As any first year medical student will tell you the human skin is actually the largest organ on the body. This means that your skin is a living, breathing and always malleable organism that needs special attention. Your skin is actually your front line defense against the elements and infections. Where will you pick up most of your germs? From your hands. Keep them clean and you’ll stay healthy. What keeps you warm at night? Covering your skin. The heat that is given off from your body reflects back from under a blanket and keeps you cozy. What’s the best way to treat your skin? Moisture. Even though it is the largest organ on your body, it’s probably the easiest one to take care.
We’ve often been told about the harmful effects of direct UV sunlight. The truth is that sunlight provides our bodies with a much needed dose of Vitamin D. Twenty minutes a day of sun exposure will do the trick. When the nights turn dark for six months in Alaska, folks spend quality minutes under a UV light just to charge up their skin cells. Going out in the sun for longer periods should require you to lather up with some sunscreen. Even when you think you’re just going from your car to your office you can still be bombarded with direct sunlight. What about the drive home and hanging your arm out the car window?
At the end of a long day, your skin is thirsty for moisture. This doesn’t mean standing under a shower every night (although that wouldn’t hurt). But consider adding some soothing moisturizing lotion to your nightly rituals. Applying lotion to your hands, feet and face can provide you with the necessary nutrients to keep your skin healthy. If you spend all day indoors your skin can become dried out thanks to heat or AC. That’s why you need to give your skin a treat every now and then. Don’t worry; it will thank you by staying healthy for years to come!
