Labor Day marks the transition from summer and an occasion to stop and reflect on some of life’s most important changes. For one thing, we are all getting older. We’re in a new season of our lives, with different challenges and opportunities – but also the chance for new beginnings. If you’ve taken the time to reflect on your own life, you’ll learn that it’s never too late to permit yourself to make changes – or appreciate things a little more.
Aging and Your Skin
Your skin is a mirror of your life as you’ve lived it. It’s wrinkled in some places, smooth in others. It’s dry here and oilier there. And over time, you’ve developed self-awareness of your skin that has become more personal, more important to you. The changes in your body through the years have affected your skin too. You’ve traded that youthful glow for one that is getting older, finer, and more delicate.
During the summer, your skin works hard to protect against the sun’s damaging rays. By fall, though, it needs a change of pace, a little recovery time from the summer sun and vacation heat. You can assist your skin in caring for itself through the following steps.
1. Wear Sunscreen Everyday
Even as the weather grows chilly and the days get more cloudy, there are plenty of harmful UV rays that can accelerate your skin aging concerns. Sunscreen helps protect the skin from the sun’s harmful rays and the signs of aging. Make sure to apply it generously and evenly before any outdoor activities. A broad spectrum sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher is recommended. Reapply as needed throughout the day.
2. Wash your Face Every Night
Avoid scrubbing your skin aggressively when you cleanse it. Instead, rinse your face with cool water in a circular motion. Pat dry and apply a moisturizer or night cream after your nightly cleansing. Regular cleansing keeps the skin healthy and glowing. Rinsing with lukewarm water also plays a key role in flushing toxins from the face.
3. Exfoliate Regularly
Exfoliating masks and scrubs can remove dead skin cells that build up on your face, giving you a fresh, younger-looking complexion. Exfoliation is a treatment that deep cleans the skin by eliminating blocked pores and impurities under the surface of your skin. It also removes dead skin cells and allows more oxygen to interact with them.
4. Regulate sugar intake
Acne breakouts are influenced by your diet. When sugar levels rise in the body, hormones that contribute to acne also increase. High sugar levels are also a factor in blocked pores and breakouts.
5. Stay Hydrated
Drink plenty of water every day. Dehydration causes dryness in the skin and can lead to the formation of fine lines over time with chronic dehydration. Staying hydrated will keep your skin looking healthier and minimize aging signs.
6. Learn which Skin Care Products are Best for you
Choose skin care products that match your skin type. A dermatologist can help you determine which product is best for you. Products that work for one person will not necessarily work for you. You will have to choose the appropriate skin care products depending on your skin type.
Professional Recommendations for Your Skincare Routine
If you have questions about the right skincare products, routine, or other concerns you have about the look of your skin, Dr. Liz Damstetter and the team at Reserve Dermatology are happy to help. Simply call our office or contact us online to set up a virtual or in-person appointment today!