A dull complexion is characterised by a lack of uniformity and brightness, a greyish colour, and an irregular skin texture. This phenomenon is scientifically explained by an imbalance in skin renewal and an excess of dead cells accumulating on the surface. But what causes this?
Why do we have a dull complexion?
Summary
Published on February 23, 2024, by Maylis, Chemical Engineer — 4 min of reading
Themes:
How to identify a dull complexion?
When facing a mirror, observe your face and analyse the following three aspects.
Does light slightly reflect off your cheekbones? If the answer is yes, this indicates that your skin hydration is good. However, if you observe no reflection, you may have a dull complexion.
Is the colour of your facial skin uniform? If certain areas are more grey than others, you likely have a dull complexion.
Do you have drawn features with bags and/or dark circles under your eyes? This could also be a sign of a dull, greyish complexion.
What are the internal causes of dull skin?
Internal bodily disturbances are the main causes of lack of skin radiance.
Poor blood circulation impacts cellular renewal, a process in which skin cells known as keratinocytes migrate to the skin's surface to transform into corneocytes or dead cells, and are then shed, either naturally or otherwise. As they detach from the epidermis, the corneocytes make way for a new layer of cells, allowing the skin to regain its radiance. However, poor blood circulation can lead to an imbalance and a slowdown in this shedding process, causing dead cells to accumulate on the surface and give the skin a "dull" appearance.
Stress is also a cause of uneven skin tone. Indeed, it releases hormones such as adrenaline, oxytocin, vasopressin, and ACTH. These are responsible for triggering a chain of reactions in the skin layer leading to vasoconstriction (reduction in the diameter of blood vessels), resulting in a pale and greyish complexion.
With the increasingly weak synthesis of collagen, elastin and also hyaluronic acid, the skin ageing is also a cause of dull skin. In addition to maintaining skin elasticity, these three compounds function to brighten the complexion and deeply hydrate it in order to maintain its shine and radiance.
What are the external causes of a dull complexion?
Daily habits also influence the appearance of the skin. Among the phenomena leading to a greyish complexion, we can mention:
The lack of nutrients in the diet, considering that vitamins and trace elements strengthen the skin's resistance to external aggressions. Moreover, an excess of sugar deteriorates the quality of the skin and harms the uniformity of the complexion, in addition to causing acne outbreaks.
The lack of sleep, which disrupts the skin's chronobiology and hormonal production, leads to an excessive production of glucose. Additionally, there is a decrease in peripheral temperature during wakefulness. These cumulative phenomena make the skin appear pale and dull.
Pollution and prolonged exposure to the sun are responsible for the deterioration of the skin's protective barrier. A dull complexion then results from an accumulation of dead cells at the epidermis level. Responsible for cellular oxidation, UV rays equally promote the greyish appearance of the skin.
Smoking and excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages . These two factors generate an excessive amount of highly reactive compounds called free radicals. These destroy many healthy cellular components of the skin and promote its dull and greyish appearance. This is the infamous oxidative stress .
