If your skin is sensitive, you might notice some irritation (redness, itching, flaking), which is a sign that you should back off and call in a dermatologist. You’ll probably have to be careful in the future about avoiding products with certain ingredients, such as fragrances, that are likely to be irritating.
Also, if something is irritating your skin, stop using it! That may seem obvious, but Dr. Ogunleye says this is one of the most common skin-care mistakes she sees. Some products are known to cause a little bit of irritation when you first start using them, but your daily cleanser, moisturizer, or sunscreen should not be causing stinging, burning, or other irritation.
Everyone still needs to apply sunscreen every day, though. No exceptions. Here’s how to find one you won’t mind wearing.
What if I want to do more?
You may be surprised at how, after a few weeks of getting down these basic steps, your other skin concerns calm down. But if they don’t, your next steps will depend on your skin’s specific needs, Dr. Newsom says.
If you have acne, you may want to swap in a cleanser with salicylic acid, a gentle chemical exfoliator, or the occasional spot treatment with benzoyl peroxide. For wrinkles, fine lines, or sun damage, you may want to add in an over-the-counter retinoid to start with (and maybe a prescription version later). Interested in managing hyperpigmentation? Brightening agents like hydroquinone or vitamin C may do the trick.
But be sure to add just one product at a time, Dr. Newsom says, and give it at least two weeks before adding something else. If you add multiple things at once and have a bad reaction to something, it will be impossible to know which product was responsible without patch testing, Dr. Ogunleye points out. Or if you do see positive results, you won’t know which product was responsible for the change.
It’s also important to avoid adding too many products that do the same thing. If you already have one retinoid or exfoliating acid in your lineup, you may find that adding another one doesn’t help and is actually just more irritating.
Whatever you do, be patient. Aside from using too many products, Dr. Ogunleye says one of the biggest mistakes newbies make is to give up too easily. “Everybody thinks that you put on your acne cream and the next day all of your acne will be gone,” she says. But as SELF explained previously, both over-the-counter and prescription treatments take weeks or months to actually result in noticeable changes. Dr. Ogunleye maintains that it’s important to adjust your expectations and be prepared to give a new products two to three months before getting discouraged and giving up on them.
When should you see a dermatologist?
If you’re trying to find gentle everyday products and can’t seem to land on one that works with your skin, it’s time to talk to a dermatologist, Dr. Ogunleye says. Alternately, if you’re trying to address a specific skin concern (like acne or hyperpigmentation) and you’re not seeing any improvements, a dermatologist can help figure out the issue and possibly prescribe a stronger medication that may be more effective.
And of course, if you’re finding that your skin reacts badly to products and you’re not sure why, definitely talk to a dermatologist. They can help you sort through what might be causing that irritation and give you guidelines for how to avoid it in the future.
That said, know that finding what works for you is probably going to take some trial and error. And it will ultimately come down to your individual skin needs and your personal preferences. So the first step is just to get out there and try stuff!
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