Love the Skin You’re In

Use sunscreen with at least a 30 sun protection factor (SPF). You should apply sunscreen to exposed areas of skin, such as your face and ears, at least 30 minutes before going outside, even in winter months. Re-apply every two hours if you will be outdoors, especially if you sweat or get wet. Too much sun exposure can put you at risk for developing basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma—two common forms of skin cancer. Beyond cancer, too much UV exposure can cause wrinkles, liver, and sun spots. Too much sun also damages elastin and makes it harder for your skin to heal after a cut or bruise.

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Using a moisturizer helps repair cells, stimulates circulation and reduces extreme dryness or oiliness—both of which cause acne. You can amp up your routine by purchasing moisturizers with ingredients like vitamin C and retinol. These products can protect your skin from aging, guard against environmental stress and reduce pigmentation like sun spots.

Up your water intake. Though you may moisturize, that’s not enough. Drinking plenty of water can tighten saggy skin, reduce wrinkles, rid your body of toxins, prevent acne and moisturize your skin. So drink up! The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends 15.5 cups of fluids daily for men and 11.5 cups for women. However, if you’re consuming drinks with high sugar content, that could be the reason for skin problems. Ingesting too much sugar can interfere with collagen production, resulting in a loss of firmness and elasticity. A 2022 study by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology also found that high sugar intake is associated with breakouts.

Don’t be picky. When acne does arise, resist the urge to touch your face or pick at imperfections. Popping pimples and other types of skin picking can cause infection, scarring or cause more breakouts to form. If you have trouble resisting, try using a hydrocolloid pimple patch that will clear and hydrate your blemishes or a fidget toy that you can pop like bubble wrap. However, if you pick at your skin for stress relief, you may want to walk to your doctor. For one in 20 people, skin picking is an obsessive-compulsive disorder, and dermatologists say this condition worsened during COVID-19.

Keeping an eye on skin changes. We tend to notice more evidence of skin cancer in the spring and summer months because we’re on the lookout for it. However, we should still be diligent during the colder months. Since the best way to fight skin cancer is through prevention, the American Cancer Society urges you to talk to your doctor if you notice any of the following skin changes:

• A mole or spot that’s new or changing in size, shape, or color
• A mole with an odd shape, irregular borders, or areas of different colors
• A new, expanding, or changing growth, spot, or bump on the skin
• A rough or scaly red patch, which might crust or bleed
• A sore that bleeds or doesn’t heal after several weeks
• A wart-like growth