As winter approaches, many tend to treat dry skin with lotions and creams, but monitoring and taking care of the skin should be a year-round effort.
The skin is a protective barrier for the body, locking in moisture and preventing infections and dehydration, explained Dr. Lydia Parker, a board-certified dermatologist at The Parker Skin & Aesthetic Clinic in Beachwood.
“Your skin is a double-sided organ, and it is the biggest in your body,” added Daniella Gery, certified nurse practitioner, CEO and founder of Trouvé Medspa in Mayfield Heights. “It is the only organ that will communicate to the internal environment and the external environment at the same time.”
The skin is a window to a person’s overall health, often indicating if there is an underlying health issue that needs to be addressed, said Rachel McKernan, physician assistant at Apex Skin in Mentor.
The skin can indicate issues such as auto-immune diseases, kidney, liver or thyroid problems, Parker said.
“For example, I can walk into a room and meet someone for the first time, and I can tell if they have polycystic ovarian disease,” which often shows up on the skin as thinning scalp hair, acne-prone skin and excess facial hair, she said.
Parker said she can also tell the difference between a person who smokes, drinks excessively and eats unhealthy foods versus a person who takes better care of themselves because it all shows up on the skin.
There are many things people can do to take care of their skin beyond wearing sunscreen and seeking shade instead of sun.
Drink a lot of water and apply a cream, lotion or ointment within three minutes of getting out of the shower, McKernan said. Lotions are thin and dry quickly. Creams tend to be thicker and they will truly hydrate the skin and repair it, while ointments such as Vaseline stay on the skin longer, she said.
“Think of it as adding a layer of clothing over your skin,” she said, adding that creams and lotions work best when the skin is still a little damp from the shower.
Gery recommends washing the face twice daily with a gentle cleanser to remove dirt, oil and makeup. Then apply a daytime cream or serum that has vitamin C to protect against antioxidants.
At night, use a cream with a retinoid or retin A, which tells the skin to turn over faster, generating collagen and strengthening the skin, Gery said.
Having good skin isn’t all preventative; some existing damage can be reversed.
For example, lines around the lower face or mouth signal a loss of collagen, which can be addressed with topical products, Gery said. Laser technology can also resurface the skin, she said.
It’s time to see a skin expert when a person notices changes in their skin, such as a non-healing ulcer, very dry skin or their hair is falling out, McKernan said.
“Anytime it has been more than a month and things are not changing, it’s a good time to see a dermatology provider,” she said.
Parker said seeing a dermatologist annually is always a good idea, especially if there is a family history of skin cancer. Those visits should start as early as middle school, she added.
“Just like with breast cancer, the earlier you can catch it the better,” she said. “We’d much rather have someone come in and we can tell them there’s nothing wrong. We don’t want to have to say, ‘I wish you had come sooner.’ “
Shannon Mortland is a freelance journalist.
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