More Than Skin Deep: Fortifying Your Body's First Line of Defense

This UV Awareness month, check out some skin care tips & tricks to stay healthy all year long!

Everyday, your skin acts as a protective barrier which separates you from the outside world. Skin is responsible for protecting you from all sorts of germs, such as bacteria and viruses, along with chemicals and UV radiation. Although resilient, your skin can become damaged over time, which may lead to rashes, dryness, pain or cuts.

Luckily, there are changes you can immediately make to protect and heal your skin. Skincare refers to the routine of washing, moisturizing, and protecting your skin from things such as the sun.

Washing your skin refers to some basic hygiene habits, such as washing your hands. It also refers to the gentle cleansing of your skin with a cleanser to remove any impurities such as dirt and excess oil that build up over time. After cleansing, it is recommended to use some type of moisturizer. Moisturizers are important as they hydrate the skin, letting it maintain its structure and preventing dryness.

Being cautious of excessive sunlight exposure is another way to keep your skin healthy. When exposed to higher levels of UV radiation from the Sun, your skin works to protect itself by producing melanin, which is what causes a tan after a long day at the beach. However, when exposed to strong sunlight for too long, this defense is insufficient from protecting against the damaging effects of the Sun’s UV rays, resulting in a sunburn and minor skin damage.

You can dramatically reduce the chances of getting sunburnt and this damage by applying sunscreen, which works to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Sun Protection Factor (SPF) describes the strength of a given sunscreen’s protection for your skin. A higher SPF translates to even higher strength sunscreen. To learn more about SPF and sunscreen brands, please check out our sunscreen blog. Another consideration is the importance of Vitamin D supplementation given that a SPF >= 8 can block your skin’s ability to produce Vitamin D. Learn more by reading our Vitamin D blog.

If you'd like to learn more about skincare and discuss your personalized treatment plan, book a free consultation for new GLIM patients or schedule a follow up appointment for existing patients to learn more.

#skinhealth #UVsafety #hygiene #UVawarenessmonth #SPF