It’s a great time to review your skincare routine and see if your habits are helping or harming your skin. Resolutions are easy to set on January 1 but harder to keep throughout the year.
Heather Richmond, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Houston’s Dermatology and Laser Surgery Center. She says that change is difficult, but consistency with skin care is essential. She says that regular use of high-quality skin care products will significantly impact over time, but you should wait to see results, especially regarding reducing the signs of aging.
Harvard Medical School says retinoids can reduce wrinkles and fine lines, but you may need to use them for up to six months to see any improvement. If you want to see the best results, stick with your resolution.
Here are five dermatologists who are board-certified to recommend the best skin care resolutions:
1.Use sunscreen every day, all year round
Sunscreen is your best skin care tool. When people ask, “What’s the best anti-aging cream? “Sunscreen is the No. 1 anti-aging cream,” says Cheryl Burgess, MD. She’s the founder and President of the Center for Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery in Washington, DC.
Benefits are not just cosmetic. Sunscreen use has been proven to be the most effective way to prevent skin cancers and accelerated aging. This is according to Mamina Turkana, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Sanova Dermatology, located in Old Metairie in Louisiana. I want everyone to commit to wearing sunscreen every morning as part of their routine.
She suggests wearing broad-spectrum sunblock with an SPF of 30 or more and looking for moisturizers with SPF. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, broad spectrum means that the sunscreen will protect against UVA rays, which can cause premature skin aging, and UVB, which causes sunburn.
Even if you think you’re safe because you don’t go outside during the winter, studies have shown that blue light from electronic devices and computers can still cause damage to our skin. One study, for example, found that exposure to blue light was associated with producing free radicals, which are linked with premature skin aging.
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The Skin Cancer Foundation notes that UVA can also harm your skin when it shines through windows. This includes cars and indoors, where there are natural lights. “Sunscreen should be worn at all times,” Dr. Burgess says.
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2.Do not sleep in your makeup.
Burgess says that sleeping with makeup can lead to various skin problems, such as clogged pores, breakouts, and extreme lip drying. According to the University of Rochester, it can cause severe damage to the eyes. This simple solution is to wash your face before you go to bed. You’ll need to use a solvent-based makeup remover if you are wearing an oil-based concealer. Burgess suggests foaming cleanser, which can emulsify lipstick and most foundations. Use a gentle cleanser on the eye area since it is more sensitive.
3. Protect Your Skin from Winter
“Winter can be the most difficult season for skin,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, an associate professor in dermatology and director of clinical and cosmetic dermatology research at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City. He advises people to resolve to use more skincare products during the winter months as the cold weather, low humidities, and wind can take their toll on your skin’s surface.
Burgess recommends looking for products containing moisturizing humectants like ammonium Lactate. These ingredients can draw moisture to your skin. AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Lotion is a drugstore alternative that doesn’t cost a fortune. You can also look for generic Ammonium Lactate, usually less than $20 a bottle. As the American Academy of Dermatology recommends, you can choose a cream, ointment, or saline solution, typically available in tubs or tubes. Burgess suggests a HydroFacial to help replenish moisture in your skin.
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4. Don’t Use Indoor Tanning Beds
Research shows that indoor tanning increases the risk of melanoma. However, a study published in current oncology in November 2022 revealed that more than a third of Americans use indoor tanning devices. Skin Cancer Foundation notes that although the numbers have declined since their peak, the United States still hasn’t banned tanning beds like Brazil and Australia. Dr. Richmond and Dr. Turegano say indoor tanning is an absolute no-no. Turegano wants tanning beds to be banned in 2022.
5. Do not throw away expired or unused products.
It’s common for people to use the New Year to clean up their homes. If your skincare shelf is out-of-control, it may be time to reduce size.
Turegano understands: “I try to test as many products as possible to determine if they’re worth recommending. But my bathroom closet is a junkyard, with many half-full containers of skin care – many of which have probably expired. It can make skin care appear overwhelming.
She plans to use the KonMari method for editing and categorizing her items.
Do you need help determining where to begin? Check expiration dates for all skin care products and discard anything past the date. It would help if you also threw out anything that irritates your skin. Turegano says to try and streamline even more. If you have two products containing hyaluronic acids, you may not need them both. If you decide which product to discard, find one with a higher concentration of active ingredients if they are the same.
6. Do not pick your skin when you are stressed.
Turegano notes that many people pick their skin for a data-component-name=” href=”https://www.everydayhealth.com/stress/guide/relief/”>stress relief/a>, but she suggests they resolved to find other stress-relieving alternatives in 2022. These include popping bubble wrap, a data component name=” href=”https://www.everydayhealth.com/fitness/workouts Turegano notes that people often pick their skin to relieve stress. She suggests other ways to reduce stress in 2022. These include popping bubble wraps, aerobic exercises, and getting facials, which TLC Foundation recommends For Body-Focused Repeated Behaviors.
According to the International OCD Foundation, skin picking can be a clinical impulse disorder. According to the International OCD Foundation, up to one in twenty people suffer from this condition. A study published in March 2021 by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that skin picking was more common among this group during the COVID-19 Pandemic. A mental health professional can help you if this is your situation. According to the International OCD Foundation, cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance-commitment therapy, and selective Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) may help treat the skin-picking disorder.
7. Keep your routine simple and consistent.
Dr. Zeichner says, “I would like to see people abandon their multi-step skin care regiments.” “More does not mean better, and it can cause irritation.” “Simple, effective skin care is better than overscrubbing, exfoliating and applying products.”
Turegano suggests sticking to just three products: sunscreen and a cleanser.
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8. Don’t smoke
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 40 million Americans smoke cigarettes. With the growth of recreational cannabis, the number of “smokers’ is increasing. In a Gallup poll, 12 percent of adults said they smoke marijuana. This was the highest percentage yet.
Burgess says that smoking can affect the skin. It will make it look dry, dull, or ruddy. She recommends avoiding smoke in any way possible, including switching to edibles for cannabis users rather than giving up THC.
The CDC provides information and resources to help you quit smoking tobacco in the New Year. The American Lung Association also offers a Freedom From Smoking Program, which includes interactive online features and group clinics.
9. Do You Want to Amp Up Your Routine with Retinol And Vitamin C?
You can improve your skincare routine by using more targeted products. Richmond, Burgess, and Zeichner agree that the skin benefits from Vitamin C serum in the morning, followed by Retinol. Harvard Health Publishing states that Retinol, derived from vitamin-A, is a milder version of topical retinoid. Retinoids are typically only available with a prescription, whereas Retinol is sold over the counter.
Burgess says that Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which is why it is beneficial to use under sunscreen. It does two things: protecting from the sun rays and reducing sun spots and pigmentation.
On the other hand, Richmond says that retinoids are best for minimizing visible signs of aging. Her personal skincare resolution, then, is to increase her retinol dosage.
Roopal K. Kundu, MD, is a dermatology and medical training professor at Northwestern University Feinberg Medical School in Chicago and founding director of Northwestern Center for Ethnic Skin and Hair.
Dr. Kundu says that a retinol regimen will vary greatly depending on geographic location, skin type, and season. Kundu recommends applying a product as part of your bedtime routine twice a week. Retinoids can make you more sensitive to the sun, so she suggests using them at night, at least two or three days apart. You can then increase the number of applications every week by adding one. Kundu says the long-term objective is to apply it every night if tolerated. However, some people will only be able to use it twice or three times per week.
Zeichner summarizes this routine: “Protect and repair skin at night, and protect your skin every morning.”
10. Don’t Over-Exfoliate
Adding new active ingredients can be a great way to enhance your routine. Just add them gradually and observe how your skin responds. Exfoliants such as Retinol are beneficial, but less is more. Over-exfoliating can be a problem and cause discomfort in people with sensitive skin.
The founder of Art of Skin MD, board-certified dermatologist Melanie Palm, MD in San Diego, says that overdoing exfoliation may cause irritation, dryness, bumps, and rashes.
Dr. Palm advises starting slowly when introducing exfoliants to your daily routine. It’s not necessary to start using chemical exfoliants immediately. You can build up your tolerance over time. Palm advises avoiding exfoliating the days when you shave or wax.
Palm suggests a gentler exfoliant called a “gommage” for those new to the process. This cream or paste combines chemical and physical exfoliation for smoother skin. According to the AAD, how often you exfoliate depends on your skin type and what exfoliation method you use. More aggressive strategies require less frequent exfoliation.
11. Sugar Consumption: Be more aware
Nutritional resolutions are not new. Mayo Clinic suggests reducing your sugar intake due to possible adverse health effects. You can also include skin-related results in the list. Sugar can contribute to acne and skin aging.
“Diet is something that is often forgotten when it comes to maintaining good skin and general health,” says Carmen Castilla, MD, board-certified dermatologist at the New York Dermatology Group, New York City. “High sugar levels are associated with an increased perception of age.”
Previous research suggests that sugar can influence skin aging through glycation. Dr. Castilla says that sugar can hurt collagen’s structure and function. This causes the collagen to stiffen and reduces collagen turnover. Collagen is the support for skin, so a decrease in collagen can result in loss of firmness or elasticity.
According to a systemic review published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in March 2022, there may be a connection between a diet high in sugar and acne. Researchers discovered that sweets and foods with high Glycemic loads can significantly impact acne. AAD has recommended a low glycemic-load diet to reduce acne.
12. Do not take hot showers.
Palm wants people to stop taking long, hot showers in the New Year. Palm notes that people often take long, hot baths to warm up during colder months. However, she warns “overdoing” can cause skin dryness, itching, and scaling.
According to a study published in January 2022 in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, a data-component-name=” href=”https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8778033/,”>hot water causes even more harm/a>. According to a report published in January 2022 by the Journal of Clinical Medicine, continuous exposure to water damages the skin barrier function. Hot water is even worse. Researchers found that desirable water exposure increased transepidermal loss (TEWL), evaporation through the epidermis of water, and erythema.
The Cleveland Clinic suggests lowering the temperature to reduce dryness and itching caused by hot showers. You can still take warm showers. Palm advises always to be mindful of the temperature when showering to avoid damaging your skin’s barrier. Applying a moisturizer immediately afterward will also help maintain hydration.
Palm advises that if you cannot stop taking hot showers completely, then at least avoid splashing boiling water onto your face. She suggests washing your face with lukewarm water at the bathroom sink, as the skin of your face is much more delicate than that on your body.
13. Do Be Diligent About Your Annual Skin Check
Dermatologists recommend you schedule an annual skin examination as your doctor does. According to the CDC, skin cancer is America’s leading form of cancer. Many of its causes are preventable, including exposure to UV rays. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, skin exams are a way of detecting skin cancer early.
A dermatologist can examine your skin to check for new moles, rashes, or other cancerous damage signs. Use it to raise any concerns you have about your skin.
Palm says that skin can reveal other problems. Skin checks can also be an excellent way to identify other health issues, such as hormonal or autoimmune problems.
A skin check every year should be performed in addition to any other sun protection measures that may lower your skin cancer risk. However, it shouldn’t substitute for applying sunscreen with a broad spectrum of avoiding tanning beds.
Taking care of your skin is essential, but it does not have to be complicated. If you follow these resolutions, your skin will glow for years.