The Four Commandments of Skin Care
Having a proper skin care routine in place can keep your complexion looking healthy and radiant all year round. With that in mind, Dr. Holly Happe and the team at Dr. Happe Medical Aesthetics offer some guidelines for boosting daily skin care. The Newton-based practice explains that cleansing, exfoliation, moisturizing, and protection are skin care essentials.
1) Cleanse and Remove Makeup
Thin, sensitive facial skin takes a beating each day from harsh factors like pollution, dirt, microbes, and dry, hot weather. Makeup, especially oily products, can harm the skin when left on overnight. Cleanse your skin twice each day—in the morning and at night—to get rid of toxins, makeup, impurities, dead skin cells, and excess oil. This helps to reduce acne breakouts and stops pores from becoming clogged.
2) Exfoliate
Exfoliating is important for sloughing away dead skin cell buildup on the surface while preventing pores from becoming clogged and inflamed. Use a Vitamin A product and a gentle scrub for the best results. The various forms of Vitamin A, including retinol and retinoic acid, help support cell turnover. They provide protection by destroying free radicals that cause collagen to break down and wrinkles to form, while also making your skin less vulnerable to sun damage. Retinol makes skin appear firmer, smoother, and brighter while making large pores look less noticeable.
3) Moisturize
Dry skin can cause rough, scaly, or flaky patches, dullness, and itching, as well as make wrinkles appear more pronounced. Even if moisturizing doesn’t always seem necessary, it can keep your skin well hydrated and slow the effects of aging. Use a moisturizer designed for your unique skin concerns. Increasing your water intake can also contribute to improved skin quality.
4) Protect
Aside from natural aging, UV radiation from the sun is believed to cause the most damage to the skin. We recommend practicing sun safety by limiting exposure during the hours when UV rays are most intense, regularly applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 or higher, and wearing protective clothing. Remember that when you mix a moisturizer with a sunscreen, this dilutes its sun protection ability, so you may want to choose a higher SPF. Also, as we head into fall and winter, don’t let overcast skies full you! Ultraviolet radiation penetrates cloud cover, so be vigilant about your skin protection!
Learn more about putting together your perfect skin care routine from Dr. Happe Medical Aesthetics. Reach out to us in Newton by calling 617-597-2600 or request an appointment online.
