Your 2013 New Year's skin resolutions

I know everyone likes to make sweeping resolutions - lose 10 pounds, eat more healthy foods, for example – but I’d like to suggest making more specific resolutions this coming year. Why not make some New Year’s resolutions for your skin? After all, it’s the largest organ of your body. Your skin is also the first thing people see when they greet you.  And on a more sober note, skin cancer rates are skyrocketing.

It only takes six weeks to develop a habit with staying power. So to protect your health, make a better first impression and feel better over every inch of your body, here are my suggestions for New Year’s skin resolutions in 2013:

• Use sunscreen daily and reapply every 2-3 hours. You’re probably getting better at putting sunscreen on in the morning or before you head to the beach, but it needs to be applied again to be effective. My smartphone app nevus® has a great reminder tool you can use to remind yourself to reapply sunscreen whether you’re skiing in the Rockies or on a beach getaway this winter. 
• Get in the habit of doing a monthly skin self-exam. If you’re a woman and already doing breast self-exams, just add one for your skin at the same time. (And you can check your husband while you’re at it too.)  If you’re not sure how to do this, here’s a  video from the AAD (American Academy of Dermatology) website with great, simple instructions.
• Hop on the phone and schedule an annual skin cancer screening with your dermatologist. Do this once a year, and you could catch suspicious moles and lesions before they become a big problem.
• Use a topical vitamin A product like retinol, or products with vitamin C and E.  These antioxidants can help correct damage and can help prevent it! For most people, adding topical vitamins to their skin regimen makes a big difference in the texture and look of their skin.
• I always tell people to “eat a rainbow of colors”. The Omega-3’s and antioxidants in colorful fruits and vegetables do wonders for your skin and help provide a healthy glow.

Unless you’re one of the avid cyclists, skiers and runners we seem to have in droves in Minnesota, you’ve probably added more exercise to your resolution list already. Guess what – that’s also great for your skin! By increasing blood flow, exercise helps nourish skin cells and promotes good circulation. People will be commenting on your rosy, glowing skin before you know it.