Different Skin Care Techniques

From live cell injections, face lifts and hormonal therapies to skin creams, vitamin supplements and cleansers, the quest for healthy, youthful-looking skin has grown into a multi billion-dollar industry. Maintaining healthy skin, though, does not mean undergoing invasive cosmetic surgery or investing thousands of dollars into spa treatments and skin care products. Only a few, simple steps are required to maintain optimum skin care.

Skin care should include a daily routine of cleansing, moisturizing, applying protection and exfoliating once or twice per week. However, the amount of skin care needed is largely dependent upon a person's skin type.

There are four main skin types:

Normal skin: Normal skin is the easiest to care for because it generally bears the fewest number of irregularities. Cleanse twice per day with a mild soap. Skin care consists of applying an oil-free moisturizer, if needed, while the skin is still damp.

Oily skin: Oily skin is the result of an excessive production of the skin's natural oil, causing the face to look shiny, have large pores and be prone to acne. Cleanse twice daily with a salicylic acid cleanser to reduce oil production and, in extreme cases, follow with an alcohol-based toner. Exfoliate once per week with either a clay or mud mask.

Combination skin: Areas of dryness and oil are present in combination skin. Usually cheeks are dry while the T-zone (forehead and nose) area is oily. Cleanse twice per day and follow with an oil-free moisturizer on dry areas. For exfoliation purposes, alternate between clay and moisturizing masks every other week.

Dry skin: Due to the absence of essential protective oils, dry skin is susceptible to damage. For this reason, it is important to cleanse one to two times per day and moisturize often. Look for a long-lasting moisturizer, such as one containing colloidal oatmeal, to reduce the number of times it will need to be re-applied. Use a moisturizing mask once per week to hydrate skin and be sure to drink a lot of water to ensure the body produces its maximum amount of oil.

Proper skin care does not just involve cleansing products and moisturizers. The most visible signs of aging result from many external factors which are harmful to skin.

Here are some ways to promote skin care by limiting the amount of external skin damage:

Protect your skin from sun damage. Ultraviolet rays from the sun or tanning beds damage your skin and can lead to skin cancer. This includes exposure to both UVB rays, which penetrate just the outer skin layer, and UVA rays, which penetrate deeper skin layers and result in the greatest skin care damage. You should apply sunscreen to your face after cleansing and moisturizing to help protect against sun damage, and re-apply during times of extended sun exposure.

Be careful what detergent you use. Ionic detergents have molecules which become charged when dissolved in water and may irritate skin. Many of the ingredients in these detergents are not easily recognizable, such as sodium lauryl sulfate, but they are found in a variety of shampoos, soaps and laundry detergents.

Do not over-cleanse. Over-cleansing strips the skin of its natural protective oil, known as sebum. A deficiency of sebum can cause dryness and skin sensitivity, making skin care difficult to maintain. Therefore, you should limit the number of times you cleanse your face to no more than twice daily. When cleansing, rinse with warm instead of hot water, as the rate of chemical reactions increases in hot water.

Use makeup in moderation. Piling on layers of makeup is not only unattractive, but it is also bad for your overall skin care. Cosmetics often contain skin irritants which are harmful for your skin. Applying numerous layers of makeup can clog pores and lead to blemishes. Also, long-lasting products often contain harsher chemicals to prevent smearing and bleeding and require the use of irritating solvents to remove them.

Be aware of skin inflammation. While skin inflammation can be a positive sign of your body's healing process due to damage, including infections, prolonged inflammation is damaging to your skin because it provokes the release of free radicals in cells metabolism, thus damaging cell repair mechanisms over time. Not only is the most common cause of inflammation acne, but many of the treatments for it can cause additional skin damage if it is overused, or used improperly. Other causes of inflammation include eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis.