Tip 3: Protect Your Skin

Skin care comes down to practicing good habits. Here are five tips that can help guard against skin cancer, chapped skin, dryness, and more.

You need to protect your skin because of the vital role it has protecting your body. Skin care doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming, and can quickly become second nature, like brushing your teeth.
Limit Sun Exposure

You’ve heard the message a zillion times, and there’s good reason for that unrelenting repetition. Ultraviolet rays emitted by the sun cause many types of skin damage.

Take sun warnings seriously.

Avoid sun during the 10-2 PM hours--This is when the sun is strongest

Wear SPF 30 every day -- it's more important than ever.

Take SPF higher for days at the beach, the trail, the park, or the pool- SPF 70 or 80.

Know Your ABCD’s

Often the first sign of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, is a change in the size, shape, color or feel of an existing mole. Pay attention to your body and remember “ABCD.” 

Asymmetry, the shape of one half does not match the other. 

Border, the edges are often ragged, notched, blurred, or irregular in outline. 

Color is uneven. Shades of black, brown and tan may be present. 

Diameter, there is a change in size, usually an increase.
Stay Hydrated

Keeping your skin moist is essential to skin protection. Skin that is properly hydrated retains pliability and prevents chapped skin or scaly, flaky skin:

Drink lots of water. This is the key to hydrating your skin.

Use the right moisturizing cream or lotion for your skin type and apply it right after drying off from your bath or shower. Avoid products that contain sodium lauryl sulfate, as this ingredient removes natural oils needed by your skin.

Take warm (not hot) showers or baths, and limit them to between 5 and 10 minutes. It seems counterintuitive, but exposure to water actually dries out your skin. If dry skin persists, consider cutting back on the number of baths you take.

Take Health Precautions

Cold sores are caused by a viral infection of the skin bordering the lips, while bacteria can contribute to acne and other skin conditions. Practicing skin protection means paying close attention to what touches your skin, to lower your chances of exposure to germs:

Don't share any personal items, such as lip balms or toothbrushes.

Don't share drinks with other people.

Avoid touching your face with your fingers or with objects like telephone receivers that have been used by others.
 Use Gentle Skin Care

Washing your face is important to remove dirt, oils, germs, and dead cells. However, scrubbing your face causes irritation that can lead to chapped skin that, in turn, can leave skin vulnerable. For best results, you should:

Wash your face twice daily with warm water and a mild cleanser.

Gently massage your face with a washcloth, using a circular motion.

Rinse thoroughly after washing to remove all soap and debris.

Pat your skin dry — don’t rub — then apply your facial moisturizer.

Know Your Skin

Pay attention to odd freckles, moles, and growths on your skin, and consult your doctor if you notice any changes. For example, a change in a mole can indicate potential skin cancer. Be sure to treat any cuts that may occur to prevent infection. Other skin conditions that merit a dermatologist visit include frequent acne, inflamed or irritated dry skin, and skin rashes and irritations that don’t go away, as these could be signs of one of the many types of dermatitis, or skin inflammation.