Healthy Skin Month

Did you know that November is Healthy Skin Month? To spread healthy skin awareness, I’ve compiled advice from four medical experts on how to treat and protect your skin.

Don’t smoke. “Quit smoking or, better yet, don’t even start! More and more young people are smoking and doing so to relieve stress, but it’s bad for your skin and causes wrinkles. Deep-set wrinkles will appear around your mouth from puckering, your skin will be dehydrated and dull, and you may experience premature aging.” — Flor A. Mayoral, MD, FAAD, clinical instructor, departments of dermatology and cutaneous surgery, University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine.

Use soap only on select areas of the body to avoid dryness. “Unless you have really oily skin, because you are a teenager or work with oils or gases, you do not need soap to get yourself clean. Pure water does the job to get you clean. However, you do need to use soap on your face, under your arms, and in the groin area. As you get older, the use of soap on the rest of your body can unnecessarily dry your skin.” — Brian B. Adams, MD, MPH, FAAD, associate professor of dermatology, University of Cincinnati; director of dermatology, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Wear sunscreen. “Use sunscreen every day, preferably one with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 that provides broad-spectrum protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Today, many skin care products contain sunscreen and are multifunctional, which allows you to get many skin benefits from one application. This saves time and money. For example, to protect and maintain healthy skin, use a daily facial moisturizer containing sunscreen. You also can find body lotions that contain sunscreen. These products can help hydrate and protect your skin, especially areas of your body that are sun-exposed throughout the day – like your hands.” — Sandra I. Read, MD, FAAD, instructor of dermatology, Georgetown University School of Medicine.

Your skin reflects what you eat. “What you apply to your skin helps give it a healthy, radiant glow, but remember what you put into your body is just as important. A balanced diet rich in vitamins and antioxidants can make a real difference in the appearance of your skin.” — Susan C. Taylor, MD, FAAD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University; clinical assistant professor of dermatology and associate faculty, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. Take the advice from the experts above and keep your skin healthy this month, and always.