Other names

Daily skin maintenance
Epidermal health
Skin barrier support

Synopsis

General skin care refers to a holistic routine that supports the health, integrity, and appearance of the skin across all ages and skin types. The skin is the body’s largest organ, acting as a barrier against environmental toxins, pathogens, and moisture loss. Proper skin care includes cleansing, moisturizing, sun protection, and nutritional support, all of which help prevent premature aging, dryness, inflammation, and acne. A balanced skin care routine maintains hydration, pH balance, elasticity, and a healthy microbiome. Lifestyle factors such as diet, hydration, stress, and sleep also directly impact skin vitality and resilience.

Types:

• Basic skin care: Daily routine including gentle cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection

• Preventative skin care: Focused on preserving youthfulness and preventing damage

• Corrective skin care: Targets concerns like acne, hyperpigmentation, or wrinkles

• Barrier repair: Restores the skin's protective layer after irritation or damage

• Sensitive skin care: Uses hypoallergenic, non-irritating products to reduce redness and inflammation

Common Causes of Skin Concerns:

• Environmental exposure (UV, wind, pollution)

• Harsh cleansers or over-exfoliation

• Hormonal changes or imbalances

• Poor hydration or nutrient intake

• Inflammatory foods (e.g., sugar, dairy for some)

• Inadequate sleep or high stress levels

• Disruption of the skin microbiome (e.g., through antibiotics or harsh products)

Severity Causes (When Skin Health Declines):

• Chronic inflammation or oxidative stress

• Persistent barrier damage and moisture loss

• Untreated infections or clogged pores

• Systemic nutrient deficiencies (e.g., zinc, omega-3s, vitamins A, C, D)

• Autoimmune or metabolic conditions affecting skin (e.g., eczema, psoriasis, diabetes)

When to See a Doctor:

• Unexplained or worsening rashes, irritation, or acne

• Changes in skin texture, pigmentation, or moles

• Chronic dryness, flakiness, or infections

• Suspected allergic reactions or product sensitivities

Natural Remedies

Aloe vera: A soothing moisturizer that hydrates, heals, and calms irritation without clogging pores. Supports barrier recovery and reduces redness.

Omega-3 fatty acids: Strengthen skin cell membranes and reduce inflammation. Improve texture, elasticity, and barrier integrity from within.

Probiotics: Support the gut-skin axis, promoting clear, resilient skin and helping to reduce inflammation and conditions like acne or eczema.

Vitamin C: Boosts collagen production, brightens skin tone, and protects against UV-induced oxidative damage. Essential in both topical and dietary forms.

Vitamin A (and derivatives): Regulates skin cell turnover and supports barrier function. Often used to improve tone, texture, and acne prevention.

Magnesium: Helps regulate hydration and inflammation at the skin level. Also promotes relaxation, which indirectly benefits skin through reduced stress.

Zinc: Key for wound healing, oil control, and immune defense in the skin. Also useful in acne prevention and reducing redness.

Hydration and sleep: Drinking enough water and getting restorative sleep help skin repair, stay elastic, and maintain a healthy glow.

Ingredients

These raw ingredients are often used in alternative medicine to treat this condition.

