OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN SKIN AND HAIR HEALTH

How our skin and hair look is important to many of us. At the same time, your skin and hair are organs that do special jobs that support life. Skin protects your inside organs from injury, bacteria, and viruses. Your skin, hair, and sweat glands help control body temperature. Body hair also alerts you to heat and touch. You can take steps to keep your skin and hair healthy. You can also look to your skin and hair for clues to your overall health. And, as a bonus, good skin and hair care will help you to feel your best, too.


 Maintain your skin and hair

Maintain your skin and hair Good skin and hair care involves:
  • eating a variety of healthy foods rich in vitamins and nutrients
  • keeping physically active
  • managing stress
  • practicing sun safety
  • limiting alcohol
  • not using tobacco and other recreational drugs
  • drinking plenty of water
Unhealthy behaviors can take a toll on skin and hair. For instance, habits like smoking and sunbathing dry out skin and cause wrinkles.

Maintain your skin


Maintain your skin Follow this simple skin care routine to keep your skin healthy and radiant:
  • Bathe in warm, not hot water using mild cleansers that don’t irritate. Wash gently, don’t scrub.
  • Keep skin from drying out by drinking plenty of water and using gentle mois- turizers, lotions, or creams.
  1. Practice sun safety to prevent skin cancer. Sun exposure puts you at great- er risk of skin cancer, whatever your skin color or ethnicity. To protect your skin: Limit exposure to the midday sun (10 am-4 pm).
  2. Wear protective clothing, such as wide-brimmed hats and long sleeves.
  3. Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher and with both UVA and UVB protection.
  4. Avoid sunlamps and tanning booths.
  • Check your skin for sun damage. Tell your doctor about changes on the skin, such as a new growth, a sore that doesn’ t heal, or a change in an old growth. Ask your doctor how often you should have a clinical skin exam to check for signs of skin cancer.
  • Ask your doctor if the medicines you are taking can affect your skin. For instance, blood thinners and aspirin can cause you to bruise more easily. Some antibiotics and vitamins make skin sunburn more easily.