How to fix a year-long broken barrier?
Hi there!
I've been trying to recover my skin barrier for a year but have been feeling very hopeless. It has improved since the damage first occurred but is still feels constantly dehydrated, fragile, and uncomfortable, sometimes painful.
The texture of my skin seems to have changed too - with more visible pores on my cheeks. Is that normal, will it go back to the way it was before?
So I'm wondering if I should stick to my current routine or make some changes.
Current routine:
AM
Cleanse with water
Avène cicalfate serum
Avène Tolerance soothing recovery cream
2 drops Squalane (once in a while a dab of Avène cicalfate cream instead of Squalane)
PM
Cleanse with Bepanthen Sensicontrol Daily Gentle Wash Gel
Repeat all AM skincare
Skin type : combination leaning towards dry, but clog-prone.
I've tried many things. All attempts at adding SPF have made the problem worse. I've tried Vaseline twice and think it might help but I'm afraid it will make my pore issue worse and also require more cleansing.
So I'm wondering:
Do I need a ceramide cream to fix this? (In Europe)
Do I need a heavy barrier like vaseline?
Really I'm kind of scared of putting more stuff on my face. Could minimising all of it be a solution? Less cream/oils but also less cleansing.
Or just determinedly stick to my current routine?
I recently saw a dermatologist and she didn't give me any clear plan to solving this. Said that skin rebalances with different approaches for everyone and there is no one solution. So I concluded that I just have to figure it out on my own - trial and error.
Looking for some help and hope here.
Thanks!