Living a healthy lifestyle isn’t just limited to what you put into your body (nutrition) or how you keep it in shape (exercise); it’s also about keeping its largest, most protective organ (our skin) in tip-top shape.
Your skin’s appearance and texture can give you clues about the rest of your health. Take acne, for example, which is one of the most common skin conditions in the United States: Hormones, heredity and stress can all play a role in its severity, but – fortunately – eruptions can often be reduced with a few simple changes to your skin care routine.
For clear skin, Dr. Amanda Friedrichs, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in private practice in Sycamore, Ill., recommends the following tips:
- Wash twice a day and after sweating. Perspiration, especially when wearing a hat or helmet, can make acne worse, so wash your skin as soon as possible after sweating.
- Use your fingertips to apply a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser. Using a washcloth, mesh sponge or anything else can irritate the skin.
- Do not use skin care products that irritate the skin, which may include astringents, toners and exfoliants. Dry, red skin makes acne appear worse.
- Rinse with lukewarm water.
- Shampoo regularly. If you have oily hair, shampoo daily.
- Let your skin heal naturally. If you pick, pop or squeeze your acne, your skin will take longer to clear and you increase your risk of getting acne scars.
- Keep your hands off your face. Touching your skin throughout the day can cause flare-ups.
- Stay out of the sun and tanning beds. Tanning damages your skin. In addition, some acne medications make the skin very sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light, which you get from both the sun and indoor tanning devices.
“Make an appointment to see a board-certified dermatologist if your acne makes you shy or embarrassed, the products you’ve tried haven’t worked, or your acne is leaving scars or darkening your skin,” said Dr. Friedrichs. “Today, virtually every case of acne can be successfully treated.”
