Spring Cleaning Your Face

By Rosemary Verghese, MD

Mid-Atlantic Skin Surgery Institute

. https://midatlanticskinsurgery.com/

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Spring Cleaning Your Face

Winter weather is rough on our face cold dry air outside and warm dry air inside combine to rob our skin of needed moisture, causing it to become flaky and dull. As such, it is important to give our face a good spring freshening.

As you switch to your springtime cleaning regimen, it is good to include a mild exfoliation. Products that contain an alpha-hydroxy or beta-hydroxy acid help remove dead skin and generate new skin cells. You want to be careful not to scrub too hard and to limit exfoliating to just two to three times a week. You can reduce or stop exfoliating as your skin begins to rebound from its winter abuse.

When it comes to the actual cleaning of your face, which you should do once in the morning and once in the evening, it is best to use a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser that does not contain alcohol or fragrance. You should wet your face with lukewarm water and use your fingertips to apply cleanser. Using a washcloth or sponge can irritate your skin; however, if you prefer them, pick ones that are extra soft and use gentle strokes.

Once you have cleaned your skin, you should rinse your face with lukewarm water and pat dry with a soft towel.

To protect your face after you have cleaned it, you should apply a moisturizer. A good facial moisturizer will help keep your skin hydrated. It is important to use one that matches your dry or oily skin type. It is also recommended that you use a moisturizer that has built-in sun protection factor (SPF). If you prefer a moisturizer without SPF, you should also apply a sunscreen to your skin.

While many people mistakenly believe that sunscreen is only for the summer months, it is best to protect your skin from premature aging and potential skin cancers by using sunscreen daily.

By following a good daily skin care routine, you can help keep your face looking and feeling its best. However, if you find that your skin is not responding well, you should speak to a dermatologist to identify any underlying conditions that might be harming your skin.