Health News
By Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom
Did you know that your skin is the largest organ in the body? While most people try to pay attention to healthy lifestyle habits supporting other organs like the heart, very little thought goes usually goes towards care of the skin. So, how should you take care of your skin? I?d like to review some of the basics, to help support your own daily routine.
If you have skin problems or other chronic diseases, always talk to your family doctor or dermatologist for personalized information.
It?s important to keep your skin ? especially your face and hands ? clean. But you don?t need expensive cleansers or fancy soaps to do so. Stick with economical fragrance-free soaps and cleansers from the supermarket or drug store. While department store cleansers might feel great on your skin, there?s no evidence that they?re doing a better job of cleansing. If you enjoy the purchase, have fun, but it?s not a must-have.
Think about hydration for your skin ? meaning an all purpose moisturizer, especially in the winter. If, after washing your face, it?s tight when you yawn, a lightweight moisturizer can help. As with cleansing, spending more money doesn?t necessarily make a better product. Daily use after cleansing (twice daily) provides optimal results.
And don?t forget the sunscreen, even in winter. While our days are shorter, it?s still important to wear daily sunscreen with an SPF of 15 (or higher if you choose or if recommended by your doctor).
Blocking the sun?s rays on your skin can interfere with adequate vitamin D intake (vitamin D is produced in the skin with sun exposure), so make sure your hands, arms, and/or legs are exposed to the sun. Fifteen to 20 minutes daily is more than enough to meet daily requirements.
What other skin-savers can you share for Healthy Skin Month?
- Many Americans Still Don't Use Sunscreen, Which Has Been Proven To Prevent Skin Cancer, The Most Common Cancer In The U.s.
Sunscreen has been proven to reduce the risk for all types of skin cancer and to prevent or delay signs of aging, but most Americans still don't use it regularly, according to a new study by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention....
- Study Finds That Daily Use Of Sunscreen Prevents Aging Of Skin
Sunscreen doesn't just prevent sun burns and skin cancer; using it daily can slow down your skin's aging too, says a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Australian researchers found that when adults regularly used broad-spectrum...
- November Is National Healthy Skin Month
By Dr. Madelyn FernstromThree cheers to the American Academy of Dermatology for designating November as ?National Healthy Skin Month.? This makes a lot of sense since November brings the arrival of colder, drier air as the winter months approach. Their...
- Sunscreen Works!
By Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom You know I?m a vocal supporter of sunscreen use and keep reminding you to incorporate using sunscreen as one of your ?daily habits? all year round. I?d like to share an interesting article just out from the New England Journal...
- Vitamin D: Should You Soak Up The Sun To Get This Vital Nutrient?
Yesterday we discussed UVA sun rays and the aging effects they cause. Though UVA can also be responsible for skin cancer, UVB is the part of sunlight primarily responsible. (Think UVA, ?A? for ?aging?; UVB, ?B? for ?bad.?) However, UVB light, which is...
Health News
November Is Healthy Skin Month!
By Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom
If you have skin problems or other chronic diseases, always talk to your family doctor or dermatologist for personalized information.
It?s important to keep your skin ? especially your face and hands ? clean. But you don?t need expensive cleansers or fancy soaps to do so. Stick with economical fragrance-free soaps and cleansers from the supermarket or drug store. While department store cleansers might feel great on your skin, there?s no evidence that they?re doing a better job of cleansing. If you enjoy the purchase, have fun, but it?s not a must-have.
Think about hydration for your skin ? meaning an all purpose moisturizer, especially in the winter. If, after washing your face, it?s tight when you yawn, a lightweight moisturizer can help. As with cleansing, spending more money doesn?t necessarily make a better product. Daily use after cleansing (twice daily) provides optimal results.
And don?t forget the sunscreen, even in winter. While our days are shorter, it?s still important to wear daily sunscreen with an SPF of 15 (or higher if you choose or if recommended by your doctor).
Blocking the sun?s rays on your skin can interfere with adequate vitamin D intake (vitamin D is produced in the skin with sun exposure), so make sure your hands, arms, and/or legs are exposed to the sun. Fifteen to 20 minutes daily is more than enough to meet daily requirements.
What other skin-savers can you share for Healthy Skin Month?
- Many Americans Still Don't Use Sunscreen, Which Has Been Proven To Prevent Skin Cancer, The Most Common Cancer In The U.s.
Sunscreen has been proven to reduce the risk for all types of skin cancer and to prevent or delay signs of aging, but most Americans still don't use it regularly, according to a new study by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention....
- Study Finds That Daily Use Of Sunscreen Prevents Aging Of Skin
Sunscreen doesn't just prevent sun burns and skin cancer; using it daily can slow down your skin's aging too, says a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Australian researchers found that when adults regularly used broad-spectrum...
- November Is National Healthy Skin Month
By Dr. Madelyn FernstromThree cheers to the American Academy of Dermatology for designating November as ?National Healthy Skin Month.? This makes a lot of sense since November brings the arrival of colder, drier air as the winter months approach. Their...
- Sunscreen Works!
By Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom You know I?m a vocal supporter of sunscreen use and keep reminding you to incorporate using sunscreen as one of your ?daily habits? all year round. I?d like to share an interesting article just out from the New England Journal...
- Vitamin D: Should You Soak Up The Sun To Get This Vital Nutrient?
Yesterday we discussed UVA sun rays and the aging effects they cause. Though UVA can also be responsible for skin cancer, UVB is the part of sunlight primarily responsible. (Think UVA, ?A? for ?aging?; UVB, ?B? for ?bad.?) However, UVB light, which is...