Hong Kong people lead busy lives with irregular eating habits. Combined with Hong Kong's humid climate and relatively severe air pollution, many people experience dull, yellowish skin. What else causes this sallow complexion? How can we improve dull, yellowish skin? What are some skincare methods for dull, yellowish skin?
What does it mean for skin to appear sallow or dull?
Dull, yellowish skin refers to a complexion that lacks its natural luster, appearing grayish and lifeless. Even makeup cannot conceal this pale, dull appearance. Furthermore, the skin surface is not smooth, appearing and even feeling rough to the touch. It may be accompanied by dryness, peeling, fine lines, and is prone to acne, pimples, and enlarged pores.
What causes a sallow complexion?
The causes of sallow skin can be divided into three main aspects: personal health factors, diet, and lifestyle habits.
Personal health factors
- Anemia or malnutrition: A lack of nutrients such as iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid can reduce hemoglobin, causing the skin to lose its rosy hue and appear sallow.
- Abnormal liver or kidney function: Liver diseases (such as hepatitis, cirrhosis) or kidney diseases can affect the metabolism of toxins and bilirubin in the body, and in severe cases, may cause waxy yellowing or jaundice.
- Hormonal imbalances: Hormonal changes (such as thyroid dysfunction and polycystic ovary syndrome) can affect skin metabolism, causing dull and sallow skin.
- Chronic diseases or long-term medication: Certain chronic diseases (such as diabetes) or long-term use of specific medications can affect skin health and metabolism, leading to a sallow complexion.
- Excessive stress: Long-term mental stress can affect the autonomic nervous system and hormone secretion, reducing the skin's repair ability and causing the complexion to become dull.
Dietary habits
- High-sugar, high-fat diets: Frequently consuming sweets, fried foods, or high-fat foods accelerates glycation reactions in the body, producing advanced glycation end products (AGEs). This causes the skin to lose its translucency and become sallow, and is the most common cause of sallow skin in urban dwellers.
- Lack of fruits and vegetables and antioxidant nutrients: Insufficient intake of fruits and vegetables, and a lack of vitamins A, C, E, and antioxidants such as polyphenols, will weaken the skin's resistance to free radicals, resulting in dull skin.
- Insufficient water intake: Not drinking enough water can lead to dry skin, affect metabolism, and cause the skin tone to turn yellow.
- Excessive alcohol consumption: Alcohol damages liver function, affects toxin metabolism, and over time, can easily lead to a sallow complexion.
Lifestyle
- Insufficient sleep or irregular sleep patterns: Long-term sleep deprivation and poor sleep quality can slow down skin repair and metabolism, leading to dull and sallow skin.
- Lack of sun protection: Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays can stimulate melanin production, accelerate skin aging, and cause the skin to turn yellow and lose its luster.
- Improper skin cleansing and moisturizing: Incomplete cleansing or lack of moisturizing can lead to a buildup of dead skin cells, damage the skin barrier, and result in a rough and dull complexion.
- Lack of exercise: Insufficient exercise can lead to poor blood circulation, depriving the skin of enough nutrients and oxygen, resulting in a yellowish and lifeless complexion.
- Smoking: Smoking accelerates skin aging, affects blood circulation and skin repair, and is one of the common causes of dull and sallow skin.
How to improve dull and yellowish skin?
From a dietary perspective, it's beneficial to consume more foods rich in vitamins C and E, such as citrus fruits, blueberries, and green tea, to replenish sufficient nutrients, brighten skin tone, and combat dullness. Vitamin C intake helps to whiten the skin, while vitamin E enhances the skin's repair and protective abilities, reduces melanin deposition, and improves dullness. Additionally, adequate supplementation with vitamin B12 and iron can provide cells with the necessary oxygen and energy, nourishing the skin.
In terms of lifestyle habits, a regular sleep schedule helps promote skin repair. Therefore, going to bed early and waking up early, and avoiding staying up late, can help reduce the appearance of a sallow complexion. In addition, regular aerobic exercise helps promote blood circulation and metabolism, maintain skin elasticity and health, and further improve dull skin.
A list of skincare methods for dull and yellowish skin
In terms of skincare for dull, yellowish skin, once skin becomes dry, even with regular daily application of moisturizing products, the skin texture may not show significant improvement. Therefore, ensuring the skin has sufficient moisture is paramount in improving dullness. In this case, you can use moisturizing products such as serums, lotions, and creams to replenish the skin's moisture, improve its water-locking ability, and help the skin stay hydrated. In addition to replenishing moisture, you shouldn't neglect the importance of sun protection. Regularly using sunscreen and combining it with sun protection methods, such as wearing a hat and using an umbrella, will protect the skin from harmful ultraviolet rays.
How to choose a supplement to improve dull skin? We recommend NeoYouth Merrillady (美肌の蜜儿) from Japan.
How exactly do you choose a high-quality skincare supplement? NeoYouth Merrillady, a Japanese skincare product, boasts 13 international efficacy patents. Combining revolutionary triple-care ingredients, its three nationally recognized scientific formulas are blended in a perfect golden ratio. Clinically proven, it provides 24-hour continuous and highly effective skin nourishment and rejuvenation, offering hydration, brightening, anti-inflammation, and protection against oxidation by a factor of 1 million. It gradually improves dull skin, restoring youthful, healthy, and firm skin.
NeoYouth's Merrilady, a Japanese skincare brand, features three world-class ingredients, including GliSODin®, a patented French melon extract known as "super enzyme SOD." This ingredient is a top-tier component in the clinically proven antioxidant pyramid and is extracted from natural plant active ingredients. It is the world's first clinically proven SOD that is effective orally and can be absorbed through the digestive system.
The Japanese patented Oryza Ceramide® (also known as ceramide or ceramide) is the only ingredient in Japan that has been clinically proven to have both moisturizing and whitening effects. It can replenish moisture in the skin layers and strengthen the skin barrier to prevent moisture loss.
In addition, the high-concentration extract of Bulgarian Damask rose stem cells is a world-renowned nourishing ingredient containing unique active essences and various nutrients, which are effective in protecting skin cells, promoting epidermal cell regeneration, improving the skin's resistance to ultraviolet rays, and anti-inflammation.
Having learned about the causes of sallow skin, how to improve dull skin, and skincare methods, if you have any questions about NeoYouth Merrilady (美肌の蜜儿) from Japan, please feel free to contact us or purchase our products.
Reference:
https://www.takami-labo.com.tw/dark-skincare.html
https://www.dvgo.com/blog/%E7%9A%AE%E8%86%9A%E6%9A%97%E6%B2%89
