Maintaining perfect skin is actually a lifestyle. As you age, you get to understand what your skin needs, what can make it glow, and what can cause impurities and imperfections. For blotchy skin, when it does appear, you should not wait to figure it out, get rid of it immediately.
Don’t be alarmed, blotchy skin is not some incurable disease, but it is discomforting, especially if you have been on a journey of a healthy skincare lifestyle. Therefore, the only thing left to do is treat it. This guide will show you how you can get rid of blotchy skin.
What is blotchy skin?
Blotchy skin is skin that is unevenly colored or discolored, with patches of redness, darkness, or uneven texture.
It can appear anywhere on the body, but it is most common on the face, neck, chest, and arms. Blotchy skin varies in degree, and it may be associated with other symptoms such as itching, flaking, or swelling.
However, you can treat blotchy skin with topical treatments, lifestyle changes, or medical interventions, depending on the cause.
What causes blotchy skin?
1. Sun exposure: Excessive sun exposure can result in sun damage, including age spots, freckles, and uneven pigmentation as well as blotchy skin.
2. Hormone changes: You can also experience blotchy skin due to hormone fluctuations, such as those that occur during menopause or pregnancy.
3. Skin irritation: This is the most common. Redness, itching, and blotchiness can result from skin irritation caused by specific skincare products, chemicals, or materials.
4. Genetics: Some individuals may have blotchy skin due to their genes.
5. Medical issues: Blotchy skin can result from illnesses like eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis.
6. Aging: As we become older, our skin becomes less elastic, blotchier, and thinner. It’s unsurprising to see blotchy skin on aged people.
7. Allergic reactions: Blotchy skin can also happen due to allergic reactions to specific foods, drugs, or environmental allergens.
8. Unhealthy lifestyle factors: Lifestyle habits such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and poor diet can contribute to blotchy skin.
How to get rid of blotchy skin
1. Use gentle skincare products
Look for products free of harsh chemicals, fragrances, and alcohol. If you have sensitive skin, it’s a more significant reason why you should stay from harmful chemicals and products without hypoallergenic ingredients.
Ingredients like parabens, sulfates, phthalates, aluminum, formaldehyde, etc., have side effects on the skin that could cause blotchy skin.
However, using gentle products that treat and heal your skin would bring back the even tone of your skin. You can use products with ingredients like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, and niacinamide.
2. Stay hydrated
Water not only helps the body stay refreshed, but it also helps in keeping the skin supple. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day to maintain proper hydration. This will help your skin stay nourished and bright.
3. Avoid hot showers and baths
While your skin is experiencing blotchiness, you should avoid hot showers and baths because they can strip your skin of its natural oils and aggravate blotchiness.
Additionally, it’s hard for nutrients to stay in your pores because they are open under steamy and hot contact. Lukewarm water is the best option.
4. Consider topical treatments
Topical or spot treatments concentrated with vitamin C serums, retinoids, arbutin, and hydroquinone (in monitored doses) can help reduce the appearance of blotchy skin. Consult your dermatologist to determine which treatment is best for you.
5. Maintain a healthy diet
A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins can help support healthy skin. Some of them are rich in antioxidants which help the skin fight free radicals and aggressors in the skin.
Also, stay away from junk and fatty foods. And in cases where you do not have a choice, be sure to detox your body.
Too much oil and sugar in the system can also lead to redness of the skin and blotchiness, so avoid them and eat healthily.
6. Manage your stress
Stress can aggravate skin conditions such as blotchiness. Stress-reduction techniques like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises would help you.
Likewise, reduce your stressors and triggers by creating a safe space for yourself, which includes setting boundaries with work, going out for a change of scenery, or finding a hobby to relieve your stress.
7. Protect your skin from the sun
Sunscreen is an essential part of skincare. They contain particles that would act as a film and protect the skin from UVA/UVB radiation which releases free radicals into the skin.
