How To Improve Skin Texture Naturally

There are many different ways to improve skin texture or an uneven skin tone and some don’t need to cost a fortune. In fact, many of the steps you can take yourself are entirely natural, and some will even have positive side-effects in terms of your overall health too!

Stay Out of the Sun

We love the sun, but our skin doesn’t. Not only will sun exposure increase your risk of developing melanoma, but sun exposure also ages the skin, increasing fine lines and an uneven texture. By staying out of the sun and remembering to wear sunscreen throughout the year, you will be helping to prevent wrinkles, fine lines, blotchiness and unevenness, and keep your skin texture as smooth as possible for as long as possible. Those who have sensitive skin must be especially wary of the sun and put sunblock on regularly to avoid sun damage.

Hyperpigmentation resulting from sun damage (also known as photo-ageing) or that resulting from trauma such as a wound or acne (which is technically known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) have no set pattern; they will either be directly in the trauma zone... so precisely where each acne spot was or where the cut or graze was is your pigmentation is post-inflammatory. If your hyperpigmentation is the result of sun damage this can appear commonly as freckles, individual dark spots, or a general unevenness to the skin tone. These types of skin pigmentation can be successfully treated with many of the same skin pigmentation treatments.

The skin pigmentation treatments often recommended in our skin clinic include Fraxel Dual laser, Clear and Brilliant laser, chemical peels, and prescription products.

Exfoliate & Remove Dead Skin Cells

Regular exfoliation will help clear the buildup of dead cells from your skin, revealing the healthy layers of smooth skin and making your skin look brighter and more even. Use a soft brush to exfoliate your body to prevent damage to healthy skin. For your face, use a product at home, or for your facial skin, treat yourself to monthly light peels in the clinic, e.g. glycolic peel, which will exfoliate and refresh the skin. If you’re unsure how often you need to exfoliate for your skin type, contact a skincare specialist for advice.

Vitamin C

Not only is Vitamin C a beneficial part of your diet, but its antioxidant properties can also help improve uneven skin texture when applied topically through a moisturising cream such as Revision Skincare Intellishade which contains multiple antioxidants, including Vitamin C (plus anti-ageing properties and an SPF45). It will help to reduce pigmentation and age spots, improving your skin's texture as a result.

You could also try the Byonik facial treatment which infuses your skin cells with antioxidants (rather than just coat the outside with antioxidants) which helps protect your skin from environmental factors which contribute to poor skin texture.

Cleansing to Improve Your Skin Texture

Cleansing is always good for skin texture because it removes build-up and enables the skin to absorb products and treatments. Using a cleanser that suits your skin type is vital. Ask for help in getting the correct cleanser so you don’t exacerbate the problem in an attempt to solve it.

Causes of An Uneven Skin Texture

For example, some people with acne will strip their skin by using strong astringents which in fact will cause more natural oil production. Others or someone with Millia may use an oily cleanser that ends up clogging their skin. Oily skin can lead to you having skin texture issues like dull skin, it can also exacerbate existing acne scars.

Cleansing An Uneven Skin Tone

Using an oil cleanser will clean away dirt, dead skin cells and makeup without stripping the moisture from your skin. It may seem counterintuitive to use oil on your skin in this way, but even greasy skin can benefit if you use oils with astringent qualities, such as tea tree or peppermint. For dry skin, use shea or argan oils which will help hydrate your skin without making it feel greasy.

Cleansing is very simple. Holding a warm, damp cloth or flannel on your face for a few seconds to help soften the dead skin cells on your skin, then massage the cleansing oil onto your skin for around half a minute. Then use the cloth to wipe away the oil. There’s nothing more to it than that!

Improve your Skin Texture with Diet

What you eat will have a huge effect on your skin texture. We all know that an unhealthy diet will result in unhealthy skin or exasperate existing conditions such as rosacea or acne, so it also stands to reason that a healthy diet will result in healthy skin. Avoid ready meals and processed food and snacks in favour of freshly prepared meals served with lots of vegetables and fruit. Bear in mind that there are certain vitamins and minerals it would be beneficial to include in your diet that will help improve your skin's texture:

Omega-3

Omega 3 is found naturally in walnuts and fish, the fatty acids in omega-3 will help your skin stay healthy and prevent dryness. It is especially helpful for women who are menopausal or perimenopausal.

Vitamin C

In addition, to help with the prevention of colds, making sure you have lots of Vitamin C in your diet will also benefit skin texture as the antioxidants will help repair skin damage and help in the production of collagen. In addition to oranges, foods that are naturally rich in this vitamin include broccoli, cauliflower, kale, peppers, sweet potatoes, strawberries, and tomatoes.

Green Tea

The antioxidants in green tea will help improve your overall skin texture, especially if you have a red or blotchy complexion. However, be aware that green tea does contain caffeine, which may trigger flares of skin conditions such as rosacea.

Turmeric

The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of turmeric can also help improve your skin texture. Use it as a food seasoning or take it as a supplement.

Please check with your GP or a board-certified dermatologist if you are considering changing your diet or using supplements, especially if you are on any medications or have pre-existing conditions.

De-Stress & Improve Skin Texture

If you’ve ever thought about joining a yoga class or exploring mindfulness techniques, now’s the time to do it, because taking as much stress out of your life as possible will also help improve uneven skin texture. When you are healthy and fit, you will find your skin tone improves and areas of textured skin or rough skin will become healthier looking smoother skin.

This is because when you’re stressed, your body releases hormones such as cortisol which can make your skin oilier and more prone to spots or flare other skin conditions which result in you having are of uneven texture. There are also studies that show that stress can accelerate the physical ageing process, which may well worsen lines and wrinkles.

Protecting and preserving your skin is a must if you want to slow down the onset of wrinkles caused by stress and maintain or improve your skin’s firmness. A Byonik treatment, the world’s first laser treatment which repairs and protects your skin from inside the skin cells, prolongs the life of and improves the health of your skin cells by protecting and lengthening your telomeres.

Air Quality

If you’re a smoker, it’s time to quit! Smoky environments are really bad for the skin because the smoke leads to the release of free radicals that are the cause of ageing skin. You are also impacting your circulatory system, meaning oxygen and nutrients have a more difficult time reaching your skin.

You also need to be aware of your home’s air quality. When you’ve got the central heating on, the air will be a lot drier, and this will dry your skin. To help prevent dryness, use a humidifier, or just put a bowl of water on the windowsill – the water will evaporate into the atmosphere when it’s warmed by the sun.

Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is a vital part of your overall health as well as your skin’s health. When you’re asleep, your body will relax and make repairs, but if you can’t sleep properly, your body is more likely to release adrenaline and cortisol which not only prevents it from repairing itself but also causes more problems, such as spots, uneven skin texture and acne.

If you’re interested in literally reducing the biological age of your skin’s DNA then Byonik may be the skin treatment for you.

Remember that we were talking earlier about telomeres? Well, the Byonik treatment helps to preserve and protect your telomeres which improves the health and lifespan of your skin cells. This really is as close to stopping ageing skin as you can get; of course, it doesn’t mean that your skin cells aren’t going to carry on ageing after the Byonik treatment (we’re not freezing time) but your DNA (telomeres) have been rejuvenated.