You might need to drop these habits so you can have New Year skin you can love…
Our skin is the largest organ of our body, and our face is the first thing we see every day when we look in the mirror. And then we see it over and over again throughout the day. Ideally, we love the skin we’re in, as they say, though what if we don’t? Skin issues can have a significant impact on our overall well being. Fortunately, with many skin concerns, there is a solution so you can love your New Year skin.
For many skin challenges and concerns, a bad habit is sometimes the root cause. And the good news is, bad habits can be stopped and better ones put in their place. To give us some guidance, we turned to the professionals, including Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, Amanda McMillan, who has been supporting clients in the Dermatology arena for over a decade.
McMillan shares, “Similar to overall general health, healthy, youthful, vibrant skin is achieved with daily healthy habits. Small, simple steps can keep your skin from aging prematurely.”
Habits to Quit for Your Skin
“Many poor habits people use for their skin are with good intentions. Unfortunately, though, instead of positive results, the habits are wreaking havoc,” McMillan shares.
Here are some of the habits McMillan and other professionals suggest should be set aside if you want healthier, better looking skin.
1. Over Exfoliating
Exfoliated skin feels amazing. However, it is possible to overdo it, leading to irritated and dry skin. It can also trigger a breakout by way of the skin overproducing oil because it’s trying to make up for the oil lost during exfoliation.
Exfoliate no more than once to twice per week. Or, you can use a product with chemical peeling ingredients, like AHA or BHA, that exfoliates more gently, yet provides similar, glowing results.
2. Not washing your face before bed
When you go to bed without washing your face, it can be bad news for your pores, which can get clogged. Clogged pores can lead to breakouts, skin irritations, and redness.
Medical Aesthetician Krys Givens suggests using a cleansing balm or micellar water appropriate for your skin type prior to bed. “Or a product like Dermalogica’s Precleanse, is appropriate for all skin types.”
3. Not applying SPF daily
Sun damage leads to premature aging, including fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots, not to mention increases the risk of skin cancer. Applying an SPF every day, of at least 35 or higher, is essential to protect the skin.
4. Using too many products
It can feel amazing knowing you’re using lots of products to have the best skin possible. However, it’s best to limit your skin care regimen to 4 to 6 high-quality products. If you use too many products together and have an adverse reaction, it will be difficult to determine which product is the culprit. Also, it can make it challenging to determine which products are actually effective. Begin using a new or a few products at once and wait a few weeks to see if you see any results before switching out products or adding more to your regimen.
5. Using products with poor quality ingredients
It’s vital that you choose to use products with researched and high-quality ingredients. Medical grade skin care is a great option, like the SkinMedica brand. However, there are other great products available if medical grade isn’t always in your budget. Possibly, you could choose at least 1 to 2 medical grade products – like a powerful serum and moisturizer or hydrator (Think SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator) – that can last up to 3 months blended with some other high-quality products.
6. Touching your face and picking your skin
The more you touch your face, the more you spread bacteria that can clog your pores and more, risking irritating your skin and breakouts. In the same vein, you should frequently clean your cell phone if you use it up to your ear. Picking your skin is also a no-no. As tempting as it is, picking your skin can lead to inflammation, more breakouts, and scarring.
7. Not updating your skin care products as you age
As we age, the products that once worked for our skin might no longer work. For example, our skin’s texture changes, and the products for our skin should keep up with those types of changes. The skin can also change due to hormonal changes within the body, so if you’re skin becomes more oily, and you’ve been using products, like face cream, for oily skin, you should consider switching to products for combination or dry skin, based on your skin’s specific needs.
8. Not sleeping enough
Those that get less than 6 hours of sleep a night are likely seeing the results of lack of sleep in their appearance.
Nurse Practitioner and Professional Injector Donna Lucarini states that adults should get 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. “Sleep hygiene is so important because it allows for your body to rest and restores your entire mind-body system, which includes your skin.”
9. Not drinking enough water
Water is paramount to keep our organs, including our skin, healthy and functioning optimally. When we’re dehydrated, our skin can appear dryer, enhancing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and dark circles under the eyes. Get at least 64 ounces of water in per day for healthy skin.
10. Not exercising regularly for blood flow
Exercising at least 20 minutes a day, even a brisk walk, helps get the blood flowing, which is great for your skin. Blood flow provides the skin with a healthy sheen and ensures your skin and other organs get the nutrition and nutrients they need to function optimally.
