Having clear and healthy skin is important, since no one wants blemishes, dark spots, wrinkles, or skin that is overly oily or dry. While most of us strive for a healthy and clear complexion, there are many factors that can wreak havoc on our skin and add years to our appearance such as poor diet, pollution, stress, or sun damage. At the Dermatology Center of Washington Township, we are trained experts in all aspects of dermatology and skin care, so here are a few tips from us that can help you attain clear, radiant, and healthy skin.
Keep Your Skin Clean
Makeup may conceal blemishes and imperfections, but it can also clog pores and cause excessive dryness. Most makeup contains compounds that can clog your pores while you sleep, causing pimples and dull looking skin. This is why it is important to remove makeup at the end of the day using a gentle oil-free cleanser. If you use little or no makeup, it is still important to keep your skin clean. Get in the habit of using a good quality facial cleanser that will lift away impurities while deep cleaning and maintaining your skin’s natural moisture balance.
Moisturize And Hydrate Your Skin
Using a good quality moisturizing cream or lotion each day will gently reduce the visible signs of aging to make your skin softer and smoother. However, it is important to use the right moisturizer for your skin type. Those with acne-prone skin or signs of rosacea will benefit from a light oil-free moisturizer, while those with sun damage, brown spots, and wrinkles will often benefit from a quality moisturizer along with glycolic acid, Vitamin C, or retinoic acid (including Retin A Cream). If you are uncertain which products would be best for your skin, call for a free skin care consult with our Esthetician Susan.
Does drinking eight glasses or more of filtered water per day really help your skin stay clear, fresh, and moisturized? While there are very few medical articles showing that extra water in your system benefits the skin at all, it is very clear that dehydration makes skin look dry, dull, and wrinkled. Since more than half of the contents of skin is water, it is best to drink fluids throughout the day so as not to become dehydrated, and then seal the moisture in your skin by using a good moisturizer which prevents the fluid from evaporating off your skin. If drinking plain water is unappealing to you, drop in a wedge of lemon or lime for flavor.
Use Sunscreen
Applying sunscreen is one of the easiest ways to maintain younger looking skin. Most premature wrinkles are due to sun exposure and it is far easier to prevent sun damage than it is to fix it after the fact. You should wear sunscreen even during the wintertime, as the sun’s rays are active all year round. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 that protects against both UVA and UVB rays for maximum protection.
Keep Your Hands Away From Your Face
If you have a habit of picking at your skin and popping pimples, you are actually doing more harm than good. Each time you press against a pimple, you are causing inflammation and distress to the skin while pushing bacteria deeper into the pores. This can lead to holes in the skin and permanent scarring. Resist the temptation to pop any pimples that develop on your skin and keep your hands away from your face.
Eat A Healthy Diet
Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet that includes essential fatty acid, protein-rich foods like fish, white meat poultry, beans, and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables can go a long way to maintaining clear and healthy skin. Instead of eating chips or french fries with that sandwich, go for something healthier like a salad, because a diet high in fats and carbohydrates can cause more wrinkles. Foods rich in vitamin C can help keep wrinkles and sagging at bay, so incorporate more citrus fruits, broccoli, berries, and leafy greens into your daily diet.
A study by the Institute of Experimental Dermatology in Germany found that women who took 2.2 grams of flaxseed or borage-oil supplements daily for 12 weeks had significantly moister skin with less roughness. Instead of taking a supplement pill, try adding foods to your diet that are rich in these essential fatty acids, including walnuts, salmon, olive oil, and flaxseed. A healthy diet should include several servings of these fatty acids per week.
Do Not Overtreat Acne
Using too much of an acne product can lead to excessive dryness and redness. When using an acne product, apply the amount recommended on the package that is typically a thin layer and not a palmful. And apply your oil-free moisturizer before you put on your acne product. Recent studies have shown that applying the moisturizer first rather than after an acne cream is significantly better at preventing dryness and redness from the strong medications. Reapplying the moisturizer the next morning also helps to keep skin hydrated and smooth.
Exfoliate Periodically
While most people concentrate on cleansing and moisturizing the skin, many forget to exfoliate. Regularly exfoliating the skin helps remove dead skin cells, impurities, and blackheads, leaving behind skin that is smooth, fresh, and rejuvenated. You should concentrate on trouble areas where your complexion is especially flaky, uneven, or dull. Professionally applied chemical peels or microdermabrasion are the best way to exfoliate.
Schedule Your Appointment With Us Today!
Dermatology Center of Washington Township offers an extensive range of skin enhancing services. If you are not sure what cleanser or moisturizer would be the perfect one for your skin. Call for a free skin care consult with Susan our Esthetician. If you have acne-prone or sun-damaged skin, she can also recommend one of our professional grade glycolic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, prescription retinoic acid, or prescription bleaching creams for your skin. Mild procedures such as chemical peels or microdermabrasion can also exfoliate and improve the appearance of your skin more quickly than topical creams.
Our office is conveniently located in the Washington Pavilions complex near Kennedy Hospital in Sewell, NJ. If you would like to schedule an appointment with us, please call our office at (856) 589-3331. You can also fill out the appropriate patients forms online before coming in for your appointment to streamline the initial process. We look forward to seeing you soon!
