Do you know what the largest organ in the human body is? That's right, leather. However, not many people realize it, they even tend to underestimate the treatment, even though the skin has a very important role in protecting the body from infections and germs. Every part of the body needs to be cleaned using a different technique, but the best way to take care of your skin is to clean it every day on a regular basis.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Cleansing Face
Step 1. First determine your skin type
Skin changes with age, especially during puberty. Finding the right skin care products at the convenience store or supermarket may be confusing. So many options on offer! How to choose a really suitable product? Before you waste money buying the wrong product, you should first determine what your current skin type is:
- Normal skin is not too oily and not too dry. Those with normal skin types deal less often with blemishes and are less sensitive to skin care products or the weather.
- Oily skin often looks shiny and greasy, even after washing it. People with oily skin are prone to acne problems and large pores.
- Dry skin often looks scaly, and wrinkles will be more pronounced. In addition, dry skin is often plagued with red blotches.
- Sensitive skin is often mistaken for dry skin because of its dry, red appearance. However, the difference is that sensitive skin is often due to certain ingredients used in skin care products.
- Combination skin has oily skin and dry or normal skin. Combination skin is usually oily in the T-zone or T-shaped area that includes the forehead, nose and chin and normal or dry skin on the rest of the face.
Step 2. Wash your hands first
Before starting to clean your face, make sure you wash your hands with warm water and soap to prevent bacteria or dirt from sticking to it. Using dirty hands will only transfer bacteria from your hands to your facial skin. Don't let you just wipe more bacteria to the face.
Step 3. Wash your face twice a day with warm water and mild soap
A face that looks clean is not necessarily really clean. It's important to wash your face every morning and every night before going to bed, especially if you wear makeup or have acne-prone skin. Keep the following things in mind:
- Do not use water that is too hot or too cold as it can damage the skin and trap dirt and oil in the pores.
- Gently massage the face in a circular motion. Don't rub your face! Scrubbing your face can cause skin irritation, redness, or breakouts.
- Be careful when cleaning the area around the eyes because the skin in that area is very delicate and sensitive. In addition, if you are too close to the eye, the cleaner is at risk of getting into your eyes!
- Don't over-wash your face! Excessive cleansing of the face can cause dry skin and trigger the skin to produce more oil so that the condition becomes the more oily and prone to staining.
Step 4. Find out if exfoliating is right for your skin type
Exfoliating may be appropriate for certain skin types, such as sun-damaged skin. However, for other skin types, such as acne prone skin, exfoliating can damage the skin. Consult a dermatologist to ensure that the exfoliation is suitable for your skin. Choose a scrub that is designed for your skin type and is not too harsh. Some of the available options include:
- Mild scrubs are made from grains, sugar, salt or other ingredients that can be used to exfoliate the skin naturally.
- Soft skin care brush. You can use a manual brush or a brush that moves left and right. Pour a mild cleanser or scrub on the brush and scrub your face gently.
- Facial masks that contain mild acids such as alpha-hydroxy acid or beta-hydroxy acid to exfoliate dead skin cells. Be careful if you want to use this option and don't forget to read the instructions on the package!
Step 5. Rinse face thoroughly after cleansing or exfoliating
Use warm water to rinse the cleanser off your face. You can also use a clean washcloth or hand to collect water from the faucet and splash it on your face. Make sure your face is really clean because the remaining cleanser can clog pores and cause irritation and blemishes on the skin.
Step 6. Dry your face with a soft clean cloth
Never dry your face with a dirty hand towel in the bathroom or a towel you use to dry yourself. You can transfer the new bacteria to clean facial skin. One more thing to note, do not rub your face. You can simply pat the skin gently to dry it. Treat the skin as gently as possible.
Step 7. Moisturize skin
After drying, apply moisturizer on the face. Many people skip this step. Applying a moisturizer that suits your skin type is very important after cleansing your face. Moisturizer locks the moisture contained in the skin so it doesn't evaporate and make the skin dry. If the weather is dry, use more or thicker moisturizer.
Part 2 of 3: Cleansing the Body
Step 1. Take a shower every day with warm or hot water
In addition to removing dirt and oil that can cause body acne, taking a bath once a day helps get rid of the bacteria that cause body odor. Avoid water that is too hot as it can strip the skin of important natural oils. For bathing, you can use water that is warmer than water to wash your face to kill bacteria.
