Did you know that your skin sheds around 40,000 skin cells every day? As the largest organ in your body, your skin is a protective barrier that continually renews itself. Not only does it regulate your temperature, but it also protects you from illness, infection, the sun, and other elements of the atmosphere so you can stay healthy, strong, and active.
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That is why it is so important to take care of your skin. Before you start a new skincare routine (or before you layer on another layer of cucumber and melon lotion), dermatologist Shilpi Khetarpal, MD, shares her top 10 tips for caring for her skin.
Skin care tips recommended by a dermatologist
Your body’s largest organ demands a lot of attention, so it’s no wonder there are a lot of misconceptions about which skincare products to use, how you should care for your skin, and which routines work best. Here are 10 things to consider when taking care of your skin.
1. Wear sunscreen every day
No matter where you’re from, you’re never really safe from the sun. The sun’s rays not only dry out the skin, but can also significantly affect the skin’s pigment.
“On a snowy day or a cloudy day, there are only 20% less UV rays than on a sunny day,” says Dr. Khetarpal. “Even when you’re driving or sitting by a window, that visible light can turn off our skin.”
Dr. Khetarpal recommends using sunscreen of 30 SPF or higher every day. There are different types of sunscreens: a physical one that reflects the sun 100% and a chemical one that absorbs UV rays on the skin and then breaks them down. Dr. Khetarpal recommends using the physical type whenever possible because it is 100% effective.
Also make sure to check the expiration date, as sunscreen loses its protective properties when it expires. You want to apply 1 ounce (the size of a shot glass) every two hours and then reapply every two hours to stay protected and prevent sunburn.
2. Check your skin for cancer every month
Skin cancers are on the rise. According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the US, with more than 5 million new cases diagnosed each year.
“Recent studies estimate that 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime,” notes Dr. Khetarpal. “Most of those cancers are related to the sun.”
Tanning can also exacerbate skin cancers, which is why Dr. Khetarpal warns against certain misconceptions:
You don’t need a base tan before the holidays. Some believe that you should get a tan before spending a day in the sun to avoid burning, but this is actually not true. “Each visit to the tanning bed increases the risk of melanoma fourfold,” says Dr. Khetarpal. “If you want a tan, get a spray tan.”You will still get a tan if you use sunscreen. Many times someone will forego sunscreen because they are worried about tanning, but the truth is you will still get a tan with sunscreen, you just won’t burn.
“About 60% of our sun exposure occurs before the age of 18. So most of the damage that has been done has been done since childhood,” says Dr. Khetarpal. “Because of this, we recommend monthly self-scan exams.”
If you’re over 30, you shouldn’t be developing any new moles, so check once a month to see if you spot any new ones. If you have moles, birthmarks, or skin conditions, you’ll want to follow this checklist for signs of melanoma:
Asymmetry: One half does not match the other half.Edge: The edges are not smooth.Color: The color is mottled and uneven, with shades of brown, black, gray, red, or white.Diameter: The stain is larger than the tip of a pencil eraser (6.0 millimeters).Evolving: The spot is new or is changing in size, shape, or color.
“Any of these is concerning, but if you have more than one of these features, that’s a sign that something else could be going on and should be checked out,” emphasizes Dr. Khetarpal. “Any existing mole or lesion that is itching, bleeding or growing should be evaluated.”
3. Hydrate your skin
As we age, the oil glands in our skin become less active, making our skin dry, sensitive and more prone to irritation. The moisturizer is meant to take over and keep the skin smooth and healthy. Dr. Khetarpal recommends using a moisturizer within three minutes of getting out of the shower to lock in water and keep skin hydrated.
“If someone never uses a moisturizer, their skin cells will be like raisins,” says Dr. Khetarpal. “When they are moistened, they will be more like a grape and not as wrinkled or dry.”
4. Quit smoking
Beyond your heart and lungs, smoking can affect your skin. If you don’t quit, tobacco can stress skin cells and constrict blood vessels.
