Skin Care

Taking good care of your skin is important for more than just your appearance. As the largest organ you have, your skin is essential to your general health.

Appropriate skincare is essential because our skin is the largest blockade against infection that we have. Keeping our skin healthy and moist helps keep this blockade strong. Once the skin gets dry or irritated by harsh soaps, cracks in the skin might occur. Cracks in the skin make a person more prone to infection.

Common Skin Infections:

Skin infections are caused by a wide variety of germs and symptoms may vary from mild to serious. The following are the types of skin infections:

1. Bacterial Skin Infections
• Leprosy
• Boils
• Impetigo
• Cellulitis

2. Viral Skin Infections
• Chickenpox
• Shingles
• Measles
• Warts
• Molluscum contagiosum
• Mouth, feet, and hand disease

3. Fungal Skin Infections
• Diaper rash
• Oral thrush
• Nail fungus
• Ringworm
• Yeast infection
• Athlete’s foot

4. Parasitic Skin Infections
• Scabies
• Cutaneous larva migrans
• Bedbugs
• Lice

Tips On How To Take Care Of Your Skin:
The following skincare tips are from dermatologists which may benefit just about everyone:
• Before you go outdoors, apply sunscreen. Use it every day if possible. Sunscreen is the closest thing you have to a fountain of youth. It helps to slow down skin aging and prevents skin cancer. Use a sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum protection, water resistance, and SPF 30.
• Do not smoke. Smoke may make your wounds take longer to heal. Research also shows that smoking worsens some skin diseases including hidradenitis suppurativa and psoriasis.
• Check your skin for skin cancer. Skin self-exams help you find skin cancer early when it is highly treatable. If you notice a spot that differs from the others, make an appointment to see a dermatologist.
• Use a skincare product that matches the needs of your skin. The use of products formulated for your skin’s needs helps your skin look and feel its best.
• Resist the urge to scrub your skin clean. If you have a serious acne flare or you’ve been sweating heavily, it may seem natural to scrub your skin. Scrubbing irritates your skin which may worsen any skin conditions including acne.
• Wash your face gently. Gentle cleansing helps skin look its best. You may wash your face using lukewarm water. Wash your face before bed, when waking, and after sweating. It removes the dirt and bacteria that are on your face. In addition, remove your make-up before bed.
• Less stress. Find healthy ways to manage stress. It may benefit your skin. Some skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis often appear for the first time when someone feels stressed. Stress may also cause flare-ups of several skin conditions such as rosacea, psoriasis, eczema, and acne.
• It is not recommended to use too many products. It can be harsh on the skin which may result in more breakouts and clogged pores.
• Moisturize your skin day and night. Avoid the use of lotions with heavy fragrances and make sure you find a gentle moisturizer for everyday use with zero irritation.