaline end. A pH of 7 is considered neutral. Our bodies have a natural covering called the acid mantle. It is composed of fatty acids from our perspiration and amino acids from our skin tissue. This acid mantle fights infection from bacteria that gather on the skin. The pH factor is a measurement of the percentage of hydrogen ions in the acid. Normal facial skin is a pH of 4.5 to 5.5, meaning it is slightly acid. If something comes into contact with the skin that is either too acidic or too alkaline, the skin's natural protective barrier (the acid mantle) is affected. Barrier recovery is slowed, damage is prolonged, and skin problems will arise, such as skin peeling, rashes, irritation, etc. We recommend using a cleanser with a pH of around 3.0-3.5. When you drop the pH in the skin during the cleansing process, the subsequent products used will penetrate the epidermis more readily. Your skin will usually normalize itself within a couple of minutes to a couple of hours after using such products. When you use a product which is alkaline (above a pH of 7) like soap, it interferes with the protective acid mantel. Toners were originally created to bring the pH back to normal after using soap. Once the skin is at its normal pH, additional products will not easily penetrate the skin. The cleansers we carry are all pH balanced for maximum effectiveness.
Skin Care FAQ 9: How can I tell what type of skin I have?
There are certain characteristics of the skin which define the type of skin you have. It is important to remember you are not “locked” into a particular skin type. Many factors can change what you perceive your skin type to be, like aging, smoking or the weather. Estheticians differ in the number of skin types they define. Some will place their patients in one of three categories, while others will have ten or more categories. Below is a range of skin types, and characteristics which define what most closely describes your particular type. Sometimes it is difficult to inspect one’s own skin closely without the use of a magnifying mirror. It is best done in the daylight to get an accurate impression of the skin’s condition.
Normal Skin:
Normal skin has an adequate amount of water and lipids, an adequate balance between them, and a moderate sensitivity level. Normal skin is caused by the ideal balance between the rate of sebum production and cellular exchanges. It has barely any visible pores and radiant pinkish complexions, with no imperfections. Normal skin is often categorized into the category of combination skin, but it is different. Many estheticians believe normal skin is an ideal standard which doesn’t actually exist, but is something we want to attain.
Sensitive skin:
Thin, delicate, and with fine pores. Flushes easily, prone to broken capillaries and rashes, and frequently allergic. If sun exposure causes you to first burn, then peel, followed by a tan, it may be an indication of dry or sensitive skin.
Dry Skin:
Dry skin usually appears to have fine wrinkles, flaking, red patches, almost invisible pores, and a dull, rough complexion. Dry skin can be caused by genetics, hormonal aging and external factors such as wind and UV radiation. This skin type can be fine and delicate, but dry when exposed to physical elements such as sunburn, burns, cold temperatures, abrasions, and certain medications. When the skin repairs itself after being exposed to these elements, dryness and flaking usually occurs. There are skin conditions which cause the skin to flake and sometimes crack. The skin feels tight, especially after cleansing.
Very Dry Skin:
More severe dry skin may be rough and scaly. The outer skin layer may develop tiny cracks. The pores are almost invisible and the complexion is very dull with red patches. Very dry skin may be caused by genetics, hormonal aging, and extreme external factors such as wind and sun exposure.
Combination Skin:
Medium pores, smooth and even textured, good circulation, healthy color, may tend toward dryness on the cheeks, may be oily in T-Zone. The pores are overly dilated, tend to have blackheads and be shiny in the T-zone. If your skin is oilier on your forehead, nose, and chin than on your cheeks and around your eyes, you have "combination skin". The skin is either overly dry or excessively oily, with occasional roughness on the cheeks. The oiliness and dryness can change, depending on the time of year (skin is usually drier when the weather is cold). Causes of combination skin are an imbalance in the production and distribution of lipids typically due to hormonal and genetic factors.
