Your skin can always use a little extra TLC. After all, happy, healthy, glowing skin is not only very apparent to others, but it’s also your largest organ, and you should care for it as such.
Of course, accurate and useful skincare tips and tricks are hard to come by. Check out any IG feed, bus station poster, or TV ads and you’ll see a million different products and tools claiming they can do a million different things for your skin. But at the end of the day, everyone’s skincare routine is uniquely theirs because, let’s face it, everyone’s skin is different.
However, there are a few big skin rules dermatologists can all agree on. With that in mind, we tapped four dermatologists for their biggest red flags – common habits they see patients do that are huge no-no’s. Here’s what they told us.
Meet the experts: Ife J. Rodney, MD, founding director of Eternal Dermatology + Aesthetics and founder of BLCK haircare; Susan Massick, MD, a dermatologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center; Cindy Wassef, MD, an associate professor at the Rutgers Center for Dermatology; Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Skip Big Skincare Routines
By now, you’ve probably seen more multi-step skincare routines on TikTok than you can count. But dermatologists aren’t a fan of slathering on as many products as possible.
“I would not do any of those 10-step skin care routines,” says Cindy Wassef. “Too many products can cause irritation and acne breakouts. With so much layering, it’s also unclear how much of the later layers are even being absorbed.” Instead, she cuts herself off after two to three products.
Sunscreen Is Non-Negotiable
“It’s the most important part of the puzzle,” Dr. Wassef says. “I would never spend tons of money on skincare and skip sunscreen.”
Sun exposure raises the risk that you’ll develop sun spots, fine lines, wrinkles, large pores and enlarged blood vessels, she points out. “If I have to pick one to be diligent with, SPF beats the competition,” Dr. Wassef says.
Susan Massick agrees. “Applying sunscreen is easy, safe and effective,” she says. “Your skin health is worth that little extra time it takes to apply it. Don’t skip on cloudy days or assume you don’t need it when the weather is cold.”
READ MORE: In-Flight Skincare Secrets A Dermatologist Refuses To Gatekeep
Triple Antibiotic Cream Is A Hard Pass
It might seem like a good idea if you have a cut or scrape, but products that contain the antibiotic neomycin are “a huge no-no,” says Ife J. Rodney. “It’s notorious for causing contact dermatitis,” she says.
Plus, your skin may get red and inflamed from using it, per Dr. Rodney. “It confuses everything, and can make things worse.”
Don’t Pop Your Pimples, Especially Late At Night
It’s so tempting when they’re right there on your face, but, Dr. Rodney recommends keeping your hands off. “It causes trauma and inflammation of the surrounding skin,” she says. “That can cause redness, swelling, and dark spots.”
If you want to take action, she suggests using medicated pimple patches. “They can help the pimple to dry out more quickly,” she says.
Spot treatments can also be a good option – Dr. Rodney recommends using a dot of a product that contains 5 percent benzoyl peroxide. “Put a tiny dab on a ripe pimple and let it sit for a couple of hours,” she says.
While Joshua Zeichner acknowledges that people pick their pimples (despite doctors advising against it), he stresses the importance of not doing this late at night.
Right before you head to sleep, most folks are tired and might even be impatient or frustrated from stressful things that happened during their day, says Dr. Zeichner. This inevitably leads to over-picking, which leaves marks that are worse than the pimple was in the first place.
“I would never pick a pimple right before bed,” he says. “It’s usually best not to pick pimples at all, but realistically it still happens.”
Don’t Introduce Two Or More New Products At Once
Dr. Rodney makes a point to only try one new product at a time. “If you do that, you don’t know which product is giving your skin benefits. On the flip side, if you have a reaction, you won’t know which product is the offending agent.”
That’s why she’ll start one product and wait a few weeks before trying another.
Skip The Gel Manicures
For one, Dr. Massick says she would “never” get a gel manicure.
“While gel polish looks great and may last longer than regular nail polish, they can really wreak havoc on the health of your nails,” she says. “From the contact allergies from the polish ingredients, to the curing with UV or LED lamps, and then the damage to the nail plates when removed, gel manicures are an expensive way to ruin your nails.”
Yikes, I’ll take the regular polish, please!
READ MORE: How To Remove Gel Nail Polish At Home Without Damaging Your Nails, According To Experts
Don’t Use Abrasive Skincare Tools Or Products
Dr. Massick says she avoids abrasive facial scrubs and stiff brushes because some are just too rough for your skin to handle.
“It’s important to remove makeup at the end of the day, but abrasive facial scrubs can be too harsh on your skin when just a gentle cleanser would be fine,” she says. “Same goes for the facial brushes.”
This article by Korin Miller was originally published on Women’s Health US.