Step 2. Take a proper shower
Before taking a shower, it's important to make sure your hands and the products you use are clean. Bar or liquid soap may be safe to use, but loofahs, bath sponges or washcloths cannot be guaranteed to be clean, especially when used together. Make sure each family member uses their own toiletries and cleans or replaces them regularly!
Step 3. Exfoliate your skin once a week, and pay attention to areas that are prone to breakouts
Body skin produces more sweat and oil than facial skin. Therefore, use a body scrub at least once a week. You can use a clean washcloth or sponge to scrub your body in slow circular motions, focusing on acne-prone areas like your chest, neck, and back.
Do not exfoliate too often because it can worsen the condition of body acne and cause irritation
Step 4. Dry the body gently with a clean towel
After the skin is dry, don't forget to apply lotion. Even though the skin on your body is not as thin as the skin on your face, that doesn't mean you can dry it carelessly. Always use a clean towel. When you're done showering, wash yourself in a damp, steamy bathroom until you're slightly damp, then apply lotion all over your body before leaving. The steam will keep the skin hydrated longer because the moisturizer soaks into the pores while they are still open.
Part 3 of 3: Hand Cleaning
Step 1. Wash your hands often and do it right
Washing your hands many times a day is very important for your health and that of others. Germs are everywhere, and some can make people seriously ill. So, it's important to wash your hands often, especially:
- After urinating or changing diapers
- After playing or doing activities outside the house
- Before or after visiting the sick
- After blowing your nose or coughing, especially if you are sick
- Before eating, serving food, or cooking
- If hand seen dirty
Step 2. Use warm water and mild soap
If you want, you can use antibacterial soap, but regular soap will do as well. Don't forget to use soap every time you wash your hands! Wash hands with water possible seen clean, but actually there are still a lot of germs attached. It's important to remember this, especially if you use a public restroom, or at home because germs and bacteria are everywhere.
Step 3. Clean the entire surface of the hand
Don't just apply soap on the palms and backs of your hands. To clean your hands thoroughly, rub both sides of your hands, between your fingers, under and around your nails to your wrists. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.
Step 4. Dry your hands with a clean towel or new paper towel
If you're at home or at a friend's house, make sure your hand towels are clean. If you use a public restroom, use paper towels/tissues to dry your hands and use the same tissue to open doorknobs. Dispose of the tissue in the trash can outside the bathroom. You'd be surprised how many people don't wash their hands after using the toilet and germs from their hands accumulate on doorknobs.
Step 5. Apply moisturizer to hands if necessary
You may not need to apply moisturizer after every hand wash, but the skin of your hands is also at risk of cracking like any other skin after washing. Try to bring a small bottle of hand moisturizer which is usually less oily and absorbs faster than other moisturizers to keep your hands clean and soft.
Tips
- If you are trying a new product, dab a small amount on the inside of your wrist or arm and see if there is any redness or irritation after 24 hours. This step helps you avoid products that may be allergic or sensitive to the skin.
- Change pillowcases, sheets, hand towels, body towels, bath sponges, and washcloths frequently as these are full of dead skin cells and bacteria that can make your skin dirty and prone to breakouts and irritation.
- After applying your daily facial cleansing routine, you can add a mask and toner as part of your skincare routine. Do some research on different types of masks (e.g. gels, clays, etc.) and toners (e.g. skin fresheners, skin tonics, astringents) to find the right product for your skin type.
- Make sure you clean anything that touches your face, such as cell phones, glasses, and sunglasses to prevent oil and bacteria from contaminating the skin around your nose, eyes, and mouth.
- If body acne won't go away despite regular cleansing, try wearing looser clothing. Tight clothing makes the skin unable to breathe, causing irritation and acne.
- Try to bring a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you to clean your hands if there's no handwashing area nearby!
Warning
- If a rash, irritation, itching, or burning sensation occurs on the skin when you clean your face, body or hands, stop using the product immediately and tell your parents or contact a doctor. Pay attention to the ingredients used for the product so you can determine what ingredients are allergic or sensitive to the skin.
- Do not clean your face with shampoo or hand soap because they contain very harsh ingredients and can damage the delicate facial skin.
