The method of “starving the skin” is as effective as rumored?-Skin care

The idea of ​​fasting skin is to pause all your skin care products for a certain period of time to let the skin return to its natural maintenance system.

What is skin fasting?

Mirai Clinical, a Japanese beauty company, coined the term and popularized the concept of skin fasting.

The idea is to pause all your skin care products for a certain period of time to let the skin return to its natural maintenance system.

Using skin care products is like training the skin to work a certain way. For example, use moisturizers and oils to hydrate the skin. This signals the skin cells not to produce sebum (natural oil). You use physical and chemical exfoliants to speed up cell turnover. Our skin exfoliates itself every 28 days. However, by using an exfoliator, we speed up this process, blocking the skin’s natural exfoliation process.

Gradually, the skin becomes dependent on the products. Removing these aids allows the skin to return to its original state.

Proponents of the skin diet believe that it promotes natural sebum production, which lubricates the skin and prevents moisture loss. Removing skin care products allows your skin to breathe, activating its natural curing system without any external agents.

Those who have followed this trend rave about its benefits. While there’s no scientific proof to starve the skin, there’s some scientific logic behind why it works.

The science behind skin fasting and its effectiveness

Skin has a natural protective barrier that has healing and repairing properties that can rebalance the quality of the skin. The epidermis (outer layer of skin) has five layers, and the top is called the stratum corneum. These layers naturally synthesize ceramides, nonessential fatty acids, antimicrobial peptides, vitamin E, lipid barrier and other ingredients to maintain skin functions such as permeability, hydration and integrity of skin.

In other words, our skin knows how to take care of itself. This means that, without any skin care products, your skin can still produce natural oils to retain moisture and protect from microbial activity.

Applying products to the skin can slow down the skin’s natural defense system. Furthermore, products may contain harsh ingredients, synthetic fragrances, and preservatives that can irritate the skin.

Using the wrong and excessive use of skin care products, especially exfoliators, can increase sensitivity and damage the natural protective barrier. Pausing the use of skin care products for a prescribed time can also speed up the recovery process.

There are many benefits of the practice of fasting for skin lightening.

Benefits of fasting skin

Fasting restores your skin to homeostasis and helps reset its self-regulating cycle of repair, repair, and regeneration.

It reduces your skin’s dependence on products.

It helps you understand your skin’s actual requirements and address them accordingly.

It allows you to tailor your skincare routine to any changes in your skin or its reaction to products.

It allows your skin to get rid of makeup and other products that can keep it from breathing.

It facilitates an even distribution of natural body oils to keep your skin well nourished, moisturized and healthy.

Despite the many benefits of fasting, the question remains: does it work for everyone?

The answer is, it depends on many factors like your skin type, skin problems, how long you are trying to starve your skin, method (full or partial skin fasting) and other factors. other underlying factors such as water intake, lifestyle, and hormonal imbalances.

Fasting for the skin: Who should try and who should avoid

You should try fasting your skin if you:

Daily bold makeup.

Using the wrong skin care products or ingredients.

Accidentally used (or used) products with harsh chemicals.

Have problem-free skin.

On the other hand, stay away from skin fasting if you:

Have dry or dehydrated skin

Have acne and use topical medications or follow a skin care routine specifically for the condition

Have a damaged skin barrier and conditions like eczema and rosacea, and use topical creams and ointments

Experiencing seasonal skin changes (like dryness in winter)

Have recently undergone any skin treatment, such as chemical peels

In case of any doubt, always consult a dermatologist before doing an express skin test. Here’s how you can follow the skin fast.

Steps to starve skin

Experts believe that instead of fasting completely, it’s better to go on a diet and use minimal products like cleansers, micellar water, and sunscreen. At the end of the day, you still need to remove makeup and clean up any remaining dirt, in addition, you will need to use sunscreen to block the harmful effects of UV rays. You can cut all products in a few days.

Instead of eliminating all of your skin care products in one go, cut back on one or two a day (if you use a lot).

Before going to bed, remove makeup and use a gentle cleanser to wash your face.

If you’re at home, you can probably just use water to wash your face every night. The next morning, wash your face with warm water to make sure the skin doesn’t lose any oil.

Continue steps 1-3 until you have removed all skin care products (except sunscreen, which must be applied daily). This phase marks the beginning of your skin fast.

Continue with this procedure for a few days and see how your skin reacts. Skin abstinence is especially beneficial for those who over-cleanse their skin. Layers of 10-12 products on the skin can interfere with the properties and functions of individual products. Cutting back on a few products can also help improve their effectiveness. Here are some tips for practicing it safely and what to expect in the process.

Fasting skin can initially cause dryness. Apply light water emulsions to combat skin dryness.

Skin hydration also works from the inside out. Make sure to drink about 2-3 liters of water regularly.

Follow a healthy diet to provide your skin with all the vital nutrients to improve its resilience.

Do not practice skin fasting for more than seven days at a time. Start by fasting for 2-3 days and then increase the time.

Practice skin fasting no more than every two months. However, if you use a variety of products and makeup, you can let your skin fast once a month.

Adjust the humidity outside with a humidifier, especially if you live in a dry or cold area.

If you notice any adverse reactions, discontinue immediately and return to your original skin care routine.

Finally, you need to listen to your skin and see how it responds to fasting to determine frequency.

Side effects of fasting skin

Dry skin is one of the leading and well-publicized side effects of skin fasting. Some users have complained of tight and dry skin on the first day.

Experts share their opinions on skin fasting. According to some, skin-care routines are effective when they’re consistent, and a well-planned re-sleep can do more harm to your skin than anything good. On the other hand, some believe that cumbersome skin care procedures with many steps and products can affect the natural microbiome and can over-cleanse the skin, which can affect the protective barrier. skin protection.