Proper Skin Care: Overrated?

By Sejoro Tonuewa

The desire to have your melanin skin pop is legitimate. The strive to attain your desired skin tone is quite legitimate. An increased skin glow is probably the beginning of your physical beauty. Wanting that in itself is very legitimate as well. Little wonder, beauty soaps, creams, lotions and oils have sold people a hope: a hope for a better skin, a hope for increased confidence, esteem or beauty, a hope for perfection. Based on choice of products, some have saved their skin while others have been seared in the process. I’ll like to take you through this element of obsession of countless persons: the skin.

The skin is the largest organ of the body as well as the outer covering of the body. It performs several important functions including protection from physical, chemical and biological attacks, hence it plays an important role in immunity. It also helps to prevent excessive water loss, regulate the body’s temperature, store lipid and water, excrete urea as sweat, secrete vitamin D which is important for absorption of calcium as well as serve as a water-resistant barrier to prevent loss of essential nutrients from the body. The skin also contains lots of nerve endings which help us to feel and react to external stimuli such as heat, cold, pressure, touch etc. It is therefore essential that we take absolute care of our skin.

Skin care involves a series of practices aimed at improving the skin’s appearance, supporting its integrity and relieving skin conditions. These include but are not limited to, eating healthy, avoiding excess exposure to sunlight, getting enough rest. In many settings, skin care involves a daily routine that helps to protect the skin, slow down skin ageing and prevent skin conditions such as dermatitis.

Dr. Georgianna Donadio, a medical expert said, “Your skin is the fingerprint of what is going on inside your body, and all skin conditions from psoriasis to acne to aging, are manifestations of your body’s internal needs, including its nutritional needs”.

Below are some tips on taking care of the skin:

• Eat Healthy: A healthy diet is important to general wellbeing. Eating right helps you to look and feel your best. Eat a balanced diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and fish oil. Avoid unhealthy fats as well as processed or refined carbohydrates. These help to keep the skin looking younger.
• Drink lots of water: Drinking about 8 glasses of water daily helps to get rid of toxins and keep the skin hydrated, thereby preventing dry and cracked skin. Water helps in keeping the skin soft and supple. Many people often report that by increasing their water intake, their skin has a more radiant glow.
• Exercise regularly: Daily exercise helps to increase blood flow to the skin, making it clear and free of toxins.
• Get plenty of good sleep: Getting enough sleep is important for skin health. It helps in skin cell and tissue rejuvenation as well as managing stress.
• Cleanse your face two times daily: Clean the face with water or a gentle, non-toxic face cleanser in the morning and at night. This helps to keep the skin free of dirt and bacteria also making the skin less oily thus preventing acne.
• Avoid excessive exposure to the sun: Protecting the skin from the sun helps to prevent wrinkles, age spots and other skin conditions including skin cancer. Avoid the sun when its rays are strongest (between 10am-4pm), seek shade and wear protective clothing including long sleeved shirts, long pants, wide brimmed hats.
• Manage stress: Stress, when not properly managed, makes the skin more sensitive and triggers breakout of acne as well as other skin conditions. Stress can be managed by getting enough rest, setting reasonable limits and creating time for leisure.
• Get enough antioxidants: Antioxidants such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E etc help to neutralize free radicals. Blue berries, sweet potatoes, broccoli, licorice root, green tea pomegranate are good sources of antioxidants.
• Use a moisturizer: Using a moisturizer appropriate for your skin type helps to maintain healthy moisture balance. It prevents dryness and flaking of the skin and helps to keep the skin hydrated and healthy.
• Treat your skin with care: Avoid products with harsh ingredients such as mineral oil, parabens, propylene glycol. Avoid strong soaps and detergents, limit bath time using warm, instead of hot, water and pat dry your skin.

Hand hygiene is an underemphasized aspect of skincare. It is important to keep the hands clean all the time. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean, running water. Centre for Disease Control (CDC) recommends cleaning hands in a specific way to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. This is important especially at this time of Coronavirus outbreak. Alcohol-based hand sanitisers (containing about 60% alcohol) is also effective in ensuring hand hygiene.

If you experience any challenge with your skin, be careful to seek adequate and appropriate advice from trained professionals. The following are professionals who are skilled enough to help you with your skin problems:

• An esthetician is a person who specializes in the beautification of the skin. Estheticians (sometimes spelled aestheticians) are not medical doctors; instead, they perform cosmetic skin treatments, such as facials, superficial chemical peels, body treatments, and waxing. They are also known as skin care therapists. An esthetician cannot prescribe medications for skin conditions e.g rash but he/she can suggest skin care products that are appropriate for you. Most estheticians work at salons, day spas or skin spas, and medi-spas.
• Dermatologists: Dermatologists are specialist physicians who diagnose and treat diseases of the skin, hair and nails. All dermatologists are medically qualified, and undertake the same undergraduate training as other doctors. Specialties in dermatology include: dermatological surgery, paediatric dermatology, contact allergy, photobiology etc.
• Medical Aesthetician: The duties of a medical aesthetician are similar to those of a conventional spa aesthetician. However, a medical aesthetician works with patients following facial surgery and trauma, in a clinical setting, and alongside medical professionals. Common treatments include peels, scrubs, massages, laser hair removal, and other non-invasive skin care procedures recommended for medical or cosmetic purposes.

Remember, your skin health is important as it affects your overall wellbeing. Your skin is the pathway to the rest of your body. Respect it. Care for it.