A new year is an opportunity to take care of your skin, the body’s largest organ. But where to start? Here are 12 dermatology-themed New Year’s resolutions to get your skin in the game.
- Schedule your annual check-up. The sun and time are the skin’s biggest enemies. Together, they can cause wrinkles, age spots, and, of course, skin cancer. If you make an annual check-up part of your health care routine, however, you can ward off many problems and catch small issues before they become bigger challenges.
- Take shorter showers and baths. Nothing dries out your skin as quickly as hot water, so go for lukewarm and keep it short.
- Moisturize right after bathing. Trap water in your skin by using a good quality moisturizer and your days of itchy, dry skin could become a thing of the past.
- Follow acne treatments all the way through. Stay with it, and the results will last longer and be more effective.
- We love to be outside. Protect your lips with SPF 15+ balm whenever you are outdoors.
- The sun reflecting off the snow is just as dangerous as the sun at the beach. Put sunscreen on all your exposed skin when you are on Mt. Sunapee, playing hockey on Occom Pond, or exploring Arrowhead Recreation Area.
- Read the ingredient lists on soaps. Embrace natural ingredients like aloe vera, shea butter, and coconut oil. Avoid alcohol, “fragrance,” and sulfates.
- Have a partner, family member, or friend keep an eye on any moles that you have. Watch for changing color, size, or other abnormalities in your moles.
- Harshness is almost never the answer to your skin challenges, so try not to pick, itch, pop, peel, or poke at your skin. Smooth and gentle treatments are almost always the better course of action.
- Consider cosmetic treatments for cellulite, unwanted hair, wrinkles, spots, or damaged skin. Treatments are safer, quicker, less painful, longer-lasting, and easier than ever before.
- Be careful with your make-up. More often than you think, the make-up you apply to your face is the culprit in your outbreaks, flare-ups, and irritations.
- Wear your sunscreen. Every day, all year round. It is the single most effective thing you can do to protect your skin and help it keep its youthful and healthy appearance.
If you’re resolving to keep your skin as healthy and beautiful as ever in 2019, make an appointment to talk about your specific goals and challenges.