Who doesn't dream of flawless skin? Many people use a variety of care products for this purpose. But what if, despite all our efforts, the skin doesn't react the way we want it to? Then it could be that you are over-caring for your skin. In this article you will find out how to recognize overcare and what you can do about it.
What is overcare?
Over-care occurs when the skin becomes irritated due to excessive use of skin care products. This can disrupt the skin's natural protective acid mantle, which in turn can lead to redness, dryness and even inflammation.
What happens when your skin is over-cared for?
Our skin enjoys being cared for and pampered. But every now and then she surprisingly signals to us that it's getting too much for her - in the form of redness, pimples or even blisters.
Despite these clear warning signs, people often continue to cleanse, apply cream and cover with make-up. The result? The inflammation in the skin worsens and, in severe cases, perioal dermatitis develops. Perioral dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disease that occurs primarily around the mouth, sometimes around the nose or even the eyes. It is characterized by small, red, scaly pustules and papules that are often very uncomfortable and itchy. Sometimes there is also redness and slight swelling.
If you constantly keep your skin moisturized too much or with the wrong products, its natural protective function becomes unbalanced. The outermost layer of skin, also called the stratum corneum, then swells.
Excessive cleansing procedures wash away the skin's essential lipids and proteins. As a result, the natural “glue” that connects the horn cells in a stable and less permeable manner is lost. Once this protective layer is damaged, the skin becomes a breeding ground for germs and bacteria.
In addition, the disrupted skin barrier causes the skin to lose more moisture. The result: The skin feels tight and itchy and dries out more quickly.
What can you do about it?
Less is more
If your skin is over-cared for, the first step is to simplify your skin care routine. Use mild cleansers and reduce the number of products you use every day. Instead of multiple serums, creams, and lotions, choose one or two products tailored to your specific skin needs. It may also be helpful to temporarily remove products with strong active ingredients like retinol or glycolic acid from your routine to give your skin a break. Avoid using multiple products with the same active ingredients. Instead, rely on products with few but effective ingredients. Eliminate unnecessary products from your skincare routine.
Skin analysis
It makes sense to carry out an objective skin analysis. The Zkin Lab skin analysis kits measure your skin's moisture and sebum production and thus find the optimal care routine for your skin.
Complete avoidance of skin care
If perioral dermatitis has developed, which is usually caused by overcare, we recommend completely avoiding skin care and make-up for at least 4 to 6 weeks.
Conclusion
Over-grooming is a common problem caused by overuse of grooming products. This can disrupt the skin's natural balance, which in turn can lead to various skin problems. With a simplified care routine and a precise skin analysis, you can bring your skin back into balance.
