Your skin is your body’s largest organ and it works tirelessly to defend and shield you against everything the world can throw at you, from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays and windy weather to germs and flying objects.
Given how hard your skin works, the right care routine is important. And we’re talking about the type of care that keeps your skin strong, healthy, and more vibrant looking, from the inside out.
Since we’re entering a new year, our team at Warrenton Dermatology & Skin Therapy Center thought we’d turn to our own board-certified dermatologist Dr. Juan-Carlos Caballero for a few great, dermatologist-approved skin care strategies you can implement this year and beyond.
We’re going to start with one you’ve likely heard before, but we want to reiterate it here — protect your skin against the sun and its harmful ultraviolet (UV) light rays.
For starters, sun exposure is a leading driver of the most commonly diagnosed cancer — skin cancer, which affects about one in five Americans by the age of 70.
From a cosmetic standpoint, sun protection is vital if you consider that 90% of the premature signs of aging in your skin (photoaging) is due to sun exposure over the years.
So, please double down on your efforts to protect your skin from sun exposure through hats, sunscreen, shade, and whatever else works to prevent harmful UV rays from reaching and damaging your skin. We recommend EltaMD suncare products, which you can “try before you buy” at the sunscreen tester bar in our offices.
Your skin contains millions of pores, each of which contains a hair follicle and produces oil to nourish your skin. Pores are crucial to your skin’s health, and it’s important to keep them clean to avoid issues like acne and dull skin.
We suggest that you get a good daily regimen going with gentle cleansers that clear pores of dead skin cells, products, and other debris that can clog them. And it’s important to do this at least twice daily to clear out everything from the day before, such as makeup, moisturizers, sunscreen, and dirt.
We know there’s a dizzying array of skin care products on the market, and we’re happy to sit down with you to figure out which ones will work best for your skin type. Contact us to request a complimentary skin care consultation appointment in our Skin Therapy Center.
When you cleanse your skin or apply any creams, be gentle. Your skin goes through enough each day, so we don’t want you to pile on with scrubbing, squeezing, and pulling.
A great rule of thumb is to use your ring finger to apply any creams or makeup because it’s your weakest finger. As well, you should massage — not scrub — your skin as you cleanse your face.
The health of your skin is as much of an inside job as it is an outside one. There’s a lot that you can do with your eating patterns to support great skin, especially if you shift to a Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes:
Equally as important is staying well hydrated (water is best) and staying away from sugars, which can lead to systemic inflammation that shows up on your skin. Bad fats, including trans and saturated fats, can also rob your skin of resources as they clog your blood vessels.
We mentioned at the beginning of this blog that your skin is your largest organ, so given this reality, it makes sense to have a team in your corner that’s monitoring its health.
Our practice offers a full scope of both cosmetic and medical dermatology services, which means you have all of your skincare needs under one roof.
Want to reveal your best skin this year? Sitting down with one of our experts for a personalized skincare plan would be a great start. To get the ball rolling, call Warrenton Dermatology & Skin Therapy Center in Warrenton, Virginia, at 540-341-1900 (choose option 3) today, or request an appointment online at your convenience.