“Areas where blood vessels supply blood to our skin shrink over time, which can lead to more wrinkles, premature aging, and delayed healing of the skin,” explains Dr. Khetarpal. “People who smoke are more prone to infections because they take longer to heal.”
5. Acne is not a hygiene problem
If you have acne and think you’re not washing your face enough, you may want to reconsider how you think about your routine.
“Acne is largely genetic or hormonal,” says Dr. Khetarpal. “It has nothing to do with your personal hygiene or how often you wash your face.”
You should use benzoyl peroxide to kill acne-causing bacteria and use adapalene, a retinoid, to keep pores clean and clear.
“One problem with acne is that when our skin cells renew, they clog pores and create a black or white head and then form acne lesions,” Dr. Khetarpal notes. “Adapalene keeps the pores open, helps shrink the sebaceous glands and reduces their activity.”
6. Don’t pop pimples
Yes, you read it right. At the first sign of a pimple on your face, you may be in a hurry to pop or squeeze it to make it go away, but you have to fight that urge.
“If you pop it, you could introduce an infection and worsen the inflammation, which could lead to more scarring,” warns Dr. Khetarpal. “The best thing you can do is leave the pimples alone and apply a topical benzoyl peroxide cream to treat them.”
7. Use a daily topical antioxidant
Whether we are inside or outside our homes, we expose our bodies to a number of pollutants every day. A comprehensive review of these pollutants shows that organic compounds, heavy metals, gaseous pollutants, and components of the Earth’s ozone layer directly affect the function of our skin barrier. These pollutants can worsen skin conditions like aging, acne, hair loss, inflammatory conditions like eczema or psoriasis, and even skin cancer. Because of this, Dr. Khetarpal suggests using a topical antioxidant cream, serum, or gel every day.
“Using a topical antioxidant like vitamin C or vitamin E protects our skin from all that oxidative damage,” says Dr. Khetarpal.
8. Stay Away From Fragranced Products
We love to smell good, and those annual sales of floral bath and body products always attract us. But fragrance can actually be harmful because it draws moisture from your skin, making it more prone to allergies, irritation, and dryness.
“Many moisturizers are so full of fragrance that you’re trying to add moisture, but the fragrance counteracts it,” says Dr. Khetarpal.
She suggests relying on fragrance-free products whenever possible, including laundry detergent, dryer sheets, and anything you put on your body that isn’t natural soap. But if you can’t break away from products that use fragrance, you should do a wear test. Put a small sample in your body and see whether or not you have a negative or allergic reaction in a 24-hour period.
9. Avoid using oil on the scalp
The use of essential oils like tea tree oil and carrier oils like argan oil have been in fashion for a while now. Although they have a variety of benefits including treating wounds and reducing inflammation, it’s best not to use them directly on the scalp.
“Many oils contain a fragrance, and the oils don’t actually repair our skin barrier,” says Dr. Khetarpal. “They just sit on the surface of the skin and actually make dandruff, acne, and rosacea worse.”
If you are going to use oil, use it on the ends of your hair instead of rubbing it into your scalp.
10. Use basic ingredients
There are a ton of skincare products on the market, so it can be difficult to determine which products to use and which ingredients are best for you. At the end of the day, the rule of thumb is to rely on gentle skincare routines that use the fewest ingredients. Those ingredients must also be natural.
“Without fragrances, extra preservatives, and all these other things, you want to use basic ingredients to serve a purpose, whether it’s moisturizing, cleansing, or using sunscreen,” says Dr. Khetarpal.
And if you have a worsening skin condition down the road, try cutting back on the items you’re using to see if you can pinpoint the culprit.
“If you’ve tried simple measures and eliminated products you might be allergic to, if you don’t get better despite that, you should seek medical attention from a dermatologist,” advises Dr. Khetarpal.
Source: health.clevelandclinic.org