November is National Healthy Skin Month, which makes this the perfect time to discuss what is arguably the issue that defines our practice: how to make your skin as healthy and youthful-looking as possible.
Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald understands this is a significant priority for just about all of our patients. Healthy, beautiful skin is a crucial component of looking and feeling your best – so many of our patients tell us that they feel much better about what they see in the mirror after taking proactive steps to improve their skin.
Luckily, you can take control of the health and appearance of your skin. By following some simple recommendations, you can make significant improvements that you’ll notice for a long time. And since we want all of our patients to have the most beautiful skin possible, we’ve assembled a list describing how you can keep your skin looking great.
If you live in or around Los Angeles, California and you have a question for our dermatologist about one of the services we offer, please call Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald today at 323-464-8046 for a consultation and examination.
What our Los Angeles Dermatologist Recommends
Every patient is unique, and everyone has unique skin. But all sorts of skin types tend to respond similarly to similar stimuli. This means you can expect meaningful improvements when you take the following steps:
- Actively protect your skin: The first step is, in some ways, the most obvious: protect your skin. But quite a few people neglect this. Many people do not wear sunscreen unless they’re headed to the beach and decide they don’t need it if the weather is cool or cloudy. But the sun’s UV rays can penetrate cloud cover. Find a good, high SPF sun screen and apply it every day. And if you’re going to be spending a significant amount of time outdoors, consider a hat and long-sleeved clothing.
- Hydrate: There are a number of reasons you should drink a lot of water and stay hydrated and one of those reasons is that it can help your skin. Your skin cells are like the other cells in your body – they need water to live. If your skin cells aren’t properly hydrated, they will degrade and eventually die, resulting in dry, cracked, flaky skin. Drinking plenty of water is a great way of keeping your skin cells healthy and happy.
- Find a good set of skin care products: Of course, there’s no substitute for safe, well-made moisturizing lotion and other skin care products. These can help supplement all the other work you’re doing to keep your skin healthy. We’re happy to talk to you about your needs and provide you with appropriate recommendations. You can also visit our online store to view some great products you can trust.
- Get plenty of sleep: Finally, there’s one last thing you can do to help your skin: sleep. Everyone is busy, and the temptation to cut down on sleep to get a little more done is pretty much universal. But sufficient sleep is vital to your overall level of health and well-being, and it’s particularly important for your skin. Your skin rejuvenates while you sleep, and skipping necessary rest is a great way of damaging your skin.
- Remove make-up before going to bed: When you’re getting ready for that full night’s sleep, make sure you remove your make-up before you lay your head down to sleep. Many make-up products contain ingredients that can grow yeast overnight. Leaving your make-up on can result in clogged pores and dry, dirty, flaky skin. Find a good, high-quality cleanser and make-up remover, and don’t be afraid to use it.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet: It is always a good idea to watch what you eat. But you might not know that your diet can have a huge impact on the quality of your skin. A diet that’s low on fats and carbohydrates, while also high in fruits and vegetables, will go a long way toward keeping your skin looking great.
- Don’t smoke: This is another piece of advice that’s important for many reasons. But the reality is that smoking can do a real number on your skin. Smoking narrows the blood vessels in your skin, decreasing blood flow and blocking the restorative supply of oxygen and nutrients your skin needs. So if you smoke, quitting can significantly improve the quality of your skin.
As you can see, there’s a lot you can do to protect your skin. These aren’t complicated steps requiring advanced technology or years of training – they are simple actions anyone can take to prevent skin conditions such as:
- Acne
- Dry skin
- Sun spots
- Age spots
Cosmetic Dermatology Solutions to Improve your Skin
You can do everything right and still find yourself in need of some of our dermatology services. If you do, you can count on us to provide you with the high-level care you need and deserve. Dr. Fitzgerald and her team have decades of experience in the field of cosmetic dermatology, which means we possess a thorough understanding of how to help patients like you.
We’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have about your skin and the services we offer. We are confident that a careful consideration of the relevant factors will lead you to choose our office for your dermatology needs.
If you live in or around Los Angeles, California and you need an experienced dermatologist, please call Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald today at 323-464-8046 to schedule a consultation.