9 Mistakes That Are Hurting Your Skin

Skin is your biggest organ. It covers you from top to toe and it needs looking after. Women understand this. Women’s skin care is a multi-million-dollar business centered around maintaining a clear, healthy, youthful complexion.

Men’s skin gets much less attention, which is a shame, because male skin is subject to an ongoing assault of chemicals, infections, sunlight, stress, and injuries.

You don’t have to accompany your girlfriend to her next microdermabrasian facial treatment, but at the very least you should stop making these mistakes that damage your skin and make you look old prematurely.

1 – Stop Using Women’s Products

Men and women have different skin and different skin-care needs.

Your skin is thicker and oilier than your girlfriend’s. Sharing skin-care products could actually harm your skin.

Oily skin protects you from harsh environments, but overproduction of oil can lead to clogged pores.

Women fight wrinkles by moisturizing their skin; they accomplish that with face creams that are oily. Put one of those creams on your face and you’re asking for trouble.

2 – Give Up the Soap

Ordinary soap disturbs the pH balance of your skin, which transforms the simple act of washing your face into a harmful activity. Soap dries out your skin, which means it can lead to breakouts, dry patches, or peeling.

If you must use soap, balance it with a moisturizer that will act against the soap’s harmful properties. Better yet, give up the soap and use an emollient cleanser, a gentle scrub, a milk cleanser, or a foaming gel. The clerk at your pharmacy can help you choose something appropriate for your skin type. Don’t forget to get her digits in case you need to consult with her later.

3 – Say Goodbye to Long Hot Showers

Hot showers are surprisingly harmful. Every shower dries out your skin. The longer and hotter your shower, the worse the effects.

Moisturizing after a shower is a necessity that most men skip. The ideal time to moisturize is right after the shower, when your skin is still damp.

While we’re on the subject: Don’t shower at the gym anymore. You’re just begging for athlete’s foot or another infection. Throw on your sweats and head home to shower. Your skin will thank you for it.

4 – Forget the Quick Shave

Every man resents the time he spends shaving. This seemingly minor chore seems to take forever. Unfortunately, you should probably be spending even more time at it. First, you’ve got to wet your skin properly. Have you ever had razor rash?

That’s what comes of shaving skin that is not properly hydrated. Dry electric shaving is convenient, but it’s bad for your skin. Experts say you should shave after your shower when your skin is wet and warm. Second, forget about shaving and heading for the door. Pick up a moisturizer designed for men and use it every time you shave. You may not see the difference now, but in 15 or 20 years you’ll thank us for this advice.

5 – Stop Squeezing Blemishes

Admit it. Like everyone else, you get the occasional pimple or blemish. And like everyone who has ever been a teenager, your first impulse is to squeeze it.This practice is very damaging to your skin, however – and not just temporarily.

Squeezing can lead to the spread of infection across a wide area of skin. You could get a larger outbreak. It’s even worse if you haven’t recently washed your hands with a disinfectant cleaner. You may introduce infection into your skin through the opening created by the pimple. Avoid permanent scarring. Leave the blemishes alone.

6 – Don’t Ignore Blackheads

Dermatologists say it’s not just ok but actually recommended to remove blackheads. Men are especially prone to blackheads due to their thick, oily skin. Problems arise if the blackhead is not completely extracted from the skin. The base can become infected and cause series worries.

Don’t use a blackhead-extraction tool. These devices appeared on the market a few years ago, but they are not recommended. It’s better to use a cleanser or exfoliating agent. Rub your face briskly and the blackhead will make its way out of your pores.

7 – You Mustn’t Skip the Sun Block

Our fathers didn’t use sunblock. But they also suffered from thick leathery skin and unfortunate rates of skin cancer. You can learn from their mistakes.

Sun protection should always be applied to areas of the skin that are exposed to the sun or tanning.

If your hair is thinning, you must also protect the top of your head.

This area is particularly prone to melanoma, so you’ve got to wear a hat or smear on some protective ointment.

 8 – Give Up the Unhealthy Lifestyle

Staying up late, smoking, drinking, letting excess weight build up – we know these things are bad for us. They are also bad for the skin.

Excess alcohol can lead to ruptures of the blood vessels in the nose and cheeks. Smoking can leave you with deep wrinkles around your pursed lips and permanently stained fingers. A high-fat diet can lead to pimples and other blemishes.

Even a shortage of fresh water can damage the skin, leaving your body with a gray cast. In general, what’s good for you is good for your skin. So break your bad habits and shave years off your appearance.

9 – Say Goodbye to Stress and Fatigue

Like other organs, the skin reacts to the pressures we put on it. Stress and tiredness put extra stress on the skin. You may see this stress reflected in dark ovals beneath the eyes.

These bags are injuries, and they can be evidence of permanent harm to the skin. Do yourself and your skin a favor. Rest, exercise, relax, and relieve the stress in your life. You’ll look as good as you feel.