Ditch the soap! Dermatologists on 20 simple ways to love and protect your skin
Ditch the soap! Dermatologists on 20 simple ways to love and protect your skin
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Do you need a complicated skincare routine, or is a cleanser enough? And what about sugar, sleep, stress and smoking?. Our skin is ever-changing and there is so much you can do to look after it – but when should you start using anti-ageing products? And should you ever squeeze a spot? From sunscreen to soap-dodging, dermatologists demystify skincare.
![[Sarah Phillips]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2017/10/09/Sarah-Phillips,-L.png?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
“I tell my patients that their skin is a window into their general health,” says Dr Ophelia E Dadzie, a consultant dermatologist at Hillingdon hospital in Uxbridge and a specialist in skin of colour. “It is about going back to basics and keeping things simple,” Dadzie says. “This doesn’t mean spending lots of money on expensive skincare products. It is about proper nutrition, exercise, getting enough sleep, stress reduction and having a very basic skincare regime.”.
![[Woman cleaning face with wet wipes in bathroom]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b62e0c5d097538b25fbb3185205c31f0648dabbe/0_0_6147_3690/master/6147.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
“As long as you cleanse properly after wearing makeup, moisturise if required and use sunscreen on a sunny day, for the vast majority of people, that is all they need to do,” says Dr Jean Ayer, a Cheshire-based dermatologist who is a senior lecturer at the University of Manchester.
![[An adult smears sun tan lotion on a young girl’s face. She closes her eyes tightly as it is applied.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/0bda20ca8f34ae26c96afb156a918478f614d7e8/0_0_8256_5504/master/8256.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Despite what TikTok would have you believe, children don’t need to start using specialised products at the age of 10. “I see lots of very young people now who ask me about hyaluronic acid and retinoids,” says Ayer. “Pre-puberty, you don’t need to use anything.” If children are interested in skincare, she says, go for safe products such as a non-comedogenic moisturiser (meaning it won’t clog or block pores) and micellar water.
![[A doctor holds a special lens over the moles on a man’s back]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ed0b08bf1bc1877120fea231b459a6a35128fdd0/0_102_7008_4205/master/7008.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
