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All Over Skin Care
Treat your entire skin right
Skin is your body’s largest organ and one of the most complex: Its multiple layers are densely packed with nerve endings, cells, oil and sweat glands, muscles, blood vessels and hair follicles. In fact, from head to toe your body actually has many skins, from the thick skin on elbows to the thin skin around the eyes.
Because your many skins have distinctive qualities, they each require special attention. Here are some ideas to keep all of you smooth and healthy looking.
Hands and Feet (especially heels)
Problem: Dryness and roughness. Skin is fairly thick on these parts, but it takes a real beating. In addition to daily wear and tear, hands are exposed to the damaging effects of the environment, not to mention frequent washings. And feet bear the brunt of body weight, and are often squeezed into ill-fitting shoes that don’t breathe.Solution: Regularly apply rich moisturizing creams, which are heavier than lotions. If the skin is especially dry or rough, try this tip: Before going to bed, apply a thick moisturizer to your hands or feet, wrap them in plastic wrap and put on cotton gloves or socks to seal in your skin’s moisture overnight.
Knees and Elbows
Problem: Roughness. Because the epidermis is so thick on these parts, the skin may actually exfoliate less often than on thinner-skinned areas. So it tends to get rough.Solution: Regularly use rich moisturizing creams that contain alpha hydroxy acids, which help slough off the dead outer layer of skin.
Chest, Back and Shoulders
Problem: Breakouts. Like the face, these areas have a high number of sebaceous (oil) glands. When too much oil is produced — particularly during exercise — it can clog pores, causing the skin to erupt.Solution: When you work out, avoid tight spandex-type clothing, which holds in moisture. Instead, wear loose-fitting cotton garments. Also, shower as soon as possible after your workout to remove the accumulated oil and sweat.
Underarms
Problem: Irritation. Although you might sometimes guess that the opposite is true, very little of the underarm area is sweat glands. The largest part is sensitive skin, which needs special care. The sharp scraping of shaving can irritate this skin or cause trauma to the hair follicles, resulting in bumps or ingrown hairs.Solution: Before shaving, apply a mild gel or cream. Don’t ever shave without using some lubrication. Before using deodorant, make sure the area is completely dry. Dampness will increase the potential for irritation.
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