Different Skin Care for Different Body Parts
Different Skin Care for Different Body Parts
Your skin is your armor, protecting you from injury and infection. Most people concentrate on skin care for their face because that's what is most noticeable to others, but you need to take care of the skin below your neck, too.
"Your skin care can and should differ depending on the type of skin thick or thin and where on the body it is," says Marilyn Berzin, MD, of DC Derm Docs in Washington, D.C., and an associate clinical professor in the department of dermatology and medicine at George Washington University Medical Center.
The actual thickness of your skin varies throughout your body, explains Dr. Berzin. The thinnest skin about 0.5 millimeter in thickness is found under your eyes and on the eyelids, while the thickest skin, at about 4 mm, is on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet.
Your oil, or sebaceous, glands also affect your skin and your skin care regimen. You have bigger and more-active sebaceous glands around your nose than on any other area of the face. This concentration explains why the nose is a common trouble spot, even for people with normal or dry skin on other areas of the face or body. Sebaceous glands are also heavily concentrated in the neck, chest, and back areas, which can contribute to acne in these areas as well.
Other factors that can affect your skin are your environment (exposure to harsh chemicals and the sun) and how many hair follicles you have.
Targeting Your Skin Care
It can be hard to look at all the rows of skin care products at a pharmacy or beauty store and know what to buy for your needs. These guidelines can help:
Your face. The best way to prevent dry facial skin is to moisturize. Facial moisturizers are different from body moisturizers in that they are designed to minimize allergic reactions (look for the word hypoallergenic on labels) and flares of facial acne (look for the word non-comedogenic). When choosing products for your face, you need to consider your skin type. Is it normal, oily, dry, or a combination? Do you have sensitive skin? Look for cleansers and moisturizers that are meant for your skin type. For daytime, use a facial moisturizer that has a sunscreen (look for an SPF number on the bottle). "Even if you're just walking to a coffee shop or from a building to the parking lot, you're exposed to the sun and constantly bombarded with ultraviolet [UV] rays, which causes cumulative damage to the skin," Berzin says.
Your lips. Because your lips retain less moisture than other body parts, they dry out more quickly, so pay special attention to them. Use a lip balm several times a day, especially in winter. A simple alternative to store-bought lip balm is petroleum jelly.
Your hands. "Your hands bear the brunt of winter more than any other part of the body," Berzin says. "You might find you have dry, cracked hands." To prevent cracked hands, wear gloves when you are outdoors in the cold. Also, apply hand cream after every hand wash, Berzin says. "During cold and flu season we are constantly washing hands or grabbing hand sanitizer, which contains a lot of alcohol. It's great for fighting germs, but it constantly depletes our hands of much-needed moisture." Choose a moisturizer that's more greasy than creamy because a greasy formula is better at trapping moisture in the skin. If you're outdoors a lot, choose a moisturizer with sunscreen to prevent the sun's UV rays from damaging the skin on your hands.
Your feet. "Thick" is the key word here: Use a thick moisturizer on your feet daily. Petroleum jelly is a good choice for feet. If your feet are very dry, you may want to try a deep moisturizing treatment. To soften the skin on your feet, try this overnight treatment you can apply just before you go to sleep: Slather feet with thick moisturizer and then slip on cotton socks.
Your scalp. To keep your scalp from drying, wash your hair once a day with a mild shampoo. Don't use water that's too hot, as this can dry your scalp. Pat your head dry when you come out of the shower or bath. Drying your hair with a blow dryer can damage your scalp don't use the highest heat setting, and hold the dryer 6 to 8 inches from your hair. If you have sensitive skin and your scalp itches, try using a leave-in conditioner a couple times a week. A good 3- or 4-minute massage will also stimulate blood flow to your scalp and help keep it from becoming dry.
Your body. Soaps can be harsh and dry your skin. Instead, try washing with a creamy moisturizing cleanser that contains glycerin or petroleum jelly. If you have sensitive skin, look for products made specifically for your skin type.
Remember to choose mild cleansers that won't rob your skin of moisture or leave you with dry facial skin, and to apply a moisturizer with sunscreen on any part of your body that's exposed to the sun for more than a few minutes each day. If you use the right products regularly, you will go a long way toward protecting your skin.
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