What you need right now is a pandemic skin-care self-care plan. Simply put, it’s committing to and following a routine that will benefit the health of your body’s largest organ (that’s your skin, notes Berkeley Wellness) and deliver the bonus of providing the structure and pampering that benefits your psychological well-being.
“Caring for my skin is one of the first steps in my self-care routine,” says Erum Ilyas, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with Montgomery Dermatology in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.
“The reality is that our skin in so many ways is a ‘check engine light’ for our internal health. When skin looks and feels good, we tend to feel better about ourselves,” she says.
Marcela Luevanos, a skin care specialist and owner of Skin by Marcela, elaborates on this idea.
“Firstly, it’s super interesting to realize that our skin is the largest organ in our body. Yes, it’s an organ! When we know this, with this perspective I think more people will realize the importance of taking care of it. Our skin begins to age at the age of 12/13 years old.”, said Luevanos.
“It is super important to take care of the skin first with sunscreen. Every day, apply and reapply several times during the day, especially if we spend long hours in the sun and also in front of an electronic screen. The blue light emitted by electronics is also harmful, so applying sunscreen is essential,” adds.
Luevanos explain that UV rays from the sun cause changes in skin texture, pigmentation, wrinkling of the skin and also cause skin cancer.
“From an early age, it is extremely important to take care of our skin using products to protect and hydrate it by drinking the right amount of water, which also helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles,”, said Luevanos based in Los Angeles.
Here are five powerful tips.
1. A Skin-Care Routine Provides Stability in Your Day That Benefits Your Mental Health
Those routines are critical for your overall health, in both body and mind. In a study published in June 2018 in the Lancet Psychiatry, researchers found that people who have less consistent routines throughout the active parts of their day were more likely to suffer from major depressive and bipolar disorders, mood problems, loneliness, and less happiness.
These routines feel good and act as a comforting force in your life, providing an anchor to your day and serving as a point of stability in your week, says Traube. On a small scale, you may even feel like you’ve accomplished something.
2. Focusing on Doing Something Nice for Yourself Helps Stop a Worry Spiral
You might find that certain times of the day can trigger intrusive thoughts, but you can break the negative thoughts with self-care. “Patients who experience anxiety and depression often report that their condition is exacerbated 30 minutes to one hour before bed. This is when they have more idle time, which increases worry for a lot of people,” says some experts. It’s when you’re engaged in an activity, including washing, toning, and moisturizing your face that you can get out of your head and focus on what you’re doing. (This goes for any activity that keeps you busy, like working on a new project, cooking dinner, or walking your dog around the neighborhood.)
The act of caring for your skin additionally provides an opportunity for mindfulness.
3. Pampering Skin on a Regular Basis Triggers a Cascade of Chemicals in Your Brain to Boost Your Mood
Create a routine that feels good and includes products that you enjoy using. For example, don’t underestimate the impact of gently massaging skin with a warm washcloth to cleanse, taking extra time to smooth a silky moisturizer on your face, or applying a mask.
The experience of an at-home facial or treatment is certainly comforting, but you also get a lot of fulfillment just planning for it. “Anticipation of happy events releases feel-good neurotransmitters in the brain,” says Traube. Expecting positive events has also been shown to activate a certain area of the prefrontal cortex, a brain region associated with a sense of well-being, according to a study published in January 2018 in Frontiers in Psychology. It’s a natural little high for something so simple.
4. Skin Care Provides a Chance to Bond With Loved Ones — and That’s a Boon to Mental Health
Moreno and her partner are onto something with their mask routine. In general, spending this concentrated time with loved ones pursuing hobbies and enjoyable activities is linked to greater levels of happiness, according to a study published in May 2018 in the journal Psychological Science. In a time when it may feel as if you’re too close for comfort with the other members of your household, you can carve out meaningful time together that will bolster your sense of personal satisfaction and family bond.
5. Caring for Your Skin Is an Act of Kindness That Sends a Powerful Message
Right now, the world is a stressful place. So it might feel tempting to watch TV late into the night and then roll into bed without so much as splashing your face with water — you’re just too tired. But what if, instead, you focused on taking care of yourself in this small way. By spending five extra minutes to treat your skin, you’re sending a message: “I’m worth it,” says Traube. This is akin to the perk you might get when you swipe on a coat of mascara in the morning, apply color on your cheeks to make them pop, or smooth on that tinted moisturizer that makes your skin glow.
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