If you are one of those people who spend tons of money on skincare and self-care products, you know how important it is to keep ourselves well-pampered after a long tiring day at work. But it is not only us who deserve a pamper treatment—our dogs as well! You can also check here the tips on how to survive a road trip with your dog.
Since your furry companion does not know the latest skincare trends, let alone tell if their skin is dry, maybe it is about time for you to learn more about doggie skin care to make your pooch look and feel fresh ang great from the inside out!
You are lucky to stumble upon this article, because below, we will discuss the best ways to have a pamper day at home with your dog! You can also learn more about cats that act like dogs!
First things first
Following a daily skincare regimen can prevent skin infections, matted coats, dry skin, and all the discomfort associated with these problems.
The first step is to check your dog for symptoms of underlying conditions. You can see if your dog has any of the following: yeast infection, fungal infection, mange, flea bite, ringworm, red patches, dry skin, dandruff, hair loss, and other peculiar signs you may see all over your pooch’s body. Before starting any form of skin regimen, it is best to bring your dog to a local veterinarian to have them checked because your dog may already be suffering from a disease. Your grooming efforts will be put to waste that way.
The basics of dog skin care
Now, after finding out that your dog is healthy and ready to go, it is about time to plan their skin care routine. The first thing that you have to do is to brush your dog. Brushing your dog’s body before giving him a bath gets rid of the excess hair and tangles, which refer to the strands of hair glued together due to sweat, dirt, your dog’s saliva, and dog products that cause hot spots (red patches on the skin). Brushing your dog just before giving him a bath also helps stimulate natural oils in the skin, which makes the coat silky and shiny.
When giving a bath, only use gentle, moisturizing hair shampoo. No matter how regular you brush your dog, bathing your dog too often will leave their coat dry. This happens when you use hot water or apply harsh shampoos, especially those formulated for humans. Hot water and harsh hair products can strip your dog’s skin off of its natural moisturizing properties. Therefore, when choosing the right products for your dog’s skin, make sure to pick those that contain a few of the following ingredients:
- Vitamins A & E that help nourish skin and coat health
- Humectants that lock in moisture
- Wheat, silk, or oat proteins, which help strengthen coat and skin texture
- Sunflower seed oil
- Safflower oil
After giving your dog a bath, make sure to spray your dog’s coat with products that have colloidal oatmeal, fatty acids, glycerin, or urea. This helps lock in moisture of your dog’s coat and skin. If your dog has sensitive areas or hot spots, spot-treat them with aloe vera or lotion prescribed by a veterinarian. Brush your dog’s coat until dry and until it gets shiny again.
The basics of your skin care routine
This will seem funny at first, but your skincare routine doesn’t vary a lot from your dog’s! You will be surprised to see how both skincare routines resemble each other!
You see, when brushing your hair, you are also stimulating oil production in your hair, making it more shiny and softer. And it is not advisable that you wash your hair everyday, especially if you are using a shampoo containing harsh ingredients. Stick to hair products containing all-natural ingredients and you will be good to go.
After showering, wash your face with a gentle cleanser. Your face after washing should not be too dry nor too moisturized—there should be a balance of both factors. If you have oily skin, then it’s best to use gel type moisturizer, whereas if you have dry skin, stick to using a cream type moisturizer.
But before anything else, since it is pamper day, give your skin a little more love contrary to what you do everyday! After cleansing your face, run a toner-laden cotton all over your face to get rid of excess oils and dirt. Toner also helps prepare your skin for the succeeding steps.
Next, apply serum. A serum usually helps diminish specific skin problems such as hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and pimples. If you have hyperpigmentation, we recommend using vitamin C serum or niacinamide serum. If your concern is aging skin, vitamin A serum works best to reverse wrinkles and other forms of aging.
Lastly, put a sheet mask on your face. Wait for 20 minutes before removing it. Let the moisture sink in for a while before applying your moisturizer, then you’re done!