Textural quality is an important aspect of good skin condition.
The lucky person has fine skin texture, unaffected by excessive sebum or dryness with fine pores and few lines or wrinkles. In reality, and outside of Photoshop, this skin rarely exists.
With hormonal influences, sun exposure, dietary indiscretions, and stressful lives our skin texture can suffer.
So here are our 10 TOP TIPS for improving texture:
- Lifestyle Influences: Poor diet will lead to hormonal imbalance and increase the effects of testosterone in the skin. This leads to sebaceous skin, enlarged pores and acne. Hormonal pigmentation (melasma) may also result from excessive estrogenic influences. Reduce sugar and glycaemic foods and consume more dietary fibre to reduce hormonal recycling in the gut.
- UV Exposure: Some sun exposure is desirable: increasing Vitamin D levels and promoting improved mental health are positive examples. The ageing effects of UV on skin are well recognised. Protect the face, neck, chest and hands especially.
- Chemical Peels: There is many available options. One that we love is Propaira Exfoliating Serum (5% salicylic and 5% lactic acid serum). SkinCeuticals 10% Glycolic Overnight Serum is a great alternative. Peels are best matched to skin type and condition – dry skin types should start with lower strength products.
- Retinol: Our key skin health topical. Available from most skin care product lines. We love SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 and 1.0 Anti-ageing Night Creams. Stimulates stratum corneum renewal and dermal collagen production.
- Hyaluronic Acid: Brilliant as a topical (and injectable) moisturiser.
- Niacinamide: The more we learn about benefits of this Vitamin B3 topical the more we love it! Helps roughness, helps wrinkles, fights abnormal pigmentation and skin cancer. Essential! Try Propaira Retinol Plus (with 5% niacinamide) or Aspect Dr Complete Pigment Plus.
- SkinPen Precision: The latest in skin needling – virtually no downtime but great results smoother, brighter and more refined. Good for all skin types, all year round.
- Venus Glow: Hydrafacial with serums infusing antioxidants and exfoliants – refines pores and smooths with little downtime.
- Fraxel Laser: Our long-standing favourite intermediate grade skin resurfacing laser. Wonderful for texture and pigmentation producing velvet-like skin afterwards.
Erbium Laser Ablative - Skin Resurfacing: The ultimate in improving skin texture, lines and wrinkles and scars.
By Dr David Main