How to get rid of textured skin + even out your tone?
Rough patches, bumps, and other irregularities contribute to uneven complexion and can make you look older than you really are. It also makes doing your makeup a struggle, because all cosmetics are difficult to apply to textured skin. In many cases instead of having a flawless finish, your makeup ends up looking cakey, creased and can even emphasize the uneven texture more. If you’re frustrated, you are definitely not alone.
What causes texture + tone changes?
Unwanted changes in skin tone + texture can result from many causes from chronic sun damage, pollution, other environmental or internal stressors to your lifestyle (poor diet, smoking, not getting enough sleep…) as well as can be part of the natural aging process. Basically, anything that can affect the surface condition of your skin can determine your skin’s texture. While a number of these factors you cannot control, including heredity and chronological aging; there are also factors that you can manage.
SKIN BLOTCHINESS (dyschromia) means uneven skin tone meaning the mix of red, white and/or dark patches on your skin. Did you know? These blotchy patches of skin may become more visible when dead surface skin is not regularly exfoliated?
White Spots
Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis (decreased or absent melanin amount) is a common sign of chronic sun damage. In the white areas the pigment producing cells, melanocytes, are damaged and the skin thinned out. After tanning the white spots stand out even more; and if using self tanning cream they tend to not pick up the pigment from the cream.
Redness
Sporadic: broken blood vessels (telangiectasia), cherry angiomas in certain areas
Diffuse: rosacea, couperose skin not fulfilling the criteria of rosacea
SKIN ROUGHNESS, TEXTURAL CHANGES can result from dryness, dehydration, slow cell turnover, decreased skin laxity and excess oil production leading to clogged + enlarged pores, bumps and the formation of scales and vascular + skin cell growths.
Textured skin includes skin with:
Enlarged Pores
Pores sit above hair follicles and are small openings in the skin that are exit points for sweat and sebum. Enlarged pores can be a result of too much sebum (natural oil), thicker hair follicles and reduced skin elasticity. Pore size is largely genetically predetermined, so if your parents have large pores, it’s likely you will, too.
Sebaceous Hyperplasia
(enlarged oil gland) presents as one or more dome-shaped papules with central umbilication.
Skin Tags
are soft, flesh-coloured to brown skin growths. They are commonly found in skin folds and usually symptomless. If treatment is desired, they can be removed with simple snip / shave excision, lasers or electrocautery (probe).
Seborrhoeic Keratosis (KS)
presents as a dull, verrucous/warty, waxy plaque. The shape and structure are often irregular and varies over time. It can be flat or more raised, yellow to brown to black in colour or made up of several colours.
Angioma
is due to the proliferation of the endothelial cells. They are commonly nodular, raised but can be also flat/macular; can vary in sizes; be bright red to purple or blue coloured depending on their depth.
Keratosis Pilaris
aka “strawberry or chicken skin” is characterized by small red or flesh-coloured bumps that most commonly develop on the outside of the upper arms and tops of the thighs but may also be seen on the face, cheeks, and buttocks. Other common symptoms include: redness of the skin surrounding the bumps, rough skin texture, dry skin, mild itching.
Solutions for textured skin
At Ici Paris we use clinically-proven techniques + therapies in conjunction with professional skin care to restore the natural tone and texture of the skin on all skin types. Improving the texture + tone of your skin is possible with the right approach and consistent treatment. A skincare regimen that includes cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizing as well as sun protecting your skin is important.
Treatments that can smooth your complexion alone or synergistically:
microdermabrasion - when combined with facial you will get two birds with one stone: both exfoliation and hydration
Skin care products you can trust:
One of the most important concepts when it comes to dealing with textured skin - just like any other concerns - is being consistent with your skincare routine and using targeted treatments. This includes custom cleansers, serums, and moisturizers with specific ingredients to treat your skin.
CLEANSERS made with gentle ingredients to remove impurities like dirt, excess oil, and makeup are fundamental to getting the best look for your skin without stripping and leaving your skin too dry.
Regular EXFOLIATION is also important; choose gentle exfoliating products with special ingredients that smooth the surface of the skin and remove dead skin cells.
Finally, a SERUM and MOISTURIZER that reduces dehydration, dryness and roughness while replenishing the skin and leaving it well-hydrated is paramount to improving the look of textured skin and get flawless.
