Eight skincare resolutions to commit to in 2021
Are you ready for 2021? What about your skin? A new year is a good place as any to start some healthy skin habits. As a dermatologist, here are a few things I recommend to get better skin on 2021!
Commit to a skincare routine
When I say routine, I mean one that you can religiously follow and observe twice a day every day. It doesn’t have to be a long one; just the basics of cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen will do. Once you’ve gotten the hang of the basic steps, you may or may not opt to add additional ones. If you feel you’re ready to add more, then you may do so.
Protect yourself from the harmful effects of the sun
I may sound like a broken recorder for this but sun protection is an important step in taking care of your skin. There are a lot of effects of the sun and its radiation beyond getting a tan or sunburn like premature aging, skin cancer, eye disorders, and suppression of the immune system. Aside from applying sunblocks and sunscreens, wear protective clothing when you can, use an umbrella, seek shade, and use sunglasses.
Make it a habit to look for the ingredients in any new product before buying or using it
This goes for both skincare and makeup. Don’t use any product blindly, even if a celebrity or influencer you’re a fan of is endorsing it. Make sure you know what you’re putting on your skin so you’ll be able to figure out in the future what suits your skin type the best.
Get to know your skin better and listen to its needs
I have mentioned in a previous article that our skin can change form situation to situation. Learning to listen to our skin with its ever-changing needs helps us to keep it healthy and prevent any unwanted reactions like.
Never compare your skin with anyone else’s
This is true even if you have the same type and concerns. There are other factors you need to consider too like genes, lifestyle, skin sensitivities, etc. and these other factors can bring about more differences than you can imagine ranging from your skin’s responsiveness to a certain ingredient to the products’ side effects.
Find time to destress
Since the pandemic happened, I’ve gotten a lot of patients with skin conditions related to stress like acne, atopic dermatitis, eczema and hair loss. Stress can trigger and worsen pre-existing skin conditions. Finding ways to cope and manage stress is one of the solutions to managing those skin conditions too.
Lessen your intake of salt, sugar and alcohol
A change in diet is a frequent goal in most resolutions and the same approach should be taken for a healthier skin. Too much of these is never a good thing but I know that avoiding them suddenly is a tough feat to accomplish. What I suggest is gradually reducing your intake of them over time until it comes to a point when you’re only consuming less of what you used to take. Look for healthier alternative snacks and drinks too to lessen your cravings for them.
Don’t hesitate to consult with board-certified dermatologists for any skin concern
It doesn’t have to just be about acne, eczema, skin infection, and the like. A consult can even be just to check general skin health and prevention. Remember that the fact that you thought about consulting with a dermatologist means that your concern has been bothering you already. See a doctor as soon as you can to prevent further complications from developing.
Some of these might seem daunting at first but I believe that resolutions should never meant to be fulfilled in just a year – that makes them unrealistic. And setting unrealistic goals for yourself will only make them harder to be achieved. Progress is progress no matter how you look at it. What is more important is that you have set a goal for yourself and that you are taking measures to accomplish them at your own pace, even if it takes more than a year.
Until my next article guys, stay safe! Happy New Year!
Dr. Nikki Paderna is currently available for online consultations thru the HealthNow and Medifi app on Google Play for Android devices and on the Apple store for iOS devices, or thru the FB page, Vivestrata Dermatology Clinic
