Dull Skin: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Dull Skin is one of the most common problems faced by women of every age. It usually manifests itself with low radiance and uneven skin texture and tone. There can be a number of reasons for your dull skin. One of the most common reasons for dull skin is no exfoliation. You might be washing or cleaning your face twice day but not exfoliating it. Remember that dryness which is the most common cause of dull skin decreases when you exfoliate your face and apply a layer of moisturizer. Exfoliation leads to deep clean and creates a fresh canvas for topical products to penetrate better into the skin. This brings us to the second most common reason for dull skin may be the absence of a moisturizer. Dermatologists are explains that the daily wear and tear of life causes dryness and cracks on the surface of the skin. A moisturizer fills in those cracks by adding lipids, the natural fats of the skin, which seal up the gaps between the skin cells, presenting a smooth and reflective surface.

Dehydration is another reason for dull skin that decreases the volume of blood flow to the skin, making your skin look pale. Skin cells are mostly composed of water, so they produce best results when hydrated. However, they can function in low water content that causes epidermal or dermal dehydration. Epidermal (top layer of the skin) dehydration is indicated by fine lines. Dermal (deep skin) dehydration, on the other hand, causes depletion of the dermis that results in deeper wrinkles and sagging skin.

Stress and sleeping problems are interlinked causes of dull skin. Stress leads to increase in cortisol which can affect blood flow to the skin and less sleep will result in dark circles, dry, flaky and less hydrated skin. Another cause is environmental factors like pollution and smoking that have a direct impact on our skin. Both of these factors leads to collagen breakdown, making skin appear sallow, waxy and wrinkled. Not following a healthy diet may also affect your skin quality, especially processed and sugar-rich foods.

Some of the problems of dull skin and causes can be tackled by making certain changes and incorporating certain methods that will make you more radiant and glowy. You can start by incorporating exfoliation into your routine. Doing it twice or thrice a week will give you a deeper clean and result in more radiant skin. You can either go for scrubs that contain sugar or jojoba esters or has alpha and beta hydroxyl acids that are gentle enough for sensitive skin. Also try to go for a gentle creamy cleanser that do not strip away the skin’s natural oil and make your skin feel dry. It will keep your skin hydrated even after a wash.

You can also try drinking plenty of water to replenish your body’s dehydration. Try using moisturizers and serums that contain ceramides (that help repair skin barrier and improve water retention) and hyaluronic acid (that plumps up skin cells by attracting water to surrounding tissues). Apply the moisturizer and serum in gentle, upward strokes to boost circulation and stimulate cells on your face.

Using a sunscreen will protect your skin from sun damage and pollutants that can cause hyperpigmentation. Along with a sunscreen you can use cream that contains retinol at night which helps in protecting the existing collagen from breaking down. By incorporating these measures into your beauty regimen, you will surely get that healthy glow on your face.

If you have dry, mature skin that has a lot of wrinkles and fine lines, then you suffer from dull skin and are eligible for the measures mentioned to rectify dull skin. Other less common signs include uneven skin texture and tone with dark spots and dark circles around your eyes.

Women who have healhty skin or other skin problems like acne or pigmentation are not eligible for the treatment of dull skin.

There are no known side effects of the treatments mentioned for dull skin.

Your lifestyle and diet plays a major role in the way your skin looks and feels. Therefore, restricting or stopping processed and sodium and sugar-rich foods will help in making your skin appear younger and healthier. Try to include more antioxidant rich foods like tomatoes, red beans and berries and citrus rich foods like oranges, lemons and kiwi will give the essential antioxidants and vitamin C that are vital for skin regeneration and collagen growth. Eat as much as healthy fats such as avocado, walnuts to maintain a well-balanced diet.

Also increase your water intake and other fluids like vegetable juice, fruit juice, green tea and fresh coconut water to get minerals and nutrients in your body. Get at least 8 hours of sleep to restore your body’s balance and let your skin repair. Limit your alcohol content and also your smoking as it can have adverse effect on your skin. Exercise regularly or at least thrice a week to boost your metabolism and energy thereby increasing the blood flow to your face.

Dull skin treatment takes minimal time to recover as within one week of following a beauty regimen, you get results in the form of radiant and clear looking skin.

The products used for treating dul skin can have varied cost starting as low as Rs.200 and can go up to Rs.20,000 even. Price depends on the type of product you are using.

Your skin reflects your lifestyle choices and the effect of environmental factors that can make your skin look radiant or dull. Therefore, even after using beauty products that makes it look healhty and radiant, your skin may again look dull and lackluster. So, the results of the treatment are not permanet.

There are various home remedies you can try to get rid of your dull skin like using a lemon to clean your face. You can also try sugar (white or brown or both) to exfoliate your face. Try mixing coconut oil with honey and apply it on the face and leave for 15 minutes and then wash off with lukewarm water. You can also try using sweet almond oil on your face to lighten your complexion. However, it is important to remember that by doing these home remedies only will not guarantee a radiant skin. You also have to exfoliate, moisturize and drink plenty of water for that healthy glow.