Pollution and dry air in winter are "skin killers"! Doctors reveal the "three NG behaviors" in skin care: bathing with "soap" is extremely harmful to the skin
healthorn expert Q&A
Q: In addition to being extremely harmful to the skin, air pollution can also cause allergies and inflammation. What should I do to prevent indoor air pollution?
A: There are many threats to the air in your home. In addition to smoking and burning incense, the easily overlooked “carcinogen formaldehyde” is the main source of indoor air pollution. The boards, sofas, mattresses, and curtains used for decoration will emit a large amount of formaldehyde, further causing the indoor formaldehyde to exceed the standard. Especially for women, children and people prone to allergies, if they live in a space with excessive formaldehyde for a long time, it will increase the frequency of allergies and skin inflammation, and may lead to female infertility, childhood leukemia, cancer and other symptoms.
To solve the problem of formaldehyde poisoning, it is recommended to seek formal formaldehyde removal companies to carry out indoor formaldehyde removal projects. Long-term formaldehyde removal projects usually take more than 3 days to recycle formaldehyde deep inside furniture and decorations using standard construction methods. And it is effectively decomposed to ensure that the formaldehyde concentration in the space is lower than the safe value for a long time. When selecting a manufacturer, special attention should be paid to choosing a manufacturer with a long-term warranty to ensure healthy and non-toxic indoor air quality for a long time and reduce the risk of cancer.
Many beauty lovers or women are afraid that the air pollution and dry air in winter will affect the health of their skin, making daily maintenance work even more difficult. Dr. Weng Ziyu, a full-time attending physician at the Dermatology Department of Shuang Ho Hospital of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said in an exclusive interview that the principle of skin care in winter requires paying more attention to the importance of “moisturizing” and avoiding any “NG behaviors” that worsen skin conditions.
Is washing your body with soap really harmful to your skin? Doctors reveal the “3 major NG behaviors” in winter care
Will skin care in winter differ depending on whether I have dry skin or oily skin? Dr. Weng Ziyu emphasized that even though the northern and eastern parts of Taiwan are relatively humid, the use of heating facilities, hot springs, hot baths, etc. will affect the water retention of the skin. Therefore, when engaging in related activities, people should avoid overheating or soaking in water. The time should not be too long. After taking a bath, the body’s transcutaneous water loss increases, and it is even more important to take the initiative to moisturize.
In terms of bath products, Dr. Weng Ziyu suggests that you can choose a bath milk that is moderately acidic and reduces the amount of excessive ingredients that may cause irritation (such as spices and preservatives). Compared with alkaline cleaning products (such as soaps), it is less expensive. It is not easy to damage the “sebum film” on the surface of the skin. “After washing your body with alkaline soap, you will feel that your skin has become very clean and elastic. In fact, it is because a layer of the sebum film has been washed away, resulting in a tight feeling. If your skin is originally dry, itchy or inflamed The situation may become worse.”
In general, Dr. Weng Ziyu said that people should pay attention to avoid bathing for too long and the water temperature is too high. In particular, the elderly like to rinse their bodies with hot water for a long time in winter without moisturizing afterward, which is not good. habit. When bathing, you can use milder cleaning products and add moisturizer for appropriate protection. Winter clothing such as sweaters can be made of cotton, which can reduce skin irritation compared to wool and reduce the risk of skin inflammation caused by irritation.
Do commercially available skin care products have limited oil control effects? If the cleaning effect is too strong, the skin will be more likely to become oily.
Are there any differences in skin care measures for facial skin in winter for people with dry skin or oily skin? Dr. Weng Ziyu explained that if you have dry skin, you can choose oily skin care products after bathing. If you don’t have dry skin, you can use both neutral and oily products. If you are a patient with atopic dermatitis or psoriasis, the epidermal barrier is damaged and incomplete, resulting in an increased rate of transepidermal water loss. In addition, due to the change of winter environment and living habits, mature elderly people are prone to itchiness in winter due to skin aging. At this time, it is recommended to choose to add water-locking, water-absorbing, hydrating, and repairing sebum film (such as oil). Ingredients) are used in effective skin care products.
Dr. Weng Ziyu said that general facial cleansing actually does not require the use of products with excessive cleaning power, otherwise it is easy to take away dirt and skin oils during cleaning, and the skin will become compensatory oil. Generally, because the face, chest and back have a higher proportion of sebaceous glands, for people with oil-prone body types, it is recommended to carry wet wipes or oil-absorbing tissues with you for cleaning, which is a more reasonable choice.
“Oil control products currently on the market add ingredients such as talc and silicon compounds, just like using talcum powder, to make the skin feel dry by absorbing oil. However, the current topical skin care products that can really effectively suppress sebaceous glands usually have limited effects. If you are concerned about the oiliness on your face, you can discuss medication with a dermatologist!”
Finally, Dr. Weng Ziyu reminds the public that eating habits may also lead to the worsening of oil production, and bad work and rest and stress may affect skin health. It is recommended to reduce the intake of spicy food, alcohol, dairy products, etc.; in addition, they should also avoid staying up late, or Using skin care products that are not suitable for your skin condition may result in less than expected results. If you have any questions about skin care in winter, or have had skin diseases before, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist. It is a safer and more reasonable approach to improve skin problems through medication.
Further reading:
Not only will you tan, but you will also age! Are UV rays scarier in winter than in summer? Dermatologist warns: You can’t escape indoors