Wear broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 whenever you go outside, even on cloudy days. If you have an active lifestyle or go swimming, reapply the sunscreen every two hours to keep your skin always protected.
8. Exfoliate frequently
Over-exfoliating can cause redness and blotchy skin because you keep stripping your skin of oils and exposing it to harsh effects like micro-tears. This could lead to scabs or redness on the skin, which worsens blotchiness.
You can get rid of blotchy skin by reducing how often you exfoliate your skin. For oily skin, two to three times a week would suffice.
Meanwhile, dry and sensitive skin should exfoliate with a chemical exfoliant once a week. This would help retain enough moisture while giving your skin room to rejuvenate.
9. Cosmetic procedures
Chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and microneedling are some of the cosmetic procedures that can get rid of blotchy skin. They use chemicals and needles to puncture tiny wounds in the skin that would hasten collagen reproduction.
However, these procedures should be done under the care of practiced professionals like dermatologists and estheticians.
Natural ways to get rid of blotchy skin
1. Aloe vera
The anti-inflammatory characteristics of aloe vera gel can help to soothe and calm blotchy skin. You can either directly apply aloe vera gel to your skin or hunt for skincare products with aloe as an ingredient.
2. Cucumber
Cucumber can help reduce inflammation and has a cooling impact on the skin. Apply thin cucumber slices to your skin or make a paste and apply it as a face mask.
3. Green tea
Due to its high antioxidant content, green tea might help lessen skin inflammation and redness. Make a cup of green tea and use it as a toner, or use green tea bags as a compress for the blotchy area.
4. Apple cider vinegar
Acetic acid, which is found in apple cider vinegar, can help balance your skin’s pH and lessen the redness. Mix equal volumes of apple cider vinegar and water then apply the solution to your skin with a cotton ball.
5. Honey
Honey has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial characteristics that can help calm and mend blotchy skin. Apply a light coating of honey to your skin, let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
How to prevent blotchy skin
- Hydrate your skin by drinking enough water daily.
- Also, hydrate your skin by using products rich in moisture-protecting ingredients. Hyaluronic acid, collagen, ceramides, and peptides are the best ingredients to do this.
- Use sunscreen even on dull days.
- Avoid products with harsh ingredients that can flare up your skin.
- Avoid other triggers like environmental stressors, oily foods, or allergens that would flare your blotchy skin.
- Control your stress by maintaining a balanced healthy lifestyle. Or you can take up stress-relieving exercises like yoga.
- Visit your dermatologist frequently for checkups.
- Apply cold compress once you notice redness on your skin.
- Maintain a skincare routine meant for your skin type.
FAQs
Is blotchy skin permanent?
No, it is not. When caused by external aggressors or bad skin practices, blotchy skin can be treated and fixed. However, blotchy skin caused by genetics can be reduced or prevented from triggering.
What skincare product is best for blotchy skin?
Sunscreen and moisturizer. These two work best in providing protection and moisture to your skin. While moisturizer enhances the pH balance of your skin, sunscreen prevents UVA/UVB radiation from penetrating into the skin.
Is blotchy skin the same thing as uneven skin tone?
No, it is not. Regardless, they are used interchangeably because they have to do with discoloration of the skin.
However, skin blotch is patchy discoloration caused by exposure to the sun or other aggressors. Meanwhile, uneven skin tone is the overall color gradient of your skin.
Your skin can have the same hue, or it can have different shades of your complexion. Furthermore, this color difference is often caused by patchy skin.
Caring for your skin
Blotchy skin, asides from being genetic, is caused by exposure to the sun, over-exfoliating, or bad skin practices that would affect your skin surface.
Nevertheless, you can try lifestyle changes or use cream and other cosmetic products to treat it. You can also use natural remedies like aloe vera, honey, green tea, or cucumber to get your even skin back.
And just because you have blotchy skin does not mean your skin is hopeless. You can still get back in your skincare journey by sticking to healthy lifestyle practices.
Thanks for reading.
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