With so many skincare products and treatment solutions circulating the internet these days, many people find themselves confused about how to take care of their skin; or worse, they damage it by trying the latest craze. Before you jump headlong into trying the newest fad in skin care treatments, there are a few things that you should know. Here are some tips to help you avoid damaging your skin between your dermatology appointments.

Skip The Kitchen Recipes

Many websites that are promising the next great natural solution for skincare are promoting all kinds of kitchen recipes. While these may seem like a great option for ditching the manufactured creams and lotions, the fact is that they can sometimes do more damage than good.

For example, many of these mixtures rely on some combination of things like lemon, vinegar, and honey. The acids in the lemon and vinegar can both lead to severe inflammation. They will irritate your skin, leading to further problems. Honey is thick and will actually clog your pores, blocking in bacteria that can cause infections and other issues.

If you're looking to solve a specific skincare problem, talk with your dermatologist first. They can provide you with recommendations that will help without causing other damage.

Ditch The Toner Bottle

You've probably heard many women rave about using toner on their skin. Designed to shrink the appearance of your pores, you might think this is a great thing to add to your skincare regimen. In fact, toner can actually do more harm than good. It shrinks the appearance of your pores by drawing moisture out of your skin. If you've got oily skin, this might feel like a welcome relief. Unfortunately, by stripping moisture out of your skin, it can actually trigger more skin oil production, worsening acne problems. It can also leave your skin feeling exceedingly dry, resulting in the need for additional moisturizers.

Avoid Essential Oil Application

It might seem like essential oils are a great solution for skin care needs because they are natural. Unfortunately, what many people don't realize is that they can trigger allergic reactions that make irritation, rashes, and breakouts worse. The oils act like an irritant, triggering the body's immune system to respond, which is what causes the new rashes and problems to develop. Before you use any essential oil, talk with your dermatologist about how it could react with your skin.