What is Ashy Skin?

What is Ashy Skin?

What causes ashy skin?

If you are with a dark brown or black skin color and you feel that sometimes your skin looks a bit gray, then you may have something that dermatologists refer to as ‘ashy skin’.

Ashy skin is common in darker skin types, and is a result of dry skin.

Dry skin leads to a build-up of dead skin cells on the stratum corneum (the outer layer of the skin) causing the skin to look gray in color.

Why Do I Get Ashy Skin?

Ashy skin is primarily caused by skin that is dry and dehydrated; therefore, daily use of a moisturizer is essential. This should be preceded by a face or body exfoliator as ashy skin is also often the result of incomplete desquamation (i.e. the shedding of dead skin cells to reveal new and fresh skin beneath).

How To Get Rid Of Ashy Skin

The most sure-fire way to get rid of ashy skin on the face and body is to regularly use an exfoliating scrub.

These remove the dead skin cells, allowing the skin to reflect light and give you radiant and glowing skin.

What Are The Best Face Scrubs To Treat Ashy Skin?

The best face scrub for ashy skin is a mechanical face scrub with abrasive beads that are not bad for the environment.

5 best exfoliating scrubs to treat ashy skin:

Avene Gentle Scrub

Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Power Scrub

Pidanti Smoothing Polish Face and Body Scrub

SkinCeuticals Micro-Exfoliating Scrub

VMV Hydra Balance Smart Cleansing Scrub- for allergic skin

Obagi Professional-C Microdermabrasion Polish + Mask 30%

$89.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Daily Exfoliant

$48.00

Add to Cart

Revision Skincare Pumpkin Enzyme Mask

$54.00

Out of Stock

SkinCeuticals Micro-Exfoliating Scrub

$32.00

Add to Cart

ClarityRx Down + Dirty Detoxifying Charcoal Microexfoliant

$37.00

Add to Cart

ClarityRx Get Clean Crushed Bamboo Exfoliator

$37.00

Add to Cart

Filorga SCRUB & MASK Exfoliating Bubble Mask

$64.00

Out of Stock

La Roche-Posay Ultra-Fine Facial Scrub

$19.99

Out of Stock

Murad Vita-C Exfoliating Facial

$79.00

Add to Cart

Obagi 360 Exfoliating Cleanser

$45.00

Out of Stock

Obagi Professional-C Microdermabrasion Polish + Mask 30%

$89.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Daily Exfoliant

$48.00

Add to Cart

Revision Skincare Pumpkin Enzyme Mask

$54.00

Out of Stock

SkinCeuticals Micro-Exfoliating Scrub

$32.00

Add to Cart

ClarityRx Down + Dirty Detoxifying Charcoal Microexfoliant

$37.00

Add to Cart

ClarityRx Get Clean Crushed Bamboo Exfoliator

$37.00

Add to Cart

Filorga SCRUB & MASK Exfoliating Bubble Mask

$64.00

Out of Stock

La Roche-Posay Ultra-Fine Facial Scrub

$19.99

Out of Stock

Murad Vita-C Exfoliating Facial

$79.00

Add to Cart

Obagi 360 Exfoliating Cleanser

$45.00

Out of Stock

Obagi Professional-C Microdermabrasion Polish + Mask 30%

$89.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Daily Exfoliant

$48.00

Add to Cart

Revision Skincare Pumpkin Enzyme Mask

$54.00

Out of Stock

SkinCeuticals Micro-Exfoliating Scrub

$32.00

Add to Cart

ClarityRx Down + Dirty Detoxifying Charcoal Microexfoliant

$37.00

Add to Cart

ClarityRx Get Clean Crushed Bamboo Exfoliator

$37.00

Add to Cart

Filorga SCRUB & MASK Exfoliating Bubble Mask

$64.00

Out of Stock

La Roche-Posay Ultra-Fine Facial Scrub

$19.99

Out of Stock

Murad Vita-C Exfoliating Facial

$79.00

Add to Cart

Obagi 360 Exfoliating Cleanser

$45.00

Out of Stock

We also love ClarityRx Down + Dirty Mask, which is a natural apricot and mineral-rich seaweed scrub that also doubles as a charcoal mask to remove the gray scales that create an appearance of ashy skin. This face scrub for ashy skin is suitable for even sensitive skin types, and will lift away dead skin cells for a healthy-looking complexion. Mineral-rich seawood supports the skin’s natural hydration process to prevent the reappearance of the dry, dead skin cells that cause ashy skin.

