Dermatologists called 11 habits that age the skin faster

Pressing inflammation is the worst thing you can do: pus goes deep into the tissues, inflammation increases, infection and the risk of scars are added. A special danger is the nasolabial triangle: the veins of this zone are directly connected to the vessels of the skull, so the infection can spread deeper.

“If an element on the skin has matured, it can be treated with a skin antiseptic or chlorhexidine and then gently punctured with a very thin needle and directed outwards. Be sure to treat the skin again. If pus is inside, do not touch the skin, otherwise you will only aggravate inflammation or get more serious complications at the level of subcutaneous tissue, warns dermatologist, candidate of medical Sciences Mikhail Sukach (Skin Medicine Clinic, St. Petersburg).

Bed linens are weekly. If you sweat, get sick, sleep with a pet or suffer from allergies - reduce the interval to 3-4 days, the same amount of life pillowcase.

Change the towel for the face with rashes daily, with clean skin - once every 2-3 days.

“Use a regular fabric towel. It is important not to rub the skin with active movements, but only to wet it several times, advises Mikhail Sukach.

On the palms live microbes, fat and dirt. By touching your face, you risk infection in your eyes, nose, and mouth, and frequent touch increases inflammation. However, as the dermatologist explains, acne does not occur from the hands, but due to clogged pores with sebum and the reproduction of their own bacteria.

UVA rays overcome clouds and window glass all year round - they provoke photoaging, pigmentation and increase the risk of skin cancer. UVB rays, responsible for tanning, weaken in autumn, but do not disappear.

“We need to use a broad spectrum SPF that protects against both A- and B-rays.” Choose cosmetics, where there is a UVA icon in the circle or PA marking with pluses - this designation is typical for Asian cosmetics, explains Mikhail Sukach.

Scrubs and alkaline agents can not be used daily: together with dead cells, ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids are washed away - the building material of the protective barrier. The result is dryness, peeling, sensitivity and an increase in the number of rashes due to imbalance of the microbiota.

Aggressive scrubs can only be used by people with normal, perfectly healthy skin, and occasionally every two weeks, a month. It is necessary to wash with warm water, apply pH-neutral means for the face (pH 5.5), and after washing apply a light moisturizer.

At night, cosmetics are mixed with fat and then, clogging pores. Mascara and eyeliner irritate the eyes and eyelids, and with rosacea and acne, any irritation increases symptoms.

“Evening cleansing is not necessary to allow the skin to breathe, but to remove makeup, sunscreen and accumulated contaminants without damaging the barrier. In order to wash off cosmetics, use hydrophilic oil – a cleanser designed primarily for dissolving fat-soluble contaminants, says dermatovenerologist Alexander Frolov, an expert of the JUFORA brand (Reverie Clinic, Moscow).

The oil is applied to dry skin and washed off with warm water. If it completely removes makeup and SPF, a second cleansing step is not needed; for fat residues, add a soft gel.

Hot water destroys the hydrolipid film: the skin tightens, peels off, and the expanded vessels show more noticeable couperosis and rosacea. Ice water is also not an option - the vessels spasm, the skin dries.

“Warm water is suitable for washing, about 30-36 °C, close to body temperature: it cleanses the skin and does not violate its protective barrier,” explains cosmetologist-dermatovenerologist Ekaterina Anchikova (d’Alba).

According to her, ordinary tap water in Moscow meets the standards, and it is not specifically required to boil or filter it. With sensitive skin, it is permissible to compare the sensations of filtered water.

The moisturizer retains water and strengthens the barrier. Choose the texture for the skin type: light gel for oily, dense - for dry, apply - after washing. Day cream does not replace SPF.

Useful components in the composition: ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids (restore the barrier), glycerol and hyaluronic acid (moisture retention), niacinamide (even tone), antioxidants like vitamin C. Retinoids treat acne and photoaging, but they should be introduced gradually, and during pregnancy - exclude and discuss with your doctor replacement.

“There are day and night creams, but if only one remedy moisturizes well, does not cause irritation and is suitable for the appropriate time of day, it is not necessary to change it only because of the labeling,” comments Ekaterina Anchikova.

In the deep phase of sleep, somatotropin is produced, a growth hormone involved in collagen synthesis and tissue renewal. At night, melatonin is formed, which protects skin cells from oxidative stress. Chronic lack of sleep raises the level of cortisol, which inhibits the production of collagen and elastin: the face fades, wrinkles deepen.

“Even after a few bad nights, the face may look dull and tired. Adults are advised to sleep at least seven hours. To get enough sleep, you need to go to bed at the same time and not use gadgets an hour before going to bed, advises Anchikova.

With chronically high sugar, glucose “glues” with collagen and elastin – this is called glycation. The fibers lose elasticity, the skin flabby and dull. Spikes of sugar enhance the work of the sebaceous glands and provoke acne, and a high level of sweet supports systemic inflammation.

Refuse desserts completely is not worth it - strict prohibitions end in breakdowns. It is enough to change fast carbohydrates (soda, pastries, candies) to vegetables, berries and whole cereals.

Tobacco smoke hits the vessels and collagen fibers: wrinkles appear earlier, the texture of the skin changes, inflammations heal longer. “You can’t explain any wrinkles solely by smoking, but its contribution to premature aging is well known,” notes Alexander Frolov. E-cigarettes are no better: their aerosol contains nicotine, solvents, and liquid decomposition products.

Alcohol, especially red wine, in many people provokes redness and exacerbation of rosacea, as well as dehydration - although the end result depends on individual sensitivity, volume of drink and quality of sleep.

The conclusion of dermatologists: beautiful skin is not expensive cosmetics, but a set of daily habits: seven hours of sleep, warm water, SPF all year round and hands away from the face.