Why Keeping Skin Clean Is So Important

Your skin is your largest organ, and many people would agree, your most beautiful one. Keeping your largest organ clean is especially important because it is exposed to a host of pollutants every day. Outside contaminants including pollution from the environment and harmful products we apply to our skin cause blockages and prevent our skin from breathing. Inside contaminants from other organs detoxifying the body come to the surface as sweat and oil. This is why cleaning the surface layer of skin is so important. It is becoming increasingly important as our environment becomes more harsh.

To avoid getting pimples, skin disorders, and ultimately wrinkles requires the skin to be cleansed frequently. It is especially important to cleanse at night. Morning washing will wake you up and is good too, but if you don’t clean your skin well at night, the time when your body is making repairs, it will not be able to detoxify. Before retiring for the evening, make a habit of washing your face thoroughly.

A lot of soaps claim to be gentle and non-irritating. Most soaps will not irritate most of the skin on your body, but your face is a different story. The skin on your face is thinner and more sensitive than the skin covering other places. If you have very sensitive or very dehydrated skin you might want to avoid cleansers all together except for a few times a week. Soap has a high PH and will irritate and age your skin prematurely if you are susceptible. Some water and the juice of a lemon is a natural way to cleanse the skin. The acid from the lemon will cut the grime and is not harsh like a soap.

Skin that is “normal” to dry can be washed with a hydrating cleanser with an emollient (lotion). It is still best to look for products that are gentle. Normal soap leaves a residue that essentially defeats the purpose of cleansing in the first place. Refrain from drying your face or dab it dry with a clean cloth when finished washing so that your emollient does not rub off.

For skin that is more oily, it is sometimes good to look for a product that is classified as a milk. These products cleanse well and do not add any moisture or potentially clogging material when you wash. Oily skin needs to be washed more frequently to keep it clean. Adding the lemon juice regimen between cleanings is a way to keep oily skin under control.

Exfoliation is an aspect of clean skin care that is often overlooked. On top of the vast array of pollutants we already talked about, the skin produces its own clogging factors. It is a living organism and it reproduces and regenerates. The dead skin cells clog our pores too. This is why exfoliation is important. Exfoliation, or sloughing off dead skin cells, is easy and effective at even once a week. Too much will cause undue stress and irritation. Dry exfoliation is done with a natural bristle brush. You firmly “brush” your skin in a circular motion to increase circulation and detoxification. Exfoliating cleansers, or facial scrubs, are applied with the same circular technique followed by a good rinse.

We learned how to wash our hands in preschool; washing your face can be as easy. In order for the practice to become a habit it is advised to have a routine in mind when washing. First, moisten your face, apply cleanser to your hands and lather. Then, using your fingers, massage the product gently into your skin. Rinse with a splash or a cloth being careful to remember the personal characteristics of your skin. Check to make sure you cannot feel any residue on your face, and then air dry or blot dry with a clean cloth. Remember that after washing you are not protected from UV rays and might need to apply a product with SPF for protection. Your largest organ is ready to face the world.