Some skin conditions come with your DNA — like psoriasis and some forms of eczema. But most skin problems crop up as a result of bad habits.
A quick scroll through your social media feed and a glance at your favorite influencer’s latest beauty blog would have you believe that expensive products are the way to get glowing skin. We agree that skincare ingredients matter, but there’s more to skin health than products alone.
Preventive skin care is our passion at Orange Coast Dermatology, and we love talking with our patients about how to avoid some of the most common skin conditions. Our team of board-certified dermatology specialists offers advice on adopting healthy habits that give your skin the best chance of remaining radiant and resilient as you age.
Think of creams, lotions, and serums as skin food. Just like your diet affects your overall health, the products you put on your skin can either help or harm its condition. Although you don’t need to break the bank to maintain healthy skin, you usually get what you pay for, so the cheap products that contain pore-clogging oils can create more problems than they claim to address.
We offer a full line of high-quality skincare products tailored to your unique needs. Choose from:
Our team analyzes your skin, talks to you about your skincare routine, daily activities, and environments, and listens to your concerns and goals. We then match you with the most nourishing skincare line to ensure the products you use work for you, not against you.
Even those who don’t take skin care seriously know that keeping it clean is the most basic requirement. But again, products matter, so talk to us about which are right for your skin type. Also, use warm, not hot water, and never scrub your skin with abrasive washcloths or with great force.
Young people feel impervious to the sun because they don’t see the effects immediately. But those UV beams penetrate your skin and go straight to the cells in the deeper layers, damaging your DNA and setting you up for problems later in life. In addition to dry, wrinkled, blemished skin, you risk getting skin cancer.
To avoid this, make it a habit to slather on sunscreen every time you go outdoors — even on overcast days. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen, such as Elta MD® or Eryfotona Actinica by ISDIN®, for the highest level of protection and the best results.
Important note: Tanning beds and sunlamps damage your skin, too. Kick the habit and embrace your healthy untanned skin.
Your skin is a living, breathing organ that needs water to survive. Keep it soft and moist by drinking plenty of water all day and replenishing the surface layer with lotions and creams.
If you hold a high-power position at work or you’re constantly on the go, chasing kids and running errands, your skin will pay the price. Emotional and mental stress take their toll on your skin by amping up your hormones — specifically, cortisol — triggering an inflammatory response that causes itchiness, redness, and dryness.
Stress also breaks down your skin as a sound barrier between the outside environment and your inner body. Dry, thin skin is vulnerable to wounds that allow microbes to enter. Prevent these problems by reducing stress when you can. Exercise is the best antidote for stress, plus you can also try deep breathing techniques, meditation, music, and visualization.
A good night’s sleep every night is essential to healthy skin. If you’re in the habit of burning the candle at both ends, you’re sabotaging your skin. Studies show that sleep deprivation — even just one or two nights — makes your skin age faster, wrinkle, puff up, sag, and look pale.
Prioritize quality sleep if you want healthy skin.
If your skincare routine was less than stellar during your youth, and now you face the consequences — don’t panic. It’s never too late to adopt new habits that will serve you and your skin well into the future.
We offer a wide range of cosmetic services, including facials, peels, laser skin resurfacing, and more, to repair past skin damage so we can get you back to square one. Call us or book your appointment online at one of our locations nearest you in Rancho Santa Margarita or Mission Viejo, California.
