Hands can get chapped when washed and exposed to air—warm or cold. While no single treatment delivers a quick and permanent cure, here’s help to safeguard your skin’s natural moisturizers and keep hands healthy all year from Barbara R. Reed, MD, Clinical Professor of Dermatology at University Hospital Denver, and dermatologist at Denver Skin Clinic.

• Use gentle hand cleansers such as Cetaphil, Cerave, or Aquanil. Reason: Soap and water eliminate natural moisturizing agents and contribute to drying.
• Wear gloves in the kitchen and when working with chemicals. Reason: Handling (not eating) tomatoes, onions, potatoes, fish, seafood, and citrus fruits may irritate the skin and increase dryness. Likewise for paints, polishes, disinfectants, and abrasives.
• Regularly apply lubricating cream or ointment such as Cetaphil, Vanicream, Eucerin Plus, Cerave, Curel, Aquaphor, or Vaseline. Reason: Applying the cream many times daily (preferably every time your hands get wet) can be a nuisance, but it helps.

So you did all that, but you’re still having chapped hands? First, apply cream. Then, slip on damp cotton gloves. Finally, cover hands with latex gloves or a plastic bag, and wear for a few hours during the day or at night. For significant redness, try an anti-inflammatory cream such as Cort-Aid or Cortizone several times daily. Last resort: see your doctor.

Help for Dry Hands The Saturday Evening Post

But with so many face-cleansing products now on the market, it’s little wonder that many people are doing unnecessary harm to their skin, say board-certified physicians of New York-based Advanced Dermatology and the Center for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery. Restore simplicity and common sense to face cleansing by following their kinder, gentler approach.

Where We Go Wrong

“The most common mistake we make is to over-wash, over-scrub and over-dry our faces,” says Dr. Meryl Blecker Joerg. “Daily cleansing is important, but facial skin has fewer layers than skin on most other areas of the body. As a result, it is more easily damaged.”

Using the wrong product is another big no-no, adds Dr. Valerie Goldburt, who explains people tend to be “overly aggressive” by using one or more products that may be too harsh for their skin.

How to Do it Right

Cleanse face twice daily with warm water if you have oily or normal skin, or once a day if skin is dry or damaged, advises Dr. Joerg. “I recommend washes (not scrubs) with salicylic acid. Scrubs can break up acne and cause scarring.”

“Only use bar soap, gel, or liquid cleanser that is formulated for use on your face—not on your body,” cautions Dr. Goldburt.

In general, use a mild moisturizing cleanser that removes oil and residue without leaving skin dry, tight, or flaky. Foaming facial cleansers that work into a lather and rinse off often leave the face refreshed; they come as lotions, gels, creams, and aerosols. Bar-type products for the face may be labeled beauty bars, facial soap, mild cleansing bars, or sensitive skin bars. Opt for deodorant-, fragrance- or antiseptic-free products.

“Beautiful skin is healthy skin,” Dr. Goldburt reminds us. “While it’s important to maintain a high-quality skin care regimen, it’s equally important to maintain good nutrition, drink plenty of water, eliminate skin-damaging habits like smoking, and avoid excessive sun exposure. Also don’t forget your sunscreen; your skin will reward you for it!”

Tips on Choosing a Face Cleanser The Saturday Evening Post

But with so many choices, which treatments actually improve and protect the skin’s appearance, and which ones simply add a new wrinkle to the budget? The best way to answer that question is to look first at what it is you’re saving your skin from:

When outdoors, wear a wide-brimmed hat and tightly woven clothing that covers your body.

Block the Sun

Protecting your skin from ultraviolet (UVA/UVB) radiation exposure (including indoor tanning), extremes of heat and cold, and air pollution can significantly reduce your risk of wrinkles and skin cancer.

“Baby boomers didn’t know better and received a great deal of harmful sun exposure before sunscreens were available,” says Dr. C. William Hanke, an eminent dermatologist and past president of the American Academy of Dermatology. “Ultraviolet light causes malignant melanoma, as well as basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, which are much more common skin cancers.”

Thankfully, broad-spectrum sunscreens protect against both UVA and UVB rays and are widely available today. They’re crucial for skin protection, and not just in the summer. While the sun’s UVB rays are strongest in the northern hemisphere May through September, UVA rays are present year round, penetrating windshields, light clothing, and office windows.

However, comparing the ingredients of one sunscreen to another can leave one bleary-eyed and confused.

“Check the product label,” advises Dr. Hanke. “Good broad-spectrum sunscreens have an SPF of 30 or greater and contain protective ingredients that include: avobenzone, ecamsule, oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide.”

Choose a sunscreen that works best for you. People with oily skin may prefer an alcohol-based gel. Individuals with dry skin want a cream for moisture.

When applying sunscreen, don’t forget less obvious, but vulnerable areas, such as the ears, neck, and face—anywhere that is exposed.

“We see golfers in my clinical practice all the time,” says Dr. Hanke, who reports an increasing number of cancers on the lips, ears, and eyelids of outdoor enthusiasts who fail to adequately protect sensitive areas. “They golf for five or six hours at a time and need to wear sunscreens. The same advice applies to winter skiers as well.”

