Getting a Glow-up without Irritating Your Skin

There is an overwhelming abundance of treatments, products, and routines out there that are designed to make skin glow, or to give people a “glow-up.” Usually, the goal is to achieve skin that looks healthy, hydrated, and blemish-free. It might sound simple, yet many people just end up with irritated skin, finding that their initial problems have only gotten worse. However, this doesn’t mean that all glowing skin treatments will result in the same outcome. 

The issue is that everybody’s skin is a little different. If you end up with irritated skin after attempting a glow-up, it just means you haven’t found the right product or treatment for your particular skin type. Don’t worry, glowing skin is still possible. t may just take a more careful approach. The help of an experienced dermatologist can also go a long way in making sure you pick the right options.

Why glowing skin treatments are irritating your skin

Skin can become irritated for a variety of reasons. Often people simply have more reactive or sensitive skin. One study found that 60–70% of women and 50–60% of men report having some degree of skin sensitivity. Sensitive skin is often irritated by certain products that are purported to make your skin glow, such as glycolic acid and exfoliating scrubs, and also by fragrances found in many products.

Even in people who don’t have naturally sensitive skin, the outermost layer of the skin, called the skin barrier, can become damaged and make skin more easily irritated. This is common when people overexfoliate, use too many harsh ingredients, or attempt to try too many products or methods at once, resulting in overtreatment. Skin then gets irritated, dry, oily, or can even experience more acne or breakouts as a way to tell you to tone down the harsh treatments.

On the other hand, irritation like dryness, redness, and flakiness may be caused by an actual skin condition, such as rosacea or eczema. These conditions are often worsened by harsh ingredients, similar to a damaged skin barrier. 

Identifying issues that prevent glowing skin

The first step to getting a glow-up that really works for your skin is to identify what is causing irritation. You can then either reverse the problem (like healing a damaged skin barrier), avoid the irritants that are preventing you from achieving glowing skin, or simply find a treatment that focuses on the issue you want to fix. 

Here are some common skin issues and the related conditions that prevent that glowy look:

Dryness

If your skin just gets drier and duller when you attempt to use certain products, you may have a damaged skin barrier or eczema. Both conditions are often paired with redness, and eczema often comes with scaly or bumpy skin.

Acne and Breakouts

Acne in adults is sometimes caused by a damaged skin barrier, but may also be due to hormones, stress, or lifestyle. Acne is often made worse by heavy, pore-clogging ingredients like coconut oil, cocoa butter, and esters (found in moisturizers and sunscreens), and can get irritated by alcohol-containing products and harsh scrubs. 

Sometimes what looks like acne may actually be an inflammatory condition, like rosacea or perioral dermatitis. Perioral dermatitis is usually exacerbated by topical corticosteroids, while rosacea can make the skin sensitive to many commonly used ingredients in skincare.

Redness and reactivity

There are a lot of potential causes of redness and reactivity. These are generally related to inflammatory conditions. Blotchy red areas, prominent red blood vessels, or skin that seemingly reacts to everything that touches it are all signs of rosacea. Sensitive skin without rosacea can also experience frequent redness and irritation. This may be caused by a damaged skin barrier or eczema.

If your skin only gets red and irritated when using a particular product, however, this is likely due to an allergy to a specific ingredient. Paying close attention to ingredients and trying out a few other products with different formulas can help you identify the culprit and avoid it.

Age spots and hyperpigmentation

While age spots and skin discoloration, called hyperpigmentation, are not necessarily signs of irritation, they do prevent skin from having a glowing appearance. These are mostly caused by sun exposure over longer periods of time. They are also sometimes caused by hormonal fluctuations and inflammation.

Rough texture

A rough skin texture may be caused by scarring, dryness, or a buildup of dead skin cells and clogged pores. People with a rough, dull skin texture may try to exfoliate their skin too often, which can lead to irritation and a damaged skin barrier. However, bumpy, dry, or rough skin may be due to eczema, as well.

Finding the right treatments for your skin

So, how do you get past all of the irritation, acne, discoloration and dullness, and achieve that glowing-skin look without making things worse? 

The treatments or products that help give you glowing skin will vary depending on which of the above issues you need to address and what you need to avoid. Below are some dermatologist-recommended treatments and tips tailored for specific skin concerns.

For hydrating dry skin

HydraFacials are a great way to boost your skin’s hydration and get a dewy glow. They are helpful for repairing damaged skin barriers and don’t typically irritate conditions like rosacea and eczema. However, it’s important to tell your skin specialist about any sensitivities or skin conditions so that they can avoid any harsh ingredients. Hydrafacials usually involve an infusion of serums, but they can be tailored to your needs.

For a longer term glow, it’s important to use a good moisturizer on dry skin. Here are our tips for choosing the right moisturizer.

For improving texture and evening out skin tone

Generally, some kind of exfoliation is necessary for improving the texture of skin and buffing away areas of hyperpigmentation. Chemical peels, dermabrasion (like DiamondGlow), and laser treatments are usually recommended. All of these tend to be somewhat irritating to the skin, although there are varying levels of intensity. The less intense versions typically only cause minor redness that will go away within the same day.

For people with sensitive skin or inflammatory skin conditions, dermaplaning or red or blue light therapy might be a better option. However, it might take several weeks or months of treatments before you get the look you want with light therapy options, so dermaplaning is generally better for a quick-fix glow-up.

For calming inflammation and redness

The first step in reducing inflamed, red skin is to make sure it isn’t getting irritated by any products you are currently using. Sometimes a glow-up may be as simple as avoiding a certain ingredient. However, you may also need to repair your skin barrier. Focus on keeping your skin hydrated and staying away from exfoliants for a while. Treatments like HydraFacials and blue light therapy can also help reduce inflammation without further irritation. 

If you think your red skin may be caused by rosacea, it’s best to see a board-certified dermatologist. Getting professional medical treatment is sometimes the best way to get a glow-up.

For reducing breakouts

There are a lot of different approaches to treating acne. Seeing a dermatologist for a prescription medication is one option, but treatments like blue light therapy and the Cutera® Laser are also known to help reduce breakouts. 

For a quick overall improvement

If you have an important event coming up and you want fast results, there are many options. For those with normal skin-types, a light chemical peel or laser treatment are good options. For people with any skin type, including those needing sensitive skin treatments, HydraFacials, dermaplaning, or a customized facial can provide a quick route to glowing skin.

How a dermatologist can help find the right glow-up treatments for you

There are many options out there. Some will get you the refreshed skin you are looking for, while others will just aggravate your skin. The best way to avoid mishaps with the wrong products and treatments is to have a board-certified dermatologist assess your skin, find out what your unique needs are, and let you know what will help the most. The dermatologist can identify any untreated skin conditions and help determine if your skin barrier is damaged or not.

Whether you need sensitive skin treatments, help with rosacea or eczema, or a quick glowing-skin treatment for a night out, Forefront dermatologists are trained to figure out the best way to give your skin a healthy glow. Find a Forefront office near you to come in for a glow-up.