10 New Years Resolutions for Better Skin Health

Written by H. Fishman on January 4, 2013

Now that 2013 is here, many of us have looked back on the past year and made resolutions for how, or what, we’re going to change in the new year. Knowing that I spend so much time out in the sun over the course of the year, one of my resolutions this year is to make a conscious effort to improve my skin’s health.

This is especially important as sun damage is one of the leading causes of skin cancer, which is itself, the most common form of cancer in the United States and growing every year! Not a pleasant thought, right?

Let’s put this into perspective… did you know how common skin cancer is? More than 3.5 million skin cancers are diagnosed in over two million people annually (according to the Skin Cancer Foundation) – that’s the population of Houston! (Hey Houston, shout-out to you! I love Houston!)

Of course, we all think, “skin cancer isn’t going to happen to me”.  Well with the statistics I mentioned above, our personal risk is growing, especially if we burn our skin. Sun damage and skin care aren’t just things you or I should be concerned about when we’re on vacation at the beach. If any of us are going to keep our skin healthy, we need to make it part of our everyday lives.

Here are some recommendations I’m following to help improve my skin’s health this year:

1. Clothing – Any time I’m out in the sun at its peak intensity (roughly 10 am to 3 pm), I’ll try to stay covered to limit my skin’s exposure to harmful UV rays.
2. Sunscreen – Wearing sunscreen when on exposed areas of my skin can help prevent it from prematurely aging and from getting sunburned.
3. Shade – When I am outdoors in the sun for long periods of time, I’ll try to stay in the shade as much as I can. Fortunately, I own two JoeShade umbrellas, so this will be easy!
4. Regimen – Incorporating a skin care regimen into my morning and nightly routines, starting with washing your face using a good non-soap facial cleanser.
5. Moisturize – Hot showers feel great but can strip skin of precious oils, so I’ll apply a body lotion to help replenish skin’s natural moisture content. (Or cut back on hot showers… er, maybe not!)
6. Exfoliate – Like most adults, it takes my skin about one month to replenish itself. Skin cells can dry out during the process, so exfoliating 1-2 times a week will remove dead skin cells and help retain my natural complexion.
7. Sleep – Getting at least 8 hours of sleep each night so that my body has plenty of time to work at ridding itself of toxins that are detrimental to my skin.
8. Food – Eating a more nutritious and balanced diet isn’t just good for my waistline – it also does wonders for my skin. The vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will help my skin from prematurely aging.
9. Water – Drinking lots of water throughout the day helps my body flush out toxins and maintain my skin’s natural moisture level.
10. Tanning – I’ve never been to an indoor UV tanning session (and don’t plan to this year), which is good because indoor tanning increases the risk of developing melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer.

Let the shade come from a JoeShade umbrella!

When you’re out in the sun and want to stay protected from harmful UV rays, the JoeShade umbrella with UV protection is the perfect solution! Just being a bit more conscious about getting proper sun shade – especially with products that have high UV sun shade protection, like our shade umbrella – will help your skin stay healthy in the long run.

The JoeShade portable umbrella is unique in its sun safety features. Our umbrellas are made with a special fabric specifically designed to block harmful UV rays. Easy to carry wherever you go, and even easier to set up, JoeShade is great for sports fans, campers, tailgaters, and anyone that wants to maintain healthy skin.

Happy new year to you and your skin!