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Skin Cleansing: Important for healthy Skin
Introduction
Skin cleansing means various methods used to remove the dust and other debris from the surface of the skin. With accumulation of dirt, clogs the pores of the skin. Skin cleansing should be done regularly to have a blemish-free complexion.
Benefits of skin Cleansing:
Skin cleansing includes removal of dust particles, makeup, sweat and excess oil.
It also helps to loose blackheads, clogging etc, which block the skin pores. Skin cleansing helps to replace the lost moisture of the skin and reduces the excess sebum. Skin cleansing is important to prevent the growth of bacteria and this prevents infection.
Target of skin cleansing: Target of skin cleansing is the topmost layer of the skin, called epidermis, where all the dust and debris gets collected. Epidermis is made up of tough protein fat structure, which has skin moisture barrier to protect the skin. Epidermis has one of its functions to waterproof the skin. Epidermis produces a film over the skin, which traps sweat, bacteria, pollutants, dust particles, debris, dead cells and cosmetics.
While cleansing the skin off this debris, some of this outer protective covering is also removed and your skin gets irritated. Women, who wear makeup, usually apply foundation most of the times and if it is left on skin, it gets mixed with oil and sweat and clogs the skin pores. This gives rise to many skin problems like blemishes, blackheads and acne. There are many types of skin cleansers, which vary according to the skin type and the cleansing method.
Though soap is the most common cleanser used but it has drying effect over the skin. When a person ages, sebaceous glands produce less oil and soap is not recommend for mature skin.
Selecting skin Cleanser for your skin:
Cleanser can cause irritation, redness, dryness and itch over the skin. You should chooser cleanser carefully considering following aspects:
§ You should select a synthetic detergent based bar or liquid, Syndets, over soaps. Soap is alkaline and has drying effect over skin. Syndets are acidic or neutral with PH-7 or less. Skin favors neutral or acidic cleansers rather than alkaline soaps.
§ Determine the type of your skin and choose the skin cleanser accordingly.
For Oily Skin: Oily skin is shiny and greasy and it is prone to blackheads. Foaming wash is the best for cleansing oily skin. This kind of cleanser does not strip off the natural oils from the skin.
For Dry Skin: There is feeling of tightness in dry skin. Dry skin looks patchy and dull. Skin cleanser for dry skin should have moisturizer in it. Creamy, oil based cleanser is the best for the dry skin. Cleansing milks are the right cleansers for dry skin.
For Combination Skin, gel based skin cleanser is perfect. This type of cleanser cleanses the skin gently without leaving a harsh or dry feeling.
For dry mature skin, which has lots of wrinkles, creamy cleanser or rich milky cleanser, is suitable. Another important aspect about skin cleansers is different types of cleansers are required for summers and winters. In winters, skin cleanser should be gentle with moisturizing effect while in hot and humid months it should able to remove extra oil and sweat.
Deep Skin Cleansing: You need extra cleansing in the form of deep cleansing once or twice a week. For that, you can exfoliate, scrub or peel your skin. Scrubs and exfoliating agents are made up of fine grains embedded into a cream. When these are applied over the skin and rubbed gently, they drag out fine dirt from the skin pores. You should choose exfoliating agents with finer particles as thick particles scratch the skin. Peels are applied in form of mask, over face and neck and left for few minutes. After that it is peeled or rubbed off.
There are enzyme based peels and exfoliating agents, available for the people with sensitive skin. These products need not be rubbed over the skin; they just dissolve the dead cells on the skin surface and making it clean gently.
How to cleanse the skin:
Take cleanser on your palm and apply it over skin with your fingertips and give light massage with fingertips with cleanser. It should be light patting movement. Also move your fingers in circular, upward and outward motions. This type of movement prevents the skin from sagging. Leave the skin cleanser over the skin for few minutes to loosen and dissolve the dust and makeup. Remove it with cotton wool or tissue, followed by damp cotton wool, in the same movements. You can repeat the process, if not satisfied. Finally rinse it with clean water. You can use some of the skin cleansing tools like rough towel, loofah, gentle face buff, brushes for skin cleansing, also available in the market.
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