Is your skin getting the care it deserves? Maybe it’s time to pay attention. November is marked as National Healthy Skin Month to raise awareness about the importance of adopting a healthy skincare regimen for better skin, hair and nails.
The primary role of the skin, our body’s largest organ, is protection. It guards other organs from bacteria, chemicals and fluctuating temperatures outside. However, as people age, skin endures a lot of wear and tear from exposure to sun, pollution and chemicals, resulting in skin damage.
As we observe National Healthy Skin Month, an expert shares some tips with us to identify the sources of skin damage and implement a healthy skincare routine to prevent it.
What are the sources of skin damage?
“Skin damage can result from multiple sources. The most common insults arise from environmental exposures such as ultraviolet radiation from the sun or tanning beds, air pollution and extreme heat or cold. Another common source is mechanical friction and irritation resulting from one’s skincare routine,” Dr. Eva R. Parker, assistant professor of dermatology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, told Medical Daily.
Unhealthy lifestyle choices such as poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of sleep and exercise can also affect the skin’s natural health.
Signs of skin damage
The signs of damage depend on the underlying cause. For example, with continuous exposure to UV lights from the sun or tanning beds, the skin suffers premature aging or photoaging. Appearance of wrinkles, loss of elasticity, uneven skin texture and skin color are some of the signs.
If an improper skin routine involving harsh chemicals is the culprit, skin shows signs of damage in the form of acne, dry and itchy skin, rough patches, skin infections and inflammations.
“Sun exposure, air pollution, and heat may result in premature aging, including hyperpigmentation (brown spots), wrinkling and textural changes, and the development of telangiectasias (small…
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