Daily skin care is an effective and essential preventative measure to help delay the effects of aging. The earlier you start practicing good, consistent at-home skin care and the more regularly you sustain it, the better your skin will fare over time. Nourishing skincare helps keep wrinkles at bay for a brighter, more youthful-looking complexion. Furthermore, proper skincare decreases the chances of your skin becoming rough and leathery as well as reduces the risk of skin cancer.
At Kitagawa Dermatology in beautiful Honolulu, we frequently field questions about home skin care tips. We’ve compiled a list of the simple, effective tips that will help maintain your skin’s good health and appearance.
If, despite following these tips, your skin condition doesn’t resolve itself or worsens, contact us as soon as possible.
Dermatologist-Recommended SkinCare Habits
Protect Against UV Rays
Protecting yourself from sun exposure is the foundation of all good skincare. It is well-known that overexposure to UV rays from the sun and even indoor tanning beds damages and speeds up the signs of aging.
When outside between 10 am and 3 pm, especially in sunny Hawaii, stay within shady areas or at least cover up your skin. Wear long pants and long-sleeved tops to protect against sun spots and wrinkles. Also, wearing a wide-brimmed hat can help protect the face from sun damage and sunglasses can protect the delicate skin around the eyes.
Finally, always remember to apply broad-spectrum 30+ SPF sunscreen to any exposed areas on a daily basis.
Apply Skin Moisturizer Every Day
Skin loses its hydrating properties as you age, which causes the skin to dry and weaken and eventually develop wrinkles. Daily skin care with good moisturizers helps your face and body retain a healthier appearance. For the benefit of your entire skin, apply creams or lotions twice a day to your face and body as well as a moisturizing balm to your lips.
Wash Your Face Twice a Day
Oils, dirt, dust, and more get trapped in the skin every day. If left alone, these can clog pores and affect the health and appearance of the skin.
Keep your skin free and clear by gently washing, not scrubbing, your face twice a day with warm water and a mild cleanser (avoid soap).
Stay Hydrated and Eat the Right Foods
Drink plenty of water and other liquids. Even a slight water deficit on a consistent basis can dry out the skin.
Eat skin-nourishing foods such as fruits and vegetables with vitamins C, D, and E, which are all crucial to dermatologic health. Be sure to incorporate foods with lean protein and healthy fats, such as almonds, salmon, tuna, and eggs, into your daily meals as well.
Don’t Just Get Beauty Rest – Do It Right
Proper, regular sleep keeps you refreshed, which has a corresponding effect on your appearance. Good quality sleep helps repair and re-energize the body, mind, and skin.
If possible, avoid sleeping on your side, a habit so common that it has led to a new category of wrinkle—the compression wrinkle, which develops due to regularly pressing the face against a firm surface, such as when sleeping with your face against a pillow for several hours every night. Sleeping on your back reduces the risk of these types of wrinkles.
Nighttime Protection
Adding nighttime dermatology protection makes sleep even more effective. Before bedtime, apply a retinoid serum, a hydrating moisturizer, and lip balm to keep hydrated, smooth, and supple throughout the night.
Take Steps to Reduce Stress
High stress levels can spike the production of different hormones in the body and result in an imbalance, which can exacerbate or even induce dermatological conditions such as psoriasis. Effective stress-reducing practices include meditation, yoga, and exercise.
Exercise to Keep the Blood Pumping
Proper blood circulation is crucial for good skin care, and activities that up your heart rate will show in a face that glows; elevated blood-oxygen levels are good for mitigating inflammation and stress. Yoga, cycling, walking, swimming, and other low-impact exercises in Hawaii are the best for overall health, as well.
One more note about exercise: although any exercise is beneficial, high-impact ones such as long-distance running can weaken collagen, causing the skin to lose volume!
Avoid Sugar and Sodium
Sodium can induce unhealthy-looking puffiness in areas such as the jawline or under the eyes. Sugar is notorious for damaging collagen and causing skin laxity. Eat low-sodium and low-glycemic foods to better nourish the skin.
Tea Instead of Coffee
Coffee is a daily American staple, but too much caffeine can dry out the skin and cause skin laxity. If you stick to coffee, drink it black and limit consumption to one or two cups a day.
Perhaps a better skin care alternative is green or black tea. Recent studies show that they both protect the skin because of natural compounds like theaflavins that help keep collagen from degenerating as well as fight skin cancer.
Refrain from Smoking
Tobacco smoke is full of toxins that negatively impact the skin by making it dull, dry, wrinkly, rough, and leathery. Aside from the overwhelming evidence that cigarettes and other tobacco products are harmful to your health, smoking will inevitably add years to your appearance.
Learn more about basic skin care at WebMD.com.
Contact Kitagawa Dermatology for Expert Skin Health
Even if you rigorously follow a detailed at-home skin care routine, unwanted skin conditions could still arise. For annual skin checks and rejuvenating cosmetic treatments to keep your skin healthy and youthful-looking, contact Kitagawa Dermatology in Honolulu to schedule a consultation. Contact us online or call 808.533.4434.
