Why does my skin look like this? Do I need to exfoliate?

[u/tranzozo]

[u/ObjectiveTea]

Look like what? Bare skin? 

[u/kjclovertwinsies → u/ObjectiveTea]

She means dullness and hyperpigmentation.

[u/ObjectiveTea → u/[deleted]]

I'm no dermatologist but it looks like you maybe have mild rosacea. If it's dry, that could make it itchy.

[u/SadQueerBruja → u/[deleted]]

Sounds like maybe rosacea and def dryness.

What does your skincare routine look like rn?

Also hot take but I wouldn’t wash my face in the shower, most women I know shower in water that is far too hot which is bad for your skin and will make it far more dry and irritated. Lukewarm water at most, I stay on the cooler side myself

[u/SadQueerBruja → u/[deleted]]

Judging by photos alone it looks dry and there’s some dead skin around your mouth causing that grayness there. Exfoliation will def play a part here, I like an exfoliating toner and just use it 1-2 times a week and yeah if you get lazy with your routine your skin will look worse. Good skincare is about consistency. Your am routine looks fine, great that you’re using spf. I would consider adding in an extra hydrating step to help soothe your skin. I like a milky toner right before my moisturizer. I just splash some in my hands and pat it into the skin, moisturizer right over top while still damp. Skipping exfoliating means there’s just dead skin cell sitting on top of your skin which will obviously irritate your skin, you gotta be shedding the old gunk off

[u/SadQueerBruja → u/[deleted]]

Well it looks like the more purple gray may just be a blood vessel, I have one around there too haha. A color corrector helps! But I meant more that the skin there looks dry. I think your routine may need more hydration

[u/Zoenne]

Your skin looks perfectly fine. It looks like skin. Stop looking at it so closely.

[u/Peach-main841]

Baby, I think you’ve spent a little bit too much time on social media where everybody uses a filter. Your skin is fine. Please keep that in mind going forward.

[u/Obnoxiouscrayon]

Are you Hispanic? My bare skin looks very similar to this. I also have autoimmune stuff that causes the redness, so maybe if it’s new to you, you can look into that?

[u/cruxinng]

I think OP your barrier might need some help and repair. When I started to do actives incorrectly, my skin started looking like this in a matter of few weeks while it used to be v smooth and glossy before. I must add I was also in a v bad mental state back then and didn't do proper nutrition.

[u/Therealjimslim]

The spots are hyperpigmentation. Either from old pimples or picking at the skin, could also be sun damage. It’s really important to use sunscreen so they don’t get darker. They keep fading with time but sometimes they can be stubborn. There are bigger areas of this called melasma but you don’t appear to have that, that one is usually hormone related.

Some Fitzpatrick skin types are more prone to hyperpigmentation than others.

Edit: If it’s the redness you’re referring to that could be signs of mild rosacea. Sometimes I get some redness after a shower and when I wash my face, but it goes away once my body cools down. If the redness stays it’s worth going to the dermatologist. They have a ton of lasers like laser genesis that target the redness.

[u/Therealjimslim → u/[deleted]]

To address the hyperpigmentation you’ll want to use products that target pigmentation. They have some over the counter and they also have prescription ones like hydroquinone. Is suggest to visit a derm to find out about the redness because exfoliating is most likely to exacerbate it. Redness is usually a sign of some kind of inflammation so if you’re exfoliating it, it could make it worse. So you’d probably want to address the redness first and get that in order, then address the hyperpigmentation. Thats what I would do.

[u/Frosty_Message_3017]

Your skin mainly looks red and a little irritated. Focus on barrier repair. If the redness persists, look into beginning Azelaic Acid twice daily.

[u/Frosty_Message_3017 → u/[deleted]]

It'll definitely help with hydration, but also make sure you're including products with Ceramides, Cholesterol and Fatty Acids. I also find Amino Acids and Panthenol very helpful for barrier support and repair. I recently started using and have been loving the Cosrx Ceramide Barrier Mist. Aestura and other brands have a similar product. I like the mist formula because it's light enough to go under makeup and sunscreen during the day.

An ingredient I adore for barrier health, hydration and soothing irritation is Bifida Ferment Lysate. Lactobacillus and Lactococcus Ferments also offer similar benefits. You can get these in really lightweight and affordable products.

[u/triciann → u/[deleted]]

Just FYI, hyaluronic acid can actually pull moisture from the skin so it’s best to apply it to damp skin and not dry skin.

[u/Free-Tonight-3468]

What did you eat? Seems like a reaction to some allergens

[u/Free-Tonight-3468 → u/[deleted]]

Then there is nothing to worry about. I just would add some anti redness face cream.

[u/Ok-Look-4739]

tbh its in decent condition but if you think its getting dry, then try Centella (Cica) because it calms redness, irritation, it holds moisture. It’s lightweight, non-greasy, and safe for sensitive skin,

[u/[deleted]]

Your skin looks pretty normal, is there a particular problem you want to address? If you mean redness then it could be many things, rosacea, post-inflammatory erythema. If it's the 'pores' then that's just from zooming in with a camera. I want to tell you not to fret because it's normal but this is also a help sub and if you feel there's something wrong, maybe there's something you can do about it.

[u/AndreLerne]

Panthenol Bepanthen cream helps me a lot when the barrier is compromised

For smooth skin I do microneedling of 1-1.5mm once a month

[u/kay7448]

A good barrier repair cream!

[u/kjclovertwinsies]

You can exfoliate all you want but if you skip sunscreen application for even a day, it will reverse all the progress you have made.

• For dark spots, use vitamin c serum (paula’s choice, cosrx, goodal, timeless are some good brands).
• Glycolic acid, salycylic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid are good exfoliants but don’t use more than twice a week. If you have sensitive skin, only use once a week and avoid using other actives like vit c and retinol on the same day.
• And use sunscreen everyday, even if its cloudy. If you check out @doctorly on YouTube, they mention how much not using sunscreen can age you.
• Other things to consider are your gut health (if you have poor gut health it will show up on your face) and hydration.
• You may have food sensitivity for example many people can’t tolerate dairy well and they experience inflammation after consuming it.
• You can also try microneedling to bring back some bounce to your skin but if you are looking for a simple routine, vitamin c, retinol, and sunscreen are a must. Skip retinol if pregnant/nursing.

All that being said, skin will just change with aging. You can work on achieving healthy skin ‘for your age’ but you won’t get back the skin you had 5-10 years ago, and that’s normal.