Don’t bother with body chemical peels. “Peels tend to be less effective on the body, as the skin on the back is much thicker than skin on the face, so they don’t penetrate to a deep-enough level,” Mahto says. If the breakouts still don’t budge, then you may need oral prescription medication. “This could be antibiotics, hormone therapies or isotretinoin, a retinoid,” Mahto says.
Ingrowing hairs
It’s a few days after shaving and you start to feel that swollen discomfort around the area — uh-oh, it’s an ingrowing hair.
What to do
Where did you go wrong? There are two things that make you a candidate for ingrowing hairs, says Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme, a cosmetic doctor and founder of the Adonia Medical Clinic, and they’re not necessarily to do with the way you shave.
A thick, curly hair type and a dense epidermis (the upper layer of the skin) can make you more prone, “because this means hair has further to travel”, she says. Usually, you’ll notice an inflamed bump under the skin, occurring three to ten days after hair removal. “On darker skin types, you may notice a bit of hyperpigmentation in the form of dark spots,” Ejikeme says.
How do you safely get rid of one, then? It’s all in your bodycare routine — Ejikeme recommends using acids such as AHAs, BHAs or PHAs. “Try Medik8 Press & Glow Daily Exfoliating PHA Tonic after you shave and then twice a week in your routine, as this prevents skin build-up.”
Moisturise with the right product. “You want to make sure you don’t clog the pores, especially if you have an oily skin type,” Ejikeme says — she recommends opting for a gel-based or oil-free moisturiser.
A failsafe go-to is CeraVe Moisturising Lotion. And if ingrowing hairs on your face are the problem, Ejikeme advises adding a retinoid to your routine — it helps to exfoliate skin, keeping the follicle open for hair to exit.
For products that will make your life easier, try a cream specifically designed for ingrown hair. Apply to wet skin two to three times a week on affected areas the day after hair removal.
Flaky skin
Is flaking skin ruining your make-up? Atopic dermatitis is one of the most common skin conditions, yet somehow one of the most embarrassing. Those with naturally dry skin are most at risk, but your skincare routine could also be a factor, says the skin expert Dr Sam Bunting. “With the boom in active skincare and more people using prescription retinoids or changing acids, the skin barrier can become overwhelmed and begin to break down,” she warns.
Flaky patches can also be down to yeast on your skin: “This is seborrheic dermatitis [a chronic form of eczema commonly made worse with stress], which tends to appear on the sides of the nose and the eyebrows,” Bunting says.
What to do
Check the ingredients in the products you’re using. Reactions can occur due to fragrance or preservatives. The winter climate doesn’t help either. “Cold air has low humidity, allowing water to easily evaporate from the skin’s surface. This leads to failure of the natural exfoliation processes, causing flaking and reducing the strength of the skin barrier,” Bunting says.
How to deal with it? “Switch to a cleanser and moisturiser with no fragrance or preservatives,” Bunting advises. Try La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser for its milky, hydrating feel, and the new Avène Tolerance Hydra-10 Hydrating Cream, which pumps skin with moisture. If that doesn’t work? Speak to a dermatologist, Bunting says, as “you may need an anti-inflammatory topical steroid to control the redness, itching and flaking”.
Dandruff
Constantly dusting dandruff off your shoulders? According to the consultant dermatologist Dr Justine Hextall, there can be many causes of a flaky scalp, from seborrheic dermatitis to psoriasis and even the hair products you’re using.
What to do
Check your shampoo bottle, Hextall says, as “ingredients like common preservatives such as MI can cause contact irritation and inflammation of the scalp”. Instead, she recommends using an MI-free shampoo such as The Body Shop Ginger Anti-Dandruff Shampoo.
You also want to give the scalp extra hydration, so try massaging in an oil such as Bouclème Revive 5 Hair Oil and leaving overnight to help reduce dryness, or look for moisture-quenching products like Living Proof Scalp Care Dry Scalp Treatment. “It contains hyaluronic acid as well as a probiotic complex, which helps to balance the scalp microbiome,” Hextall says. Apply directly to the scalp when hair is clean and damp, and massage in up to three times per week — don’t rinse out.
You can also use a scalp brush such as Ouai Scalp Scrubber before or during shampooing to help remove product build-up and flakes. If the flakes still aren’t budging, seek help from a professional, Hextall says, as this persistence “might suggest more widespread skin issues where a prescription treatment could be needed”.
Written by: Roisin Kelly
© The Times of London
