Skin problems health centre

Your skin reflects your health. It's your body's canvas and one of its most valuable assets. For good skin care, start developing healthy habits that will take care of this valuable asset and protect it from attack, both externally and internally. It's the only skin you'll ever have, so your daily habits mean everything. Here are some basic skin care tips:

• Clean and moisturise your skin daily. Wash your face twice daily - once in the morning and once at night before going to bed. After you cleanse your skin, follow with a toner and moisturiser. Toners help remove fine traces of oil, dirt and make-up that you may have missed when cleansing. Moisturising is necessary even for people with oily skin. Buy a moisturiser that is best suited for your skin type (dry, normal or oily).
• Block the sun. Over time, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun causes many changes in the skin, including wrinkles, discolouration, freckles or age spots, benign (non-cancerous) growths such as moles, and pre-cancerous or cancerous growths such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. In fact, most skin cancers are related to sun exposure. Always wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.
• Seek professional help for skin problems. Skin is not going to be perfect. It can be dry or oily; it can develop rashes and acne, among many other problems. Tackle the problem with professional advice from a beauty therapist or your local pharmacist.
• Eat abalanced diet. Eat a healthy and balanced diet. Avoid fried and greasy foods.
• Self-screening. Over the course of your life, you should pay attention to all aspects of your skin. Familiarise yourself with it, so you'll notice any changes that might occur, such as different moles or patches that might indicate skin cancer. If you have a question or concern, make sure you seek medical advice.