As we navigate this new norm of mask wearing, reoccurring questions about breakouts, irritation and dry skin are becoming more and more common during consultations.
Let's break it down. Simply put, wearing a masks traps your oil, sweat, makeup and breath, the moisture creates a damp and sweaty environment that breeds bacteria and irritation. Wearing a mask for hours can lead to bruising and even rashes. Some tips to keep your skin healthy and happy: 1) Wash your face immediately after taking off your mask. If you're not home to do a full wash, keep an unscented baby wipe in your purse. Give yourself a wipe immediately after you remove your mask, but make sure to followup with proper cleansing when you get home. 2) Avoid wearing makeup. The mask likely rubs the makeup off anyway, which can cause oil build up and blocked pores. Shelf the makeup for now. 3) Use a barrier cream where your mask sits if your skin is dry or chafing (Lexxel is amazing for this). Hydrocortisone 1% can help with itching and rashes. 4) Curb using strong products and avoid using aggressive exfoliants. Treat breakouts with a spot treatment like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. 5) Treat your skin with TLC. Nourish it when your home. If you haven't started a solid skincare routine, consider starting one. Or, maybe your routine needs a little bit of temporary tweaking. *Bonus* add an Omega supplement to your regimen to fight inflammation and keep your skin hydrated. If irritation persists or symptoms worsen, it may be time to have a quick chat with your doctor to rule out any bacterial or fungal infections. - P: 📞 226-545-1115 E: 💌 brookelynn@whitewillowspa.ca W: 💻 whitewillowspa.ca
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Hyperpigmentation is the result of excess melanin being produced, this forms deposits in the skin and gives off the appearance of a freckle or brown spot. (Swipe to see ➡️)
There are three main types of hyperpigmentation; UV induced, post inflammatory and hormonal induced hyperpigmentation. Sun damage is the main cause of hyperpigmentation (hello SPF!). The brown spots can appear light or dark, and it typically shows up on areas of skin that are exposed to sunlight, like hands, chest, face and shoulders. Another cause of hyperpigmentation is post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, this is caused from injury or inflammation to the skin. Darker skin types are most prone to this type of pigmentation, but all skin types may experience it. Lastly, hormonally induced hyperpigmentation is often seen as melasma or pregnancy mask. These changes are typically seen on the face during pregnancy or other spikes in hormones. So, what can we do to treat it? 1) Exfoliation, I find chemical exfoliation to work best. As pigment appears to be darker at the surface of the skin, chemical exfoliants can be very useful in lifting pigment. Using a retinol product helps skin renew itself quicker, and bring healthier cells to the surface. This gives the appearance of lighter spots and a more even complexion. 2) Using a lightening product helps. Vivier makes a skin brightening cream as well as a Vitamin C Serum that aids in the lightening and evening out of your complexion. 3) Protect your skin from UV exposure. An SPF of at least 30 is required. Sunlight will worsen discolouration. Be diligent about reapplying. 4) Treatments. IPL Facials are a great way to help the uneven appearance as it uses wavelengths of light to target the darker pigment. Silkpeels coupled with chemical peels have also been proven to be effective in helping lighten and brighten the skin. Fall is the perfect time to combat skin discolouration, as you typically see less sun. For the month of October I will be focusing our treatments on skin clarity and tone. Stay tuned for some stellar before and afters! 🍁🍂 - P: 📞 226-545-1115 E: 💌 brookelynn@whitewillowspa.ca W: 💻 whitewillowspa.ca You may have heard of gut microbiome, but what is it exactly?
Simply put, a microbiome is a collection of living bacteria -good and bad. For your skin specifically, a microbiome is crucial part of making up your skin barrier, which includes the acid mantle and lipid barrier. Your skin barrier tends to be slightly acidic at a pH of around 5.0, this inhibits the growth of bacteria, fungus and other unwanted pathogens. Do you have a compromised microbiome? Clients with a weak or damaged microbiome often notice water loss, irritation, tightness after cleansing, dryness or flakiness, dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis. If you're noticing these symptoms take extra precautions against sun damage, harsh winds or even air from the blow dryer. Take a break from harsh products or treatments and review your products with a qualified esthetician to ensure you're using the right thing for your skin. How do we take care of it? Have you ever thought bad bacteria is actually good for you? With maintaining a healthy microbiome, you want to have both good and bad bacteria coexist and work together. Some tips for taking care of your microbiome are: -Use a pH balanced cleanser -Take a pre/probiotic or eat fermented foods -Stay hydrated -Choose cotton fabric masks over synthetic materials While it may go against our current beliefs, not all bacteria is bad (in reality, we're made up of bacteria). So instead of being creeped out by the billions of life forms that are on your skin, embrace that they're trying to protect you. - P: 📞 226-545-1115 E: 💌 brookelynn@whitewillowspa.ca W: 💻 whitewillowspa.ca |
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