Each season brings its own challenges to keeping your skin healthy. One month you have to worry about sun exposure, the next it’s dryness and windburn. How can you keep up? Maintaining a year-round skincare regime is one way, but there are many others. Depending on your skin type and the unique challenges it faces, specific treatments might be excellent for you. For example, do you suffer from constant breakouts? Consider getting acne treatment in Toronto from a certified skin specialist. In honour of National Healthy Skin Month, here are some of the top ways to maintain healthy, glowing skin all year long.
Healthy Summer Skin Tips
You likely already know the first tip for maintaining healthy skin in the summer. Wearing sunscreen is crucial for protecting your skin from sun damage. Did you know that 90 percent of the common signs of ageing are from sun damage? It causes sun spots, fine lines, wrinkles, sagging, and more. Specifically, it’s the Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun that causes the damage. There are two types of UV rays that you need to protect yourself from—UVA and UVB rays.
UVA rays penetrate through the surface of the skin and damage the deeper levels of the dermis. This is where your collagen and elasticity are. Damage from UVA rays looks like sagging, loose skin. It can also lead to burst blood vessels and damaged cells.
UVB rays are just as dangerous as UVA. These rays penetrate the top layer of skin and alter the cells in this layer. They cause sun spots, fine lines, and an uneven skin tone. UVB rays can even cause healthy skin cells to morph into pre-carcinogenic ones.
It’s imperative that you use a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30. You don’t have to rely on drugstore brands; most luxury skincare products now contain SPF. Make sure the SPF is high enough and you reapply throughout the day. Besides wearing sunscreen, avoid being out in the sun too long. It’s important you get 10-30 minutes of sun a couple of days per week to absorb vitamin D, but after that, move to the shade.
Healthy Winter Skin Tips
In the winter, the air is cold and dry. Your skin may react negatively; dryness, itchiness, redness, and irritation can all occur. If you suffer from rosacea, the cold weather can trigger more intense flare-ups. Seek rosacea treatment in Toronto to get expert assistance with your skin. Otherwise, use these effective winter skin tips.
The sun’s rays are just as potent in the winter as in the summer. It may not feel like it because the temperatures are so low, but you are just as susceptible to skin damage. If you spend time outdoors in the winter, continue to wear your sunscreen. This is especially important for skiers, snowboarders, and kids going sledding. You’ll use less since you’re mostly covered up, but your face is still v
The next important tip is to use more moisturizer. The lack of moisture in the air causes your skin to dry out faster. Depending on your skin type, find a moisturizer that suits it. However, don’t assume that because you have oily skin you can skip the moisturizer. Find one that is water-based instead of oil-based to prevent further pore-clogging. You could also consider investing in a humidifier for your home or office. Humidifiers will add moisture to the air, thus drying your skin out less.
Healthy Skin Tips for All Year Long
The summer and winter months are the most extreme times of the year for weather in Canada. However, it’s imperative to keep up your skincare the rest of the year if you want to maintain healthy skin. Here are some tips to follow no matter the month.
1. Stay Hyrated and Eat Clean
You know the phrase, you are what you eat? This completely applies to your skin. If you put greasy, oily, processed food in your body, your skin won’t return you with kindness. It’ll likely breakout, appear dull, or get inflamed. Not to mention the reaction some people have to foods they’re sensitive to. If you want your skin to look fabulous all year, eat a healthy balance of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and proteins.
Of course, water needs to be the beverage-of-choice for your diet. Every organ in your body depends on water for optimal functioning, including your skin. If you suffer from dry patches, uneven skin, and dullness, increase your water intake. It’s like magic for your skin.
2. Get Professional Acne Treatment
Some skin conditions can’t be treated with at-home solutions. They require the expertise of a professional skincare specialist. Severe acne is one of those conditions. If nothing on the drugstore shelves works, you likely need acne treatment from a professional. Did you know that acne affects 85 percent of teenagers and 50 percent of adults? You’re so not alone! For many types of acne, YAG Laser treatments do wonders. Intense Pulsed Lights (IPL) have also proven to be quite effective for acne.
3. Create a Daily Skincare Routine
Raise your hand if you don’t have a daily skincare routine. Alternately, raise your hand if you use at least 12 products a day on your face. Both options are less than optimal for healthy skin. Your skin needs to be cleansed and moisturized, but it doesn’t need a slew of chemicals caked on it. There’s a balance you need to find for your unique skin type.
Everyone benefits from cleansing, so start with that. Use a gentle cleanser in the morning to prepare you for the day. Then, a moisturizer with SPF. At night, always remember to take off your makeup and cleanse your skin. Consider using a nighttime serum for specific anti-ageing purposes. Some provide extra hydration; others boost your skin with vitamin C or E. After the serum, moisturize.
If you’re unsure of which products to use on your skin, speak to a specialist at Laser Essentials & Skin Care. They’ll guide you on creating a skincare routine that works all year round.
Laser Essentials & Skin Care believes National Healthy Skin Month should include every month of the year. Our experienced and certified specialists provide acne treatment in Toronto in addition to a list of other services. With our state-of-the-art laser technology, no skin condition is unmanageable. Schedule your complimentary consultation by calling our clinic in the heart of Toronto: (416) 226-0744.