Your skin does many things for you – it acts as a means to make a first impression and is also among the last lines of 
defense your body has against disease. Unfortunately, as strong as your skin can be, it can’t withstand all of the abuse it takes from the elements, including sunlight, wind and extreme temperatures.
But you don’t have to live with chapped, burned, sore or peeling skin. Instead, you can turn to time-tested treatments that use natural products and pain-free treatments that will provide relief without the risk of harsh side effects. Although some highly chemical-based treatments can offer relief, the risks they pose for long and short-term health outweigh the benefits. Before attempting to treat any skin condition, no matter what the method or condition, you should consult a licensed physician to ensure the best chance of quick, effective and safe treatment. If your condition seems to be getting worse, consult your doctor and stop treatment immediately. Below you will find 10 alternative skin care treatments to help keep your skin glowing and free of blemishes.
1. Sunscreen
No, sunscreen is not, in any stretch of the imagination, a revolutionary industry secret. However, sunscreen may be able to do more than you give it credit for. Instead of shelving sunscreen when beach season is over, keep this inexpensive skincare product on hand when the snow starts falling. The winter sun can be just as intense as, if not more so, than summer sun – particularly if you haven’t had to deal with sunlight in a while through the fall. The power of winter sun is multiplied when it reflects off the snow, and if your skin isn’t protected, the effects can be quite unpleasant.
2. Oatmeal Bath
Oatmeal baths may seem a bit old-fashioned, but sometimes it is the classics that provide the best cures. Oatmeal baths are particularly effective when the water is lukewarm, as overly hot water can damage and dry out skin, while cold water tends to be unpleasant. Oatmeal baths can be useful for battling dry, itchy skin and can help you avoid applying moisturizer all of the time. Additionally, oatmeal baths help firm skin by protecting the lipid barriers in your skin that are broken down by overly hot water.
3. Microdermabrasion
Although this treatment say sound like a scary and complex one, it’s actually surprisingly tame. Microdermabrasion is among the best non-surgical skin treatments for those suffering from a myriad of skin conditions, ranging from wrinkles, uneven tone, dryness and dullness. And unlike other treatments, microdermabrasion offers benefits of its own but also promotes increased effectiveness of treatment methods you employ later on. This is because microdermabrasion removes the top layer of your skin cells, helping moisture and products used after the treatment penetrate deep into troubled areas of your skin more easily – so-called “deep-penetrating” products will actually live up to their names.
Although the description of microdermabrasion can be a bit scary, the procedure is pain-free and is a significant upgrade from over-the-counter treatments. Microdermabrasion makes use of a vacuum-like device in tandem with a mild chemical that results in the removal of your skin’s top layer and the wrinkles, uneven tone and dryness it contains. This layer is replaced by a layer of fresh skin cells that don’t display the same issues as the old layer. And because moisturizers and other products don’t have to work as hard to penetrate your skin, it is easier to maintain the even tone and color of your fresh layer of newly exposed skin.
4. Drinking Water
Moisturizing is all about increasing the amount of water your skin cells contain. But that doesn’t mean the only way to battle skin dehydration is to continuously apply water to your skin. In fact, there is a simple way to keep your skin moisturized at any time of day that doesn’t cost a thing. Sound too good to be true? It’s not – it’s water. Yes, even drinking water can help you maintain moisture in your skin, meaning that there’s really no excuse not to take a stand against dry skin. Drinking water promotes overall health and can help battle dull complexions, chapped skin and feelings of dryness and itching.
5. Dehumidifiers
Sometimes, the best skin treatments are those that don’t even need to be directly applied to your skin. If you live in a cold climate, the central heating systems and personal heaters that help you stay warm can also be doing damage to your skin. The heat generated by these artificial heating systems differs from natural heat because it is dry and is often blasted directly at you. Neither of these attributes are desirable, and the end result is dry, flaky skin. If you’d rather not sacrifice the warmth these sources offer, then you should consider adding another device to the mix – a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers are relatively inexpensive but perform an important function, enhancing the amount of moisture in the air. This promotes a lower risk of drying out your skin.
6. Light Chemical Peels
As with microdermabrasion, chemical peels are a bit more intense than the average skin care treatment. However, that doesn’t mean they are dangerous, unorthodox or worthy of being avoided at all costs. While some chemical peels can be intense and may cause redness or discomfort after the fact, light chemical peels work only with superficial skin and are safer than deep chemical peels. Light chemical peels are still quite versatile, as these treatments can address skin texture, acne scars, wrinkled or loose skin, uneven pigmentation and sun damage. Light or superficial chemical peels are popular because they are much less time-consuming than other types of treatments, usually requiring just 30 minutes. There is no recovery period and these superficial peels are typically much less expensive than other types of chemical peels. Chemical peels may also promote the process of collagen renewal, which results in firmer skin and a more youthful appearance.
7. Avocado Oil-based Moisturizers
Avocado is a calorie-dense food that is prized for its array of vitamins, minerals and healthy fatty acids. Because of the high level of fat, avocado is a rich source of oil that can nourish, moisturize and enhance the health of your skin. Using oil-based products is desirable because the oil forms a protective layer over your skin cells to retain moisture and battle dryness and flaking over a period of hours. Not all oils are created equally, however; Shea oil and oils made from vegetable shortening or butter are far from ideal, as they tend to clog pores and it on top of your skin, creating a look of greasiness and a tendency to promote acne.
8. Non-Surgical Wrinkle Injections
If you want a highly effective means of addressing wrinkles and deep lines that can promote dramatic results in very little time, non-surgical wrinkle injections are a great option. These injections tend to be preferred over Botox, as the latter type of injection involves an injection into your muscles, which can have unpleasant side effects such as the inability to make some facial expressions. Non-surgical wrinkle injections that are wrinkle fillers do not have this paralyzing effect, as the synthetic fillers used here merely enter the wrinkle to plump up and tighten skin, eliminating even deep lines that produce wrinkles.
In addition to not producing paralyzing side effects, these wrinkle injections don’t require a lengthy period of recovery. Additionally, there is no long wait for results to appear – less than an hour of waiting will produce significant improvements. Such treatments are often the preferred route for addressing nose-to-mouth lines and smokers’ wrinkles.
9. Vibrating Power Cleansers
If you feel that your skin requires something more than a face wash but nothing as extreme as injections or surgery, a vibrating power cleanser is a smart option. These cleansers can be used as little as once every two weeks and still help you maintain a healthy, smooth complexion with clear pores. The vibration offers a massage-like sensation and also helps cleaning agents penetrate deep into your skin to offer spa-quality treatment.
10. Peel Pads
Another treatment option that can go above and beyond the benefits of simple creams and soaps but doesn’t involve a lot of expense, a large time commitment or a risk of side effects is the use of peel pads. Peel pads can be purchased over the counter at many stores and provide a similar means of treatment as chemical peels without the need to schedule an appointment. Peel pads allow for at-home peels that take just minutes and don’t require a lengthy recovery time. Although these pads tend to be more expensive than moisturizers and other basic products, the peel pads are more effective at evening skin tone, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, and adding a vibrant look to skin.
Professional-quality skin care doesn’t require a professional; try at-home treatments to save time and money.
Proper skin care is key to keeping your complexion glowing and your skin free of blemishes. Thrive Med Spa in Chicago is one of the leading med spas in Chicago for skin care and skin treatments.
