It’s that time of the year again, when we take a step back to examine our habits and prepare New Year’s Resolutions for the 12 months ahead.
This annual resolution ritual has come to have a bad reputation – synonymous with unused gym memberships and overzealous attempts to completely overhaul our diets.
We swear off sugar, take up boot camps, and more punishing goals that often represent going from “zero to sixty” as far as healthy habits are concerned.
This overly ambitious approach, unfortunately yet predictably, often results in finding ourselves exactly where we started. Swearing that “this year will be different”, as we make the same types of promises again and again.
In contrast, committing to healthy skincare habits is an achievable way to invest in self care.
By luxuriating in your daily skincare rituals and regular skin treatments, you will not only appear more healthy and beautiful – you will reap the relaxation and joy that comes from investing in yourself.
As such, the 7 habits listed below are a way to give yourself more love in 2017. This, in turn, allows you to bring your best self (and face!) forward to your family, friends, coworkers, and everyone you meet.
With no further ado, below are our 7 Skincare Resolutions for 2017.
Resolution 1: Wash your face every morning and night
As busy as everyone is, we would be fooling ourselves if we said we didn’t have time to wash our skin every day.
A simple twice-a-day skincare routine could take you less than 5 minutes – a small investment of time that delivers a serious health and beauty payoff.
Not only does this habit prevent blemishes associated with clogged pores (acne and blackheads and whiteheads – oh my!), a regular skincare routine also helps your skin regenerate every day – mitigating the signs of aging.
Just like with exercise, consistency is key. A basic routine practiced every day is the cornerstone to healthy, glowing skin.
What goes into a basic routine? Simply splashing your face with water in the shower or swiping a makeup removing towelette over your face won’t cut it, but that doesn’t mean your skincare routine can’t be simple.
At the very least, you want to wash your skin with a cleanser that is appropriate for your skin type, followed by sunscreen in the morning and a hydrating moisturizer in the evening.
If you want to take your skincare routine one step further, we recommend integrating an antioxidant serum into your morning routine before your sunscreen, and a prescription strength retinoid in the evening before your moisturizer.
For best results, make an appointment with one of our doctors so we can take a close look at your skin and recommend the exact products that will deliver your #skincaregoals in 2017.
Birmingham: (205) 588-7000
Alabaster: (205) 621-9500
Resolution 2: Figure out which products actually work for you
Cosmetics hoarder? You’re not alone. The average woman owns 40 beauty products, yet uses only 5 of them every day.
It’s easy to be drawn into the allure of the newest “miracle product” touted in a magazine or beauty blog. The issue with this approach is that the latest and greatest skincare potions might not be right for you.
This year, try practicing conscious consumerism when it comes to your cosmetics. Make an appointment at one of our locations to get an expert-recommended list of the products you should used based on your unique skin situation and goals.
You will likely end up having spent less money at the end of a year using the best products, because you won’t be wasting money on the wrong products.
Trade your drugstore beauty aisle binges for a dermatologist-approved skincare regimen – your face and your wallet will thank you.
Resolution 3: Get your skin checked by a dermatologist at least once per year
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with over 1 million new cases being diagnosed annually.
Incidence rates for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, have been rising steadily over the past 7 years.
For comparison: 1 in 54 people were diagnosed with invasive melanoma in 2016, compared with 1 in 58 in 2009.
When melanoma is caught early, the survival rate is 99%; but this dips down to 15% once the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
These statistics underscore exactly why it’s so critical to check your skin with a dermatologist at least once every year.
The Skin Cancer Foundation also recommends that you take a few minutes to perform a self-examination every month and check for any new or changing lesions.
Click here to read their step-by-step instructions for performing a self-examination and don’t forget to make an appointment with us for your annual skin check. It could save your life.
Birmingham: (205) 588-7000
Alabaster: (205) 621-9500
Resolution 4: Wear sunscreen every day, regardless of the season or the weather
A recent study by the American Academy of Dermatology revealed that only 14% of men at 30% of women regularly apply sunscreen.
These numbers are alarmingly low given that sunscreen use is the #1 way to avoid skin cancers.
If the statistics on melanoma from our previous resolution aren’t enough to convince you to slap on the SPF, consider the fact that sunscreen use is the easiest and most effective way to slow down signs of aging – including wrinkles and age spots.
