Blog

20 Popular Skincare Questions

Skincare

Top Popular Skincare Questions

1. What is the difference between dry and dehydrated skin?

Dry vs dehydrated skin is a common subject of confusion for a lot of people. Dry skin is a skin type, which lacks proper levels of oil. It will often have an uneven tone, small pores, feel itchy and have a flaky appearance. To soothe dry skin, include emollients, ceramides, mineral oils and squalane. Dehydrated skin on the other hand, is a skin condition that lacks proper levels of hydration. It will have a dull appearance and feel tight. One way to tell if you’re lacking water? Press upward on your cheek, and if fine lines appear, increase your hydration. Ingredients you should be including in your skincare routine are hyaluronic acid, glycerin, antioxidants.

2. What skincare products should everyone use?

At Concept Medical, we truly believe that absolutely everyone should be using and can benefit from incorporating three specific products into their daily routine. These three products are a Vitamin C serum (of no less than 10% L-ascorbic acid), a Retinol product, and a quality broad-spectrum sunscreen.

3. How often should I exfoliate?

Typically, the frequency you should be exfoliating will be based off of if your skin type can tolerate it. For dry and sensitive skin once every 10 days is sufficient, normal to combination skin once a week, oily skin should exfoliate 2-3 times a week.
More aggressive exfoliation such as chemical peels or microdermabrasion, should be performed every 4-6 weeks.

4. What areas of my body should I be applying skincare products?

Of course, skincare products should be applied to your face, but did you know you should also be applying serums and creams to your neck, décolleté and hands. These are also areas that show signs of aging, so they are equally important to treat and take care of.

5. At what age should I begin using anti-aging products and procedures?

Did you know that by the age of 30, your natural production of collagen and elastin begins to decrease by 1% each year? This is why it is so detrimental to begin proper anti-aging skincare by your late twenties! This allows proper cellular changes to be made to aid in the prevention of early signs of aging.

6. What are my options to treat pigmentation?

At Concept Medical, we have many options to treat pigmentation. Through a thorough consultation, you will be guided as to which treatment or products will help you achieve the absolute best reduction results. Treatment options include light therapy (such as broad band light treatments), micro-needling and medical grade chemical peels. We also have medical grade skincare options with active ingredients that can help to reduce the overall appearance of pigmentation in the skin.

7. Do I need a different cream for face and undereye?

The short answer – yes! The skin under your eye is much thinner and more sensitive than the skin on the rest of your face, meaning it requires more support. When choosing an undereye cream, look for products that include antioxidants, vitamins, hyaluronic acid, and possibly a low percentage retinol.

8. If I have sensitive skin, can I still use a retinol product?

Retinol (or Vitamin A) is a well-loved ingredient due to its ability to speed skin cell turnover and boost collagen production. While sensitive skin can use a retinol product, it can lead to flakiness and the feeling of dryness in the skin. To counter this, it is suggested to incorporate a hyaluronic acid and proper moisturizer into your routine. The percentage of retinol as well as the frequency of application weekly should be adjusted to suit your skin type. If you are still finding the usage harsh, consult with your skincare professional for alternative options that are best suited for your skin type.

9. How long does it take to notice a change in my skin from topical products?

One important thing to remember when it comes to skincare products is to be consistent and patient. You have to remember that your cellular turnover (how quickly dead cells shed and new cells surface) is at minimum 28 days and this rate slows as we age. A general rule of thumb, is to expect to begin to see changes from new skincare at a minimum of 4 weeks from starting use. Of course, depending on the product itself, it may actually take a little longer to notice significant change. Always feel free to ask your Medical Aesthetician or Dermatologist for proper expectations.

10. Can I mix my serums into my moisturizer?

This is not a suggested practice for your skincare and the reason is quite simple. Your serums are meant to be applied before moisturizer because their molecular sizes are different. Serums are a more fluid product with a smaller molecular size which allows it to penetrate deeper into your skin layers. Creams and moisturizers have a larger molecule size, which means they more so sit on the top layer of skin.

