Your skin is the first thing people notice and the largest organ of the body, but for some reason it is often the most neglected part of our health routine. Here are 5 ways to improve the appearance and health of your skin that won’t be any skin off your back.
1. Watch What You Put on Your Face
It is important to have good quality skin care products, but that doesn’t necessarily mean spending a lot of money. You want to look for products that have good clinical testing or science to back up the product’s claims. Ask your dermatologist, a skin expert, on what is the right skin care regimen for you. In general, products sold in a physician’s office or in specialty clinics may contain higher concentrations of the active ingredients. Also, don’t forget that makeup EXPIRES! This is huge. Remember that your makeup has a shelf-life. If it’s over a year old, throw it away.
2. Invest in a Good Cleanser
Just as it is important to watch what you put on your skin, it is just as vital to be able to truly clean your face. It is important to determine your skin type: Oily, Normal, Dry, Acne Prone, Sensitive, etc., in order to decide what cleanser is right for you. You want to make sure that you are not over scrubbing or irritating your skin with your cleansing regimen.
3. Invest in a Good Moisturizer
Just as you need the right polish for your car, you need the right moisturizer for your skin type. Moisturizers are important to maintain and keep the top layer of the skin intact and to preserve the integrity of the skin barrier function. When this barrier becomes compromised, it can manifest as dry, red, scaly, or itchy skin. It’s a great idea to apply a moisturizer at night before bed after any prescription or cleansing treatment and in the morning use one with at least SPF 30 after you wash your face.
4. Wear Sunscreen
This is probably the easiest step one can do to minimize the risk of future skin cancer, and it’s never too late to start. Make it part of your daily routine, like brushing your teeth. Studies show that daily, incidental sun exposure adds up to the equivalent of about a one-week vacation at the beach. Just think of the sun exposure we get here in Dallas! One in 5 people will get skin cancer in their lives and the single biggest preventative step is to apply a daily moisturizer with SPF 30, and for outdoor sports or activity, use a higher SPF sunscreen (45 or greater) and reapply every 2-3 hours. Be sure to look for broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection.
5. Love Your Dermatologist
Do yourself a favor and keep up with your dermatology checkups. Everyone needs an annual skin exam to check for any irregular moles, bumps, or skin cancer. An easy way to remember this is to “get your birthday suit checked out on your birthday.” If you have questions about skin care, one of our licensed and highly trained aestheticians can recommend products and a regimen to help restore the health of your skin and keep you looking your best.