Depending on the type of skin you have, regularly washing your face with soap may be detrimental to your skin. If standard facial or body soaps are inappropriate for your skin type, they may cause irritation, causing you to feel uncomfortable and dry.
Skin types
- Normal skin types – Can use almost any cleanser marked for ‘normal’ types to maintain the skin, but beware of any contact allergies or sensitivities;
- Oily skin types – These people are prone to acne and breakouts due to the clogging of pores from too much sebum. People are often tempted to overwash an oily face, but this is counter-productive. Overscrubbing can encourage a further increase in sebum production and can lead to worse acne and breakouts;
- Dry skin types – Also known as ‘sensitive’ skin, this skin tends to react adversely to many cleansing products. These people require cleansers especially designed to avoid drying and irritation.
A gentle cleaning regime using a soap-free cleanser is recommended. Washing should be performed in the morning and once before bedtime. The process should not be overly complicated and should follow these steps:
- Wet the face
- Apply the cleanser with the hands
- Add warm water to the hands and create a lather
- Massage over the face
- Rinse thoroughly before patting the skin dry
The same rules apply to body soaps or cleansers. It is best never to scrub the skin roughly.
An appropriate emollient for your skin type should then be applied. Do not forget to moisturise down onto your neck also. An oil-free moisturiser should be used for acne-prone skin. A more moisturising cream is required for sensitive skin types. You may need to trial several different washes and creams to determine which is the right one for your skin.
If you have any questions about cleansing the skin contact our dermatologist or skincrea nurse specialist, who will recommend the right products for your skin type. Contact Us Today!
