Did you know that your skin is your largest organ? When you stop to think of it that way, it makes more sense why we should take better care of it. Between sun exposure, wind, humidity, lack of humidity, cold weather, rain, tattoos, and everything else- we’re pretty brutal to the organ which protects all others. Some of struggle with acne, dry skin, and even more difficult issues such as psoriasis. Beyond wanting to avoid wrinkles, warts and sun spots there are a multitude of benefits that come with taking good care of our skin. Here are some small, but very effective ways, to start making some positive changes to the quality of your skin. Most of these won’t be new to you, but from time to time, we all need little reminders…

• Moisturize! Dry skin can be pretty uncomfortable, and when winter sets in it can only get worse. Cold air doesn’t hold moisture like warm air, so if you live in a temperate climate, the dry air exacerbates any dryness you’re already dealing with. Any lotion is great to put on everyday, but if you want a super moisture boost, try putting on something like Eucerin lotion after you shower but BEFORE you dry off. When you shower, the warm water opens up your pores. When you get out and dry off, you immediately start losing moisture through those open pores. If you put lotion on before you dry off and get out, you seal all that moisture in. The difference you’ll see doing this vs. just putting in on before bed is huge.
• Use Sunscreen. Most people are pretty good about wearing it on hot sunny days in the summer, but fail to realize that even cloudy days or sunny winter days can bring sun damage to your skin. In many cases, the winter months can be worse; depending where you are the ozone layer can be thinner in the winter, making the sun more intense. Buy yourself a face lotion that has a daily SPF in it; there are body lotions on the market now that also contain SPF- Alba makes a great one. You’ll never have to leave home without it!
• Don’t be picky. One of the best things you can do for yourself if you suffer from acne is leave it alone. Picking at your skin introduces a multitude of bacteria, only making it harder for your body to heal and get rid of the zit.
• Water. We all know this one, but it can be difficult to get in the habit. Start slow, and by a bottle that makes it easy for you to measure what you’re drinking. I buy 24oz disposal bottles even though I hate throwing them away. The reason? Each one is exactly 3 “glasses” of water. If I drink two I’m doing great. If I get to three- even better.
• Nutrition. Some people will tell you that chocolate or fried foods don’t have any effect on skin condition, but I whole heartedly disagree. I see it with my skin anytime I “relapse” and decide that I have to have something greasy and bad. I’ve been eating my kids Halloween candy this week, and I have a big ‘ol zit to show for it. Eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables can make a big difference, and there’s obviously a ton of other benefits to healthy eating.
• Rid your addiction to “products”. Look in a woman’s make-up drawer and your sure to find at least 25-30 different things we put on our bodies and faces. Lotion, base, powder, blush, eye liner, mascara, perfume, etc. Here’s what’s in my drawer that I actually use: a 15 SPF face lotion, mascara, and some Burt’s Bee’s lip balm. Sure I have all the other stuff, but I found once I stopped using all that crap, my skin condition improved and I didn’t actually need all that “cover up”. As far as perfume goes, find a aromatherapy soap that you love. I use something called Zumbar and I can’t tell you how many comments I’ve had about how nice I smell.
• Exfoliate. I love using a body scrub in the shower after I shave. Aromatherapy stuff is best for me, so I look for a salt or sugar scrub that’s usually in a grapeseed oil base. Getting rid of all the dead skin that’s hangin’ around helps your health skin to breath.
• Get your fatty acids! This is easier if you love fish, or live on the coast somewhere, but if neither is the case, try a good Omega supplement, add flaxseeds to your diet (I sometimes put them in my cereal or in some yogurt), or eat some walnuts.
• For anyone with a specific skin condition that requires special treatment, here are some great sites dedicated to skin health.
  • Dermatology Care has some great tips, as well as treatments for specific skin ailments.
  • The Skin articles and Tips at Pioneer Thinking has some great information on creating your own natural skin products.
  • Got Acne? Visit the Acne Care Tips blog…
  • Check out ScienceDaily’s skin care page for some great articles on a mutlitude of skin related topics.

Got any other tips for readers? Share them here! Here’s my Mom’s #1 tip for me about my skin: “Don’t forget to take care of your neck… especially the back of your neck“. I believe this is purely coming from an anti-wrinkle standpoint, but nevertheless, good tip Mom.

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