With the stress that comes with the of the end of my first year of law school AND a whole pandemic, the state of my skin has taken a turn for the worst. In the past few weeks, I’ve experienced what I believe in the worst series of breakouts I’ve experienced in years. To be honest, all of this took a toll on my confidence. As someone who creates beauty content, with a focus on skincare in particular, it was really hard for me to justify sharing content about skin when mine was in utter turmoil. (I’m talking 2-3 new cystic pimples on my face A DAY.) I went through a period where I just wouldn’t show my face on IG stories because it was that bad. On top of that, because I’ve put a pause on photoshoots due to COVID-19, I’ve been looking back in my archives to find reusable content. All of that has reminded me of how clear my skin was in the past, and how clear it isn’t now. Skin setback
All of that being said, I want to remind you that everyone has their low points, even if you don’t see them. After all, I certainly wasn’t quick to post pictures of my skin setback. Currently, I’ve seen some improvement in my skin and I’m breathing a sigh of relief as a result, but hopefully I can share more in the future about what actually worked for my acne and hyperpigmentation. For now, I figured it would be the perfect time to share what steps you should take if you’re currently in the thick of a skin setback like I was a couple of weeks ago. I’m warning you now, this list is not going to be full of specific products or remedies, because everyone’s skin is unique—in fact, that’s the most important takeaway of this post. But let’s get into how to bounce back from a skin setback:
Contact you dermatologist or aesthetician
It can be very tempting to turn to everyone but a licensed professional. I for one was on all the Youtube videos and influencers pages desperate to find solutions for all my skincare woes. But I didn’t find the answers I was looking for until I contacted my dermatologist. When my skin was at it’s clearest, it was because I was following a skincare routine with products prescribed by my dermatologist. Perhaps I got too confident, but at some point I stopped using those products (Tretinoin and Onexton) and I knew it was time to get back on them again. During this pandemic it’s actually easier to get an appointment with a dermatologist or aesthetician because you can go to a virtual appointment all from the comfort of your home. If you’ve never seen a dermatologist before, this could be the perfect time to start. For example, my insurance plan waived copays for some virtual visits.
Bottom line: Youtubers and social media influencers can only tell you what works for them, so look for answers with someone who knows your skin: a dermatologist or aesthetician.
Keep it simple and consistent
It can also be very tempting to inundate your skin with all the new products you bought in a panic, or because of the Sephora VIB sale, but remember your skin is an organ. It has its limits. If I’m being honest with you, you can have a perfectly solid skincare routine with just 3 steps. This is especially important if you’re dealing with acne or sensitive skin. For me it was important to go back to basics by ditching the 10 step routine and keeping a simple, yet consistent routine.
Bottom line: Try to avoid overwhelming your skin with a bunch of powerful ingredients. Use products with ingredients that target your concern and stick with them.
Drink water
I won’t go into much detail, but chances are you weren’t getting enough as it is. Water is going to help.
Bottom line: Drink up.
Stop touching your face
I’m so guilty of this so really I’m saying this for me. Don’t pop your pimples. Don’t pick at the scabs or scars. Even though I get hyperpigmentation regardless of whether I pop a pimple or not, my scars are significantly deeper and stay much longer when I pop them. No matter how clean you think your hands are, or how many times you washed them today, you can still spread bacteria and worsen an acne outbreak.
Bottom line: Look, but don’t touch.
Breathe, sleep, and be patient
When I look back at my skincare journey, I am reminded of one thing: it took time for my skin to clear up. And by time, I mean weeks to see small changes, and months to arrive at a condition I was happy with. Seeing people with clear skin on social media can be very discouraging for you, but consider taking a step back. Breathe. It’s going to be okay, but it’s also going to take time. Finally, consider the role that sleep plays in skin appearance. I mean come on, they don’t call it “beauty sleep” for nothing. If you think you’re not getting enough, consider adjusting your sleep schedule. The same applies for stress. I know reducing stress during this time is easier said than done, but stress relief also plays a factor in our skin health.
Bottom line: Time, sleep, and stress relief is the best medicine.
That’s all for now! I’ll be documenting my skin journey with the hopes that in a few weeks or months time, I can pop out (of quarantine hopefully) with some updated skincare tips and insight on what products and routines worked for me!
HOW DO YOU BOUNCE BACK FROM A SKIN SETBACK?
