6 Habits To Reevaluate If You Want To Curb Skin Problems

The skin is your body’s first line of defense from environmental stressors like the weather, and pollution. These can easily impact the state of your skin, especially on an everyday basis.

At the first sign of acne, blackheads or other skin conditions, our first instinct is to look for a quick solution. We all try our best to take care of our skin, but it is possible that some of our daily habits can end up harming the skin instead of helping. Doing a simple check of these habits can reveal the actual cause behind your skin problems. Here are some of the things you do daily that are responsible for harming your skin.

1. The foods you eat

Skin reactions can be triggered by a number of factors, including diet. In a 2017 study, published in “Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics”, it was discovered that there is a higher chance for people to experience moderate to severe acne when they consume high amounts of refined carbs. Pay attention to your dairy intake too. Milk is known to contain abundance of the growth hormone, IGF-1. When too much of it is in your system, it can cause inflammation and hormone imbalance, triggering acne.

2. Skipping on sun protection at home

Don’t treat your skin any differently when you’re at home. Especially during Singapore’s Circuit Breaker measures to fight against COVID-19, as most people are staying and working from home, many might think that sun safety ends as long as they remain indoors. If you’re working and seated beside the window, sun rays can still penetrate through and expose your face to UVA radiation. These are responsible for premature skin ageing and wrinkling. Remember to complete your daily morning skincare routine with sunscreen application to shield your skin as you begin your #StayHome activities. Give our Cream UV Protection SPF35 a try – the combination of Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide will help to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

3. Skin issues from wearing face masks

The recent public health advisory in Singapore recommends for everyone to wear a face mask when they go out for essential trips, in order to curb the spread of COVID-19. This is also crucial for essential workers in businesses which remained open. You will likely experience the uncomfortable side effect of keeping your mouth and nose covered for a period of time. When your face is covered, it creates a hot, moist environment for your skin since your breathing is trapped. As such, this leads to a build-up of oil and sweat on the skin under the mask. Subsequently, this can lead to rashes, clogged pores, inflammation and even acne breakouts.

It is recommended to wash your face thoroughly before and after wearing a mask. You can check our Purifying Cleanser which is formulated with Hops Extract and Rosemary Leaves to gently remove impurities and provide a moisturising effect. Keep your skin hydrated with a lightweight moisturiser and minimise wearing makeup whenever possible. The increased humidity conditions under the mask can affect the sebum production of your skin, causing skin issues and breakouts.

4. Touching your face

On a related note, many people have a habit of touching their faces such as resting your chin on your hands, scratching your cheek, or feeling restless. Whether it’s intentional or done subconsciously, our hands and fingers can pass bacteria, allergens and dirt onto our faces. This can easily lead to skin irritation, clogged pores and breakouts. And especially amid the COVID-19 outbreak, it is even more important for you to keep your hands away from your face to prevent the risk of getting infected.

5. Not keeping your stress in check

Stress affects every part of your body including your skin. This state can also be heightened given the current pandemic situation – it is understandable that everyone feels anxious, worried and stressed out. When this occurs, it causes a chemical response in your body that makes the skin highly sensitive and reactive. If you’ve been noticing more breakouts in times of stress, this is because hormones like cortisol are triggered and the glands in the skin are stimulated to produce more oil. Untamed stress can also cause fatigue and inflammation in the skin, causing you to look dull and tired. This can also aggravate skin issues.

Don’t let stress go unchecked – take a break to care for your mental health. Go for a walk around the neighbourhood or practise stress management techniques such as meditation. Whether it’s journaling your thoughts, watching your favourite show or putting a mud mask on, it should provide some relaxation for you to bring down those high levels of stress.

6. Sleeping on one side

Avoid sleeping on the same side too much. When the side of your face is pushed into your pillow, it can lead to creases and wrinkles developing over time. The best sleeping position is to try sleeping on your back to avoid these sleep wrinkles. Another benefit to stop side-sleeping is the risk of transferring an accumulation of dirt, dead skin cells, and oil on your pillowcases to your face. Wash your bedsheets and pillowcases every other week so you can prevent the build-up from exacerbating any skin issues.

Keep your skin in tip-top condition

As you aim to reduce and be mindful of these daily habits, take the step to give some TLC to your skin and keep pesky breakouts at bay. We offer an affordable facial package to new customers at just $480 for 8 sessions (after 7% GST) which helps to remove excess sebum and replenish hydration so you can achieve a more supple, glowing complexion!

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