Skin acts as a barrier that protects internal organs from damage and helps in temperature regulation. It requires proper care that helps you look healthy and beautiful. Following a proper skin care routine is essential that would help you maintain sound health and integrity of your skin. Genetic and situational causes or lifestyle factors may lead to common skin diseases like acne, psoriasis, hives, moles, rosacea, eczema, vitiligo, and even skin cancer. Choosing the most suitable skin care products as per your dermatologist’s recommendation is crucial for the treatment of skin disease and maintaining your skin’s health as a part of a normal skin care routine.
Check out some crucial factors to consider when you are choosing medications or skin and wound care products:
1. Know Your Skin Type
If you are investing in medical-grade skin care products, you must first know your skin type- be it oily, dry, normal, and sensitive or a combination of oily and dry skin. Many people wrongly choose products with a cult following or those that contain ingredients not suitable for their skin types. People with sensitive, acne-prone skin should choose skin care products that contain oatmeal, aloe vera, vitamin E and shea butter. Oily skin persons should select products that contain benzoyl peroxide, hyaluronic acid and alpha hydroxy acids that check excess sebum production. People with dry skin should go for products with lactic acid and shea butter that provide hydration and mild exfoliation to keep dry skin looking radiant.
2. Consult a Certified and Experienced Dermatologist
Whether you are looking for an antifungal cream or topical ointments and gels for acne or rosacea, you should consult an experienced dermatologist who would prescribe the right medications. Your dermatologist will diagnose your skin disease or condition, find out the root cause of the problem and would help you get the right medicated creams, antibiotics, antihistamines, steroid pills or other medicines for the treatment of your skin disease. Your healthcare provider may suggest some lifestyle changes like managing stress, avoiding or limiting carbonated drinks, sugar or dairy products, smoking and alcohol and practicing proper hygiene.
3. Follow an Individualized Approach in Skin Care
Although many beauty influencers promote a variety of skin care and beauty products, you should not buy into the hype or go with your friend’s recommendation or cult-following to choose specific skin care products. You must follow an individualized approach to your skin care and choose the right products with ingredients suited to your skin type or based on a dermatologist’s expert advice.
4. Check Out Ingredients
Before you finalize your decision to purchase specific skin care products, you should check out the ingredients and know more about their suitability and benefits. You should go for products that contain glycerin (moisturizing), vitamin C and vitamin E (both for collagen production and reversing damage from UV radiation), retinol (for skin exfoliation, boost skin cell turnover and collagen production) and vitamin B3 (for controlling sebum production and hydrating the skin). Ensure that the product doesn’t contain parabens, sulfates, formaldehyde and added fragrances.
5. Do a Patch Test
A patch test helps you know the suitability of the product. Find out whether the product or ingredients are safe to use or they cause skin irritation or any kind of allergic reaction. If it causes any allergic reaction, you should not buy the product or stop using it.
6. Choose Suitable Wound Dressings
Selecting the right kind of wound dressing that is easy to apply and remove and facilitate quick healing of the wound is crucial. Giving high priority to the function and wound needs rather than the form of dressings would help you choose suitable wound dressings from alginate fibers, amorphous hydrogels, hydrocolloid wafers, or collagen sheets.
Be it choosing a wound care product or skin care ointment or medication, you must choose products of a well-reputed brand or company that has several years of experience. It would help you maintain the sound health of your skin and keep skin diseases at bay.