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Skin Care Products in Birmingham, AL

While watching television, reading magazines and browsing the Internet, it’s not unusual to be bombarded with advertisements for a broad range of skin care products. Each one claims to have the perfect formulation that’s guaranteed to bring out the best in your skin. Some of them involve multiple steps that require a level of devotion for which most people don’t have the time or energy. Then, there’s the cost. Many of those treatments are outrageously expensive.

Skin Care Basics

The good news is that taking care of your skin doesn’t have to be especially complicated or expensive. You probably don’t need a “miracle cure,” nor is it necessary to change your skin care routine every time a new product comes on the market. A simple, straightforward routine that nourishes and protects your skin is all that you need, and once you start taking care of your skin, you’ll find that it takes better care of you.

Skin Care Steps

When it comes to taking care of your skin, you really only need a few steps: cleansing, moisturizing and using sunscreen. If you have specific skin care concerns, then you can also address these as part of your daily routine. Your dermatologist can help you choose which products are most likely to be beneficial to you, and he or she can also prescribe oral and topical treatments that supplement any basic skin care practices.

Cleansing Skin

Clean skin is healthy skin. Unfortunately, using the wrong cleanser can do more harm than good. It’s critical that any cleanser that you use be able to remove the dirt, excess oil, debris and products that have accumulated on it since you last washed your face. However, that cleanser also needs to be gentle enough to not dry your skin, which means that it shouldn’t strip it of the essential oils it needs to maintain a healthy balance.

Our dermatologists recommend the Skinceuticals Gentle Cleanser because it achieves the necessary balance between cleaning and helping the skin to maintain its necessary oil. Packed with emollients and ingredients that condition the skin, this cleanser still manages to lift away impurities, dirt and debris with ease. It’s used in our offices every day, and we frequently encourage patients to use it at home as well.

Hydrate and Protect

Moisturizing and sun protection are also critical to good skin care practices. To make taking care of your skin as fuss-free as possible, many manufacturers are combining rich moisturizers with powerful sunscreen in a single product. This saves you time, money and effort every day. Our dermatologists have been raving about Elta MD’s UV Lotion Broad-Spectrum SPF 30+ product. Patients can use it on their faces, necks, chests, hands and anywhere else that gets exposed to the sun. Ideal even for patients who have sensitive skin, this product contains seven percent transparent zinc oxide to deliver outstanding protection against both UVA and UVB rays.

Why is using moisturizer and sunscreen so crucial to taking care of your skin? Many people don’t realize it, but the majority skin care issues begin with over exposure to the sun. Every sunburn you get increases your odds of developing lines, wrinkles and spots, not to mention making you more vulnerable to a skin cancer diagnosis. Most of the signs of premature aging are linked to sun exposure, even if you don’t get a sunburn. In fact, your skin can be damaged by the sun’s rays even on an overcast day.

What’s more, not wearing moisturizer leaves your skin more vulnerable to the elements. Wind strips it when that outer layer of protection isn’t there. Environmental pollutants are better able to attack your skin, and you’ll certainly see more signs of early aging. That’s why moisturizer and sunscreen are such an important part of your daily skin care routine.

Addressing Skin Care Concerns

Taking care of your skin may also mean using products that address any issues or imbalances that you are experiencing. A serum may be used to give your skin an extra dose of concentrated hydration or to help lighten age spots. People who are bothered by lines on and around their lips might want to ask their dermatologist about Skinceuticals Antioxidant Lip Repair product. This incredibly powerful formula makes lips look smoother and younger within just a few days of use. By accelerating the cell renewal process, many patients see a vast improvement that takes years off of their appearance.

Helping You Take Care of Your Skin

The best dermatologists can help you fine tune your skin care routine so that it addresses any problems or concerns that you have. Normally, you only need a few minutes in the morning and the evening for taking care of your skin. By cleansing, applying a serum and following that up with a moisturizer that contains sunscreen, you’ll have all of the skin care basics in place, and the health of your skin is bound to improve.