What are the causes of problem skin? Triska Looke, Education Instructor with the Dermalogica International Dermal Institute tells you some uncommon trigger factors for common skin problems.


1) 80 to 99 per cent of ageing is caused by the sun.
 Problems that may be evident on the skin when exposed to UVA and UVB rays could be telangiectasia (dilated capillaries), cell turnover slows down and skin does not feel as supple, chronic dehydration and hyper-hypo pigmentation.

DO: Apply a sunscreen to your face and body that protects against harmful UVA and UVB rays


2) It takes approximately 45 days for existing pigmented skin cells to be shed.
In your youth it can take 14-28 days for your skin cells to be renewed. Unfortunately as our skin ages, the skin cell renewal rate slows down too. So, when we are in our 40s, it will take twice as long for skin cells to renew themselves than when you are in your 20s.

DO: Use products that contain ingredients that encourage skin to renew, prevents formation of pigmentation on a cellular level and protects against further development of hyper-pigmentation caused by environmental assault like the sun.


3) If you are on any form of medically prescribed exfoliating medication or products, whether orally or topically, you should not exfoliate the skin.
Such oral medications or topical treatments that have been prescribed by a doctor or dermatologist to rectify skin concerns, such as grades 3 and 4 acne, hyper-pigmentation and ageing, are exfoliating either internally or topically and can thin the skin.

Exfoliating further or even waxing anywhere over the face or body can cause irritation to the skin.

DO: Use a skincare product that is calming to the skin.

4) Post inflammatory hyper-pigmentation can be due to any type of trauma to the skin, such as a breakout, cut or lesion.
Those brown irregular patches of pigment on the skin are also known as post inflammatory hyper-pigmentation. They can be due to problems of irritation and inflammation, which may be caused as a result of popping that pimple, cutting the skin or any other form of trauma to the skin.

DO: Avoid squeezing or popping pimples, even though the temptation to do so is very strong. Also, you may wish to use skincare products that contain ingredients such as green tea, zinc sulfate, menthol, camphor and coneflower, which will inhibit and suppress the four contributing factors of acne formation – overactive sebaceous glands, cell accumulation, bacteria and inflammation.

5) Using soap on the skin causes chronic dehydration.
When skin is dehydrated, it will lead to an impaired barrier function. You may subsequently experience itchiness, sensitivity, tightness and redness. These problems are caused by using an alkaline soap that strips the skin from its natural protective mechanism.

DO: Throw away the soap! Like facial skin, body skin needs tender loving care. Use a cleanser that is gentle on your skin and does not strip away moisture or oil. Exfoliate at least once a week, and remember to moisturize.

6) You can over-exfoliate your skin.
When you over-exfoliate their skin, you may experience irritation, dehydration, sensitivity, redness and flakiness. The skin is over stimulated the skin and causes too much friction, which can lead to these uncomfortable skin concerns

DO: Exfoliate daily with a gentle exfoliation product like the Daily Microfoliant to help stimulate cell renewal rates, reduce the signs of premature aging, improve skin texture and brighten the skin. But exfoliate more intensely with a stronger product like the Gentle Cream Exfoliant once a week.

7) Papules and pustules (breakouts), comedones (blackheads) can be caused by the makeup you apply to your skin.
These breakouts occur due to the artificial colours found in many foundations, compact powders and blushes.

DO: Apply an oil-free make-up base first before applying the rest of your make-up.

8) Spraying artificial fragrances that may be found in perfumes on the neck, decolletage and wrist area can be a trigger factor for hyper-pigmentation.
Hyper-pigmentation can even occur on areas such as the neck and wrist – areas where perfumes are often sprayed on. These artificial fragrances can cause skin to be more sensitive to UV rays, which increases the possibility of pigmentation in these areas.

DO: Spray your perfume on your clothes, rather than your skin if you wear fragrances.

9) Adult acne is more common in combination skin, that is, an oily T-zone and normal cheeks area. Breakouts and congestion is more prevalent on the jaw line, chin and neck area. 
Adult acne is primarily caused by chronic stress

DO: Manage your stress level. For quick and easy stress management at home after a hard day’s work, mix 2-3 drops of relaxing essential oil, such as lavender oil with a body moisturizer before applying.

10) Chronic stress over a prolonged period can be a trigger factor for hyper-pigmentation. 
If one continues to suffer from chronic stress over a period of time, pigmentation on facial areas such as the temples and jaw line will appear.

DO: Bring down stress levels. You can use products that contain pigment-controlling ingredients and exfoliate existing pigment cells. Sunscreen is a must.