Your skin is the body’s largest organ and will only glow when it functions as a unit. There are different layers, and therefore the way cells communicate, rate of cell turnover, collagen production, healthy bacteria maintenance and the natural balance of acids are all important.
Only with a healthy functioning system can our skin truly glow. So, when certain elements are lacking, the skin can become dull, and even have less protection from external damage and accelerate the signs of ageing.
At London City Skin Clinic, we are passionate about the rehabilitation of skin health to restore confidence as well as skin quality. From internal tissue to the surface layer, your skin will benefit from our tips on how to rejuvenate dull skin.
What is healthy skin?
- Soft and smooth in texture
- Full, firm and tight
- Even in colour
- Naturally hydrated from within
- Tolerant to the surrounding environment
- Free from active disease
What causes dull skin?
Dull skin is caused by a wide variety of factors including genetic factors, lifestyle choices, dehydration and UV radiation. It is common for skin to appear dull when the cells within your skin are not healthy or optimised to regulate its own hydration and cell turnover.
It’s important to understand factors that affect the appearance of the skin:
COLOUR
THICKNESS: Thick, medium, thin
OILINESS: Oily, normal, dry
ELASTICITY: Lax or firm
FRAGILITY: Proper or improper healing
Other causes of dull skin include:
- Build up of dead skin cells
- Ageing
- Sun damage
Dry and dull skin is vulnerable to environmental and bacterial damage as it cannot effectively protect itself unless it functions properly.
How to rejuvenate dull skin
Lifestyle habits
- Engage a healthy sleep routine
When your body is tired, it loses its ability to take care of itself. This can lead to lower turnover of dead skin cells, lower blood supply delivered to the outer layers of skin and signs of premature ageing.
To correct your sleeping pattern, stick to the following advice:
- Set a regular bedtime
- Avoid using screens before bed: Blue light makes your mind active rather than tired
- Drink less caffeine: Caffeine is another contributor to premature ageing and disrupts your natural body clock
- Avoid naps more than 20 mins in the day
- Get up at the same time every day, and get a morning walk outside to regulate your body clock
- Exercise regularly throughout the week
- Avoid eating before bedtime
- Speak to a GP if your sleep is disrupted by factors other than the ones mentioned above
- Stay hydrated
One of the greatest contributors to dull skin is a lack of hydration. Whilst applying moisturiser to your skin daily can aid your skin quality at a surface level, making sure you drink a suitable amount of water every day will also have an effect. It is important to also choose skin products that are not just based on moisturisers alone, as your skin will just become reliant on moisturiser.
To improve hydration in the skin you should also avoid regular smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol.
- Exercise
Although not commonly thought of as a solution to poor skin health, exercise can have an overwhelming impact on your skin’s natural glow.
Exercising regularly can:
- Increase circulation and blood flow to the skin
- Boost collagen production levels
- Reduce stress levels that contribute to poor skin health
- Help promote healthy sleeping rhythms
- Improve overall skin tone
- Promote new cell growth and regeneration
To prevent acne and other associated skin problems when exercising, it is important to:
- Avoid touching your face during activities
- Wash your face immediately after exercising to remove excess sweat and dirt
- Use a light moisturiser or cleanser after cleaning
- Wear a strong waterproof SPF when exercising outside
- Include the right nutrients in your diet
The processes that keep skin physiologically healthy rely on key nutrients in the diet. To help restore skin, cut down on:
- Sugary food
- Alcohol
- Nicotine
- Processed meats
- Fatty meats
Instead, consume foods that contain:
- Essential fatty acids
- Omega 3
- Lean protein
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin A
- Wash at a cooler temperature
Hot water can seem harmless but overexposure to hot water or steam can strip your skin of its natural oils. Without them, your skin will become dry, irritated and lose its glow.
Topical skincare products
Topical skincare products treat the surface layers of skin, but also if your skin is treated correctly, you will also be able to absorb active skin products better to create a glow from within. When you select products with high quality ingredients that stimulate the natural processes that your skin needs, you can achieve attractive results.
- Cleansers and exfoliators
Cleaning your skin may sound obvious, but this needs to be done morning and night. There are options of gentle or hydrating cleansers, but exfoliating cleansers are also helpful to slough off dead skin cells at the surface, so should be incorporated at least twice weekly.
