Skip to main content

National Healthy Skin Month

Woman with clean skin

November is National Healthy Skin Month. Many of us are completely unaware that our daily lives and habits can be harmful to our skin. This month’s designation is to raise awareness on the importance of healthy skin and the steps you can take to ensure your skin is healthy!

Here are some tips for achieving and maintaining healthy skin:

  1. Know your skin type. Whether your skin is dry, oily or combination, it is important to know your type to ensure you are using the proper cleansers, moisturizers and methods best suited for you.
  2. Wash your face daily. Makeup, dirt, sunscreen and dead skin can build up causing clogged pores and acne. Washing your face daily will help to remove these types of impurities.
  3. Regularly examine your skin. It is important to be aware of changes in your skin. Check regularly for unusual spots or abnormal irritation, such as itching or bleeding, and schedule with KDG if you have any concerns.
  4. Wear sunscreen. Even if you are not in the sun for an extended period, your skin is exposed to UV rays more than you realize. Overexposure to the sun can cause burns, aging and skin cancer, so take the necessary precautions to protect your skin from harmful UV radiation.
  5. Moisturize daily. Even if your skin doesn’t look like it needs moisture, still moisturize! Moisturizing helps make your skin supple, strong and youthful.

If you have concerns about your skin or questions about achieving your healthiest skin, contact Knoxville Dermatology Group at (865)690-9467 for an appointment.

Keep Makeup From Hurting Your Skin

Makeup

Using makeup to cover blemishes may seem like a never-ending cycle – cover one up and another appears. However, proper application and removal of cosmetics can help prevent this cycle. While wearing makeup can clog our pores, it is not immediately detrimental to your skins health. The key is to follow positive practices to protect your skin under the concealer.

  • Makeup has a shelf life. Old makeup can develop bacteria and harbor degraded ingredients that can be damaging to the skin, so check that you’re using healthy products. Liquid foundation lasts about one year and powder products last 2-3 years.
  • Makeup brushes also build up dirt and oil that can clog your pores. Brushes should be cleaned at least once a week to prevent oils from coming in direct contact with your skin. Brushes can be easily cleaned with gentle soap and lukewarm water. This will also extend their shelf life.
  • Finally, keep your face clean. Extra residue is left in the pores even after removing makeup. Wash your face of impurities every time you remove your cosmetics. Not only will you improve your complexion, your moisturizer and skin products will work better, too.

Don’t forget to remove your makeup whenever it’s unnecessary, such as while exercising or sleeping. Apply makeup with piece of mind just by following these simple steps. For questions about skin and dermatology, call Knoxville Dermatology Group at 865-690-9467.

Spring Cleaning: How to Properly Wash Your Face

The U.S. skin care market is projected to reach $11 billion dollars in 2018, according to the Global Cosmetic Industry. With so many products to choose from, it’s possible some products may be doing more harm than good.

The number one rule to taking care of your skin is to know your skin. Dry skin and oily skin should not be washed the same way. Acne-prone and aging skin should also be treated differently.

The best temperature to wash your face is with lukewarm water. Extremely hot or frigidly cold can dry the skin and may not remove oil as effectively.

Choose the right cleanser. Cream-based lotions that contain shea butter or glycerin are great for dry skin types. Exfoliating scrubs help remove dead skin, dirt and oil for oily skin types. If your skin is in between, a pH-balanced cleanser will continue to keep your skin perfectly moisturized.

Cleaning your face is all about gentleness. Using your hands instead of a washcloth is gentler on your skin. Rub the cleanser in circular motions, concentrating on the T-zone. Then gently pat the skin dry instead of rubbing it.

If you have any questions on best practices or need to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist, visit www.knoxderm.com or call (865)690-9467.

Pros and Cons of Exfoliation

Exfoliation

It is important to stay educated on the right and wrong ways to use skin products. Exfoliation is a common practice to wipe your face of dead skin cells and keep a youthful glow. However, exfoliation also has a few cons. Here are a few of each:

Pros

Exfoliation can strip the skin of dead skin cells. This speeds up skin renewal and unclogs pores, which helps prevent blackheads and breakouts.

Cells entering the top layer after exfoliation bring moisture and a natural glow.

Exfoliating skin before shaving will remove dead skin cells that can clog your razor blade, resulting in a smoother shave.

Leftover dirt and makeup and result in an uneven skin tone. Exfoliating can help clean and smooth out skin color.

Skin care products such as acne medicine can penetrate deeper on a clean surface.

Cons

Over-exfoliation may have the opposite effect of beautifying your skin. This can come from either exfoliating too often or scrubbing too hard. This can remove too much skin, causing dryness or irritation.

Exfoliating creams should be kept away from children. Exfoliation on a child’s skin may disrupt the skin growth and has little effect on a child’s face.

Exfoliation beads are not biodegradable. Beads end up in the water supply and are eaten by marine animals. Use biodegradable products instead.

Do research before deciding what type of exfoliation you should use. Exfoliation has many benefits as long as it’s treated with care. Everyone’s skin is different, so contact your dermatologist to find the appropriate way to help keep your skin healthy.

Image courtesy of imagerymajestic at FreeDigitalPhotos.net