The relationship between beauty and skin health

Beauty and skin health are a symbiotic relationship that is based on each other and affects each other in both directions - scientific beauty behavior is an important means to maintain and improve skin health, while incorrect beauty practices that deviate from the health baseline are one of the primary causes of skin problems. The two are by no means a one-way subordinate relationship in which "beauty is the icing on the cake and health is the basic premise."

A while ago, a young girl who just graduated from my studio came to my studio. She is 22 years old and has healthy combination skin. In order to shrink the pores that can only be seen up close, she applied 20% salicylic acid at home twice a week and applied a whitening mask every day for a month. When she came, her face was as red as a ripe peach and felt hot to the touch. When she looked against the light, it was covered with dense rashes. She said with a sad face that her face was rotten. Isn’t this a typical reversal of the relationship between beauty and health? The original intention was to make the skin in better condition, but in the end, the skin barrier was penetrated.

Speaking of which, I have been through a similar trap myself. Two years ago, I followed the trend and went to a beauty salon to do the "7-day skin resurfacing". After the treatment, my face was so translucent that it seemed to be glowing. I felt that it was worth the money. However, within a week, red and swollen pimples started to break out. It lasted for three months. It was only after I went to see a dermatologist that I found out that the so-called skin rejuvenation uses high-concentration acid to peel off a layer of the stratum corneum. The bright look is actually a stress response of the skin, and the barrier has long been damaged. Speaking of which, I was deceived into buying a 3,000 yuan "deep detoxifying ointment". It was said that if I apply it on my face and rub it, it will remove the toxins, leaving a black mess. Later I found out that the product is added with iron oxide, which oxidizes and turns black when exposed to heat. It has nothing to do with the toxins on my face. Now I still feel pain when I think about it.

Regarding the boundary between the two, practitioners in different fields actually have quite different opinions. My friends who practice evidence-based dermatology always tell me that what is beauty or not? In fact, as long as you do three things: moderate cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection, you can already maintain 90% of your skin health. The remaining essences, masks, etc. are all icing on the cake. As long as the ingredients are compliant, there is no need to spend a lot of money to pay IQ tax. However, friends who practice Chinese skin care and aromatherapy do not agree with this statement. They believe that beauty must comply with the current skin condition and even the rhythm of the body. For example, avoid using strong medicinal ingredients during menstruation, streamline skin care when the seasons change, and even adjust your sleep and diet. Just applying a few skin care products is useless. Friends who practice aesthetic medicine have a different view. She always says that many existing skin health problems, such as severe stains, depressed scars, and static lines, cannot be solved by daily skin care. Photons, fractions, and soft tissue fillings that are operated in compliance with the regulations can help repair the skin condition. Failure to intervene will only make the problems more serious.

Take the topic that everyone is quarreling about most now: “Should we exfoliate?” The two sides are so quarrelsome that they can even fight. Those who object to it say that old cuticles from healthy skin will metabolize and fall off on their own, and that special exfoliation is just looking for nothing and will damage the barrier. ； Those who support it say that oily-combination skin produces a lot of oil, and old dead skin cells clog the pores, which can lead to acne and clogged pores. Regular gentle exfoliation can keep the skin stable. In fact, there is nothing absolutely right or wrong? I have seen people with dry and sensitive skin follow the trend of exfoliation and get a hormonal face, and I have also seen people with oily skin regularly use low-concentration salicylic acid on their face and not get acne for several years. It just depends on whether your own skin condition can handle it. If you don’t require a unified answer, it goes against the basic logic of skin health.

My best friend is 35 years old. She developed severe chloasma in the past two years. At first, she blindly bought an Internet celebrity whitening essence and applied it for half a year, but the spots became darker and darker. Later, she went to the dermatology department of a regular hospital. The doctor prescribed low-concentration tranexamic acid essence for her, and asked her to strictly protect herself from the sun. She also had low-energy photorejuvenation once every three months. She persisted like this for a year. Now the spots are 80% lighter, and her skin is much more stable than before, with less red blood streaks. You see, choosing the right beauty method can actually help solve skin health problems.

In fact, to put it bluntly, the relationship between beauty and skin health is just like watering and fertilizing a potted plant at home. If you water it in the right amount and choose the right fertilizer, it will naturally grow luxuriantly.； If you don't care about its variety and water a drought-loving cactus every day in winter, even the most expensive fertilizer will rot the roots. There is really no need to demonize beauty. You think that applying skin care products and doing projects is just doing it. Don't think that applying nothing at all means "natural skin care". Pay more attention to your skin condition and don't follow the trend. It's better than anything else.