First and foremost, amidst a rise in COVID-19 cases, Aura Dermatology hopes everyone had a happy and healthy holiday season! As winter approaches and the holidays are behind us, it’s time to focus on Winter Wellness! Here are some things you can do this winter to maintain optimal skin health.
Cold weather and indoor heating are triggers for dry, itchy skin. We recommend avoiding hot showers/baths (even though they feel good!), applying moisturizing creams to the wet or damp skin immediately following, and considering using a humidifier in the home. For those patients who suffer from eczema or psoriasis, you may have a flare-up of your conditions during this season. It is important to make sure you have a dermatologist to help manage these conditions.
Now that you spend less time outdoors, no reason to wear sunscreen, right? Wrong! It is important to wear sunscreen daily (at least SPF 30). Sun exposure is still relevant if you are driving, getting sun through windows at home/work, going out for a walk, etc. Additionally, on snowy days or on the ski slopes, UV rays can reflect off the snow and affect your skin. Although you are not sunbathing, this chronic cumulative exposure can still contribute to premature skin aging and development of skin cancer. At Aura Dermatology, we recommend the use of broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with a minimum SPF 30 daily.
This is also a great time to come in for your full body skin exam. You should always be performing monthly self skin exams to look for new or changing moles or growths (changing color, shape, size, bleeding/non-healing). However, it is important to have your dermatologist check you thoroughly for suspicious spots, especially if you have a history of sunburns, numerous moles on your body, and a personal or family history of skin cancer.
Lastly, just because the holidays are over, doesn’t mean we can’t still want to look good! There a variety of treatments like photofacials to fade away sun spots/blood vessels (IPL), chemical peels, laser resurfacing, laser hair removal, or botox/fillers that can be performed to enhance the appearance of our skin. Many of these procedures require sun protection before and afterwards or may carry a few days of downtime (which is perfect during a dreary winter lull). Come in to Aura Dermatology for your cosmetic consultation and your skin check today!
We hope you all remain healthy and safe. Now is the time to focus on Winter Wellness all around!.
Aura Dermatology, 17 Main Street, Suite 304, Robbinsville. 609-415-3376. www.auraderm.com.
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