Clothing also adds an extra layer of protection. “Wear a hat,” stresses Dr. Hanke. “Men with hereditary hair loss who don’t wear hats are at higher risk for premalignant lesions and skin cancers—mostly squamous cell carcinomas—on their scalps. It can be a huge problem.”

When choosing sun-protective clothing, opt for dense, tightly woven fabrics.

“If you hold the hat or shirt up to the light and can see through it, so can the sun,” Dr. Hanke adds. “The hat should have a tight weave to protect the scalp.”

Today, most sporting goods companies, apparel stores, and online outlets sell sun-protective clothing.

Snuff Out Smoke

Aside from the serious health consequences, smoking and secondhand exposure is also bad for your skin—next in line to the sun in causing wrinkles. Nicotine impairs blood flow to the skin, accelerating the normal aging of epidermal tissue.

Keep It Clean

Science of Skin
Older skin is thinner and more fragile, and the deep layers 
contain less elastic tissue. Blood vessels are also less elastic, so that even minor injuries can cause bruising. The skin may be mottled with small, flat brown areas called lentigines (from the Latin word for lentils).

Young Skin: A thick outer layer and a large number of elastic fibers in the deeper layers help maintain the smoothness of young skin.

Older Skin: A thinner outer layer and fewer elastic fibers in the deeper layers result in skin that appears loose, with deeper creases and wrinkles.

Images reprinted from The Human Body, ©1995 Dorling Kindersley Ltd.

Facial hygiene is also critical. One of the first steps is choosing the right cleanser.

“If you have oily skin, you can use any soap you want, and it will probably not be irritating,” Dr. Hanke says. “The soap that I recommend for most people and use myself is plain white Dove. People with dry or oily skin can use it.”

For people with rough and scaly skin, occasionally using an exfoliant makes skin appear smoother and feel softer.

“As you age, dead cells build up on the skin surface,” Dr. Hanke explains. “Exfoliation removes the dead surface layer, and moisturizing helps keep skin soft.”

Cleanse your face twice a day—once in the morning and again at bedtime, then apply a moisturizer based on your skin type. For dry skin, opt for an occlusive moisturizer that covers the skin with a waterproof film through which water cannot evaporate or escape. For sensitive skin, some experts recommend applying a moisturizer containing soothing ingredients, such as bisabolol, a chamomile extract.

“As we get older, our skin is not the barrier that it once was,” says Dr. Hanke. “It dries out more easily. As a result, people need to moisturize their skin more frequently.”

Do high-end products equate with higher quality?

“Some inexpensive moisturizers such as Neutrogena and Oil of Olay are very good, as are some very expensive ones, such as La Prairie and LaMer,” notes the dermatologist. “Find one that works for you and does not irritate your skin.”

A word of caution: Don’t introduce too many products at the same time.

“Stick with one product line,” advises Dr. Hanke. “Different products can inactivate each other through chemical reactions and potentially irritate the skin surface.”

Rejuvenating Aging Skin

Innovations in anti-aging skin care are on the fast track to meet the growing demand of baby boomers (and their parents). From nonprescription “cosmeceuticals” to laser treatments, therapies are available that improve the skin’s surface texture, reduce irregular pigmentation, and help reverse the effects of sun damage.

Topicals: Typically used to address milder signs of aging. For example, retinol, a vitamin A compound, is the first antioxidant topical widely used in nonprescription creams and is the less potent cousin of tretinoin (Retin-A, Avage, Renova), a prescription-strength treatment for acne and fine wrinkles.The fastest growing segment of topical skin care, cosmeceuticals combine aspects of the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Cosmeceuticals influence the function of the skin with biologically active compounds (vitamins, oils, herbs, and botanical extracts). Botanicals, for example, contain antioxidants that protect the skin’s surface. William Beeson, M.D., clinical professor in dermatology at Indiana University School of Medicine and noted facial plastic surgeon, has researched a cornucopia of compounds that rejuvenate skin tissues. His research led to the discovery of unique properties in rosemary, an herb that contains a potent antioxidant called carnosic acid. After demonstrating clinical efficacy, Dr. Beeson and colleagues developed a formulation called Effulgere (effulgere.com) that penetrates the skin surface more deeply and helps “protect the skin from further damage by enhancing the skin’s lipid barrier, brightening the skin, and improving its texture and tone.”

Chemical Peels: A chemical solution—such as phenol, tricholoacetic acid (TCA), or alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs)—that removes damaged outer layers of the skin, revealing the healthier layers below. Wrinkles from sun damage, aging, and heredity can be significantly reduced by undergoing a series of peels that also improve irregular skin pigmentation and remove early skin cancers (actinic keratoses).

Lasers: Many laser treatments are now used to minimize wrinkles, scars, skin discolorations (freckles or “age spots”), and blemishes on the face, neck, chest, and back of hands by removing the outer layer of skin (epidermis). The treatment simultaneously heats underlying tissues (dermis), stimulating the growth of new collagen fibers that form smoother, firmer skin. One of the more popular areas in minimally invasive cosmetic surgery, fractionated carbon dioxide (CO2) laser treatment is performed under topical anesthesia on select areas of damaged skin. The outpatient procedure creates microscopic holes in the skin, which then heal with new collagen that tightens skin and evens tone. Newer technologies offer surgeons a greater level of control in laser surfacing, permitting extreme precision, particularly in delicate areas.

