Dull Skin

What Is Dull Skin?

In skin care, dull skin is a term applied to a skin that – due to an uneven texture – is

• Lacking radiance
• Unable to reflect light uniformly
• Flaky
• Lackluster
• Dry
• Ashy
• Patchy

Book your consultation, skin assessment and product suggestion appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

What Causes Dull Skin?

Your skin is the largest organ of your body. This makes it no wonder if it occasionally loses its glow and looks dull.

Dull skin can be caused by an array of factors, including aging, dehydration, lifestyle choices and unsuitable/ irregular skin care routine.

The solution is to spot the cause of dullness and to reverse or change it.

6 Main Reasons for Dull Skin

1.   Dehydration

If you are not drinking an adequate amount of water daily, that could be a reason why your skin lacks the glow it deserves. Here is what you can do to help improve the condition:

• Drinking plenty of water, which helps improve hydrating deeper layers of your skin.
• Using a hydrating face serum, which helps seal up the moisture in your upper skin layers.

2.   Lack of moisturizer

Moisturizing your skin inadequately, especially if your skin is generally dry, can affect the appearance, vitality and health of your skin. Here is what you can do to improve this condition:

• Using a suitable moisturizer twice daily, which can help hydrate and protect the more vulnerable top layer of your skin.

The 3 Types of Moisturizers

There are generally three types of moisturizers:

• Humectants

Humectants are the moisturizers that draw water from the deeper layers (aka dermis) up to the surface layer of your skin (aka epidermis) and slow down the process of evaporating water from the skin.

Examples of humectants include:

• Hyaluronic acid
• Glycerine
• Water-soluble exfoliants, like lactic acid.
• Emollients

Emollients are moisturizers that fill in the spaces between skin flakes and skin cells with hydrating lipids and oils and, as a result, soften and smooth your skin.

What emollients do is remaining on your skin surface and help your skin preserve the any humectants you might be using as well.

Examples of Emollients include:

• Vitamin E
• Rosehip oil
• Ceramides
• Jojoba oil.
• Occlusives

Having large molecules, occlusives are moisturizers that tend to repel water, rather than attracting it. Like emollients, occlusives seal water into the different layers of your skin. Unlike emollients, occlusives are heavier.

Thus, emollients work better for oily skin, whereas occlusives are more suitable for dry skin.

Examples of occlusives include:

• Lanolin
• Shea butter

Book your consultation, skin assessment and product suggestion appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

3. Build-up of dead skin cells

To make way for new cells, your skin regularly sheds its dead cells. When dead cells do not shed as regularly as they should and, instead, build up on your skin surface, they can make your skin look dull, patchy, flaky and dry.

4. Dryness of skin

The dry nature or type of your skin can quickly affect the appearance of your skin and make it become lifeless and dull. Dryness of skin can also occur due to cold weather and during the winter and/or in climates with very low humidity.

5. Use of Tobacco

Smoking is reviewed to be a major environmental factor of premature skin aging, which results in dull skin.

Smoking can diminish collagen production, destroy connective tissue and elastin fibers and elevate the oxidative stress in your skin cells.

All of the above can speed up skin aging and result in dullness of skin.

6.  Aging

Aging is inevitable; and so is skin aging. Nonetheless, you can choose a skin care routine that hydrates and nourishes your skin to maintain its health and vibrance.

With a healthy skin care diet, you can stay away from dull skin – to a large degree.

Book your consultation, skin assessment and product suggestion appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

8 Ways to Prevent Dull Skin

The Best Ways to Prevent Dull Skin

1. Regular exfoliation
2. Regular moisturizing (twice daily)
3. Protection from the sun (sunscreen with an SFP of 30+)
4. Using overnight face masks
5. Using brightening skin care products
6. Gentle face massages
7. Keeping your skin hydrated
8. Using anti-pollution skin care products

Book your consultation, skin assessment and product suggestion appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

How to Treat Dull Skin

Occasional dullness of skin should be no surprize, though if you are dealing with regular lackluster skin, then it might be time to make an appointment with your dermal therapist or dermatologist to get back the glow you lack.

