How long does it take to treat skin problems?

There is no standard answer. In mild cases, the redness, swelling and smoothness will subside in two to three weeks. In severe cases, it may take two to three years to slowly return to a healthy state. If the old problem has damaged the dermis, it must be treated with medical aesthetics to achieve significant improvement.

A while ago, I helped my cousin treat her seasonal allergies. She went for a day of hiking in the countryside and used the newly purchased whitening essence. Her cheeks were as red as ripe peaches, and she also developed a dense rash. It was so itchy that she couldn't help but scratch it with her hands. She had applied several internet-famous soothing ointments before, which only made them worse. Later, I asked her to stop all functional products, use a mild amino acid cleanser and repair cream in the morning and evening, and rely on a hat and mask to protect her from the sun when going out. She even endured her favorite spicy crayfish for half a month. Within three weeks, the redness was basically gone, and there were no pimples or rashes to the touch.

Nowadays, there are two opinions on the Internet that are very quarrelsome. One group says that you can change your face as long as you follow it for 28 days, and the other group says that conditioning is all an IQ tax and it will be useless no matter how long you try. In fact, both opinions are too extreme. The 28-day metabolic cycle we often talk about refers to the epidermal renewal rate of healthy skin. If your own barrier is full of holes and the metabolism rate is slower than that of healthy skin, wouldn't it be embarrassing for you to stick to the 28-day standard? As for those who say that conditioning is useless, I have seen too many people like this. They just applied the repair cream today, and tried it tomorrow when they saw others applying acid rejuvenation. After eating light cream for two days, they went to go skewers and drink cold beer with friends to stay up late on the weekend. The skin just showed some signs of improvement, but then they were put back, and of course no effect was seen.

In fact, skin conditioning is like raising a succulent with rotten roots. You can't just change the soil and water it, and then encourage it to sprout new leaves in two days, right? You must first clean up the rotten roots, use breathable soil, water less and ventilate more, and slowly wait for the new roots to take root first, and then they will slowly grow full new leaves. The same is true for skin. Repair the damaged barrier first and allow metabolism to return to a normal rhythm. Only then will improvements appear slowly. It doesn't happen in a hurry.

I have been doing this for almost 6 years, and the fastest I have ever seen was a little girl who was just a sophomore. She stayed up all night during the exam week and ate takeout, and her face was covered with red and swollen inflammatory acne. She almost cried when she came. She followed the doctor’s instructions and applied ointment, went to bed before 11 o’clock every day, and gave up milk tea and sweets. In less than two weeks, 80% of the acne disappeared, leaving only a few light pink acne marks. I have also seen a sister who used off-brand quick-acting whitening cream for three years to develop a face with severe hormones. She suffered from repeated acne breakouts and redness, and it burned when exposed to heat. It took almost two years of conditioning before her skin gradually returned to normal. There were several times in the middle that she felt that it was ineffective and wanted to give up, but she gritted her teeth and persevered.

Don’t believe the gimmick that says “remove acne marks in 7 days and fill up acne pits in 14 days”. If it really works like this, it has already won an international skin care award. How can you post a comparison picture on WeChat that even your mother won’t recognize. Many people always think that just after applying the mask, their face will be brighter the next day, but in fact, it is just a temporary effect of the stratum corneum absorbing water, and it is not really in place. Just turn your head and do a few times and it will return to its original shape.

If you really want to get better quickly, it is better to use less anxiety-inducing skin care posts and stick to the plan that suits you honestly. It is much more reliable than counting on your fingers every day how long it will take to get better.