Quarantine and self-isolation affect many aspects of our lives, and our skin, of course, also suffers from changes in our daily life.
The air in the homes where most people are currently staying due to the pandemic is drier than the air outside. We have the heaters on, the air conditioners on, and the windows closed. The lack of moisture in the air, which does not circulate normally, and the constant use of antiseptics lead mostly to dryness of the skin and in general complicate chronic diseases of the epidermis.
Focusing on cleanliness also plays an important role. Of course, during this time, when we often wash our hands, bathe and in any way try to avoid virus infection, all this changes the pH of the skin, disrupting the complex fatty and carbohydrate composite that is the outer protective barrier of the epidermis.
How stress affects the skin
“The connection between the brain and the skin is important and undeniable. From their common embryonic origin, the nervous system and the skin remain interconnected and “communicate” throughout life. The skin is the first interface between the environment, the body and the mind from the moment of birth , – notes Dr. Friedman, professor of dermatology. – Therefore, it should not be a big surprise that as a result of negative experiences, the human body produces and releases key stress hormones, which has a huge impact on the skin. Due to changes at the intercellular level, stress causes chronic inflammation.”
Although everyone deals with stress and anxiety differently, our habits directly affect our appearance. During the quarantine, some of us started to eat more, smoke or drink alcohol, some of us began to actively engage in physical exercises, and some of us constantly nervously touch our hands or, most often, our face (scratching or pressing pimples without even realizing it).
Many people believe that oily food leads to acne and breakouts, but dermatologists call this view false, and this can only be true if you rub the lard directly on your face.
However, doctors note that at all times it is necessary to follow a moderate diet, reducing the amount of fat and dairy products of animal origin, and giving preference to a plant-based diet.
Methods of skin care during a pandemic
✔ When washing hands and bathing, use mild soaps made from natural components
✔ Be sure to apply moisturizing cream or organic vegetable oils to moisture skin after bathing.
✔ Try not to boil in boiling water with the desire to hypothetically kill the hypothetically already caught virus, but, on the contrary, minimize overheating of the body by having a good moisturizing cream or serum with hyaluronic acid on hand for additional hydration.
Soap – yes, boiling water – no.
✔ Use serums and retinols
Due to quarantine, most of us spend almost all day in front of monitor screens, among switched-on household appliances and under lamps, so it is imperative to remember to protect eyes and skin from harmful radiation .
Don’t forget eye drops and apply your daily UV cream at least occasionally (preferably every day), even if you don’t go outside today, as these products help prevent deterioration of your vision and skin.
For the skin, antioxidant serum or cream, care products with tocopherol, vitamin C, vegetable oils – especially olive and coconut.
✔Listening to the advice of Korean and Japanese dermatologists, in addition to all of the above, every home should have a humidifier.
✔Treat rashes and acne
If stress has caused you to have an outbreak of a skin disease, and you can’t get to a dermatologist right now – do everything you can to treat acne and rashes at home
Buy hydrocortisone cream, antifungal and with antibiotics. If you have these three remedies in your home medicine cabinet, you can potentially eliminate most causes of skin rashes and irritations.
✔Apply a broad-spectrum SPF30 sunscreen
When you (finally!) step out into the fresh air, regardless of the temperature and sunlight, apply an SPF 30 sunscreen to exposed skin beforehand. After a long stay in an enclosed space, UV radiation can cause many immediate or delayed skin changes.
✔Follow your usual skin care routine
Don’t forget to wash your hair and shower regularly (it’s easy to forget this if no one sees you for weeks). But use the usual hair and skin care products. Introducing new products during quarantine can cause trouble, especially if you get an allergic reaction, and doctors are now dealing with matters of life and death, and beauty later). Experiments are, of course, great, and routine is sometimes good for the psyche too.
Simplify things for the benefit of body and soul.
✔ Give gifts to your own epidermis
Since we can’t go to spas right now, there are certain things we can do sitting like babysitters at home. So:
- A good exfoliation removes dead skin cells that contaminate the skin, causing irritation and inflammation, and helps reveal the deeper layers of the epidermis.
- Proper exfoliation opens the way for your skin masks, any moisturizing creams or other beauty creams to penetrate deeper into your skin. So you can get more benefits from beauty products.
- To exfoliate the upper layer of the epidermis, you can use honey and sugar. Gently rub this mixture into the skin of the face and body, and wash off with warm water,” recommends Dr. Xu, a skin care specialist. “If you have sensitive skin, choose coconut or almond oil, of course, taking into account individual sensitivity to the components of cosmetic products.
- Moisturizing the skin helps increase its elasticity, which reduces the appearance of wrinkles. Dehydrated skin produces more oil due to lack of moisture, which also leads to many skin problems. Also, when your skin is well hydrated, it removes toxins from the body more effectively
Ingredients of moisturizing homemade skin mask include:
1/2 avocado
cocoa powder
honey
Whip the avocado and mix with the rest of the ingredients. Apply the mask on your face and leave it for 10-15 minutes. Wash off the mask with warm water.
Care for acne-prone skin
Acne occurs when skin pores are blocked by oil, dead skin cells, or bacteria. To make a face mask that will help you with acne, Dr. Xu recommends mixing the following ingredients until smooth:
5 crushed aspirin tablets
1 tablespoon of honey
Apply the mixture to your face and leave it on for 10 minutes. When washing off the product with warm water or herbal tincture, gently massage the skin. It is advisable to do this procedure at least once a week.
And remember: all bad things will pass! So, stay at home, wash your hands and don’t lose optimism!
According to the materials: Healthline.