- 2. Toner and oil control
The level of sebum/oil in your skin should be controlled, and the correct toners help to remove excessive oil and restore the pH of your skin.
- Vitamin C Serum
Vitamin C is a nutrient rich antioxidant commonly used for its anti-aging and revitalising properties. It helps neutralise free radicals and repair DNA skin damage, brighten the skin and provide a much needed protection from environmental pollutants and UV damage.
- Hydrators
Hydrators promote the regulation of the skin’s normal moisture level, as opposed to rich moisturisers. Many people are solely reliant on moisturisers for their “glow”, but end up being reliant on it and actually have duller skin underneath (consider sole use of a moisturiser as a product that may just sit on dead skin cells if other steps are not taken).
Hyaluronic Acid Products
Hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule that lubricates joints and tissues. It keeps skin hydrated and is the basis for many non-surgical aesthetic treatments like Dermal Fillers and Profhilo.
It is now possible to buy specialised Hyaluronic acid serums, cleansers and moisturisers for the face that rehydrates the top layer of skin if it isn’t receiving enough water.
- UV protection
SPF protecting against UVA and UVB is very important all year round, as UVA even penetrates cloud and glass, and leads to skin ageing. Sun damage leads to pigmentation therefore uneven skin tone, and accelerates collagen and elastin breakdown. Never forget to protect your skin with a shield of SPF, minimum factor 30 every day!
- Retinoids
Retinol is a Vitamin A derivative, and important to turn skin cells over faster to allow healthy skin to appear at the surface of the skin. It also helps with fine lines, pigmentation and an overall skin glow, with the added benefit of thickening of the upper layer of the skin. Retinol is applied at night, and leads to a healthy skin appearance with consistent use.
*Do not take Retinoids if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to get pregnant. There are some anticipated early effects such as dryness and mild irritation, but this can be minimised by starting gradually under the advice of your healthcare practitioner.*
The mentioned products, whilst impactful, will help with dull skin, but only after customising your skin care programme and with consistent use daily. For long term results, it is recommended that you also adjust your lifestyle habits and may also seek the restorative powers of non-surgical aesthetic treatments.
Restorative non-surgical aesthetics
The cause of dull skin is typically underlying and one of the most effective treatments is to inject naturally occuring proteins and hydrating agents into the skin that allow it to regain its existing function.
At London City Skin Clinic, we offer the following treatments that restore balance to your skin and the underlying tissues with natural results:
- Skin Revitalisation/Skin Boosters
Dermal Fillers improve the tone, texture and hydration of skin.
This involves injecting Hyaluronic acid into the skin to reform the building blocks of healthy skin tissue. Hyaluronic acid binds to water in the skin, locking in moisture. It has been used safely in medical applications for many years.
Injected hyaluronic acid is slowly broken down in the body, and when skilfully used the results are subtle and will look natural.
Our Skin Revitalisation/Skin Boosters instantly restore lost volume from within, acting as a reservoir for hydration in a way moisturisers and cleansers cannot.
- Profhilo
Profhilo is an innovative treatment that treats skin laxity and promotes hydration. Boasting one of the highest concentrations of Hyaluronic acid on the market, it is designed to actively remodel skin by stimulating 4 different types of collagen fibres, whilst also intensely hydrating the skin tissue to improve its appearance and glow.
Profhilo uses the ability to stimulate new collagen to give your skin a whole new lease of life by remodelling the skin. Results last up to six months.
Treatments at London City Skin Clinic
At London City Skin Clinic, Dr. Robby Bajaj is pleased to offer some of the world’s leading treatments for improving the quality of damaged or dull skin.
We use Medical Grade Skincare and hand-picked products from Obagi, ZO skin health and Heliocare to name a few. The key ingredients are:
- Vitamin C serum
- Hydration promoters
- SPF protection
- Retinol/Vit A derivatives
Dr. Robby Bajaj can create Advanced Skincare programmes to cater to your skin’s needs, and this goes beyond the application of high quality cosmetics. In order to fully restore your skin to its youthful state, a full consultation appointment is provided to discuss any concerns you might have, or specific requirements, blemishes or other imperfections that you wish to correct.
For more information on what is included in your treatment, take a look at our Skin Treatment Price List or Contact our Skin Clinic today.
020 3488 8469 | info@londoncityskinclinic.com