Skin Health – A lifestyle, not a resolution

The New Year is upon us once again, which means that countless people are about to set resolutions for themselves that they will work hard on all year long. In 2020, approximately 43% of Americans said that their resolution was to eat healthier. Exercising more, losing weight and similar health-related goals are also very popular.

Yet unfortunately, much of these goals are a lot easier said than done. Just two weeks after the New Year, the number of people who are successful at keeping their goals drops to 71%. After four weeks, the number drops to 64%. All told, only 9% feel like they accomplished what they set out to by the end of the year – proving that sometimes it takes more than a resolution to get things done.

This is a large part of the reason why it’s so important to take things to the next level – to not look at something as a temporary objective, but as a legitimate lifestyle change. This is especially true for skin health in a wide range of ways, all of which are worth exploring.

The Path to Better Skin Begins Now

Skin health is vital for many reasons that go beyond your appearance. Your skin is actually what protects you from a lot of the viruses and bacteria that are all around us every day – something that the last few years has shown us is critical.

Healthy skin is also one of the ways that our bodies produce vitamin D, which supports many essential bodily functions. For example, it’s part of keeping our body temperatures at a consistent, normal level.

All of this is why one should get in the habit of protecting their skin with every bit as much effort as they would put into eating properly, exercising or performing any other health-related tasks. Just a few ideas include but are certainly not limited to ones like:

• Make an appointment with a professional to have an annual skin check – that way, you can potentially identify and stop a small problem now before it has a chance to become a much bigger one later on.

• Be sure to use proper sun protection whenever possible. Wear SPF all year round, not just when you’re headed out to the beach or spend a significant amount of time outdoors. Remember, even on a cloudy day, the UV rays from the sun can still cause damage if you’re not careful.

• Properly cleanse your face every day. This goes beyond just making a show. This involves using a gentle, non-abrasive cleansing product that does not contain alcohol of any kind.

• Use high-quality, medical-grade products. Not all skincare products are created equally. Always pay attention to the ingredients and make sure you purchase products that won’t generate short-term results at the expense of long-term damage.

All of these tips are as practical as possible, as they should be. Likewise, they may not necessarily seem like much individually. But when taken together, they add up to something far more essential – the makings of an actual lifestyle change that will serve both you and your skin well for years to come.

In the End

Regardless of the priorities that you’ve made for yourself in the New Year, skin health should absolutely be one of them. But statistically speaking, you’re far better off committing to a complete lifestyle change than you are a more traditional resolution. By their very nature, resolutions almost give you permission to fail at some point during the year. But with a lifestyle change, you’re committed to something that will make a significant difference in the long-term.

Getting annual skin checks. Embracing sun protection. Cleansing your face. These are all steps you can take to protect your skin – and your overall health – as much as possible. You’ll also soon realize that they are worth every bit of the effort when you see the results they bring with them.

If you’d like to find out more information about skin health, schedule an appointment with one of our skilled providers. They can help you determine which skin health habits and products are needed for your own unique situation.