November is National Healthy Skin Month

A Board-Certified Dermatologist can address any skin concerns.

Every individual is unique and so is their skin. Maintaining the skin to ensure it remains healthy is important.

Just as you care for your body by eating healthy foods and exercising, caring for your skin each day is essential.

Adopting a daily skin care routine will help keep your skin in top condition. By doing so, you ensure that your skin can do its job – which is to protect you from bacteria and disease, help regulate your body temperature and protect your other organs.

Notice a change in your skin's texture? Worried about that raised bump or “sun spot”? Have a mole that has changed? Or a blister that doesn’t fully heal? It's important to recognize changes, as they may be early warning signs of skin cancer.

There are a wide variety of skin conditions, ranging from rashes to eczema and psoriasis to skin cancers. A board-certified dermatologist can diagnose these skin issues and develop a treatment plan.

One of the most common skin conditions is dry skin. Left unchecked, dry or itchy skin may worsen and lead to cracked or bleeding areas on the skin that are susceptible to bacteria and infection. Here are simple tips to keep your skin moisturized:

• Wash with a gentle cleanser – fragrance-free is best – and warm (not hot) water.

• Apply moisturizer to your body immediately after washing and drying to lock in moisture. Consider using non-comedogenic products (that won’t block pores) and that contain one or more moisturizing ingredients such as shea butter, ceramides or hyaluronic acid.

• Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated by drinking at least 8 cups of water daily contributes to your skin’s elasticity.

If you have dry skin that doesn’t seem to improve after following the above steps or if you are concerned about skin changes, then it’s time to make an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist.

Learn more about maintaining your skin’s health with these 6 key tips.