We all have parts of ourselves that we’re insecure about, but it’s particularly difficult when that part happens to be your skin. When you have an issue with your face it’s not as simple as popping on a hat or covering up with clothes, and when your face is the thing people look at when they speak to and communicate with you it can feel like there’s no hiding away. They say that beauty is only skin deep, but feeling happy and confident in your looks can also make a huge difference to how you feel on the inside. But regardless of what you’re currently facing, the good news is that there are plenty of skin treatment options and ways to make a real difference.
Here are a few of the problems you might be facing, leading you to feel insecure or unhappy about your skin. More severe skin conditions may require medical dermatology treatments, but there are things you can try yourself too. These may improve your symptoms, and allow you to be the happiest and most confident version of yourself.
Rosacea
Rosacea is common skin condition which mainly affects the face. It’s usually characterized episodes of flushing where the skin turns red for a short period, but other symptoms can develop as the condition progresses. These include stinging sensations, spots and visible blood vessels. If you think you have rosacea, the good news it that’s very manageable so there are things you can do to get it under control. Working out your ‘triggers’ and learning how to avoid them is a good way to reduce flare ups. People have found common triggers to be things like spicy foods, stress, caffeine and alcohol, so a few lifestyle changes may be all that’s needed. A good trick for when you have a flare up is to know how to cover it effectively, there are lots of different products and makeup techniques that can help disguise redness and make you feel more confident. Because red is opposite green on the color wheel, applying a green tinted primer or concealer to red patches will help to neutralize the color. You then apply your regular foundation over the top, something with a medium to high coverage will give you great results.
Acne
Acne is extremely common and will affect almost everyone at some point in their lives, so if you’re currently experiencing it remember that you’re definitely not alone. While there’s no ‘cure’ as such, there are lots of options to treat it depending on what’s causing it for you. Topical treatments and washes containing benzoyl peroxide can be effective in some cases especially if your acne is reasonably mild and not widespread. For more aggressive or chronic cases it’s worth seeing your doctor, who may be able to prescribe treatments that are more powerful. This is likely to include topical medication for your skin, as well as antibiotic tablets. If it’s suspected that your acne is down to hormonal problems then the doctor will prescribe a different kind of medication, the contraceptive pill can also help hormonal acne for some women. The things you can do at home include removing some of the ingredients from your diet that are known to make acne worse (dairy, soy, sugar and wheat). Age old advice like sticking to a skincare routine using mild products, not over washing your face or touching it with dirty hands still stands as well. As with rosacea, there’s plenty you can do to cover acne and give you more confidence. Choose products that are oil free and have sensitive formulas. Mineral makeup can be a good choice, as it can be built up to a good amount of coverage but doesn’t contain any skin irritating chemicals.
Age Spots
These flat brown, grey, or black spots on the skin typically develop in adults aged forty or older- however they can occur at any age. Even some teenagers have been known to have them! Age spots are the result of excess production of the pigment melanin, aging and UV exposure such as the sun and tanning beds are all possible causes. There are a couple of options for medical treatments here, your doctor may offer you topical creams which can lighten the dark areas. Laser, micro-dermabrasion and chemical peels can all be effective. If you’re not looking to take extreme measures, you can cover age spots using a high coverage peach toned concealer. This will balance out the the brown tones in the spots and even out the skin.