11. What is the proper order to apply skincare?

The proper order of skincare application can vary depending on products being used. Typically, for morning skincare I recommend: cleanser, toner, antioxidant serum, hydrating serum, eye cream, moisturizer, sunscreen. For a nightly routine I suggest: an oil-based cleanser, water-based cleanser, toner, targeted serum, eye cream, retinol, moisturizer.

12. What is the biggest misconception regarding acne?

The biggest misconception that I have noticed with acne is that “drying out” your skin will diminish your acne. By over exfoliating or harshly diminishing the oils in your skins protective barrier, you are actually creating more of a problem. By doing this, your sebaceous glands will over produce oil to compensate for the sudden loss, furthering your breakouts.

13. Are there procedures to help diminish the appearance of stretch marks?

At Concept Medical, we often suggest a micro-needling series to reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Typically, people assume micro-needling is for facial treatments only, but it can actually be performed on any area of the body. This collagen induction therapy treatment uses sterile surgical grade needles which are used to create controlled injury at various depths of the skin. This injury causes a cell healing response from the body, which helps to repair the scarred tissue. Typically to see optimal results, a 5-6 treatment series spaced 6-8 weeks between individual treatments is recommended to reduce stretch mark appearance.

14. How often should I be receiving a professional facial?

Typically, when treating skin conditions, you should receive a professional facial once within your cell turnover cycle (this means once every 4-6 weeks depending on your age). If you find your skin is fully balanced, and you have no skin conditions needing to be treated, a facial once a season is an acceptable practice.

15. Why shouldn’t I do extractions myself at home?

Although it is so tempting to extract your blemishes yourself, please do not do it. Unless you are trained how to do extractions properly, there is a very good chance that it will be done incorrectly. This will cause damage to your skin cells, which can in turn cause scarring or hyperpigmentation.

16. Is it true that I should have different skincare routines throughout the year?

Your skin type is genetic and therefore does not change, but your skins conditions may change throughout the year as your environment changes. With the change of seasons, you may find that the skincare routine and products that were working for you in the Winter, may now be too moisturizing in the Summer heat and humidity. It is often a great idea, to have products that suit and cater to your current skin needs.

17. Can my diet really affect my skin?

Your skins health and condition can be attributed to many factors. One of them being the foods we intake. Surprisingly, there are a number of foods linked to causing hormonal changes in your body. Some of these may be: milk products, peanut products, and animal products. If you are noticing consistent issues with your skin, we suggest a consultation with one of your Medical Aestheticians at Concept Medical.

18. Are there certain products to avoid while pregnant?

This is a common question and concern that we hear at Concept Medical, and yes there are skincare products to avoid while pregnant. Ruling out toxic skincare is especially important especially while pregnant. Some harmful ingredients you must watch out for are phthalates, sulfates, parabens, BHA’s, silicones, and synthetic fragrances. Additionally, avoid high doses of retinol, salicylic acid, and benzoyl peroxide, as these may cause harm to the baby.

19. How can I make my pores smaller?

Contrary to popular belief, you cannot change the actual size of your pores, as your pore size is genetic. What you can do is keep your pores tight and clean through treatment and proper skincare. By doing this, it gives the overall appearance of smaller pores because they are not nearly as noticeable.

20. How can I tell my skin type?

Typically, you should always receive a thorough skin analysis from a professional to assess skin type and any existing conditions, but there are some key factors when trying to determine this yourself at home. Think about how your skin feels when you wake up in the morning. If it’s generally tight and flaky, it’s likely to be dry. Oily skin usually has larger pores and looks shiny and glossy all over. Combination skin will usually have an oily T-zone with large pores, while the rest of the face is dry and the pores are smaller. Lastly, normal skin feels overall even and balanced. Understanding your skin type or any existing conditions is such a critical part of achieving balanced skin! Determining this allows for proper skincare product choice and treatment planning moving forward.

If you have any questions about double chin treatment. Please feel free to reach out!

Get started

Book your Consultation Today

Your patient journey is unique and begins with an in-depth consultation.

Book Consultation

Are you a current patient?(Required)