The good news is you have plenty of options to choose from.

9 Best Ways to Treat Dull Skin

1. Be gentle with your skin

It is important to make it a habit to cleanse your face twice daily to make sure you have thoroughly removed your makeup and any pore-clogging substance from your skin. Though, do it gently.

Avoid drying soaps and scrubs, which can irritate and lead to small tears on your skin while causing tightness, redness and flaky skin.

Instead, go for this two-step skin cleansing:

Step 1. Remove makeup and sunscreen using a cleansing oil without damaging the top layer of your skin.

Step 2. Remove the cleansing oil by doing a second wash with a soft cleanser.

Book your consultation, skin assessment and product suggestion appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

2. Avoid hot water

Being gentle with your skin also means no harsh soaps and not hot water.

Hot water can make your skin appear (temporarily) red by causing superficial vessel dilation. It can also strip natural oils, which can lead to irritation and dryness of your skin.

Instead,

• Do the cleansing with lukewarm water.
• Choose a moisturizing facewash that contains shea butter, almond oil or coconut oil, which help retain moisture.

Book your consultation, skin assessment and product suggestion appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

3. Fit regular exfoliation into your skin care routine (surely, after consultation with your dermal therapist)

To have a glowing complexion, you should make exfoliation part of your routine. Build-up of dead skin cells on the outer layer of your skin can

• Make its appearance dull, flaky and dry
• Clog your pores

These can be prevented by regular exfoliation.

8 Benefits of regular exfoliation

1. Helps augment cell turnover
2. Stimulates collagen production.
3. Helps polish and smooth your skin.
4. Prevents your pores from clogging.
5. Decreases the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
6. Evens out the texture of your skin.
7. Helps expose a new skin layer that retains moisture when hydrated.
8. Helps plump up your skin and make it look healthier and younger.

Exfoliation should open its way into your skin care diet gradually. It is recommended that you start out by exfoliating twice a week and then up the frequency as your skin tolerates.

Types of Exfoliation

There are two types of skin exfoliation:

1. Physical or mechanical exfoliation, which often involves scrubs, brushes, sponges and gloves.
2. Chemical exfoliation, aka chemical peeling, which usually includes:

• Alpha hydroxy acids, e.g., glycolic, tartaric, citric and lactic acids.

OR

• Beta hydroxy acids, e.g., salicylic acid.

Whichever exfoliation you do, apply a moisturizer right away to seal in moisture and protect your newly developed skin cells.

IMPORTANT: Be sure to always seek professional advice when it comes to removing a layer of your skin. If your skin is irritated or overly dry, then exfoliating it at home may do more harm than good.

Book your consultation, skin assessment and product suggestion appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

4.   Add a face serum to your skin care routine

Face serums contain ingredients with high concentration and with a strong antioxidant effect that can help

• Boost hydration
• Brighten your skin
• Minimize signs of aging
• Reverse the damage of collagen-destroying free radicals

Look for these ingredients on the package when choosing a face serum:

• Vitamin C – which can also help diminish dark spots or hyperpigmentation and, over time, give your skin a more evenly-toned appearance
• Hyaluronic acid – which can temporarily lock in water in the surface layers of your skin
• Vitamin B3 (niacinamide)
• Resveratrol
• Ferulic acid

You can apply serums once or twice daily since they are quickly absorbed into your skin.

Book your consultation and product suggestion appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

5. Make a Mask + Massage appointment

Another great way of getting your skin glowing is taking yourself to weekly Mask + Massage dates. To name a few, consider masks with ingredients such as:

• Shea butter
• Antioxidants
• Hyaluronic acid
• Other brightening and hydrating factors recommended by your dermal therapist

Depending on your skin type and the product, you can use facial masks 1 to 3 times weekly.

Book your Mask + Massage appointment at SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC here.

