Smooth Skin Treatments

Over time, your skin goes through several stressors that wear it down and make it more prone to roughness. These include continued sun exposure, weight fluctuations, smoking, environmental toxins and a poor diet.

You may start to notice lines, brown spots, broken blood vessels, enlarged pores and bumps. Your skin develops a “crepe paper” appearance with a dull, lusterless glow.

Exfoliating

Exfoliation is a great way to give your skin a radiant glow. This process helps to remove the dead skin cells that can clog pores and make your skin appear rough, dry, or dull.

It also improves the texture of your skin by revealing newer, healthier skin cells underneath. This is a huge benefit for those with aging skin as it can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

While it’s important to exfoliate regularly, it’s best to do so in a gentle manner to avoid irritation and redness. If you have sensitive skin, be sure to use products that are specifically formulated for your specific needs.

For dry or sensitive skin, you can use a mild chemical exfoliator or a washcloth for mechanical exfoliation. For oily or thicker skin, you can try a stronger chemical treatment or exfoliating scrub.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends exfoliating twice a week to keep your skin looking fresh and healthy. Your skin’s condition and environmental factors (like temperature and air quality) can affect how often you need to exfoliate, so it’s important to consult with your doctor or esthetician to determine the best schedule for your skin type.

You can use a washcloth and a gentle exfoliant for mechanical exfoliation, or you can use a product with chemical exfoliants like alpha or beta hydroxy acids. These acids dissolve the desmosomes that hold your skin cells together, sloughing off dead skin cells and initiating cell turnover to reveal younger, brighter skin.

Another benefit of exfoliating is that it helps to clear clogged pores and prevent acne breakouts. Unclogged pores allow your cleanser, moisturizer and other topical skin treatments to work more effectively.

As part of your daily skin-care routine, exfoliating helps to promote skin renewal and stimulate collagen production. This helps to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, says Dr. Garshick.

The American Academy of Dermatology advises using a chemical exfoliant once or twice a week to keep your skin clear and healthy. You can use a product with alpha or beta hydroxy acids, or a chemical exfoliant that includes enzymes.

Retinol

Retinol is a powerful skin treatment that works to clear the skin, improve fine lines and wrinkles, and even out your skin tone. The active ingredient in retinol, tretinoin, works by binding to a specific type of receptor called retinoid receptors on the surface of your skin, stimulating cell turnover and collagen synthesis.

Retinoids also reduce inflammation and can help with psoriasis, which is a condition that causes new skin cells to grow too fast. But they can irritate sensitive skin, so it's best to talk to a dermatologist before you start using them.

Dermatologists typically recommend a retinol product only once a week to begin with, and then gradually build up the number of times you use it each day. This way, your skin has time to adjust before you use a stronger retinol product.

You'll find retinol in a range of products, including creams, gels, serums, and sprays. You'll also find retinol in a variety of strengths, so you can choose the right one for your needs.

According to Rouleau, retinol is a strong antioxidant that helps your skin retain water and keep it hydrated. It's also great for combating sun damage, which can make your skin look dull and uneven.

But because it is so strong, retinol can cause dryness and irritation if you overdo it. To avoid this, always follow the directions on the package to apply retinol to dry skin.

Retinol is not a good idea for people with rosacea, eczema or psoriasis, as it can exacerbate these conditions. It may also cause your skin to overreact, which can lead to scaly patches or a rash.

It's a good idea to layer retinol with other anti-aging and skin clearing ingredients. Try pairing retinol with hyaluronic acid, which binds water to your skin and helps it stay hydrated, and vitamin C, an antioxidant that can help your skin reflect sunlight and appear brighter.

You can also combine retinol with peptides, which have skin-softening effects and are noncomedogenic. Dr. Mikhail advises that peptides are a good addition to any skincare routine, but are especially beneficial for those with dry skin.

Moisturize

Moisturizers are products that increase the skin's capacity to hold water, as well as preventing trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL). They help prevent dryness and enhance the skin's ability to function properly.

They contain three main types of ingredients that work together to hydrate the skin: humectants, emollients, and an occlusive. The humectants attract the moisture; emollients smooth the skin's surface, and an occlusive holds the moisturizer in place.

To get the most benefit, it's important to use a moisturizing cream or lotion every day. This will keep your skin soft, smooth, and supple.

A good moisturizer contains humectants, emollients, an occlusive, and other ingredients that improve the skin's barrier function. Some moisturizers also include ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which reduce the signs of aging.

If you suffer from dry skin, make it a routine to use moisturizer after a bath or shower. Hot water can strip away natural oils, leaving your skin parched and drier.

When using a moisturizer, be sure to massage it in thoroughly. It can be tempting to rub it on with your fingers, but this can irritate your skin.

Another way to improve the skin's surface is to exfoliate regularly. A gentle, at-home exfoliator a few times a week will remove dead skin cells that cause your skin to look dull and feel dry. It can also help keep your pores clear and minimize breakouts.

It's also a good idea to make it a habit to apply a body moisturizer each day, as this will keep your whole body hydrated and smooth. Dermatologists recommend using it after a shower to seal in the benefits and before bed to soften your skin and help you avoid moisture loss while you sleep.

In addition, if you have psoriasis or eczema, a moisturizer can soothe these symptoms and help your skin stay healthy. A dermatologist will be able to recommend the best product for your skin type and condition.

The most common causes of dryness are heat, cold weather, frequent cleansing or bathing, and medical conditions like psoriasis or rosacea. However, there are plenty of at-home and at-the-spot treatments that can make a difference in your skin's appearance and condition.

SPF

A sunscreen with SPF is one of the most essential parts of your skincare routine, as it helps to preserve your skin and maintain its moisture and smoothness. It can also help to prevent premature aging and reduce the risk of developing skin cancer.

A physical sunblock formula can be formulated with ingredients such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which creates a barrier against harmful UV rays and environmental pollution. These physical ingredients are less likely to cause irritation than chemical sunscreens, which can contain oxybenzone or silicone.

Another benefit of SPF is that it can help to maintain the ability of your skin to produce collagen. When your skin is exposed to the sun, it loses its ability to make collagen, causing fine lines and wrinkles. A facial moisturizer with SPF can help to keep this ability active.

Some people have hyperpigmentation, which is when melanin, the pigment that gives your skin its color, is overproduced in certain areas of the body. This can create dark spots that aren’t natural or desirable. A moisturizing facial moisturizer with SPF can be used as part of a treatment regimen to help minimize or eliminate these dark spots, resulting in a more even complexion.

The sun’s rays can also trigger the overproduction of melanin, which can result in discoloration in some areas of the body. A moisturizing sunscreen with SPF can help to reduce these discolorations, resulting in more even skin tone and a luminescent glow.

In addition, a good sunscreen with SPF can help to reduce the instance of acne. This is because it can help to regulate the production of sebum, the oil that helps to keep your pores clear and your skin feeling fresh.

While SPF can protect against sunburns, it can’t protect you from the longer-lasting, more damaging UVA rays. You’ll need to reapply sunscreen more often when you’re outside and the UV intensity is higher. In addition, the intensity of the sun varies depending on the time of day, your location and the season, so it’s important to know how much time you need to be protected.