When someone has acne or other skin-related concerns they generally start looking for solutions to their problems. A lot of information out there tells you what you should start applying to your skin. When all of those products aren’t working then what do you do? I have a lot of patients come into my office who have failed treatment options they either found online or that were prescribed by another provider. The first thing I say to them is: “walk me through your daily skin care routine.” It typically doesn’t take long to find out which of their skin care habits needs to change.
This article covers 10 of the most common skin care habits that my patients do, which can negatively impact their skin’s health. Since I treat hundreds of patients per month, I anticipate a lot of these common errors in skin care habits also apply to the general population.
Recommended: 6 Vital Steps of an Optimal Full Body Skin Care Routine
Using tanning beds
Tanning bed usage is the absolute first thing that needs to stop. It is a known carcinogen (it has been proven to cause cancer). I have several patients as young as their late 20s who have started developing skin cancer due to tanning bed use in their teenage years. If you are concerned about possibly having skin cancer please read How to Detect Skin Cancer Early or Do You Need a Skin Exam?
A lot of people may think well “I’ll just worry about skin cancer later” or “I never burn, my risk of skin cancer is lower than others.” While that may be true there are other reasons not to use tanning beds. In addition to increasing your risk for skin cancer, it also prematurely ages your skin. I’m talking about more wrinkles, more dark spots, and poor complexion. If you are tanning to “look good” then think about how much better you will look 10 or 15 years from now if you stop.
Not using sun protection
On the same note as discontinuing tanning beds, you also want to be applying sunscreen daily. I recommend at least 30 SPF and reapplying every 2 hours if you are outside or work near windows. I prefer using a physical blocker that either has zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the active ingredient. There are a lot of great sunscreens out there that don’t leave that thick white paste behind. My personal favorite is Elta MD UV Clear which is great for people who have acne or rosacea-prone skin.
Other ways to protect your skin besides sunscreen is using sun-protective clothing such as UPF clothing, wide-brimmed hats that cover your ears, and driving gloves to name a few examples. Ideally, you are also trying to avoid the sun from 10-2.
Going to bed with makeup on or without cleansing your face
Sleeping in makeup is an absolute no-no. It can clog your pores and clogged pores lead to acne flares. Also, sleeping in makeup can lead to premature aging of your skin. If this habit is repeated, over time it will lead to fine lines and wrinkles.
I recommend not only removing makeup but also double cleansing your face with a gentle cleanser. You always want to wash your face before applying any nighttime medications or moisturizers. Some of my favorite brands for gentle cleansers include Cetaphil, CeraVe, and Vanicream. It also helps that they are affordable and easy to find in stores.
Sleeping on your side
I know, I am nitpicking here but I truly believe that if you stop sleeping on your side and start sleeping on your back more then you will decrease your risk of fine lines and wrinkles caused by your skin rubbing on the pillowcase. Also, if you always sleep on one side then over time gravity will naturally take effect. Think about it, we spend a lot of our life sleeping.
Also, speaking of pillowcases. I recommend using silk pillowcases and changing them out regularly (I will do this a minimum of twice a week). Silk pillowcases will also help prevent your skin from rubbing and your hair from pulling.
Popping pimples
I have spoken about this before and believe me, I understand how hard it can be to not pop your pimples. They say every dermatology provider is a reformed pimple popper after all. The main reason not to pick at your skin or pop pimples is that it can increase your risk of scarring and something called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Touching your hands to your face is also not wise because well… your hands are dirty and by touching your face you are spreading bacteria. You will likely end up inflaming the cyst or pimple even more than it already is. The best decision is to leave it alone or if it is bad enough go see a dermatology medical provider to discuss treatment options.
Exfoliating your skin
A lot of people may be surprised by this one. I believe exfoliating the skin is actually a bad skin care habit and can negatively impact your skin’s health. If you think about it, you are physically breaking down the skin’s barrier.
Instead of physically exfoliating let medications do the job for you. Retinoids and Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) help turn over skin cells quicker and act as exfoliants without damaging your skin (unless of course, you are overusing them which is another problem in and of itself).
Rubbing your eyes
If you are constantly rubbing your eyes you are inadvertently causing wrinkling of your skin and also potentially dark circles around your eyes. The skin around our eyes is very delicate compared to the rest of the skin on our body. This means it is more prone to irritation and stretching. Over time with constant touching of this area with our hands the skin will break down.
Rubbing at your eyes may also indicate other problems such as allergies, in which case you will want to see a medical provider to determine if starting a medication such as an antihistamine is the right course of action for you. Other times, rubbing at the skin may simply be a habit that needs to be stopped.
Using edible oils on your scalp
Coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil, etc. are frequently used in the scalp. What people don’t realize is that the yeast and bacteria that everyone has on their skin can actually feed on these edible oils and cause or worsen certain skin care disorders such as seborrheic dermatitis (medical-grade dandruff) and acne.
If you are prone to either of these conditions or any other type of fungal or bacterial infection make sure to discontinue the use of these edible oils. Read How to Combat a Dry Flaky Itchy Scalp to learn more about seborrheic dermatitis.
Taking hot showers
I know hot showers feel good, especially on cold winter days. What you may not realize is hot water dries the skin out. If you are prone to dry itchy skin whether you have eczema or psoriasis then you should know hot showers will only make your condition worse.
Pruritus aka itching can increase during and after taking hot showers because the heat can increase levels of histamine in the skin which causes itching. (This is why we sometimes recommend antihistamines for itchy skin.) If you are prone to eczema you can read What You Should Be Doing and Not Doing If You Have Eczema.
Not staying well hydrated
The last skin care habit that people commonly fail at is staying hydrated. This means from the inside and from the outside. You should be drinking plenty of water throughout the day. I always aim for a gallon of water daily to make sure I am well-hydrated. This is beneficial for many reasons. Glowing skin will only be one benefit of drinking plenty of water daily.
In addition to drinking plenty of water, you also need to ensure you are hydrating from the outside with a good moisturizer. I personally love Vaseline to hydrate the skin but if you prefer something less greasy then Cetaphil, CeraVe, or Vanicream are great brands that make moisturizers for sensitive skin. Ointments and creams work better than lotions, so the thicker the better.
Conclusion
There you have it. These are the 10 bad skin care habits I see commonly among my patients. A lot of the time people know they need to be applying sunscreen or drinking plenty of water but they can’t seem to incorporate the habits into their routines. I recommend picking one thing from the list and doing it consistently for an entire month. Once it becomes second nature then pick another habit to add in. If you try to make a lot of changes at once you may not be able to keep up with everything.
I’m not perfect, I still wake up to find myself sleeping on my side, or at the end of the day, I realize I haven’t finished my gallon of water. The goal is to do more of the good habits and less of the bad habits overall. Any small changes you make will compound over the years and you will be happy you started making these changes today instead of 10 years from now. Our skin is the largest organ of our body and we need to start treating it properly.
*Disclaimer: Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer. Information on this website is for education and entertainment purposes only. Content is my opinion. It is not substituted for your own doctor’s medical care or advice. One should not make any health or medical-related decisions based in whole or in part on any content on this site. Content is not intended to replace the services of a licensed, trained health professional. Content may not apply to you as an individual. Although I will update my website with current information, this website is not a definitive guide to dermatology.
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