Skin Care Tips: Cheap Tricks for Beautiful Skin

Skin Care Tips: Cheap Tricks for Beautiful Skin

Dr. Karen Hammerman from Schweiger Dermatology Group advises on the least expensive things you can do to ensure a perfect complexion.

Skin Care Tip: Exfoliate

Exfoliation is one of the best techniques you can perform on your own skin to resolve skin issues as well as to achieve healthy and glowing skin.Exfoliation can help unclog pores, fade dark marks and scars, improve dry skin, and minimize the appearance of wrinkles.When you rid the skin of dry skin cells on the surface, you’re creating a smooth and healthy canvas that allows for better absorption of your skincare products.

Skin Care Tip: Invest in washcloths

Using a fresh washcloth every time you cleanse your face may sound luxurious, but it’s an easy and inexpensive way to guarantee gorgeous skin. “Using a dirty washcloth to wash or dry your face could introduce dirt and bacteria back onto your skin,” says Dr. Hammerman. She suggests buying muslin cloths to aid in facial cleansing that do the double duty of manually exfoliating the skin.

Skin Care Tip: Limit Sugar Intake

When you ingest sugar or high-glycemic foods that rapidly convert to sugar—whether it’s in the form of an apple or a piece of cake—your body breaks down these carbohydrates into glucose, which raises your insulin levels. Simple carbohydrates, like refined sugar, white bread and soda, cause your insulin levels to spike, which leads to a burst of inflammation throughout the body.Inflammation produces enzymes that break down collagen and elastin, resulting in sagging skin and wrinkles. Digested sugar permanently attaches to the collagen in your skin through a process known as glycation. Aside from increasing the effects of aging, glycation can also exacerbate skin conditions like acne and rosacea.

Skin Care Tip: Use a Retinol

There are literally thousands of creams and serums that promise to turn back the clock and other wishful claims, but at this point there’s only one super ingredient that really delivers on such promises—retinoids.Retinol and Retin-A are both part of a group of derivative compounds of the vitamin A family. Retin-A is the prescription form, and has been shown to reduce fine lines, smooth skin texture and help normalize pigmentation. Your dermatologist will give you a prescription and results are seen in a shorter period of time.While retinol, which is available in over-the-counter skincare formulations, can take longer to achieve results, but can be less irritating than the prescription formula.

Skin Care Tip: Get Some Sleep

 It’s called beauty sleep for a reason. Getting 7-9 hours of quality sleep a night is the ideal. A good night’s sleep does wonders for your appearance. While you’re getting your zzzzs, your skin rebuilds collagen so it will be smoother and tighter if you’re getting sleep. Also, your blood flow gets a boosted to your skin while you sleep, which will make you the proud owner of healthy, glowing skin in the morning.

Skin Care Tip: Wear Sunscreen

Research shows 90% of wrinkles are caused by the sun’s UVA light and damage from sun is the number one cause of premature aging in women and men.Even at low-level exposures, UVA light breaks down collagen, which causes wrinkles.Fortunately we have options for sun protection. Sunscreen lotions are extremely safe and effective. When worn daily, sunscreens help to minimize the harmful effects of UVB and UVA on DNA.  They also help shield important proteins like collagen, elastin, and keratin, which keep skin smooth and firm. Some daily moisturizers now include zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as these ingredients are well known to help stop or even reverse some signs of aging.Sunscreen lotions are effective in preventing all kinds of skin cancers, including squamous cell skin cancers and its precursors, as well as melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.

Skin Care Tip: Shop at the Drugstore

You don’t need to invest in fancy skincare products if you want gorgeous skin. Some of my favorite products are at the drugstore, like Neutrogena Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF, Cerave Body Cream and Dove Beauty Bar, which are all inexpensive, effective and won’t cause breakouts or allergic reactions like some of the fancier products can.

Dr. Karen Hammerman treats patients at Schweiger Dermatology Group’s Elmhurst and Forest Hills dermatology offices. Book an appointment with Dr. Hammerman.