Some (awkward) misunderstandings about skincare

Bleaching

There is a belief among some dark-skinned persons that skin care involves bleaching.

Bleaching is another word for artificial whitening of the skin. This is achieved when the uppermost layer of the skin, epidermis, is stripped off. Recently, a lot of colored people have found bleaching fashionable.

I would say it's more of a preference or procedure than a way of looking after the skin.

Toning, on the other hand, is a part of routine skin care. Using a toner after cleansing helps to close up pores and gives a refined skin texture. It also further cleanses the skin.

Skincare is only for the face

Truthfully, On a normal day, we tend to look after what is most obvious to the outside world, and that is the face, hands, and feet. But caring for the skin surpasses these parts of the body. It entails caring for the whole body, including the hoo-hoo.

The skincare product that is perfect for the face, may be bad for the rest of the body, vice versa. Therefore, it is important to know the skin type on every part of the body (for example: in most cases, if the face, shoulders, and back are oily, the rest of the body is dry). Knowing Your skin type helps to choose the right products for it.

Cosmetic and make-up

These are only a part of skin care.

It feels good to look good. It feels better to feel good deep down. In other words, make-up is nice and enhances one's appearance, but it is short term. While having nice skin to go with it adds that confidence. With healthy looking skin, make-up looks better.

It is only about the skin

The name skin care is a bit misleading. Taking care of the skin goes beyond the skin.

Genetics, lifestyle, habits, systemic diseases, among others all reflect on the skin. Let's call skin symptoms the 'tip of the iceberg'. A lot goes on beneath it, what shows on it is only a little share of the big deal.

Therefore, keeping healthy habits does a lot of justice to skincare. This is not just to prevent any skin symptoms but also to alleviate some that are unavoidable. I will give examples for both scenarios

• Preventing premature aging: Sunlight exposure is a big risk factor for premature wrinkles. Using sunscreens or products containing SPF (Sun protection factor) is highly recommended by skin experts.


• Reducing eczema symptoms: Although some forms of eczema are genetic (therefore inevitable), the flares can be prevented by avoiding triggering factors.


• Dehydration: This manifests in places such as the lips. In severe cases, the skin loses its elasticity. Adequate fluid intake is crucial in getting healthy skin.

Just for the girls/ladies

Guys guys guys!! Looking after the skin is not only for the ladies. Yes, guys have a stronger, more resilient skin than girls (it is scientifically proven). However, they also suffer from as much skin conditions as ladies do. For example, aftershave bumps and infections, jock itch..and all of these should be dealt with in the right way too.

Fighting the aging process

I have come across some ridiculous and mocking comments like 'You think You will not get old even after rubbing all of these(products) on Your skin?'.

Skincare has a basic aim, and that is healthy skin! Aging is a normal part of growing up and should be embraced wholeheartedly. However, Our lifestyles, sunlight exposures, etc are likely to expose the skin to premature wrinkles and even cancer. Taking measures such as Using sunscreens helps to reduce these chances.

Thanks for reading xxx

Yours in the flawless skin journey, Nafisah NK