Since 2020, we have had to change our ways of living because of Covid-19. Wearing masks has become the new normal and most of us have realized it’s causing more damage to our skin. Consequently, we have to wear them to keep out mouth and nose covered to prevent Covid-19. However, there are ways to keep your skin from breaking out and still looking clear.  

Wash your face more often 

Now that we have this pandemic, our lives have completely changed. As well as your skin routine. You will want to wash your face more often than usual. This includes: 

• Once in the morning before putting on your mask 
• Once at night before bed 
• After sweating or wearing your mask 

Remember, when you wash your face, use lukewarm water. Pat your skin dry with a clean towel to avoid scrubbing your skin as it can cause irritation. Keeping your face clean before you put your mask on and after taking it off will help keep your skin clean.  

Use a moisturizer 

Dry skin is a common problem when wearing a face mask. Using a moisturizer can reduce dryness by adding a protective barrier. Choose a moisturizer that is fragrance and oil free. You should also use a moisturizer with one of the following ingredients: 

• Ceramides 
• Hyaluronic acid 
• Dimethicone (which can also create a barrier that helps reduce irritated skin) 

Ceramides are a class of fatty acids and are naturally found in skin cells. They help create a barrier and locks in moisture to help prevent dryness and irritation. Ceramides can help protect form environmental damage and have anti-aging effects.  

Hyaluronic acid is a clear substance that is naturally produced by your body. This can also help with moisturizing skin, decreases wrinkles, enhance skin firmness and elasticity, as well as repair and regenerate skin.  

Dimethicone is a silicone-based ingredient used in many skin care products. It is used in primers, foundations, moisturizers, and other skin products. It helps retain moisture and fills in lines and wrinkles so your makeup looks even.  

What moisturizer should you use? 

We all have different types of skin and that’s why there’s so many forms of moisturizers too. Depending on your skin type will determine which moisturizer you should look for. If you have oily skin, a gel moisturizer will be perfect. Talk with our dermatologists at Allen-Taintor Dermatology for moisturizer products. If you have normal or combination skin, a lotion is best. If you have dry to very dry skin, cream moisturizers will help keep your skin from flaking.  

Take a break from the makeup 

Make up is sometimes a necessity for us. Although, it can make your skin breakout even more now. Makeup can clog pores, cause breakouts and soil your mask fabric. Taking a break from makeup will help keep your skin clear.  

Take care of your mask 

Another key way to prevent acne is to take care of your mask. Wash your fabric masks after every use, never reuse without washing. Fabric masks still collect dead skin, dirt and oils plus bacteria. Keep a rotation of masks on hand to help when cleaning them. If you wear disposable masks, toss them after their first use. They can still collect dirt and oils from your face. Since you can’t wash these, just throw them away. You should also remove your mask from your face every 4 hours for at least 15 minutes. This should give your face time to breathe.  

Wearing the right mask reduces skin problems. A snug and comfortable fit helps not only with protecting you from the virus and other diseases, but also your skin. If your mask feels too tight or moves around your face, it can irritate the skin. Thus, you are also touching your face more often because you’re adjusting your mask. Fabric is also important to avoiding irritation and breakouts. Avoid masks that are made of synthetic fabrics, such as nylon, polyester and rayon. The best mask fabric is 100% cotton. Cotton filters better than synthetic and lets your skin breathe through it.  

Overall, keep your face clean by washing it in the morning before putting on your mask, at night before bed and after use of your mask. Keep your 100% cotton masks clean by washing them after each use, use a rotation. Avoid using makeup and make sure your skin care routine is the right one for your skin type.  

If you have any further questions or concerns about taking care of your skin, contact Allen-Taintor Dermatology today!

Dry Skin During the Winter?

Does your skin become dry and itchy in the winter? Even worse than in the summer? You’d think that the summer is where you need to stay hydrated. But it’s in fact in the winter where you should pay more attention. In this article, we’ll talk about ways you can take care of your skin in winter, so you don’t have to be miserable.

Winter is gloomy as it is with the cold breeze and snow storms. Your cheeks and nose can feel raw when you go outside. When preparing for winter you change your wardrobe to warmer clothes and if you want healthy looking skin, you’re going to want to change your skin routine as well. Winter can make your skin lose up to 25% of its ability to hold moisture so that will cause your skin to be dry, itchy, and irritated.

Most of us enjoy taking hot showers or soak in marvelous hot baths during the winter time. That’s still splendid to do, but did you know it can also make your skin dry up even more? Your skin is becoming dry and dull by the steam and water, stripping it of its natural oils. So, the best thing you can do is to exfoliate. Exfoliating your skin removes the oldest dead skin cells from the surface. You can exfoliate your face with microdermabrasion or chemical peels. Here at Intermountain Aesthetics, we use facial masks to penetrate your pores to cleanse and restore facial skin tissue.

Exfoliating

There are many benefits to exfoliating your skin. Exfoliating can leave your skin looking bright and glowing. It helps prevent clogging pores and leaves you with fewer breakouts. Depending on how you exfoliate will leave your skin beautiful or can irritate it. You can DIY your physical exfoliant, or you can purchase a chemical exfoliant depending on the type of skin you have and how sensitive it is. Sometimes it is best for others to use a chemical exfoliant because it can give strikingly impressive results. Other times it is better for those with sensitive skin to DIY their own physical exfoliant. If you’re not sure what type of skin you have, talk to your dermatologist before experimenting on your own. Here are some different skin types to understand:

Normal

Normal skin is not easily irritated. Some people with this type of skin can find that experimenting with exfoliants or any skin routine results in no side effects. Their skin is not oily or dry, and they don’t need to have as much of a daily skin routine.

