YOUR SKIN: Don’t try these harmful practices

Your skin is a precious organ, it is a waterproof coating that serves important functions. It is designed to withstand a lot of stress and exposure. There are some things that are done by many people in a bid to make it look better but some are harmful. Please avoid these on your skin.

DO-IT-YOURSELF PEELS

The internet offers plenty of information about some things you can do at home to cure your skin of pimples and acne. Some of the products sold online are actually professional strength products that should be used by trained practitioners only. African complexions may run the risk of developing uneven pigmentation and scarring after using these products.

TOPICAL STEROIDS ON YOUR FACE

Steroid creams and ointments play a good role in dermatology. They are useful for mild rashes, nickel allergies and itching. If you have these problems, you can buy an over-the-counter low dose steroid to use for a couple of days until the symptoms vanish. Continued use will make you skin appear glowing and beautiful in the initial days, but your skin soon becomes addicted if you use it daily for two weeks. Such creams can cause acne and thin your skin considerably.

SQUEEZING PIMPLES

Squeezing pimples often makes you skin worse. When you try to remove the whitish oily substance that forms on the skin, it pushes it deeper into the skin creating a wider pimple. The skin becomes inflamed and results in a scar.

SECRET FORMULAS

The internet has a lot of mysterious formulas to perform miracles and breakthroughs. Most of these claims are often fraudulent. For example, mercury is a product that rapidly transforms the skin, but is highly toxic. It is often the most active ingredient in these secret formulations from unknown sources.

Author is the national director of safe skin care initiative. Query? Follow us on Facebook: Skin care helpline Kenya