Oily Skin:
In this type of skin, the oil-producing sebaceous glands are overactive and produce more oil than is needed. This type of skin appears as greasy, shiny, thick, or slightly waxy with enlarged pores, and is prone to blackheads and blemishes. Often chronically oily skin has coarse pores and pimples and other blemishes. Touching oily skin may sometimes leave a residue of oil on the fingertips. It is caused by the hyperactivity of the sebaceous glands caused by puberty or other hormonal imbalances, stress, antibiotics, and exposure to heat or excessive humidity. Does your face feel like a puddle of oil an hour after you’ve washed it? Does makeup disappear by midmorning? At age 30, are you still breaking out like a teenager? If your answer is yes, you have oily skin with overactive sebaceous glands.
Skin Care FAQ 10: What can I do to even out my skin tone and get rid of dark spots?
Most skin care lines offer lightening products. Many people experience terrific results by using treatment products that are specially formulated to address these spots. Some products allow you to apply directly to the dark spots and need not apply it all over the face. It can take from one to several months of strict continuous use to achieve the desired results. Also, sun avoidance is particularly important. Many skin lightening products use an ingredient called Hydroquinone. Common, safe and often preferred alternative ingredients are botanical in nature and they are kojic and azelaic acids, and bearberry and mulberry extracts.
Skin Care FAQ 11: Do I need to use a toner after cleansing?
Toners are generally used to remove any excess residue left on the skin after cleansing and to restore your skin’s natural pH. If you wash your face with soap (which you shouldn’t), it is a good idea to use a toner because soap is too alkaline. If you are using a cleanser with a pH in the 3.0-3.5 range, it may be better to skip using a toner. Product penetration will improve if your skin is slightly acidic, and a toner will bring it back to its normal range which may prevent subsequent products from working effectively.
Skin Care FAQ 12: What is exfoliate?
Exfoliating is an important and necessary part of any skin care regimen. It is important to use good quality exfoliating products as recommended by your skin care expert. Use a product that has micro-fine beads or granules that are rounded and do not have jagged edges that can tear at the skin. Exfoliating removes dead skin cells. By removing the dead skin cells, this helps treatment products and active ingredients to penetrate your skin more readily. Enzyme masks are another form in which you can exfoliate your skin at home.
Skin Care FAQ 13: What is Glycolic Acid?
Glycolic acid is in the family of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (AHA’s). Glycolic acid comes from sugar cane and is a natural exfoliator. Glycolic acid is felt to have the best penetration because of its small molecular size and thus is more often used in skin care treatments.
Skin Care FAQ 14: What is the difference between AHA’s and BHA’s?
AHA’s or Alpha-Hydroxy Acids are extracted from nature, and often referred to as fruit acids. Citrus acids are extracted from citrus, malic acid from apples, glycolic acids from sugar cane, lactic acids are from milk, and tartaric acids are from grapes. AHA’s are used in skin care treatments to speed up the removal of dead skin cells from the top layer of the skin. BHA’s , Beta-Hydroxy Acids also known as salicylic acid is a derivative of aspirin. BHA’s are often used to treat acne as it clears the skin. BHA’s also have anti-inflammatory properties that also benefit acne prone skin.
Skin Care FAQ 15: Is Microdermabrasion or an Acid Peel better or more effective for rejuvenating the skin?
Microdermabrasion and Glycolic Peels both do basically the same thing for your skin, which is to exfoliate. Both remove the top layer of dead skin cells to reveal fresher, smoother skin and stimulate faster cell turnover to keep your skin radiant. Microdermabrasion is a mechanical means of exfoliation which uses a scrubbing action to remove the dead skin cells. Glycolic Acid is a chemical process of exfoliation in which uses a chemical called Glycolic Acid, to remove the top layer of dead skin cells. Both could accomplish similar results. It is a matter of preference if you want to use a chemical or physical action to exfoliate your skin. When used alternately, each process can compliment the other procedure, and you are receiving the most effective treatment possible.
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