aloe vera
magnesium
omega-3 fatty acids
zinc
vitamin E
vitamin A
vitamin C
3,3'-dihydroxy-B-carotene-4,4'-dione
Algal protein
Allantoin
Almond
almond fruit
Almond Oil
Aloe
Aloe Polysaccharide
Aloe Polysaccharide
Aloe vera
Alpha Hydroxy Acids
Annatto Oil
apple
apricot
Argan nut oil
Argan tree
Undeca-2E, 7Z, 9E-Trienoic Acid Isobutylamide
16 carbon alkyl (unspecified)
5-Campestenone
7-hydroxymatairesinol (HMR)
Abalone
Alfalfa
Algae (unspecified)
Algas calcareas
Alkylamide (unspecified)
Alpha-carotene
alpha-carotene
alpha-carotene
alpha-glycosyl isoquercitrin
Alpha-terpineol
amaranth
Amaranthus tricolor
Ananain
Angel's hair seaweed
anthocyanidin
Anthocyanidins (unspecified)
anthocyanins
anthocyanosides
Apocarotenal
Apple
Arabinoxylan
Arbutin
Arbutin
Asam gelugor
Asparagus
Astaxanthin
astaxanthin
Australian Sandalwood
Avenacosides
Avocado
Avocado Oil
Azelaic acid
Azomite
Bamboo
Barley
Bee Pollen
beeswax
Beeswax
Behenic Acid
Benzoin siam
Bergenia Pacumbis
beta-zeacarotene
Big Quaking Grass
Biopeptide
birch
Birch
Bird's nest
Black Currant
Black spruce
Bladderwrack (Kelp)
Borage
bovine gelatin
10-Hydroxy-2-Decanoic Acid
Agar
Amaranth
Amber resin
Anserina
Apricot
Ascophyllum nodosum
Balloon Pea
Bee Pollen
beet
beta-carotene
beta-carotene
Birch (unspecified)
Bisabolene
black currant
Black Currant Seed Oil
Blackberry
Blend (Mineral)
Bottle gourd
Brassica
Burdock
Butter
Butter fat
Butter oil
Butterfly Pea
Butternut
Butternut Squash
Cabbage palm (not specifed)
Calcifornia chia
camphor oil
Candelilla
Candelilla wax
Canteloupe
Canthaxanthin
Capsanthin
Capsorubin
Carnauba palm
Carnosine
carotenoids
Carotenoids
Castile Soap
catalase
Catechins (unspecified)
celery
Ceramide
Ceramides
Cereal grass (unspecified)
Cetoleic Acid
Cetyl Caprate
Chard
Chervil
chickweed
Chinese Asparagus
Chinese Cucumber
Chinese hibiscus
Chive
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll Vegetable Cellulose
Cholesterol
Citral
Clementine
Cocoa Butter
colostrum
Copaiba Oil
Copper picolinate
Copper Yeast
Coral
Coral
Crab
Cream
Cream
Crioceras
Cryptoxanthin
Cryptoxanthin
cryptoxanthin
cucumber
cucumber
Currant (unspecified)
Cuttlefish
d-alpha tocopherol
David's Milkberry
Deer
Dendramine
Diatase
Diindolylmethane
Diindolylymethane
Diindoylmethane
Dioscorea oppositifolia
Docosanoic acid
dog rose
Dog Rose
Dotriacontanol
Dulse
Dulse
dulse leaf
Dunaliella salina
Dunaliella salina
Dye Indigo
Eastern Red Cedar
Egg
Emu Oil
English Plantain
Fatty Acid Esters (Unspecified)
Fenuside
Fern
Ferulic acid derivative
Ficin
Fish (including shell)
Fish Liver oil
Fish roe
Flavanol (mixture)
flavanols (various)
Flavans
Flavonols
Flosin B
Fractionated vegetable oil
Fringed Pink
Fruit acid (mixed)
Gac
Galactooligosaccharides
Galium (unspecified)
Gamma-carotene
Geraniol
Glucosylceramide
Glutathione peroxidase
Glyceride
Glyceride (unspecified)
Glycerol polymers
Glyceryl oleate
Glyceryl palmitostearate
Glycolic acid
Glycosylceramides
goji berry
Goldenrod
Gooseberry
Grape
Grapeseed Oil
Haematococcus pluvialis
Hairy Fig
Haliotis
Haliotis
Heartsease
heartwood
Himalayan Salt
Horn
Houttuynia
Hyacinth (unspecified)
Hyaluronic Acid
hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid
Hydrilla Verticillata
indole-3-carbinol
