How to Celebrate Healthy Skin this National Healthy Skin Month
November is National Healthy Skin Month, and as the seasons shift and chillier air arrives, it’s a prime time to focus on taking care of your skin this fall and winter. Here are our recommendations of some of the top skin-nourishing treatments for your specific concerns and conditions – plus, how to ensure your skin is healthy and cancer-free.
How to Treat Your Skin
Get Your Annual Skin Cancer Screening
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives, and more than two people in the United States die from skin cancer every hour. Skin cancer is a very serious disease that can run rampant if not caught, but it can very often be treated effectively with early detection.
That’s why the first step to ensuring your skin is at its healthiest this month is scheduling your annual skin cancer screening and full-body exam with your dermatologist. During this appointment, your doctor can examine any new moles or spots, as well as monitor any existing areas for changes in size, shape, color, or border. A dermatologist has the tools, specialized skills, and trained eye to notice whether a spot may need to be biopsied for further testing – or whether it’s nothing to worry about.
Of course, maintaining healthy skin also means avoiding things that cause skin cancer – like direct and prolonged exposure to sunlight and use of tanning beds and booths that contain harmful UV rays. Make sure you’re wearing an SPF 30+ every day, even if you’re indoors, and an SPF 50+ when spending time outside. And regularly monitor your own skin by conducting a self-exam from time to time in the shower.
Specialty Skin Care Treatments
If you’re among the 80 percent of the population struggling with some form of acne, you may already know the importance of a high-quality skin care regimen formulated for your skin. But even if you don’t get breakouts or blackheads, there are other skin concerns – like wrinkles, fine lines, and uneven skin tone or blotchiness – that can be greatly helped with regular microdermabrasion treatments.
Microdermabrasion is an exfoliating treatment that removes the top layer of skin, sloughing off dead skin cells, dirt and bacteria, and excess oil – all of the ingredients that make a recipe for clogged pores and breakouts. Using a mildly abrasive tool to manually remove this layer of skin, dermatology specialists reveal a brighter, fresher, and more even layer of skin beneath. Regular microdermabrasion treatments (every three to six weeks, especially for those with acne) can also help promote skin cell regeneration, keeping skin looking more youthful over the years.
While microdermabrasion is an excellent and effective cosmetic treatment on its own, it can also be combined with facial treatments. Facials can help target specific skin care concerns, give your pores a deep clean, and add extra hydration, which is often necessary in the fall and winter months. If you struggle with sensitive skin that easily becomes inflamed, facials can also help soothe the redness and leave you glowing.
Contact Vanguard Dermatology
Whether it’s your skin cancer screening, microdermabrasion treatment, facial, or other service, you can take care of your skin by scheduling an appointment with your dermatologist this month. If you’re in the greater New York City area, contact Vanguard Dermatology today for an appointment with one of our board-certified specialists.