Make this the year you get into the daily sunscreen habit and follow the AAD’s tips for effective sunscreen usage:
1) Choose a broad spectrum formula: this means it protects your skin from both UVA and UVB rays
2) Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher
3) Apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before sun exposure
4) Apply sunscreen to all exposed areas, including your ears, hands, and feet
5) Reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours, or immediately after swimming or sweating
EltaMD is our favorite sunscreen brand – not only does it meet all of the AAD’s requirements, it’s also perfect for applying underneath makeup due to the formula’s sheer and lightweight consistency.
Resolution 5: Treat yourself to regular, results-driven skin treatments
When asked about the secret to ageless celebrity beauty, Christie Brinkley famously answered, “a good dermatologist.”
Non-invasive skin treatments have emerged as the best way for celebrities and the rest of us to resist the effects of time — so we can just become wiser, without looking older.
The invasive anti-aging procedures of decades past tended to involve significant downtime, potential health risks, and that obvious “had something done” look.
In contrast, today you can pop into your dermatologist’s office over lunch for a safe, quick, and easy treatment – then be back at work within the hour. Best of all are the results you get from these treatments.
Just like the celebrities who baffle us with their ability to defy the effects of gravity, you will come out of these treatments still looking like yourself. A more refreshed and youthful version of yourself who will keep everyone guessing about the source of your inner glow.
At Aesthetic and Shelby Dermatology, we offer a variety of cosmetic treatments to meet our patients’ beauty goals. This includes laser treatments like Fraxel and Vbeam, filler treatments like Sculptra and Juvederm, and mainstays like Botox, chemical peels, and facials.
We pride ourselves on staying on the cutting edge of the ever-innovative cosmetic industry, making sure to integrate the latest procedures into the list of services we offer our patients. This includes treatments like Ultherapy, the revolutionary “non-surgical facelift” that uses ultrasound technology to stimulate collagen. We also offer Kybella, the first non-surgical procedure for addressing excess fat underneath your chin – permanently.
You can read about the treatments we offer in detail, including cost, how many treatments are needed, and other patient FAQs in our Guide to Anti-Aging Treatments blog post.
This will give you a good primer on your options, after which you can come into the office to get specific recommendations and a treatment plan based on the procedures that are a good fit for your age, cosmetic goals, and budget.
Resolution 6: Regularly assess your skin health with professional complexion analysis tools
Knowledge is power, and today’s skin imaging tools can give you detailed information about the health of your skin.
Professional devices such as the VISIA Complexion Analysis and Skinscope can analyze your skin to provide a report on elements of your complexion that cannot always be detected by the naked eye – including sun damage and early wrinkles.
By regularly assessing the state of your skin, you can track spots to prevent cancers and validate the effectiveness of your anti-aging efforts.
Make an appointment at Shelby or Aesthetic Dermatology to get a skin assessment and personalized recommendations based on your results.
Birmingham: (205) 588-7000
Alabaster: (205) 621-9500
Resolution 7: Expand your skincare wisdom and stay up to date with cosmetic innovations
Our industry is a fascinating one to follow. Scientific studies continue to reveal breakthroughs in our knowledge of skin health, and innovative cosmetic companies consistently push the bar to introduce increasingly more effective and less invasive anti-aging treatments.
At Aesthetic and Shelby Dermatology, we follow the best journals, magazines, and blogs in order to keep you up-to-speed on the need-to-know news in the world of skincare.
Stay in the know by following us on your favorite social networks:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Google+
Besides getting the top trending stories in skin health and anti-aging, you’ll also be the first to know of our upcoming specials and events.
Join us on January 26th for #LoveYourSkin17 and kick off your year of better skin!
Our #LoveYourSkin17 event is coming up on January 26th at Shelby Dermatology in Alabaster. Come celebrate with us from 4pm to 8pm and get access to event-only specials, raffles, door prizes, and more goodies!
You will also get a complexion analysis using our Skinscope tool, and personalized recommendations on a product and treatment plan that will help you achieve all your skincare goals in 2017.
Call (205) 621-9500 to ask us more about the event and save your spot. We hope you’ll join us to celebrate a new year of loving the skin you’re in! The 7 resolutions above are a great place to start. 🙂