Dull skin: characteristic

Have you been diligent in washing your face, but your skin is still dull? Or have you often used a moisturizer with a formula to brighten your skin, but still there are no big changes? Dull skin is a problem for many people. Owners of dry, oily, and even combination skin can experience this problem.

In order to brighten skin that is not radiant, you certainly need to understand what the causes and characteristics are first. This will help you to get rid of the dull skin problem from the root.

The characteristics of dull skin

Healthy skin is skin that has enough moisture. When touched, the skin feels supple, firm, and soft. On the other hand, dull skin doesn't get enough moisture, so its appearance is masked by darker colors.

Dark color on dull skin is different from skin tone that is naturally dark. People with dark skin have more of the pigment melanin in their skin. The more melanin production, the darker your skin tone will be.

Even dark skin will still look radiant as long as it is healthy and moisturized enough. Meanwhile, dull skin looks flat and not bright. This skin type is basically the opposite of skin that is young, bright, and healthy.

Causes of dull skin

There are many things that can cause dull skin. Below are some of the most common factors.

1. Increasing age

The skin will age with age. Gradually, the production of a skin-supporting protein called collagen will continue to decline. This natural condition makes the skin appear drier, filled with wrinkles and fine lines, and is radiant.

2. Lack of water intake

According to a study in the journal Clinical Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology , drinking enough water is proven to make skin healthier. Water keeps the skin moisturized and supple, making it more resistant to irritation, cracking and damage.

The water you drink also hydrates the skin from beneath the surface. Without adequate fluid intake, the skin becomes dry and looks less radiant. Skin pores are also more visible and wrinkles appear faster.

3. Heat and dry air

Although it can happen to anyone, dull skin problems are more experienced by people who live in hot areas. This condition is also more common in dry season, winter, or certain dry weather.

4. Rarely use a moisturizer

Apart from water intake, your skin also needs moisture from outside. This is why you shouldn't miss using a moisturizer, especially for those of you who have dry skin. Using moisturizer twice a day can protect the skin from the risk of damage.

5. Buildup of dead skin cells

The skin will naturally shed dead cells (exfoliation procedure) to make room for new healthy cells.

However, this sometimes does not work properly so that dead skin cells accumulate. The skin eventually looks dry, scaly, and cracked.

6. The habit of staying up late

The immune system builds collagen and keratin while you sleep. Both of these substances are useful for tightening and nourishing the skin. If you stay up late, your body can't produce both, so your skin doesn't look fresh and your eye bags appear thickened.

7. Unmanaged stress

Stress is actually a natural thing. However, prolonged stress can actually interfere with skin health and aggravate existing skin diseases. One of the complaints that arise is dull, radiant skin.

8. Eating too much sweet food

Sugar in sweet foods can increase the insulin hormone in the body. The increase in insulin can trigger inflammation throughout the body and cause collagen breakdown. As a result, the skin becomes dull and looks older and has lots of wrinkles.

9. Smoking habits

Smoking habits can damage the walls of blood vessels, thereby reducing the flow of nutrient-rich blood to the skin. In fact, the oxygen supply to the skin will be reduced for one hour with just 10 minutes of smoking.

Of course this will make the skin wrinkled, brittle, and difficult to repair. In addition, heavy smokers are also up to five times more likely to develop other skin problems including skin cancer.

10. The habit of drinking alcoholic beverages

Alcoholic drinks dehydrate the body. This is due to the nature of alcohol which draws water from the body. If you drink alcohol too often, especially without drinking water, your skin will be more prone to becoming dull.

Like any other part of the body, the skin can become healthy or sick. The skin can also be well nourished or malnourished. When the skin lacks moisture and nutrients, this is the trigger for dull skin problems.

If you feel you have the characteristics of dull skin, try to remember what might be the cause. Whether it's age, habits, to skin care mistakes, the key to overcoming this problem is to identify the cause first.

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