WHAT CAN I DO WHEN MY SKIN(skin) GETS IRRITATED(ˈiriˌtāt)?

WHAT CAN I DO WHEN MY SKIN(skin) GETS IRRITATED(ˈiriˌtāt)?

Excerpted(ˈɛksəːpt) from “How to Build a Skin Care Routine(ro͞oˈtēn)”, by Kari Molvar

Many times skin irritation(ˌiriˈtāSHən), from acne(ˈaknē) to eczema(igˈzēmə,ˈegzəmə,ˈeksə-), can be traced(trās) back to overzealous(ˌōvərˈzeləs) habits. “Unfortunately(ˌənˈfôrCHənətlē), a lot of what I do is get people back to having healthy skin from overuse of products — stripping(strip) cleansers(ˈklenzər), items(ˈītəm) that over-exfoliate(eksˈfōlēˌāt) or contain sensitizing(ˈsensiˌtīz) ingredients(iNG-,inˈgrēdēənt) — which they were using as a foundation for healthy skin but it took them farther away from it,” Holey says. To bring your skin back to its baseline, she suggests(sə(g)ˈjest) the following holistic(hōˈlistik) remedies(ˈremədē):

Run cold water over your pulse(pəls) points, such as your wrists(rist), to lower your internal body temperature(-ˌCHo͝or,ˈtemp(ə)rəCHər), which calms(kä(l)m) your skin, too.

Apply(əˈplī) an oatmeal(ˈōtˌmēl) mask to rid yourself of inflammation(ˌinfləˈmāSHən). Mix(miks) dried oats(ōt) with a few spoonfuls(spo͞on) of water. Spread(spred) this paste on your skin, and let it sit until it’s semi(ˈsemī)-dry, then rinse(rins) off.

Use chilled(CHild), steeped(stēp) green tea as a rinse that you splash(splaSH) on your face. EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate), a polyphenol(-ˌnōl,ˌpäliˈfēˌnôl) in green tea, has an “immediate(iˈmēdē-it) soothing(ˈso͞oT͟HiNG) effect,” Holey says.

Try acupuncture(ˈakyəˌpəNGkCHər) to improve circulation(ˌsərkyəˈlāSHən), digestion(diˈjesCHən,dī-) and immunity(iˈmyo͞onitē) internally, all of which supports healthy skin externally(ikˈstərnl). Holey recommends weekly treatments initially(iˈniSHəlē), then monthly maintenance(ˈmānt(ə)nəns,ˈmāntn-əns) sessions.

Live well: you can read stress on your face — literally(ˈlitrə-,ˈlitərəlē), since high levels of cortisol (a stress hormone(ˈhôrˌmōn)) can weaken your skin, bring on acne and even accelerate(akˈseləˌrāt) wrinkling(ˈriNGkəl). Holey’s advice? Exercise regularly, get your rest, meditate(ˈmedəˌtāt) or find ways to feel positive(ˈpäztiv,ˈpäzətiv). The results will show.

https://www.nytimes.com/guides/tmagazine/skincare-routine