How to Clean Your Skin

Many people don't realize that your skin is the largest organ in the body, but it is! Skin has the very important job of protecting the body from infections and germs, so it is important to help your skin out by taking care of it. Different parts of the body require different cleaning techniques, but the best way to take care of your skin is to make cleaning it a part of your daily routine.

Figure out what type of face skin you have. Your skin changes as you age, especially during puberty, and looking for products in the skincare aisle at the drugstore can be confusing. There are so many options! Which should you choose? To find the right cleanser for your skin, it is important to first determine your current skin type:

·      Normal skin is not too oily and not too dry, with minimal blemishes and no severe sensitivity to products or weather.

·      Oily skin often appears shiny or greasy, even if you recently washed your face. Oily skin is also prone to blemishes and larger pores.

·      Dry skin is often flaky, with more visible lines and some reddish patches of skin.

·      Sensitive skin is often mistaken for dry skin because it typically appears dry and red; however, the difference is that sensitive skin is often a result of a particular ingredient in a skin care product.

·      Combination skin is when you have patches of skin that are oily in some areas and dry or normal in others. Combination skin is typically oily around the T-zone (the T-shaped area created by your forehead, nose, and chin) and normal to dry on the rest of the face.

Wash your hands first. Before you start cleansing the skin on your face, be sure to wash your hands with warm water and soap to kill all the germs and remove dirt and grime. You wouldn't want to rub more germs all over your face, would you?

Wash your face twice a day with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser. Even if your skin looks clean, it's probably not. It is very important to cleanse your face every morning and every night before bed, especially if you wear makeup or are prone to breakouts. Keep in mind:

·      Don't use water that is extremely hot or extremely cold since this can damage your skin and trap grease and dirt inside your pores.

·      Gently massage your face with slow, circular motions. Don't scrub! Scrubbing will cause skin irritation, redness, or breakouts.

·      Treat the skin around your eyes extra gently, as it is the most delicate, sensitive skin on your face. Plus you don't want to end up with cleanser in your eyes!

·      Don't over-wash your face! Even if you have oily skin, over-washing can cause dryness, and your skin will produce more oil to compensate, which means you could end up with oilier, more blemished skin.

Find out if exfoliation is right for your skin. For some skin types and conditions, exfoliating can be helpful, such as those with sun damage. However, for other skin types, such as those with cystic acne, exfoliating can damage your skin. Check with a dermatologist to be sure if exfoliating is right for you. Choose a scrub that's designed for your skin type and that is not too harsh. Some varieties include:

·      Mild scrubs containing beads, sugar, salt or other types of natural exfoliators.

·      Soft skincare brushes. These can be manual or oscillating brushes that you squeeze your cleanser or a mild scrub into before gently rubbing the brush on your face.

·      Treatment masks that include mild acids like alpha-hydroxy acid or beta-hydroxy acid to slough off dead skin. Be very careful with this option and be sure to read the directions!

Rinse your face thoroughly after cleansing or exfoliating. Using lukewarm water, gently rinse the cleanser from your face either with a clean washcloth or by cupping your hands under the sink and carefully splashing water onto your face. Be sure all of the cleanser is removed, as any remaining cleanser can clog your pores and cause irritation and blemishes.

Pat your face dry with a clean, soft cloth. Never dry your skin with a dirty hand towel in the bathroom or the same towel you use to dry off your body; you will just transfer new, fresh bacteria onto your clean face. Also, it is important to pat, not rub, your face dry in order to treat the skin as gently as possible.

Moisturize your face. Apply moisturizer to your face after you dry it off. Many people skip this step, but applying a moisturizer designed for your particular skin type is very important post-cleansing. Moisturizers seal in the existing water in your skin so it doesn't evaporate, which dries out your skin. You may need more moisturizer, or a thicker moisturizer, during the winter months.