Fillers: These reduce the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles by “plumping” furrows and hollows in the face, giving the skin a more youthful-looking appearance. Fillers (Juvaderm, Restylane, Gore-Tex) are very effective at contouring specific areas on the face, such as around the lips, including long, vertical “marionette” lines that start at the corners of the mouth and extend down the chin. Botulinum toxin type A (Botox, Dysport) injections also diminish lines and wrinkles associated with facial expression, including vertical lines between the eyebrows and on the bridge of the nose, forehead lines and furrows, and crow’s feet.

Saving Face: Skin Care Tips The Saturday Evening Post

Top 5 Tips from the American College of Emergency Physicians:

Safe Meals: Use a meat thermometer. Cook fresh poultry to 165 F, hamburgers to 160 F, and beef to at least 145 F. Refrigerate all perishable food within 2 hours, 1 hour if the temperature outside is above 90 degrees F. Keep uncooked meats away from other foods.

Safe Grilling: Thoroughly clean a grill of any grease or dust. On gas grills, check tubes leading into the burner for any blockages from insects or food grease and replace connectors if needed. Do not use a grill in a garage, breezeway, carport, porch, or near any surface that can catch fire. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions that accompany the grill.

Safe in the Water: Don’t drink alcohol when swimming or boating. Wear a lifejacket whenever you are on a boat. Make sure young children are supervised at all times when near the beach, on a boat, or by a pool or hot tub. Don’t swim alone or in bad weather. Learn to swim and teach your children to swim. We also recommend that you learn CPR in case of an emergency.

Safe in the Sun: Protect against sunburn and heat stroke. Wear sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher and apply it generously throughout the day. Wear a hat outdoors and UV-blocking sunglasses to protect your eyes. Drink plenty of water, especially when in the sun or sweating heavily. If you feel faint or nauseous, get into a cool place immediately.

Safe on the Road: Don’t drink alcohol and drive or travel with anyone who has been drinking. Wear your seatbelt at all times. Make sure your vehicle has been properly serviced and is in good working shape before a long road trip. Familiarize yourself with your surroundings and know the location of the nearest emergency room in case of an emergency.

“Many of the factors that will determine your safety over Memorial Day weekend—and any time this summer—come down to good decision-making and common sense,” said Dr. Gardner. “As someone who sees the consequences up close, my best advice is: know your limits, be mindful of certain risks and stay smart.”

Plan Now for Safety The Saturday Evening Post

This past year I have had at least 100 moles appear on my body, primarily on my neck, chin, chest, and back. The moles are embarrassing, and I try to hide them with high-necked blouses. Thank you for any help. I enjoy reading all the information you provide in The Saturday Evening Post.

-F
Arizona

Bothered by Moles The Saturday Evening Post

Healthy and more youthful skin begins with judicious—and year-round—use of sunscreen that allows skin to heal and the immune system to repair some existing damage. Experts say that other products and therapies are beneficial, too.

Follow these tips from New York City dermatologist and spokesperson for The Skin Cancer Foundation Dr. Deborah Sarnoff to help prevent and even reverse skin damage:

1. Exfoliate: Use a loofah, alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) cleanser, or a home microdermabrasion unit to remove dead skin cells and remnants of self-tanning sprays or lotions that can make skin appear blotchy and uneven.

2. Bleach the brown: To lighten stubborn brown spots and other accumulations of unwanted pigment, try an over-the-counter product that contains kojic acid, Hydroquinone, Retin-A, and a mild steroid cream.

3. Hydrate: Hand, body, and foot creams restore moisture and correct damage. Applying moisturizer with AHAs or a facial serum with hyaluronic acid around the eyes helps skin appear less dry and wrinkled. Continued use may promote collagen formation.

4. Visit a dermatologist: Ask your doctor about laser and resurfacing treatments. Photodynamic therapy—laser or intense pulsed light (IPL) in combination with the topical substance Levulan—helps remove scaly patches of actinic keratoses (precancerous lesions) from the skin. A dermatologist can check for and remove these precancerous patches.

5. Shop smart: Wearing hats and opting for special lip balms, clothing, and window film also protect skin (and eye) health. Sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B radiation help prevent skin cancer on the eyelids, a surprisingly common diagnosis accounting for up to 10 percent of all skin cancers.

“Eyelid skin cancer is not something most people think about,” said Dr. C. William Hanke, senior vice president of The Skin Cancer Foundation and Post dermatology consultant. “With their thin, delicate structures, the eyes and surrounding areas are particularly prone to cancers. And, it’s an area people often forget to protect from the sun.”

Most eyelid cancers occur on the lower lid. Check labels, tags, or packaging carefully when shopping for sunglasses and other sun-protective products.

Click here for a list of specific items that meet The Skin Cancer Foundation’s criteria for effective UV sun protection.

5 Steps to Healthier Skin The Saturday Evening Post