Why Healthy Skin Matters

Start your healthy skin journey

Taking good care of your skin is about more than just your appearance. The skin is the largest organ of the body, functioning as a protective covering, making it essential to your overall health.

| Healthy skin doesn’t equate to flawless skin and flawless skin isn’t always healthy.

As an esthetician, my primary goal is to give you the tools and the knowledge to help you protect and nourish your skin. Together we’ll keep it as healthy as possible to ensure you reach your skin goals.

What the Skin Does

The skin is a multifunctional organ. It consists of three layers – the epidermis (what you see), the dermis and the subcutaneous layer.

The skin is the body's first line of defense against germs and bacteria, preventing infection and damage to your body. The skin’s protective barrier is made up of oil, sweat and water, protects from irritation and water loss on the skin’s surface. When this barrier is compromised or damaged it can cause breakouts, dehydration and delay your results.

Skin regulates body temperature through the sweat glands, it also works with the nervous system to recognize and alert the body to pressure, pain, heat, cold and danger.

Melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin, help to protects us against the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Everyone has the same number of melanocytes (the cells that produce melanin), some people’s cells produce more melanin than others. That tan you get on vacation, is your skin’s defense mechanism and natural response to sun exposure. Cells in your skin also turn that sunlight into vitamin D, which is important for healthy bones.

| Internal & External Factors that Affect Skin Health

There are many factors – internal and external – that affect skin health and influence how it looks and feels. Some factors are beyond your control, but many of them, can be managed.

Internal Factors

Your genetics determine your skin type (normal, dry, oily or combination) and plays in significant role in certain skin conditions you may have, like acne. Hormones and fluctuations in your levels can trigger acne. During pregnancy, hormones can encourage the increased production of melanin causing hyperpigmentation known as melasma.

Estrogen levels decline with age and especially after menopause. Estrogen has a beneficial effect on the moisture balance of skin and its decline leads to structural changes and the age-related decline of the skin.

External Factors

The external factors that influence skin health are determined by your environment and your overall health and the lifestyle choices.

The biggest culprit of them all? You guessed it – the sun! Sunlight in moderation is important to our overall wellbeing, but too much can cause significant damage to the skin and can even cause skin cancer. UVA rays are responsible for prematurely aging the skin, while UVB rays burn the skin. These harmful rays can induce hyperpigmentation and may contribute to conditions such as age spots and melasma.

Using the wrong products like an aggressive cleanser and numerous actives can overtax the skin and compromise the barrier function, causing dryness and irritation. What works for your friend, most likely won’t work for you. Your skin is unique and requires personalized attention and care.

Your lifestyle factors and certain medications are also important factors to pay attention to when it comes to skin health.

| How you can maintain healthy skin

Maintain a balanced diet.

When you hear “you are what you eat” – believe it! What you eat is as important as the products that you put on your skin. As a general rule of thumb a well-balanced nutrient-dense diet that’s high in protein, healthy fats, and vitamins is recommended to support all aspects of health, including your skin.

• Pro Tip: Incorporate foods rich in antioxidants. Their anti-inflammatory benefits help protect your skin and your body.

Get a customized routine and stick to it.

A customized home care routine is the best investment you can make when it comes to achieving healthy skin and reaching your skin goals. Your esthetician will help you find the right products for your skin. You only visit your esthetician one day a month, but you're at home the rest of the month. Being consistent is key. Also, don’t forget your neck and chest. Treat this area as an extensions of face. Your neck and chest will show signs of aging faster than your face does, so take your products down, especially sunscreen!

• Pro Tip: Your routine doesn’t need to be 10 steps long. A simpler routine will be easier to remember and stick to.
  

Double cleanse every night.

Think of double cleansing the same way you would sweeping and mopping the floor. You sweep first to pick up dust and dirt, then you mop to deep clean. Double cleansing allows your skin to better absorb the serums and moisturizer you apply afterward.

• Pro Tip: Start with a cream or oil cleanser to breakdown oil, dirt, makeup and sunscreen that’s been on your face all day. Follow with your second cleanser for a targeted, thorough cleanse.

Wear sunscreen EVERYDAY! 

This is the final and most important part of your daily routine. Sunscreen helps reduce signs of aging, minimizes the appearance of dark spots and reduces your risk of skin cancer. It’s a MUST when it comes to maintaining healthy skin. Don’t forget to reapply every two hours.

• Pro Tip: Set an alarm or a timer to remind yourself to reapply your sunscreen throughout the day.

Keep stress in check.

Uncontrolled stress can make skin more sensitive and trigger acne, due to fluctuations in hormone levels. It may be easier said than done but managing your stress levels is key to your overall health.

• Pro Tip: My favorite way to manage stress is to listen to 70’s music and dance but here’s a list of 23 things you can do to nourish you mind, body and soul and prioritize your self-care.

Get your beauty sleep.

Your skin works its hardest at night. While you’re sleeping your body is in a state of recovery. Getting enough sleep helps your skin cells to regenerate and allows you to wake looking and feeling refreshed.

• Pro Tip: Start your nightly wind down process earlier in the evening. Do your nighttime routine, journal or read, darken your bedroom and leave your phone in another room.

Check your skin for skin cancer. 

Skin self-exams can help you find skin cancer early while it’s treatable. If you notice a spot that differs from the others, or one that changes, itches, or bleeds, make an appointment to see a dermatologist. You should also be visiting your dermatologist annually for skin exams.

• Pro Tip: Use the ABCDE method when conducting your self-exam and monitoring any moles you have. Check for changes in the Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter and if your mole is Evolving.

Get an esthetician.

Helping you look and feel good at any age, an esthetician is your skin's best friend. They help you learn more about your skin and what it needs to be healthy to achieve your skin goals.

• Pro Tip: With me as your esthetician, you can take the guesswork out of skin care. Schedule your virtual consultation and let’s achieve your skin goals together.

Be GOOD to your skin and it will be GOOD to you,

Tanali

Any information provided on this website is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and should not be substituted for regular consultation with your health care provider. If you have any concerns about your health, please contact your health care provider's office.