Top Five Must-Follow Tips for Taking Care of Your Skin

Your skin is your largest organ. Since it’s always exposed to the elements, it also takes a beating. Over time, your skin’s wear and tear shows itself in wrinkles, rashes, discoloration, and other ailments. To minimize these kinds of damage, you should maintain a skincare regimen. Below, we’ve outlined the top five best practices for taking care of your skin. Implement these tips to keep your skin healthy and beautiful. 1. Wash Your Face in the Morning and Evening In the morning, use lukewarm water and facial cleanser to gently wash your face. Try not to use bar soap as it removes moisture from your skin. Once you’ve washed, rinse thoroughly and blot your face dry. Apply moisturizer that contains sunscreen with at least SPF 15. In the evening, wash, rinse, and apply moisturizer again. If you wear makeup during the day, make sure you remove it with makeup remover or a gel cleanser beforehand. 2. Use Moisturizers, Sunscreen, and Topical Creams You may want to apply (and reapply) broad spectrum sunscreen during the day. The time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. is peak time for ultraviolet rays, which can easily damage your skin. In addition to applying moisturizer, rub a small amount of a vitamin-A-rich topical retinoid to reduce signs of skin damage. These over-the-counter creams also can treat mild cases of acne. 3. Improve Your Physical Health Our skin demonstrates how healthy our bodies are. Habits like eating poorly, smoking cigarettes, and failing to get enough sleep all affect how your skin looks. Perhaps the most important change you can make is to quit smoking cigarettes. Smoking decreases blood flow, preventing your skin from getting the oxygen and nutrients it needs. It also reduces your skin’s elasticity, which creates wrinkles. Next, drink enough water to stay hydrated throughout the day. Hydration is especially important in the South, where high temperatures and humidity leach moisture from your skin and cause you to sweat throughout the day. Based on your weight and gender, you should drink between 9 and 13 cups of water each day. Diet and sleep also play significant roles in epidermal health. Foods rich in vitamin C give your skin a healthier appearance. Sleep helps you mitigate stress. Without enough rest, you may get dark circles beneath your eyes. 4. Stay Out of the Sun The sun causes more skin damage than any other culprit listed in this blog. While it’s always necessary to have some layer of SPF protection on your skin, the sunscreen added to moisturizers may not be enough to stop sun exposure during the summer months. Try to wear baseball caps and wide-brimmed hats to keep your face shaded. If you’re working outside between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., wear a long-sleeved shirt and long pants to cover your arms and legs. Consider getting sun-protective pants and shirts that effectively block ultraviolet rays from penetrating to your skin. 5. See a Dermatologist To ensure your skin stays healthy, it’s important to visit your dermatologist annually. Your dermatologist will meticulously inspect your skin and, perhaps most importantly, screen you for early signs of skin cancer. According to the Center for Disease Control, the risk of developing melanoma in North Carolina is 23.3%. If you protect your skin from the sun and receive an annual screening, you may reduce your risk of skin cancer and increase your chances of early detection. We also recommend that you read our quick guide to melanoma prevention. Even for less serious skin ailments, such as rashes, hives, and acne, it’s important to schedule an appointment with your dermatologist. Your visit can help to prevent minor skin problems from becoming majors ones. To make your appointment, contact Asheboro Dermatology & Skin Surgery Center today.