There’s still time to show off your beautiful skin this summer, but time spent in the warmer weather may have led to a dry, damaged look that can gradually worsen as the seasons change. Keri Goldinger-Valasek, a medical aesthetician at the UPMC Cosmetic Surgery and Skin Health Center, gives three simple steps that can keep your skin healthy from summer into fall, along with some helpful hints to ensure your skin looks its absolute best.
Dead skin build-up can give your skin a dull, dry, and lifeless look. Exfoliate to reveal softer, fresher, looking skin. You can exfoliate your face and body two to three times a week. Microdermabrasion treatments can also remove dry patches and other minor skin imperfections.
Helpful hint from Keri: Don’t overdo it. If you are exfoliating facial skin with a scrub, use light pressure. For body, a firmer pressure is acceptable.
Our bodies are made up of more than 50 percent water, but throughout the day, we can become dehydrated, giving our skin a wrinkled, less firm appearance. To avoid drying out, drink plenty of water for internal hydration. External hydration is also important, so try applying facial and body lotions immediately following a shower to help seal in moisture. To help keep the skin hydrated from the inside-out, try Nextcell Health® SKINHEALTH® vitamins, which contain a specially patented molecule to help the skin retain water.
Helpful hints from Keri: If you don’t like the taste of plain water, add your favorite fresh cut fruits, vegetables, and herbs to a pitcher of water, and chill for a few hours to allow the flavors to infuse. Cheers!
Do you sometimes need an afternoon pick-me-up? Keep a misting spray in your purse, next to your work station, or in your locker at the gym. A few light mists will refresh your mind and skin.
Of course you use sun protection, but are you using the right kind? Make sure to read the ingredients label. True physical sun blockers are zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide, and the most effective sunscreens will list these under “Active Ingredients.” If these ingredients are not listed, the product is likely a chemical sunscreen. Chemical sunscreens lose their protective effects quickly and can irritate or burn when applied.
Helpful hint from Keri: If you are outside for extended periods of time, don’t forget to reapply sun protection often, and wear a hat to protect your scalp.
For more information on keeping your skin healthy all year long, please view the dermatology blog posts on UPMC HealthBeat.
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