The frigid temperatures and long winter have added stress to our general skin health. Artificial heat in our homes removes moisture from the air, further aggravating the existing skin condition. Adding a humidifier in your bedroom will help to put moisture back into the air.
While going to school to obtain my esthetician’s license, I saw a variety of both men and women as clients coming in for facials seeking smooth, hydrated and glowing skin. During skin analysis, I could see the flakiness and feel the rough patches.
Simple steps to get started and maintain healthy skin:
- Exfoliate
Regular, gentle exfoliation helps to remove dry flaky skin build up while preparing the skin for easy absorption of a moisturizer. Try using the Vivite Exfoliating Cleanser or applying your favorite cream or gel cleanser on a Clarisonic if you have one.
- Hydrate – Externally
Apply a moisturizer after cleansing. I like Bio Cream by Neocutis as it improves texture and tone for a radiant look.
- Hydrate – Internally
I drink a healthy smoothie containing avocado and flax seeds. The essential fatty acids can help the skin cells to stay hydrated. Try supplementing coconut water for water in the mixture, too.
- Exercise
Working up a good sweat helps to purge the trapped oil and dirt from the pores- and it also helps to prevent free radical damage. With aging, collagen producing cells (also called fibroblasts) decrease. During exercise nutrients help the fibroblasts work harder resulting in a more youthful look and healthy glow.
Develop a routine, keep things consistent and stick to your plan. If you use Retin A (I use a pea sized amount of Retin A Micro Gel all over my face nightly avoiding the eye area) considering mixing it with an equal amount of moisturizer. Try Vivite Replenish Hydrating Cream or Bio Cream by Neocutis as they will help to soothe the skin when used with retinoids.
Finally, remember that while hot showers are relaxing, they could aggravate your dry skin by pulling the moisture out. Keep it short and pat skin dry after showering then immediately apply moisturizer to the body. Some ingredients that I like to look for in body lotions are glycerin, lactic acid and shea butter as they will help to replenish that lost moisture back into the skin.
Vivite Exfoliating Cleanser, Bio Cream by Neocutis and the Clarisonic cleansing device are all available for purchase at Derick Dermatology.