Not sure which Mask + Massage package suits YOUR skin? Make a consultation appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

6. Maximize your moisturizer

If done with the right product, moisturizing twice per day can help treat different types of dermatitis – as well as dull skin – and maintain health, vitality and vibrance of your skin.

3 Benefits of Regular Moisturizing

• Moisturizing can help protect and repair the skin barrier with such ingredients as ceramides.
• Moisturizing can attract water into the superficial layers, aka epidermis, to plump up your skin with such ingredients as glycerin and hyaluronic acid.
• Moisturizing can help prevent moisture loss with such ingredients as petrolatum and dimethicone.

Book your consultation and product suggestion appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

7. Stimulate Collagen Production with a Retinoid

Retinoids, derivatives of vitamin A, are scientifically proven to stimulate collagen production and balance the turnover of skin cells by exfoliation. They remove older or dead skin cells on the surface and replace them with fresh ones.

Retinoids also thin out and smooth down the outer layer of the skin cells, which helps the light reflect better off of this surface and give the skin of your face a natural glow.

The use of retinoids is recommended to start out 2 nights per week. The frequency can then increase as your skin gets used to it.

It is best to start using retinoids after a skin assessment and consultation with your dermal therapist.

Book your consultation and product suggestion appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

8. Consider In-office Treatments

To get rid of your dull skin and get the glow your skin deserves, your dermal therapist or dermatologist is the best person you can trust. They know and are trained to recommend the most suitable treatment for YOUR skin.

Here are some of the procedures that can treat your dull skin:

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Skin Treatment, aka IPL Photofacial

Best for treating dull skin resulting from photo aging, age spots, acne, rosacea, thread veins, wrinkles, acne scars and seborrheic keratosis. IPL photofacial can help minimize the dark spots on your face and, hence, get you rid of dull skin.

Read more about IPL and book your appointment at SkinCarely here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

Microneedling / Skin Needling

Best for dull skin, scars, large pores and wrinkles, skin microneedling stimulates collagen production by creating micro-scratches on the surface of your skin using micro-needles.

Read more about the safe and effective Microneedling and book your appointment here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion works by sanding away the dead skin cells on the top layer of your skin and is best for brightening your skin, fading signs of aging and reducing stretch marks. Read more about Hydro-microdermabrasion and book your appointment here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

Chemical peel

Chemical peeling is a cosmetic procedure for removing the top layer of your skin by means of chemical compounds, which can help diminish dullness, dark spots and wrinkles and more.

Needless to say, chemical peeling should be done by a trained and experienced dermal therapist or dermatologist.

Book your consultation appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

Mask + massage

To say goodbye to your dull skin and get it glowing, you need to relax, hydrate and brighten your skin. See which Massage + Mask package is right for you here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

9. Wear sunscreen every day

Regular use of sunscreen with an SPF of 30+, even on cloudy and rainy days, will help prevent UV damage, whose demonstrations include

• Dyspigmentation
• Aging spots (brown spots)
• Rough texture
• Dull skin

Book your consultation appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

Dull Skin FAQ’s

1. What is dull skin?

In skin care, dull skin is a term applied to a skin that

• Has an uneven texture
• Lacks radiance
• Is unable to reflect light uniformly
• Looks flaky
• Is lackluster
• Is dry
• Looks ashy
• Is patchy

Book your consultation, skin assessment and product suggestion appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

2. What Factors Cause Dull and Dark Skin?

• Dryness of skin
• Dead skin cells
• Dehydration of skin
• Lack of exfoliation or over-exfoliation
• Lack of sleep
• Inadequate moisturizing
• Diet
• Smoking
• Aging

Book your consultation, skin assessment and product suggestion appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

3. What Vitamin Deficiency Causes Dark Skin?

Appearance of dark spots on the skin has been linked vitamin B12 deficiency as lack of vitamin B12 increases melanin production resulting in hyperpigmentation and dark patches.

Book your consultation, skin assessment and product suggestion appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

4. How can I prevent dull skin?

How can I rejuvenate dull skin?

