Hi! I just changed my birth control from the pill to an IUD. I love my IUD, but my skincare is a mess! All of a sudden my skin is more oily, and I’m noticing white heads for the first time since middle school! Please advise on how to start a new skincare routine and what I should do to keep my pores in check 😉
– Gyn-oh-no
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Dear Gyn-oh-no,
First of all, fabulous name.
Now let’s get to it. I’m so sorry about the skin changes you are going through. Not feeling happy about your skin sucks! People forget how much it can affect your overall confidence. Everyone’s skin is different, but I’m happy to provide a few general tips to help you feel more comfortable with the products you are using.
I’d always recommend consulting a dermatologist first. If your skin has started acting up after a major hormonal change, it’s likely that over the counter products or Sephora purges won’t actually do that much.
HOWEVER! There have been a few products that have absolutely transformed my skin. An article is coming soon about my skincare, but to address your concerns, let’s talk about your first step. For a cleanser, I’d recommend CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser. It’s simple, to the point, and won’t strip your skin of oil. If your skin is oily, you might feel inclined to use products that make your skin feel more dry, but don’t! If you take too much oil off of your skin with products, your skin overcompensates and ends up producing even more oil. The same thing goes for your moisturizer. Don’t stop moisturizing!! Make sure to keep things clean and hydrated.
White heads form from the trapping of oil, bacteria, or dead skin cells in your pores. A long term solution to think about is incorporating retinoid into your routine. While you might go through a minor purging period, after a few weeks, you should start to notice your skin clearing up. Retinoid is a magical product, and one of its many fabulous effects is its prevention of the overall pore-clogging process. In the interim, there are products that can help speed up the skin turnover and healing cycle. For example, I’ve heard great things about Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. Personally, I’ve had incredible results using Dr. Dennis Gross Peel Pads, but more on that later. Pimple patches are great to make sure that you don’t pick at your skin while the pimple heals. I like Mighty Patch. If it’s really inflamed, try running an ice cube over the area to decrease the inflammation.
I hope this helps! Remember to keep things simple and slowly change your routine so as not to completely shock your skin barrier. You will get through this, I promise!!! Cheers to glowier days ahead …
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