11. Getting your skincare advice from non-reputable sources, like TikTok
Sure, there are some specialists on TikTok that know what they’re talking about. However, use caution and don’t jump on any skin care tips, solutions, or products without conducting research to determine what is real and what’s not, what works and what doesn’t.
12. Smoking and excessive alcohol intake
Lifestyle choices can impact the health of our skin. Smoking leads to premature aging and lines around the mouth. Moderate drinking of alcohol won’t generally dry out your skin, though excessive alcohol intake can, making your skin look tired and older than it is. These habits can lead to pigmentation, volume loss, dryness, laxity, and fine lines and wrinkles.
Habits to Begin for Your Skin (Today)
Now that you know what habits to say “bye-bye” too, you also know what to say “yes” to, like exercising, drinking water, taking makeup off before bed, and lightening up on exfoliating. In addition, here are a few more habits to say “yes” to and begin today.
1. Get a skin consultation
You can attempt to go it alone, though the best way to truly know what your skin needs is to get a skin consultation at your local MedSpa or dermatological clinic, according to McMillan. “Ideally, get a skin consultation that includes an in-depth skin analysis.”
2. Make at-home medical grade skincare part of your daily routine
The better quality your skincare is, the better the results. Medical grade skincare is typically backed by years of research and science with proven results. SkinMedica is one such line that you can only purchase from a licensed professional.
3. Protect your skin from photo-damage
Sunlight isn’t the only light that can have a negative impact on our skin. Indoor light and blue light from our smartphones, tablets, and computers also have a negative impact on our skin and eyes. Wearing a daily broadband SPF can help protect our skin against blue light as well as other UV rays.
4. Begin in-clinic treatments (eg., Botox, BBL, Ultherapy, Moxi)
Taking care of your skin at home is great, though nothing compares to in-clinic treatments to help us bring out our most youthful glow and appearance.
Botox in your 30s can help to prevent new fine lines and wrinkles from forming while improving the appearance of current ones. Laser treatments, like the BBL (broadband light), Halo, Moxi, and CoolPeel, can do wonders to reduce the appearance of age spots, fine lines, wrinkles, and skin laxity. Ultherapy is another treatment that uses ultrasound technology to stimulate collagen production over time.
The list of possible in-clinic treatments is extensive and can treat everything from volume loss and fine lines and wrinkles to hyperpigmentation, rosacea, and skin laxity. If you get a skin consultation at a local MedSpa or dermatological clinic, they can support you in identifying the types of treatments you might consider for your short and long-term skin care goals and budget.
Start Your Healthy New Year Skin Journey Today
McMillan’s final words of advice as you begin developing healthy habits for your skin care journey:
“Start now! Skin health should be thought of in a proactive manner. The earlier you start, the less catch up you’ll have to do down the road. Creating healthy skin habits can take some time. Until you get into the routine, set yourself up for success by making small modifications to your daily habits. For example, leave your medical grade sunscreen out by your toothbrush as a reminder to apply each morning. If picking is your problem, get rid of that magnifying mirror or make yourself leave the bathroom when you are tempted to start picking. Set a reminder alarm on your phone to help you to remember to cleanse and apply your nighttime skincare products before bed. Before long, these healthy habits will be second nature.”
As you say goodbye to habits that no longer serve you, you can begin to develop new habits so you have the best skin possible. Take it step by step and allow yourself some patience, as new habits take some time to form. Once you’ve been able to keep up with each new habit for the long-term, your confidence will thank you.
Amanda McMillan, CCMA
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, Laser Technician, CoolSculpting Specialist
Amanda has over a decade’s worth of experience in clinical and cosmetic Dermatology where she is constantly learning about new products and procedures using the latest technology to bring to her patients. She is known for her ability to focus and provide personalized attention to patients’ concerns, offering customized treatment plans, including tailored product regimens and in-office treatments. Amanda is also a specialized Laser Technician and CoolSculpting Specialist. Learn more about Amanda and the professionals she works with…
DermaTouch RN offers minimally invasive and non-invasive treatments for men and women in Houston, San Antonio, Spring and Cypress, as well as the surrounding areas of Texas. We are the largest aesthetic practice in the Houston area, and all of our medical spa treatments are performed by a team of nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and aestheticians who receive continuing education to remain abreast of emerging treatments that benefit our patients. We invite you to learn more about our office before your consultation.
