There are many ways you can take care of your skin during this unprecedented time when people are self-isolating over concerns of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Unfortunately, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis has forced many people to stay home. This means you can’t go to work, you can’t go to the gym, you can’t visit friends and family, and you can’t resume most of your normal activities. One of the things you can do is take care of your skin by using a good skin care regimen.
One of the most common reasons why people do not use a good skin care regimen is because they are too busy and they don’t have enough time. Now that you have all the time in the world, it’s a perfect time to start. Most people find that once they get used to it, it doesn’t take long at all.
Facial Cleanser
There are a few components to a skin care regimen and it can be customized for each person and their individual skin. The first step is always cleansing the skin. Dr. Alex recommends the A E Skin Green Tea Essentials Gentle Facial Cleanser for those who like a silky product that feels good on the skin. For people with concerns such as acne, Dr. Alex recommends the A E Skin Green Tea Essentials Awakening Facial Cleanser, which contains a number of ingredients to penetrate the skin better and help with acne treatment.
Moisturizer
Another basic component of all skin care regimens is a moisturizer. About two thirds of the skin is water, so it’s important to have enough water in your skin to maintain its barrier function and other functions. There are three steps in doing this. The first is drinking enough water. Dr. Alex recommends drinking eight cups of water every day. The second step is to get the water into your skin. This is done by using products that contain ingredients such as hyaluronic acid. The third step is trapping it in your skin and preventing the water from evaporating. This is done with a moisturizer. Unlike the rest of your skin which is mostly covered by clothing, the skin on your face is almost always exposed to the air. Because of this, you lose a lot of water through your skin on your face by evaporation even though you don’t notice it (because it’s microscopic). Therefore, it’s important to moisturize your skin at least twice daily. When you’re young, your skin is able to keep itself moisturized very well so you can use a light moisturizer such as the A E Skin Green Tea Essentials Nourishing Moisturizer. But over time, the skin gets dry and you need something more. In this case, Dr. Alex recommends the A E Skin Green Tea Essentials Rejuvenating Cream. The A E Skin Green Tea Essentials Rejuvenating Cream is a moisturizer that is rich but not too heavy on the skin. More than that, the A E Skin Green Tea Essentials Rejuvenating Cream contains growth factors. Growth factors are substances that are seen in young skin that make the skin look youthful. Over time we make less and less of these growth factors. Those that use the A E Skin Green Tea Essentials Rejuvenating Cream notice and improvement in the color and texture of the skin. Some people mix up their regimen by using the A E Skin Green Tea Essentials Nourishing Moisturizer in the morning and the A E Skin Green Tea Essentials Rejuvenating Cream at night. Other people use the A E Skin Green Tea Essentials Rejuvenating Cream during the dryer winter months and switch to the A E Skin Green Tea Essentials Nourishing Moisturizer during the more humid summer months. See what works best for you and do that.
Sunscreen
The third and final basic component to all skin care regimens is a good sunscreen. Dr. Alex recommends a sunscreen with SPF of at least 30 that has broad spectrum protection. This means it protects your skin against UVA (aging) rays and UVB (burning) rays. Look for ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide; these are physical sunscreens. It’s important to apply sunscreen every day even if it’s overcast since the harmful UV rays can still penetrate the clouds. You should also apply sunscreen even if you’re not outside because the sunlight can penetrate through glass windows at home or work and also through the windows in your car. Try to avoid direct sun in the middle of the days and stay in the shade as much as possible when outside. There are many great hats with wide brims that will protect your skin when outside. Our most popular sunscreens are the Alastin Hydratint sunscreen and the Elta MD UV Clear sunscreen.
In addition to the basics (cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen), there are many other products you can add to your regiment depending on your skin type and specific concerns. Information on these products can be found on Dr. Alex’s blog.
Dr. Alex has performed over 10,000 cosmetic treatments with many satisfied patients. Contact us to schedule an appointment for a free consultation with Dr. Alex in our Encino, CA office.