Many of us thought lockdown could be a chance to give our skin a break. No make-up for weeks, more opportunity for sleep, less exposure to pollution without daily commutes – surely we should all be glowing and dewy by now? But no, many are battling with breakouts, dullness or a dry, flaky skin. And we don’t need this added stress right now!
Diet could be a key culprit: snacking for comfort and to relieve mind-numbing boredom. Also, being at home non-stop means we might be increasing the time we spend on electronic devices: watching Netflix, loads of WhatsApp chats and checking the latest news. Tablets, computers and phone screens create damaging radiation that is reflected back onto our skin. Not forgetting the stress caused by lockdown, which also affects skin negatively.
The gut and the skin are interconnected, so if you’re overeating or stress-eating this can often lead to eczema and rosacea. Dehydration also affects your skin – either from not drinking enough water or drinking too much coffee, sugary beverages or alcohol.
So change your diet to one with loads of fruit and veg, avoid alcohol and sugary drinks, drink loads of water and start meditating. Avoid eating too much refined sugars and chocolate, because they will dehydrate the skin and can cause breakouts. Fruit and vegetables will nourish your skin with a lot of vitamins, dried fruits also will help because of their high fibre content and antioxidants. This will help your digestive system get rid of toxins, great if you want to prevent spots and acne too.
When it comes to technology, it’s vital to make sure you’re taking breaks from being in front of screens. Please make sure you’re protecting your skin with a combination of Vitamin C and SPF to bounce back more than 80% of UV rays. ‘Despite the very limited time allowed outside, make sure you apply sunscreen religiously as the UV rays coming from the windows are enough to age your skin and create pigmentation.
Extra time at home means you can spend some time perfecting your skincare routine. Make the most of isolation to work on your skin texture using prescribed medical grade retinol once or twice a week. You can rejuvenate your skin by applying this incredibly active ingredient which accelerates the new skin production. Even if you peel and have redness, remember there are no parties to attend! Peeling and redness can be a normal side-effect when using retinol – particularly at first. It’s important to use SPF protection alongside retinol products and start with a low concentration.
And when lockdown ends, be assured that we at Lasermed are champing at the bits to boost your skin and natural beauty with our state-of-the-art treatments!
