Why is My Skin Dull?

It is hard to distinguish dull skin, especially when you do not know if it applies to your skin tone. You may believe that dull skin is mostly associated with aged or mature skin, but this is just not the case. Skin dullness can occur at any age and is a very real problem that many of us face during our lifetime. If you lose your healthy glow it may not be because of age but can be due to a range of environmental conditions and once you determine the root of your problems you can see about what you can do to avoid the loss of your youthful skin and start looking more vibrant.

Dull skin can be a result of excess dead skin cells. This can build up on the face over time and lead to a dull complexion. It can also be due to dryness, damaged cells or even slow cell turnover. This can happen at any age or any season. It can make your skin feel rough or bumpy and will give the appearance of dull skin. Luckily this is an easy fix and can be improved in a matter of days. There are plenty of ways in which you can reclaim your youthful appearance and take back your glow.

Over the age of 30 dull skin is not an uncommon problem. If you are younger than 30 luckily your skin still naturally exfoliates every two weeks. A fresh layer of skin is revealed every two weeks and the outer layer of dead skin cells are shed. Below is your new young and glowing complexion. When blood flow and oxygenation is reduced this can also lead to dull skin. It is also a common problem in smokers, developing fine lines, dull skin and dryness early on in life.

There are several things that you can do to fix your dull complexion and this begins with exfoliation. Exfoliating once or twice a week can get rid of dead skin cells, which is the most common cause of dull skin. Sugar facial exfoliators are a great option, and you can also look into face peels. Peels use alpha and beta hydroxy acids to remove the dead skin cells and it is best to look at those which add soothing ingredients, such as aloe vera and green tea, which will minimise irritation.

Washing your face during the night will rid it of the pollutants it is exposed to during the day. It can damage your skin while you sleep, and leads to dullness and dryness in the morning. A gentle skin cleanser or exfoliator can do the job and will remove any excess foundation or dirt that has been picked up during the day. If you do not have access to these products or have just run out, soap and water can work too. You should limit washing to once a day to avoid drying out your skin, but if you do so at the night you will wake up with a fresh complexion.

Stress can even lead to skin dullness, and it is not as simple as being told to relax. This can often have the opposite effect. Instead, you can try a facial massage while you cleanse with a gentle cleanser or while applying moisturiser. It will also boost circulation. Other ways you can promote relaxation and minimise stress include meditation and yoga. Create a calming atmosphere in your workspace and ensure you give yourself regular breaks to concentrate on deep breathing. Breathing exercises can also be very effective. It is all about what works for you. Having a calm mind will help to reduce the stress on the physical body and bring back your youthful glow.

A lack of trace metals in your diet can also be detrimental to your skin health. If you add a multivitamin to your daily routine you will increase your daily intake of these trace metals and ensure you get your daily dose of selenium, copper, iron and zinc, those which are often overlooked. The required amount differs with age, so you can consult your doctor for the specific breakdown. There are also women’s multivitamins that are specific to age, so if you are over 50 there are different multivitamins available for you. They have more accurate concentrations of the minerals and vitamins that you will need to live healthily and obtain that healthy glow.

The most obvious type of skin damage is from the sun. Having adequate sun protection is important for many reasons, but to prevent dullness is one of them. Using sunscreen or SPF moisturisers daily is often not enough. You will need to add a skincare product with retinol every night to protect the existing collagen in your skin. This is yet another way in which you can fix or prevent dullness in your complexion. Once again multivitamins contain that added collagen which will improve skin health as well as hair and nail. As we age our skin is not as able to produce the required amounts of collagen and this can lead to signs of ageing and dullness. Make sure you are getting adequate amounts of collagen in your diets to combat this detrimental change.