Caring for young skin – when to start and how to do it?

There is no universal principle that would tell you when it’s best to start caring for your skin. There’s a saying “age is just a number” – some people start their adventure with skincare in their teenage years and some will never feel the need for doing so.

It’s very common that caring for young skin starts when puberty hits – our hormonal balance changes and the skin begins to cause not-so-little problems. It gets oily quickly and forms blackheads because of the increased production of reproductive hormones in the teenage years. Young skin can be a bit whimsical and a typical student’s budget might not be enough for costly skincare products and treatments.

How to care for young skin?

High-end products are not the only solution for solving skin problems. You should follow a few basic rules:

1. Drink the right amount of water (about 1-2 litres a day)
2. Follow a healthy diet.
3. Reduce eating highly processed foods.
4. Remember about proper cleansing and hydration of the skin.
5. See a dermatologist if an appointment is needed.

Some people repeat a very harmful myth that says that oily skin types should not be moisturized. Actually, it can cause even more problems. Similar to normal and dry skin, skin with a tendency to get oily needs moisturization. Cleansing products with strong detergents in their composition, disturb the natural pH levels of the skin, leading to getting dry. The skin starts to defend itself by producing even more sebum that would restore its hydrolipidic barrier. The barrier acts as a shield against the skin getting dry, damaged or irritated.

When to start caring for the skin?

Sometimes a teenager’s skin problems are only temporary as they’re related to puberty and hormonal changes. It doesn’t mean, however, that well-selected skincare isn’t essential. It’s able to not only calm the skin but also help prevent other more serious skin problems in the future such as acne scars. Conscious skin care can help fight stubborn skin problems, regardless of whether young skin has undergone dermatological treatment.

Basic young skin care

➜ Cleansing – an introduction to proper skincare. It’s best to go for delicate, mild gels without any powerful cleansing substances in the composition, i.e. LS, SLES, ALS, ALES, MLS, TLS ← avoid this! You should wash your face in the morning and in the evening, focusing on thorough makeup removal if you happen to wear it. In the case of young skin, it’s good to introduce two-step cleansing (oil + gel) or choose micellar water – the risk of the skin getting dry and irritated is reduced.

➜ Moisturizing – it’s the basic need of every skin type. Maintaining proper hydration levels guarantees glowy and firm skin for longer. What moisturizer will work best for young skin? Going for creams that contain ingredients with soothing and sebo-regulating (ones that normalize the sebaceous glands) qualities is the right decision. Pay attention to: niacinamide, clays, green tea, tri-coloured violet, lavender, sage, and AHA acids.

➜ Photoprotection – awareness about skin protection against UV radiation increases nowadays. Contrary to popular belief, the sun does not heal acne or skin lesions. Not only does sun radiation speed up the skin ageing processes but it also aggravates acne symptoms, consolidates scars and discolouration and increases the risk of skin cancer. It’s never too early for photoprotection. A lightweight SPF cream should be the last step or your morning skin care.