How to Repair Skin: 4 Ways
If you’re unhappy with how your skin looks or feels as a result of damage, we have some good news.
Excessive sun, product sensitivity and other factors can compromise the skin barrier, but you don’t have to deal with damaged skin. There are steps you can take to help repair your skin and get it healthy again. Here are four ways to do just that.
What are some signs your skin needs repair?
Damaged skin doesn’t show up in the same way for everyone, and the signs and symptoms you notice often relate directly to what is triggering the damage in the first place.
Some of the most common indications of skin damage include:
- Burning when applying topical skin care products
- Dryness
- Increased breakouts
- Increased skin sensitivity
- Itching
- Loss of skin radiance
- Redness
- Tightness
If you notice any of these signs or symptoms, it’s time to get to work to restore your skin to its optimal state of health and wellness.
How to repair skin
While these four recommendations aren’t the only ways to learn how to repair skin, they’re some of the most beneficial. Here’s what to know about getting your skin health back on track.
1. Pare down your skin care routine
Sometimes the skin care products we think are helping can actually be the ones causing issues. This is most frequently the case when you start using a new active ingredient or have strong exfoliants (like retinol) in your routine.
With any new skin irritation or damage, it helps to take a good look at your routine. Have you recently started using any new skin care products? If you have, take a break from them for a few days and see if you notice a difference in your symptoms.
If you haven’t added new products, it can still be beneficial to pare down your skin routine to include just a gentle cleanser and supportive moisturizer for a little while. Once your skin has healed, you can slowly add your other skin care products back into your routine, one at a time.
2. Always use sunscreen
Sunburns aren't the only type of sun damage. While most of us recognize that we’re getting sunburnt after a day on the water or at the beach, it’s the more subtle types of sun damage that start to add up.
Did you know that the sun can impact your skin even if you’re sitting indoors by a window? The ultraviolet rays of the sun are able to break down protective collagen, speed up the visible aging process and even trigger free radical damage throughout the body.
Luckily, there is an easy way to protect your skin and minimize the risk of sun damage — sunscreen. If you haven’t already been using sunscreen as part of your daily routine, it’s time you start — even if you don’t spend a lot of time outdoors.
Look for hydrating sunscreens with an SPF of at least 30.
3. Hydrate
The skin requires moisture to not just look its best, but to also function optimally. When your skin isn't properly hydrated, your skin barrier (or stratum corneum) is more likely to break down and not be able to protect your skin the ways it should.
Without a functional skin barrier, your skin is also unable to retain moisture, leading to dehydration and damage.
To counteract this, it’s crucial to make sure that you use a quality moisturizer. Yes, you still need to do this even if you have a naturally oily skin type (although you may need to be careful about the type of moisturizer you choose).
You don’t want to just hydrate from the outside, though. Research has shown what we’ve always known — hydration from the inside is just as crucial. Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water and eating fresh foods filled with water and antioxidants (fresh fruits and vegetables are strongly recommended). Damaged skin on the outside can often be a result of a lack of hydration on the inside.
4. Use targeted treatments
Cosmetic treatments can support your skin in a variety of ways — it’s not just Botox. Certain cosmetic treatments can also provide the skin with additional hydration or help speed up the healing process.
For example, Gold Infusions deliver a customized blend of antioxidants and hydrating ingredients just under the skin. You’ll notice the results right away, and they’ll only get better over time. We offer Gold infusions treatments at all of our Skin Pharm clinics.
Microneedling can also be a significant hydration booster, although it works a little differently. With microneedling, controlled injury is made to the skin in the areas that need treatment. These “wounds” trigger collagen-producing cells to flood the area, making the skin firmer and more resilient.
Not everything can be repaired, though. If you’re experiencing a significant loss of collagen related to the aging process, filler treatments can help temporarily boost the firmness and appearance of the skin in those areas.
Filler doesn’t have to look unnatural, either. At Skin Pharm, we're all about providing natural results — improving your skin in a way that still looks like you.
In summary...
Learning how to repair skin is a crucial part of keeping it vibrant, youthful and radiant. When you’re able to identify the signs and symptoms of damaged skin and figure out what's causing it in the first place, you can take the necessary steps to repair it.
Skin Pharm's board-certified providers are here for you — we’d love to help make a difference in your skin’s health and appearance. Don’t just accept damaged skin. Take steps to heal it and feel confident in your skin.
This article was medically reviewed by Madeline Stoffer, MSN, NP-BC, a board-certified nurse practitioner with six years of experience in cosmetic dermatology.
Sources:
How to safely exfoliate at home | AAD
Dietary water affects human skin hydration and biomechanics | PMC
