When
your mother nagged you growing up each time she caught you picking
your skin, there was a reason. The majority of us all have those little
habits we’ve acquired that can ultimately cause harm to the skin.
Here’s the short list and why mom was right:
Pick
your skin! This can lead to infections like staph, temporary discoloration
of the area, delay of healing and worse, a scar. If it needs some
TLC to heal, then check with your doctor.
Habitually
scratch or rub the skin. This can cause the skin to take on a
leathery texture that actually may be more symptomatic than the original
problem.
Ignore
an itching or bleeding mole. This is a significant symptom associated
with skin cancer. While not all symptomatic moles are melanoma, better
to find out early than too late.
Allow
your skin to become dehydrated. Dry skin sounds innocuous, but
may lead to such conditions as the “elderly itch”, the itch-scratch
cycle that may develop an infection, and also simply gives you a prematurely
aged appearance. Drink your 8 glasses of water, daily.
Forget
to apply sunscreen. Sunscreen should be worn daily year-round
to minimize the chance for skin cancer and slow up your wrinkle formation.
Select
skin care products inappropriate for your particular skin type.
What good is an acne-flaring moisturizer when you already have oily
skin? Look for a non-comedogenic product. On the flip side, if you
have chronically dry skin, you need a cream based product, and lotions
won’t provide the protection you need.
Excessive
washing of your skin. No one requires 2 showers a day unless you
are have oily skin and work a construction job. Over-washing usually
leads to skin dryness, irritation, and a potential flare of skin conditions
such as eczema.
Stop
smoking. Nothing leads to a sallow complexion and advanced wrinkle
formation the way smoking can, not to mention the host of internal
concerns associated with this habit.
Over-indulge
in alcohol. Alcohol leads to dehydration of the skin, accentuation
of underlying skin ruddiness, blood shot eyes, and drains the glow
from your skin. Consider this when trying to look your best during
the holiday season.
Shave
the back of the scalp. This is one of the leading causes of inflammation
of the hair follicles in this region, and may lead to permanent scar
formation, especially in African American men. While this may be a
trendy fashion statement, the complications arising from it are not!
Pull
ingrown hairs out by the root. By pulling out the hair from the
root, a new hair must grow that will be even shorter and more likely
to become ingrown. By gently teasing the ingrown hair out of the pore
and straightening it, you address the problem without creating a new
one.
Habitually
placing your hands on your face or propping your face upon your hand.
This is a terrific way to experience a localized acne flare or develop
facial cysts.
Sometimes
mom was right.
Thank
you for taking the time to read my newsletter. I hope you have found
it informative.
Audrey
Kunin, M.D.
(Any
topic discussed in the this newsletter is not intended as medical
advice. If you have a medical concern, please check with your doctor.)
Article
posted September 25, 2000.
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DERMAdoctor.com, Inc.