Isopropylmyristate
Isopropylpalmitate
Japanese Pine
jojoba
Kachnar
Kelp (various)
Keratin
Keratin
keratin
Koji rice
l-cysteine
l-glutathione
L-Gluthathione
l-histidine
Lactoglobulin (mixed)
Lanolin
Lanolin
Laver
Leptospermum scoparium
lettuce
Lilium polyphyllum
Limonene
linoleic acid (LA)
Linseed Oil
Lithospermum erythrorhizon
Loquat
Lotus (unspecified)
lovage
Lubricant
Lutein
Lutein
lutein
lychee
Lycopene
Lycopene
Macadamia Nut Oil
Maize
Malic Acid
Mandarin
Manganese
Manganese sulfate
mango
mango
Manzanita
Marine fat (unspecified)
Melon
Mesua
Mexican Sarsaparilla
Mica
Milk fat
Mineral Water
Mixed Carotenoids
mixed carotenoids
Monoglyceride
Mum
Mung Bean
Nectarine
Nettle (mixed)
Night jessamine
Oak (unspecified)
oat
Olive
Orchid (unspecified)
Oregon Grape
oryza
Oryza (unspecified)
Ovomucin
Ox
Oyster
Palmitic Acid
Panthenol
Peach
Pear
Peat
Pelvetia canaliculata
Phlebodium decumanum
Phospholipids (unspecified)
Phytoene
Phytofluene
Pine nut Oil
Plankton fossil
Pointed gourd
Polyphenol (unspecified)
Polypodium leucotomos
Potassium silicate
Proanthocyanidin
Proanthocyanidin (unspecified)
Procyanidin (unspecified)
Procyanidol
Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. Shermanii
pumpkin
Radish
radish
Raspberry
Raspberry (unspecified)
Red Clover
red clover
Red Raspberry
Red Sandalwood
redcurrant
Rice Flour
Rice Wax
Rockweed (unspecified)
Roe
Roe
root tuber
Rosabin
Rose (unspecified)
Rose Hip
Rose water
Royal Jelly
Rugose Rose
Rye
sage oil
Sargassum
sarsaparilla
Sarsaparilla (mixed)
Saturated Fatty Acid (unspecified)
Sclareolide
Sea Lettuce
sea salt
Sea vegetable (unspecified)
Servicetree
sesame
Sesame Oil
Sesame Oil
Sesbania grandiflora
Shark oil
Shell
Siberian Fir
silica
Silicic Acid
Silicon
Silicon
silicon
Silicon yeast
Silk protein
Skin
Smilax
Snail
Snakeroot (unspecified)
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Sphaeranthus indicus
spinach
Spotted Geranium
Sprout
starch
Sterolic heteroside
Strawberry
Sulfate
Sulfur
Sulphur
Takuna
Tamarix (unspecified)
Tangelo
Tangerine
Taraxacum (unspecified)
Tetratriacontanol
Tofu
tomato
Triglycerides
Tropical jewel hisbiscus
Tropical oil (unspecified)
Turnip
Tyrosinase
Urolithin A
Ursane-type triterpenoid
Vegetable fat (unspecified)
vegetable oil
vegetable oil
Vegetarian Capsule
Verbascoside
Vitamin A (retinyl palmitate)
Vitamin B2 (mixed)
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin selenite)
Vitamin B2 (unspecified)
Vitamin E (alpha tocotrienol)
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopheryl succinate)
Vitamin E (beta tocotrienol)
Vitamin E (beta-tocopherol)
Vitamin E (beta-tocotrienol)
Vitamin E (delta tocotrienol)
Vitamin E (Gamma Tocotrienol)
Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols
Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols/tocotrienols)
Vitamin E (mixed tocotrienols)
Vitamin E (mixed)
Vitamin E (tocofersolan)
Vitamin E (tocopherol not specified)
Vitamin E (tocopheryl succinate)
Vitamin E (tocotrienol unspecified)
Vitamin E (tocotrienols)
Vitamin K (menaquinone)
Vitamine E (mixed tocotrienols)
Water Chestnut
Watercress
watercress
watermelon
Watermelon
White Pepper
Winter squash
Witch Hazel
Xanthophyll
Xanthophyls
Yam (unspecified)
Yuzu
Zeaxanthin