Dry

If you have flaky or rough skin, then it is dry. You will need to use a moisturizer once or twice a day depending on how dry your skin gets. In addition, you want to seek a dermatologist to help your skin become soft and radiant. You can also try to use droplets of oils to rub into your skin to moisturize and hydrate your skin.

Oily

Oily skin appears shiny and can feel greasy. A moisturizer is not a good idea to use. Preferably you will want to exfoliate to clear out all the oil that’s trickling out of the skin’s pores. A good shampoo that nourishes oils and clarifies helps with an oily scalp, which in terms prevents an oily face. Avoid adding drops of oils on your face as well, it will just make it worse.

Combination

Combination is a mix of oily and dry skin. One section of your face, say your nose and cheeks, can be dry. Another section of your face, say your forehead, can be oily. In this case you would need to use both a moisturizer and an exfoliant. You can use them at the same time depending on how your skin reacts to both mixtures, or you can use them one at a time.

Sensitive

Sensitive skin can cause burning, itching, or even redness. This can happen due to trying new products and your skin turns red and itchy, at times burns. In some cases, sensitive skin can be an underlying condition like eczema. I would speak with a dermatologist if you have sensitive skin, before trying any new products.
Acne-prone

If you are coherently getting acne and have tried every store-bought product you can find, then you are acne-prone. Talk to your dermatologist to see what they can propose for your acne-prone skin. They might recommend to look for products that contain retinoids, salicylic acid or glycolic acid.

Depending on what skin type you have, how you take care of it will depend on your skin in the winter time as well. There are a few more tips to try when the cold season hits. Try using a moisturizer regularly to prevent your skin from being particularly dry. Don’t forget to drink lots of water to further keep your skin hydrated. Use sunscreen. Yes, sunscreen is not just for the summer, your skin can burn from the reflection of the snow. For more information on taking care of your skin, contact Allen-Taintor Dermatology today!

“Why do my eyebrows look so thin?” You think to yourself.

If you’re worried about thin eyebrows or are worried that your eyebrows aren’t as well defined, then you should consider microblading. In this article, we’ll go over what microblading is. We’ll go over some of the most common questions that we get at Allen-Taintor Dermatology. Finally, we’ll help you understand why microblading might be right for you. 

It’s important to note that the information provided in this article should not be used in place of consulting with a professional dermatologist. 

What is microblading? When do I need microblading?

Microblading is a cosmetic procedure that involves “filling in” or defining thinner eyebrows. The purpose of microblading is to help your eyebrows look more fuller. With this procedure, a dermatologist takes a needle and then begins to inject ink-like substances to make your eyebrows fuller. This procedure is a tattooing practice that has been tried by many people. 

You may need microblading if you:

• Have thin eyebrows
• Have eyebrows that you wish were more defined
• Have eyebrows that could use enhancement

How long does microblading last? Do the results fade away with time? 

Microblading lasts for a long time. In fact, the results that you get from microblading are estimated to last for about 3 years. As with all things, microblading does have the possibility of fading over time. That’s why it’s important to get a touchup. It’s also important that you get a touch up from a professional with experience. 

Does microblading ruin your eyebrows? What are the benefits?

Microblading does not ruin your eyebrows. In fact, the purpose of microblading is to have more fuller and defined eyebrows. So, that means that the point is to have better eyebrows and not worse!

Here are some of the benefits of microblading:

• Microblading can improve your self-esteem and build your confidence. A lot of times, it may take something like fuller and defined eyebrows to boost your confidence. Feeling beautiful shouldn’t be for just a select few; you should feel beautiful as well!
• Microblading saves you time and the hassle of getting ready. Oftentimes, feeling overwhelmed by daily responsibilities can make living your best life feel like it’s a faraway dream. With microblading, you can wake up knowing that you are ready for the day or for an event. 
• Microblading saves you from spending on eyebrow products. Brushes, eyebrow fillers, and other makeup products can seem like they are cost-effective. The reality is though that they take up a lot of money.They also require frequent reapplication. 
• Microblading is a safe procedure. Some people worry about needles being used. The truth is that these needles have been prepped for that specific purpose and person. Microblading is also not painful since it involves numbing the areas where the needle will be used.

Where can I get microblading done?

If you’re in the state of Utah, you can get microblading done at Allen-Taintor Dermatology. At our Office, you will receive the best care out there. You’ll also have dermatologists who are trained in all areas of dermatology, including cosmetic dermatology. Remember, as you look for a dermatologist, you should consider:

• Schooling: Specifically, where they trained in dermatology?
• Years of experience: How long they’ve done these types of procedures.
• Expertise: what their background is in. Some dermatologists might not be as experienced in cosmetic procedures. 
• Reviews:: examples of microblading that they’ve done or reviews they’ve gotten. 

At Allen-Taintor Dermatology, we believe that your needs and concerns should be addressed. That’s why we will go over what you’re looking for in terms of microblading. We’ll also make sure to consider your medical history and other factors when you are a candidate for microblading.