What Are The Best Body Scrubs To Treat Ashy Arms And Ashy Legs?

One of the best face and body scrubs for ashy skin is Pidanti Smoothing Polish Face and Body Scrub – an excellent all-round exfoliating scrub.

This face and body scrub gently removes dead, dull skin cells using a combination of exfoliating beads and 10% glycolic acid.

Glycolic acid is a low pH cleanser with alpha hydroxy acid well-known to create a smoother, more even appearance, as well as gently peel away dead skin cells from the surface of the stratum corneum.

How To Prevent Ashy Skin On The Face

If you regularly suffer from ashy skin on the face, the best way to keep it at bay is to use an effective facial moisturize r or face oil, which will keep the skin hydrated and reduce the appearance of the dry skin that causes a gray color. A face moisturizer that replaces the lipids that are commonly lost in dry skin conditions, as well as hydrates, is essential to prevent ashy skin.

One of our favorite face moisturizers to prevent ashy skin is Zerafite Barrier Repair Cream, a gentle face cream that repairs and protects the skin barrier (i.e. the stratum corneum). By doing so, this face moisturizer prevents the appearance of dry, ashy skin by locking in moisture and replenishing lost skin lipids.

Medature PSL Repair Moisturizer is a rich but lightweight face cream that combines ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids to restore the skin barrier. This helps the skin hold on to water, preventing dehydration and ashy skin on the face. This healing moisturizer is best used as the last step in your nighttime skin care routine.

Finally, SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 replaces the lipids lost in dry skin conditions to hydrate dry skin on the face and improve skin radiance. This skin barrier product is a rich cream, which some skin types may not like, but it is very effective at improving skin texture and radiance through its combination of ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids.

You may also wish to try face oils to treat ashy skin. Face oils that contain argan oil in particular are ideal, as argan oil is suitable for both sensitive and dry skin types, keeps the skin hydrated, and contains linoleic acid (a type of moisturizing fatty acid), which calms the skin.

PAORR Organic Moroccan Argan Oil contains 100% organic Moroccan argan oil. We love this face oil because it soothes, protects and hydrates the skin. It is an entirely natural product, with no hidden ingredients, so is suitable for dry and sensitive skin types.

ClarityRx Glimmer Of Hope Shimmering Facial Oil is a naturally scented oil that mixes antioxidant and anti-inflammatory oils to hydrate the skin – perfect for dry and dehydrated skin. Turkish rose oil (an anti-inflammatory) regenerates and protects the skin, while antioxidants marula kernel oil and meadowfoam oil boost hydration and skin radiance.

How To Prevent Ashy Skin On The Body

Just as you would use an effective moisturizer to prevent ashy skin on the face, the body also requires hydrating body creams to prevent the return of dry, dehydrated skin following treatment with a body scrub.

These hydroxyacid body creams treat ashy skin:

SkinMedica TNS Ceramide Treatment Cream

$72.00

Add to Cart

Our favorite body oils to hydrate dark skin types:

VMV HYPOALLERGENICS Oil’s Well Nurturing Do-It-Oil

$40.00

Out of Stock

Nuxe Prodigieux Huile de Douche Shower Oil

$18.00

Out of Stock

What’s The Best Skin Care Routine for Dark Skin Types?

If you have a dark skin tone, selecting the correct skin care routine for your skin type is essential to prevent the appearance of ashy skin. Cleansers and moisturizers in particular have a big role in treating ashy skin.

Knowing your Baumann Skin Type can guide you on what skin care products are best to help keep your skin healthy and hydrated. Click here to learn more about skin care for black skin.

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

Related Articles

Ad Blocker Detected