• Regular exfoliation (not over-exfoliation)
• Regular moisturizing (twice daily)
• Protection from the sun (sunscreen with an SFP of 30+)
• Using overnight face masks
• Using brightening skin care products
• Gentle face massages
• Keeping your skin hydrated
• Using anti-pollution skin care products

Book your consultation, skin assessment and product suggestion appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

5. How often should I use sunscreen for dull skin?

You should wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30+ every day, including on cloudy and rainy days.

Book your consultation, skin assessment and product suggestion appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

6. How often can I use retinoids for dull skin?

The use of retinoids is recommended to start out 2 nights per week. The frequency can then increase as your skin gets used to it.

It is best to start using retinoids after a skin assessment and consultation with your dermal therapist.

Book your consultation and product suggestion appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

7. How often can I exfoliate for dull skin?

Exfoliation should open its way into your skin care diet gradually. It is recommended that you start out by exfoliating twice a week and then up the frequency as your skin tolerates.

Over-exfoliation can cause serious damage to your skin.

Book your consultation, skin assessment and product suggestion appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

8. Can facial masks help improve dull skin?

An efficient way of getting your skin glowing is using facial masks with the right ingredients such as:

• Shea butter
• Antioxidants
• Hyaluronic acid
• Other brightening and hydrating factors recommended by your dermal therapist

Depending on your skin type and the product, the frequency of using facial masks can vary from 1 to 3 times weekly and the effect can be boosted if combined with a massage.

Book your Mask + Massage appointment at SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

9. What in-office procedures are available to treat dull skin?

Here are some of the in-office treatments for dull skin that we offer at SkinCarely skin care calinic:

• Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Skin Treatment, aka IPL Photofacial

Best for treating dull skin resulting from photo aging, age spots, acne, rosacea, thread veins, wrinkles, acne scars and seborrheic keratosis. IPL photofacial can help minimize the dark spots on your face and, hence, get you rid of dull skin.

Read more about IPL and book your appointment at SkinCarely here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

• Microneedling / Skin Needling

Best for dull skin, scars, large pores and wrinkles, skin microneedling stimulates collagen production by creating micro-scratches on the surface of your skin using micro-needles. Read more about the safe and effective Microneedling and book your appointment here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

• Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion works by sanding away the dead skin cells on the top layer of your skin and is best for brightening your skin, fading signs of aging and reducing stretch marks. Read more about Hydro-microdermabrasion and book your appointment here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

• Chemical peel

Chemical peeling is a cosmetic procedure for removing the top layer of your skin by means of chemical compounds, which can help diminish dullness, dark spots and wrinkles and more.

Needless to say, chemical peeling should be done by a trained and experienced dermal therapist or dermatologist.

Book your consultation appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

• Mask + massage

To say goodbye to your dull skin and get it glowing, you need to relax, hydrate and brighten your skin. See which Massage + Mask package is right for you here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

10. Are moisturizers effective for treating dull skin?

Yes. Dryness, dehydration and lack of moisture, being actually the same issue, are among the major causes of dullness of skin.

Therefore, use of a suitable moisturizer twice daily, can help hydrate, protect the more vulnerable top layer and treat your dull skin.

Book your consultation, skin assessment and product suggestion appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

11. What types of moisturizers are there?

There are 3 types are moisturizers:

• Humectants, containing:
• Hyaluronic acid
• Glycerine
• Water-soluble exfoliants, like lactic acid.

• Emollients, containing
• Vitamin E
• Rosehip oil
• Ceramides
• Jojoba oil.
• Occlusives, containing
• Lanolin
• Shea butter

Book your consultation, skin assessment and product suggestion appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.

12. Can I do chemical peeling at home?

You’d better not. Chemical peeling is an in-office treatment and should be done by a trained and experienced dermal therapist or dermatologist.

If your skin is irritated or overly dry, then exfoliating it at home may do more harm than good.

Book your consultation, skin assessment and product suggestion appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist at SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC here.

SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC is open SATURDAY through MONDAY.