Looking Like Myself Again

When it comes to taking care of the human body, most people tend to think of eating well and exercising in order to keep internal organs like the heart and lungs healthy. But your body technically has another "organ" that you likely don't spend much time thinking about: your skin. Even if you don't have the time for an intensive skin care routine with multiple moisturizers, you can still do yourself a lot of good by avoiding activities that can be damaging to your body's largest organ. Here are three things you should avoid doing if you want to help protect your skin.

Spending Too Much Time in a Hot Bath or Shower

Yes, a hot bath or shower is one of life's luxuries. There's nothing wrong with actually taking one, but if you care about the long-term health of your skin, you should try and limit the amount of time you spend in or under hot water. Too much time exposed to heat can remove the oils from your skin that it needs to stay healthy. So enjoy your next shower or bath, but be efficient with your cleaning and avoid just standing or soaking in it. Your skin will be better for it.

Using Strong Soaps and Detergents

Everyone loves to smell great, but that great scent may actually be doing significant damage to your skin over the long term. Strong soaps and detergents can remove oil from your skin much like hot water can. Go ahead and get clean, but consider sticking with a milder cleanser in order to preserve your skin. You'll also want to take it easy with cologne and perfume for this same reason. If you must use a harsher soap or some other substance on your skin, invest in a moisturizer that you also use daily to counter some of the negative effects.

Going Outside without Protection

Everyone loves getting tan, and it's true that at least some sun on your skin daily is actually healthy for you. But what you want to avoid is staying out for long periods of time with the sun beaming down on you while you have little or no protection. Always use sunscreen, and if you must sit outside, try to find a tree or another source of shade.

Your skin needs to be taken care of just like any other part of your body. You can likely make a big impact on your skin's health by just changing a few of your daily activities. Stick to milder soaps and detergents when getting clean, and don't stay in a hot bath or shower longer than is actually necessary. When going outside, make sure you always have sunscreen or some other form of protection. If you've noticed that your skin has started to dry or has other significant issues, contact a skin care professional, such as one at Waccamaw Dermatology & Plastic Surgery LLC, for assistance.