Your skincare regimen determines how you look now and in the future. Taking consistent care of your skin and protecting it from the sun helps to minimize early signs of aging, including wrinkling and age spots. While you may need to slightly tweak your regimen based on your skin type, there are some basic recommendations every person should follow in caring for his skin.
Skincare Basics
Your skincare routine should consist of two daily cleansings with a mild cleanser. The first should be in the morning to remove residual dirt and oils from the previous night. The second should be at night before you go to bed to remove makeup, dirt, oils and dead skin cells from the face. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends applying cleanser with a circular motion, then rinsing the face with warm water. Apply a moisturizer containing a sun protection factor, or SPF, of at least 15. Cover your neck, forehead, nose, cheeks, around the eyes and between your eyebrows to protect your skin from sun damage. Once to two times per week, apply an exfoliating scrub to remove the dead skin cells on the outside of your face.
Skin Type
Elements of your daily skin care regimen will depend upon your skin type, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Oily skin does not require a heavy moisturizer while dry skin will require a moisturizer in order to prevent dry, patchy areas of skin from developing. If you have oily skin, utilize skincare products labeled as noncomedogenic, meaning they do not contain oil and will therefore not clog the pores.
Additional Applications
Not everyone has a normal skin type. Oily skin may require an additional topical medication in order to reduce oil in the pores. Examples include benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, which can be applied to blemishes, according to MayoClinic.com. Your physician can prescribe treatments, such as tretinoin, glycolic acid or oral antibiotics, if your acne does not respond to over-the-counter treatments. If you are experiencing signs of aging, such as wrinkling, treatments such as retinol, glycolic acid or tretinoin can reduce wrinkling, according to Medline Plus.
Expert Insight
Following a consistent daily skincare routine can help you to slow the signs of aging and reducing the incidence of skin cancer. "It [your skincare regimen] must be an ongoing, daily routine," says Dr. Henri P. Gaboriau, a facial plastic surgeon writing on Real Self. "Wrinkle prevention and sun care protection begins by having a great regimen in place." In addition to your at-home regimen, Gaboriau suggests occasional microdermabrasion or glycolic acid peel treatments to encourage exfoliation.
Warning
Just as there are good steps to take to care for the skin, there are bad habits you can develop in caring for your skin. This includes picking at acne blemishes, which can cause scarring, according to MayoClinic.com. Using harsh soaps or detergents to wash the face also can strip the skin of its natural oils and cause skin irritation, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Neglecting to apply sunscreen every day also can be harmful --- excess sun exposure is linked to increased incidence of skin cancer, which can be deadly.
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