
Health & Wellness
The Complete Guide to Skincare
There’s skin, and then there’s “skincare.” In the most basic sense, skin—the largest organ of the body composed of three layers that include the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis—is the protective covering on the body that prevents germs from damaging internal organs.
In addition, the skin maintains the immune system, regulates body temperature, protects individuals by detecting pain and temperature, and produces Vitamin d when exposed to the sun, which is good for the bones and teeth.1
On the other hand, skincare is what individuals can comprehensively to support skin, whether it be avoiding the sun, drinking eight glasses of water a day, or using natural products. Highlighted below is everything you need to know about skincare as well as tips for achieving the healthiest skin possible.
A cleanser specially formulated for the face is used, and for it to be successful it has to work with your skin type. The product is applied either with the hands or with a tool, such as a washcloth or facial brush. Because the face is delicate, care is taken not to scrub too hard.
Toners are designed to restore the skin after cleansing and to soothe the skin. They are often applied with a cotton ball. If any step is to be skipped, applying toner is usually the step.
Moisturizers are used after washing or toning to put moisture back into the skin. They are formulated for the three different skin types. A person can benefit most from a moisturizer when it is applied immediately after cleansing or toning when the skin is not completely dry.
Smoking is associated with heart disease, lung disease, and cancer. In addition, smoking tobacco is one of the worst things you can do to your skin. It robs the skin of oxygen, known as oxidative stress. It also gives the skin an unhealthy color: gray, yellow, or splotchy.
Wrinkles, lines and crow’s feet are common among smokers, including what is known as smoker’s lines, which appear on the top and the bottom of the lips. Eyelids can look baggy and the jawline can sag. The texture of the skin can become dry and coarse. Wounds on the skin do not heal as quickly as for non-smokers.
In addition, a smoker is at higher risk of infections and blood clots. Furthermore, smoking increases the risk for the skin cancer squamous cell carcinoma.8
Something that many people enjoy is getting a tan. They enjoy the color that their skin builds from the sun’s rays, and many report that it makes them look healthier. However, as indicated by the American Skin Association, there’s nothing good or healthy about a tan.
Skin that is tanned contains cells that have been permanently damaged by the sun. The problem comes down to the invisible ultraviolet B rays (UVB rays) and the invisible ultraviolet A rays (UVA rays).
UVB rays negatively affect the dermis, which can cause sunburn, and the epidermis, which can lead to skin cancer. UVA rays, on the other hand, penetrate the skin deeper than UVB rays and can, therefore, do more damage. In addition to contributing to cancer, they can cause wrinkles, sagging, and facial spider veins.13
Therefore, although a skincare routine can help your skin, avoiding habits that contribute to skin damage is also extremely important. Limit your intake of alcohol, don’t smoke, keep your body hydrated, manage stress levels, and avoid prolonged exposure in the sun.
When the skin is dehydrated, this leads to dry skin. It is a common symptom that affects people of any age. When a person has dry skin, they experience rough, scaly, or peeling skin. Itchy skin is also a common symptom of dry skin, and sometimes the skin can be so dry that it cracks.
The most common places where dry skin occurs is on the feet (such as the heel), the hands, the arms, and the lower legs. There are many factors that can contribute to dry skin, including cold temperatures, a house that is heated by a furnace where moisture is taken from the air is not replenished with a humidifier, frequent and long hot baths or showers, harsh chemicals in soaps and detergents, specific medication, certain skin conditions such as eczema, aging, smoking, and more.14
Another common condition is psoriasis. It affects approximately 7.5 Americans. The disease happens when the life of a skin cell is sped up, creating an overabundance of skin cells. As a result, those extra skin cells turn into red, scaly, itchy patches.
Like acne and eczema, when a person has psoriasis, not only is it physically uncomfortable, but it can be socially uncomfortable due to its appearance on the skin. As with acne and eczema, there is no cure for psoriasis. It typically comes in cycles. A person will experience a psoriasis flare-up that will last for a few weeks or months, and then it will go away.
Sometimes, it comes back, and sometimes it goes into complete remission. The condition occurs in many different varieties such as plaque or nail psoriasis. There are triggers said to be associated with psoriasis which include stress, infections, smoking, alcohol consumption, vitamin D deficiency, and more.
In addition, those with the condition are at a higher risk of developing psoriatic arthritis, obesity, eye conditions, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, and more.20,21
Taking the standard skincare routine for the face and neck that was mentioned above, it is possible to take that routine and substitute natural ingredients: