What does your skin feel like to the touch? What does it look like? Are you happy with the condition of it? It’s the largest organ of our entire body, our protective coating in a sense. Our skin is in a constant state of exposure and it has a large job in protecting our entire body.
When we expose our skin to the elements of the environment such as free radicals, sun, heat, wind and cold, it’s known as extrinsic aging. Extrinsic aging causes fine lines, wrinkles, brown spots, rough texture and an overall uneven tone.
What we eat and drink, along with hormonal fluctuations, genetics, or medications, can contribute to the intrinsic aging process. Intrinsic aging leads to tired looking skin, dark under eye circles, loss of elasticity, dehydration and an overall unwell appearance. Some skincare products may be the wrong choices for our skin type and may actually be contributing to dryness, oiliness or excess moisture. Too much oil or moisture can cause milia, tiny white bumps that collect in the surface of the skin. Some of us may have a tendency to exfoliate too often, damaging the surface layers of the skin.
It’s a lot of information to take in, but having healthy skin is a sign of a healthy body, it means that you’re taking care of you.
Understanding your skin type may also help you to be more aware of the complex nature of what your skin is susceptible to. The Fitzpatrick Skin Type Chart sponsored on the Skin Cancer Foundations website will help you to determine where you fall on the scale.
Recognizing a potential skin problem is the first step. Contacting a skin care professional can help you determine what options are available to address your concerns. An expert will help you by making sure you have the correct products for your skin type and the best treatment plan available to repair and restore health and vitality. You will not only look younger, but your skin will thank you!