How to properly wash your face

Cleansing is the key step when it comes to how to wash your face properly. But, before I get into the nitty-gritty of the right way to cleanse your face, especially if you’re prone to acne, I have to tell you a story that has always struck a chord with me.

I will never forget the time when I was taking care of a patient in the hospital, a tactless old lady. As she was doing my assessment, she was listening to her lungs and doing the walkthrough, she turned to me and said, “Honey, you shouldn’t wash your face because she just looks at all those pimples.” The nursing assistant was in the room at the same time and I just looked at her and shook my head. I couldn’t believe someone could be so rude and insensitive.

From that moment I knew I had to find a way to lighten my skin. He could no longer allow complete strangers to make rude comments like that.

So let me share with you what I now know. Here’s how to wash your face correctly: The common misconception when you have acne is that your skin shouldn’t be clean enough, that’s why you keep getting breakouts. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Excessive washing and scrubbing will only irritate the skin and make it worse. So save the “squeaky clean” for your dishes. A general rule of thumb would be to use a soap-free cleanser formulated specifically for your face and your skin type.

There are ideal methods for everything, including basic skin care.

cleaning

All cleaners are not created equal. Your cleanser is probably the most important product of choice, so using the right cleanser for your needs affects everything that happens afterward. Cleansers not only remove makeup, dirt, and grime, they also prepare skin for the next step in your skincare regimen.

At least once a week, the first step in cleansing should be a good 5 minutes of steam to soften and prepare the skin for cleansing. After steaming, you need to follow these steps:

1. Use lukewarm water to dampen skin and use fingertips to apply cleanser appropriate for acne-prone skin in gentle circular motions. Avoid wipes because they can be too harsh on the skin.

2. Rinse well with warm water

3. Use only clean cotton towels to dry your skin to avoid bacterial contamination.

It is a myth that splashing cold water on the skin after cleansing closes the pores. The pores do not have flaps that open and close. So the temperature of the water will not affect the size of the pores.

If you have excessively oily skin and enlarged pores, there are some gentle and effective cleansers available to help you remove oil.

So, to make sure it’s clear, excessive washing of the face can cause irritation by stripping away the acid mantle, the skin’s natural lipid barrier. Cleaning twice a day with the right cleanser is enough.

For sensitive skin types, it is best to always do a patch test by putting a small amount on the inside of your arm to see if you have a reaction to the product.