Most of the time, we think about skin in terms of what we can use on top of it. But just as critical as curating the comprehensive skincare routine is thinking about your face in terms of the most important: skin health. As our bodies’ most significant organ, the skin is affected by general health as much as our brain, lungs, or heart.
Saorsa is introducing you to 4 things that you absolutely need to know about your skin health.
- Your grocery run can trigger hours of sun damage.
We all know we’re assumed to wear sunscreen year-round, but it seldom feels like overkill on rainy winter days. Spoiler alert from Saorsa: It’s still a significant step. Even slight contact between UV rays and unsafe skin can cause more serious, lasting results than you might think. The sun may stop, and you might not see it, but damage doesn’t, so permanent protection is critical. Next time you run a quick task—or sit in front of a window while operating from home—do it with a satisfactory layer of your favorite broad-spectrum SPF used.
2. Your skin type can change.
You’ve done all the business of figuring out your skin type, but here’s a quick heads-up that matters. Whether your face is dry, oily, or a combination of both, these categories can change based on factors including cumulative pollution, UV exposure, menopause, or glycosylation. To make sure you’re using the best products, pay close attention to your face complexion’s daily health—don’t assume your skin is acne-prone, for example, just because you encountered breakouts a few years ago.
3. That full to-do list is sabotaging your skin.
When you are under a lot of depression and stress, your skin will eventually show the results. Stress—whether physical, mental or emotional—triggers the discharge of hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which send signals to the skin. Direct effects include more delayed wound healing, endangered barrier function, excess oil production, and dehydration. You might not notice them at that moment, but these results increase over time until you’re faced with unexpected breakouts or an eczema flare-up.
Rather than neglecting your emotions, consider this an urgent reminder to schedule some chill time for yourself. Prioritize your self-care first this year, whether that means blocking out time to catch up on Netflix or kicking back with a calming bath soak and a face mask.
4. Drinking water won’t boost your glow. Sleep can.
Despite the number of times we’ve learned celebrities swear that drinking more water is their code to clear face issues, research says that it’s a myth. The water you drink transfers your other organs way before it gets anywhere near your skin. As long as you are not fully dehydrated, your daily water consumption won’t impact you, apparently. Shift your focus to having enough beauty sleep rather.
Sleep is a fundamental regulator of metabolism, hormone levels, the immune system, and the skin’s ecosystem. Those late-night bedtimes can trigger enduring skin conditions like dermatitis, psoriasis, and acne. Growing sleep debt also causes pain and speeds up signs of aging, and you can’t just make up those lost hours of sleep during the weekend. It pays to make your bedroom as cozy as possible, so slip on a silk eye mask, invest in an aromatherapy pillow spray, and drift off to happier, healthier skin.
Throughout the year, our writers feature fresh, in-depth, and relevant information for our audience of 40,000+ healthcare leaders and professionals. As a healthcare business publication, we cover and cherish our relationship with the entire health care industry including administrators, nurses, physicians, physical therapists, pharmacists, and more. We cover a broad spectrum from hospitals to medical offices to outpatient services to eye surgery centers to university settings. We focus on rehabilitation, nursing homes, home care, hospice as well as men’s health, women’s heath, and pediatrics.
