How long does it take for skin problems to return to normal

Mild cases, such as temporary sunburn or dry skin due to seasonal changes, can return to normal in 1-2 weeks if adjusted correctly. Severe cases, such as acne pits left by repeated acne and hormone-dependent dermatitis, may take half a year or even longer to stabilize.

A consultation I just received a while ago is a typical case of quick recovery. A sophomore girl went on a spring outing for two days without using sun protection. When she came back, she followed the trend and applied two masks that claimed to "quickly fade redness". That night, her face was swollen like a steamed bun, and she also developed a small rash. Even the moisturizer she usually used on her face stung. I asked her to immediately stop all functional products, use only mild amino acid cleansers every day, apply ceramide-containing repair lotion in the morning and evening, and wear a mask and hat to protect herself from the sun when going out. The little girl has strong execution, and the swelling disappeared in less than 10 days. In about three weeks, her face is no different than before, and even the apples of her skin that were prone to redness have stabilized a lot.

But not everyone can recover so quickly. Last year, a 30-year-old sister came to me. She had been using a whitening cream from an unknown source for almost two years to lighten her spots. But when it was out of stock, her face started to rot. When the seasons changed, her face became red and itchy, and even washing her face with warm water hurt. Her problem has damaged the basal layer of the skin barrier, and it cannot be repaired by applying repair products for a few days. In the first three months, she often had recurring rashes. I accompanied her to slowly adjust her skin care regimen, and when it was severe, she used ointments prescribed by the dermatology department to maintain stability. After a full 8 months of adjustment, she finally dared to occasionally put on light makeup without making her face itchy and red.

There are two extreme opinions on this issue on the Internet, and I think neither of them is very objective: one group says that the skin metabolism cycle is 28 days, and any problem can be solved in one cycle at most; the other group says that any skin problem is a chronic disease and needs to be treated for two or three years to be cured. In fact, these two statements do not touch the essence. The recovery speed of skin problems depends on which layer you are injured - it is just temporary damage to the stratum corneum, such as dryness and slight redness, which can be relieved in less than 28 days and can be relieved in more than a week. If the problem has reached the dermis, such as deep acne marks or repeated inflammation caused by hormone dependence, then it will definitely have to wait for several rounds of metabolism to slowly repair, and there is no point in rushing.

It’s easy to understand. Just like when we get sick, a cold and runny nose can usually be cured by drinking hot water for two days. If it develops into pneumonia, it must be treated according to the course of treatment. You can’t require all problems to be treated according to the same timetable, right? I have seen many people lose their patience and change products after using them for three to five days when they find they have no effect. They even rush to apply acid or strong whitening drugs, which in turn puts a burden on the already fragile skin. The problem that was supposed to be cured in a month is delayed for half a year and repeated, which is not worth the gain.