Americans say lockdown has given them more time to focus on skin care

Two in three Americans said their imperfect skin is holding them back from feeling confident, according to new research. In an attempt to gain confidence through clearer skin, respondents are using their time at home to care for their skin. Forty-six percent have used the extra time to care for their skin and 91% feel their skin is healthier after spending significantly more time at home. The study of 2,000 Americans, conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with CeraVe, aimed to discover how much Americans actually know about their skin — and how overlooked habits may be keeping them from healthy skin. Fifty-eight percent are worried they've already done too much damage to their skin, while 64% feel guilty about not taking skin care seriously enough. Learning about skin care takes time — in fact, nearly 80% believe in using trial and error to determine what products work best for their skin. Fifty-three percent have changed their skin care products over time, and the average person studied tried out seven different cleansers before finally landing on one that worked for their skin. Still, even with learning more over time, if time travel was an option, 58% would go back and take their skin more seriously when they were younger. However, cleansing did start early for some, as 47% of respondents said they started to use a facial cleanser before they were 17. And results revealed by the time the average American surveyed has hit the age of 26, they've begun worrying about the health and appearance of their skin. And this comes with a variety of guilt about their previous habits. Admittedly, 43% revealed they feel guilty about popping pimples when they were younger while 30% wish they would have educated themselves about the proper products for their skin type when they were younger. Another 22% of respondents said they feel guilty about using harsh skin care products and 21% regret scrubbing their face with a washcloth. Over a quarter of those studied started taking care of their skin routinely because of a desire to prevent signs of aging. And two in five were prompted to finally take their skin seriously — and ultimately begin a skin care routine — due to a skin concern. When it comes to choosing what they use, the same number of respondents reported using dish soap and micellar water on their faces. Unfortunately, many are unaware of the proper ways to take care of their skin. Forty-two percent wrongly think they can properly wash their face with just water. Nearly a quarter (23%) of those surveyed have no idea what type of cleanser is right for their face — with 27% completely unaware of what their skin type even is. "When I am helping my patients select a cleanser, I make sure they are looking for key ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which will help restore the skin barrier without taking away moisture," said board-certified dermatologist Dr. Sejal Shah. "I recommend CeraVe because they offer a full range of gentle cleansers for different skin types that are formulated with these ingredients, so skin can reap all the benefits a cleanser should offer, including removing oil and grime while leaving skin with the optimal amount of moisture."