Did you know that skin accounts for roughly 15% of our body weight? All the more reason to take great care of it, and as we move into cooler temperatures, your fall skin care routine will need to evolve with your wardrobe.
Fall Skincare Tip #1: Wear Sunscreen Every Day
Even in autumn, don’t let the cooler temperatures fool you; without proper sun protection, our skin can suffer damage, resulting in long term effects, such as wrinkles, excess freckling, rough skin, and most significantly, skin cancer.
Wear a facial moisturizer with SPF on your face and neck all 365 days of the year. These areas are exposed every single day and ultraviolet rays travel through car windows and clouds. Your sunscreen should have a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher and block UVA and UVB rays. Choose a sunscreen that contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide if you prefer to go chemical free.
Fall Skincare Tip #2: Get Your Yearly Skin Check
While the cumulative effects of year round sun exposure, as well as the effects of blistering sunburns, may result in skin cancer, the good news is that most skin cancer is curable if detected and treated early.
See a dermatologist, experts in skin, hair, and nails, yearly for a skin cancer screening as skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The cosmetic appearance of sun damage can be reversed via a variety of treatments, such as chemical peels, laser, microneedling, and medical grade cosmeceutical or prescription products recommended by a board certified dermatologist.
Fall Skincare Tip #3: If You Love a Tan, Buy a Bottle
Dermatologists like to say ‘Pale is the new tan.” But, If you prefer a tan appearance, keep in mind that the only safe tan comes from a bottle. The main ingredient in self-tanners is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). Remember that sunscreens still need to be applied if you use a self-tanning application, since most do not contain SPF.
Fall Skincare Tip #4: Keep Showers Short and Moisturize!
As the temperatures go down, and we turn on the heat in our homes, a change in humidity occurs, and our skin may become dry and itchy. Dry and itchy skin is one of the most common conditions that brings both adults and children into the office throughout the winter. One of the most common things to dry out our skin is those long hot showers that feel so good in winter!
In order to prevent your skin from getting too dry, limit your shower to 10 minutes or less and keep the temperature lukewarm. Apply a moisturizing cream immediately after bathing. If a moisturizing cream is not applied immediately, the moisture from your shower will evaporate, and you will be dryer than when you stepped into the shower!
For help with your Fall skincare routine, feel free to call our office, send us an email, or reach out on Facebook or Instagram! We love to hear from you.