In honor of National Healthy Skin Month during November, the non-profit American Skin Association (ASA), is highlighting lifelong skin care that individuals of all ages should adhere by for healthy skin, identifying Seven Principles for a Life Course of Healthy Skin.
The principles, established by the ASA Education Council, are essentially to provide practical, evidence-based guidelines for healthy skin at every age, per a Nov. 20 press release. To curate the list, the council surveyed more than 800 medical professionals, including pediatricians, family physicians and dermatologists.
The survey revealed habits, principles these professionals believe most effectively support skin health throughout life, according to the release:
- Minimize exposure to UV light, limiting being outside between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., during which you should apply broad-spectrum sunscreen daily, wear protective clothing and avoid tanning devices.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle that consists of regular water intake, not smoking and consistent sleep and exercise schedules.
- Visit your dermatologist once a year or as needed.
- Examine your skin daily to detect changes in the skin’s appearance and contact your dermatologist or health care professional if necessary.
- Hydrate the skin daily. Physicians say it's especially important after bathing or showering, when moisture is stripped.
- Maintain good hygiene, cleansing the skin appropriately, but avoiding irritation.
- Immediately attend to wounds, and do not pick or squeeze acne.
"By adhering to these seven principles, we can empower people at every stage of life to protect, nourish and value the body's largest organ," said ASA Chair Howard Milstein.
