Your skin serves an immensely crucial role in safeguarding your body so you need to do all that you can to protect it. Taking care of your skin does not need to be time-consuming, complicated or expensive, and sometimes even dangerous.
You can help keep your skin feeling and looking good by protecting it against a host of skin issues such as skin cancer, dry skin and premature aging. These are things that occur over many years, so you must develop healthy skincare habits as soon as possible.
Below are some skincare habits you should incorporate into your skincare regimen now.
Hydrate, Hydrate and Hydrate Some More
You can never be too hydrated – drinking sufficient fluids is crucial to ensure overall health. But aside from drinking water, keep your skin hydrated is vital to protecting your skin. When you have dry, chapped skin, your skin will have tiny gaps in its outermost, protective layer. This can enable fungus and bacteria to enter your skin.
With that said, opt for lotions or creams with ceramides, hyaluronic acid or other hydrating and moisturizing ingredients. Whether you’re into prescription, synthetic, organic, or all-natural beauty or skincare products, you need to apply your moisturizer on damp skin to lock in the moisture.
If your skin is inherently dry, consider buying a humidifier and placing it in your room and workspace to help hydrate the air, and in turn, your skin.
Limit Your Exposure to The Sun
You’re probably sick of hearing this, but it’s worth repeating that the sun’s UV rays could cause a host of skin damage such as skin cancer, discoloration, freckles, wrinkles, benign growths and age spots. You can do many things to prevent these.
Applying sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 when going out, not going out when the sun’s rays are at their most intense, and wearing protective clothing, including hats and scarves are extremely important. It’s also worth noting that tanning beds also emit UV rays and are just as damaging as the sun’s rays.
Fortify Your Skin Against Infections
Nasty cold sores near your lips are a result of a viral infection, while bacteria could easily cause many different skin conditions such as acne. Paying attention to anything that comes in contact with your skin, especially if you have sensitive or reactive skin, could help reduce your risk of exposure to irritants.
At the very least, make sure to:
- Avoid sharing personal items like toothbrushes, lip balms, and lipsticks.
- Never let others drink from the same glass, cup, or bottle as yours.
- Avoid picking on splinters, bites, and cysts – leave this to your doctor.
- Not touch your face and prevent things that have come in contact with other things and people, like phones, for instance, from coming in contact with your face.
Get to Know Your Skin
Make sure to inspect your skin regularly for warning signs of skin cancer, growths, and changing moles. Additionally, some skin conditions require a consultation with your dermatologist. These include dry, irritated skin, irritations and rashes that persist, and frequent acne. These might indicate warning signs of more serious skin conditions.
