Pamela Springer, licensed esthetician, esthetics instructor, author, and founder of The Skin & Makeup Institute of Arizona, provides her expert insight on this important topic.
Particularly among ethnic minorities in the U.S., the combination of traditional cultural therapies and modern skincare techniques is a complicated and sometimes disregarded factor of healthcare. Although traditional home remedies handed down through the years provide a sense of comfort and cultural legacy, they can be quite dangerous when mixed with professional skincare treatments.
Natural elements with good effects on skin health abound in cultural remedies: herbs, spices, fruits, and oils. African descendants might utilize turmeric, aloe vera, or shea butter, for skin moisturizing and inflammation control. Asians may brighten and anti-age with rice water, green tea, or ginseng. For relaxing and moisturizing effects, Hispanics/Latinos could choose avocado, honey, or chamomile. The interactions among these natural components and commercial skincare products can be erratic, though. For example, some natural oils may interfere with the way some active components in commercial moisturizers or serums are absorbed. Likewise, some herbs or spices could have astringent or exfoliating qualities that aggravate dryness or sensitivity of the skin when paired with strong chemical peels or laser treatments.
Natural skincare products have become rather popular for several reasons, including increased consumer understanding of components, a demand for sustainability, and an overwhelming distrust of synthetic chemicals. In search of better skin, people are gravitating toward traditional therapies including homemade mixtures, herbal extracts, and essential oils. Many times passed down through generations or discovered via internet sites pushing do-it-yourself skincare, these treatments have historical significance. Though most people view these natural therapies as safe, they can cause problems if used improperly or in concert with professional treatments. The absence of rigorous testing and control of natural products complicates their application even more and makes it challenging to forecast their interaction with other skincare procedures.
Even while natural skincare is becoming more and more popular, many skincare experts still lack sufficient knowledge about traditional remedies and their possible interactions with professional treatments. Lack of knowledge can result from several sources, including inadequate training, the fast development of the skincare business, and an emphasis on traditional, scientifically based therapies inside professional education. Professionals may thus not be completely qualified to counsel customers on the safe and efficient inclusion of natural therapies into their beauty regimens. Treatment results and client safety can suffer greatly from this knowledge vacuum. Adverse consequences become more likely when customers utilize natural therapies without fully understanding their qualities or possible interactions and when professionals overlook or fail to identify these aspects.
Chemical burns are one of the major hazards involved with combining conventional therapies with home medicines. Many natural therapies have exfoliating qualities including baking soda, apple cider vinegar, and lemon juice. Mixing exfoliating with professional treatments, such as chemical peels or laser resurfacing, might be harmful even if it helps the skin by eliminating dead cells and encouraging cell turnover.
Conclusion:
Natural and traditional remedies are being increasingly used in skincare, so skincare experts must have honest and open talks with their clients about their skincare practices. Professionals can better grasp their clients' needs and customize their advice by posing particular inquiries regarding substances, frequency of usage, and known sensitivity. One useful and efficient approach to finding such hazards before treatments start is to include questions about home remedies on intake questionnaires. This data allows one to adjust treatment plans as necessary, guaranteeing expert skincare treatments' safety and efficacy. Skincare professionals can provide more individualized, safe, and effective treatments that meets the increasing need for natural skincare while preventing the risk of adverse events by encouraging continuous communication and educating clients about potential connections between home remedies and professional treatments.