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Ideally, you should cleanse your face twice daily – once in the morning and once at night. Choosing the wrong facial cleanser can lead to dryness, which may cause skin damage, increased sensitivity, and redness. The ideal cleanser should be strong enough to remove impurities but gentle enough to avoid stripping or harming the skin. You likely want to eliminate excess oil, dirt, and pollutants to restore your skin’s natural cleanliness. If you’ve overdone it and now need to soothe irritated skin, there are numerous ways to alleviate dryness-related symptoms. However, the most crucial step is selecting the right cleanser for your skin type.
Steps
Soothing Skin Irritated by Facial Cleanser
Rinse your face with room-temperature water. Water that’s too hot or too cold can damage the skin, causing shock to the skin cells. Instead, use room-temperature water to wash your entire face. If you feel any soap residue remaining, rinse again.
- Leftover soap on the face can clog pores just like oil and makeup do, but instead of causing breakouts, your skin may weaken from excessive soap exposure.
Apply a high-quality moisturizer after cleansing. If your facial cleanser causes irritation, it may have stripped too much natural oil from your skin. A good moisturizer replenishes beneficial oils and helps your skin retain moisture. Dehydrated skin can feel itchy, dry, flaky, and uncomfortable. The key to a solid skincare routine is a high-quality moisturizer.
- Moisturizers containing humectants are highly effective. Look for products with urea, alpha hydroxy acids like lactic or glycolic acid, glycerin, or hyaluronic acid in their ingredients. If your moisturizer includes these, it’s an excellent choice.
Avoid scratching your skin. Dry skin often feels itchy, tempting you to scratch. However, scratching can further damage the skin and increase the risk of infections. If an infection occurs, you might need antibiotics, or at the very least, the healing process will take longer. Resist the urge to scratch and find alternative ways to relieve the itch.
Apply aloe vera to your skin. Aloe vera is a remarkable plant that can soothe most skin issues, such as sunburns, dryness, and irritation. You can grow aloe vera at home. For fresh aloe, simply cut a leaf and apply the gel inside to the irritated area. If fresh aloe isn’t an option, you can purchase it from pharmacies or grocery stores.
Use Vaseline to treat dry or cracked skin. One of the most popular remedies for dry skin (caused by cleansers or otherwise) is Vaseline. It’s gentle and effective. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends Vaseline for dry, sensitive skin and common irritations. It’s affordable and widely available at grocery stores and pharmacies.
Apply a small amount of apple cider vinegar to irritated skin. Apple cider vinegar is a natural antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal agent that can reduce itching. Simply dab a few drops onto a cotton pad and apply it to the itchy area. You can use raw, organic, unfiltered, or refined apple cider vinegar—both types work effectively.
Consult a dermatologist. If your skin remains painful, dry, and irritated for an extended period, or if it starts bleeding, seek advice from a dermatologist. They can recommend a new skincare routine or prescribe treatments tailored to your skin. Additionally, they can determine if your skin issues stem from something more serious unrelated to your cleanser, such as eczema or rosacea.
Choosing the Right Facial Cleanser
Select a cleanser based on your skin type. Many people choose cleansers based on advertisements or recommendations from friends with healthier skin. However, everyone’s skin is different. A cleanser designed for oily skin may strip too much oil from someone with dry skin, while a cleanser for dry skin might not effectively remove excess oil from someone with oily skin. Ask yourself: Is your skin oily or dry?
Pick the “type” of facial cleanser that suits you. Facial cleansers come in various forms: bar soap, foaming cleansers, non-foaming cleansers, soap-free cleansers, cleansing balms, micellar water, oil-based cleansers, and medicated soaps. Most of these require water to work effectively, except micellar water, which already contains water and only needs a cotton pad for application.
- Bar soaps typically have a higher pH or acidity level compared to foaming or liquid cleansers. Some studies suggest that bar soaps may increase bacteria on the skin rather than remove it.
Pay close attention to the ingredients in your cleanser. Manufacturers often add lavender, coconut, or other compounds to make products seem more luxurious or to add fragrance. While this rarely causes dryness or breakouts, it’s still possible. If you notice your skin worsening after trying a new product, opt for a fragrance-free cleanser.
Avoid purchasing soaps containing harmful ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate and alcohol. These ingredients are often too harsh for most skin types. Sodium laureth sulfate is slightly milder than sodium lauryl sulfate, but both can irritate skin sensitive to strong cleansers.
- If your favorite soap includes these ingredients but doesn’t dry out your skin, you can continue using it. Just ensure they aren’t listed at the top of the ingredient list. Ingredients listed first have higher concentrations than those at the end.
Experiment with different cleansers to find the one that best suits your skin type. A good test is to wipe your face with an alcohol-soaked cotton pad after washing. If you notice oil or makeup residue on the pad, the product may not be strong enough. Remember, excess oil or residue could also result from improper cleansing. Try washing your face again before discarding the product.
Check user reviews for the product. Some consumers believe higher prices equate to better quality, but as mentioned earlier, everyone’s skin is different. While some may prefer expensive products, others may not find them suitable. Read numerous reviews from people who have tried the product. Look for complaints about dryness, strong scents, breakouts, or any dermatological issues causing redness and itching.
Seek advice from a dermatologist. Everyone’s skin can change, from oily to dry, combination, or normal. Factors like stress, weather, daily activities, pollution exposure, and other causes can alter your skin type. A dermatologist can prescribe different cleansers tailored to your ever-changing skin.
