The beginning of the new year is the ideal time to review your skin-care routine and reevaluate whether or not your habits are benefiting your skin. Naturally, making resolutions on January 1 is simple, but keeping them up throughout the year is more challenging.



Change is never easy, but constancy is essential, according to Heather Richmond, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at the Dermatology and Laser Surgery Center in Houston. Regular use of high-quality skin care will make a significant impact in the long run, she adds, but she doesn't anticipate immediate benefits, especially when it comes to minimizing indications of aging.

Retinoids are one example. According to Harvard Medical School, they are known to lessen fine lines and wrinkles, although it may take up to six months of regular use before you see improvements. So, for the greatest outcomes, if you make a resolution today, attempt to maintain it.

This is why five board-certified dermatologists recommend the following skin-care resolutions:


1. Apply sunscreen every day and throughout the year.

Despite its apparent simplicity, sunscreen is your most effective skincare product. According to Cheryl Burgess, MD, founder and president of the Center for Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery in Washington, DC, "Sunscreen is the number one anti-aging lotion."


The advantages are not only superficial. "It has been demonstrated that regular use of sunscreen has the best benefit in avoiding accelerated aging and skin malignancies," explains Mamina Turegano, MD, of Sanova Dermatology in Old Metairie, Louisiana. "I'd like everyone to commit to wearing sunscreen every day as part of their morning ritual."


She suggests using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater, as well as looking for an SPF moisturizer.


According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, broad-spectrum sunscreen protects against the detrimental effects of UVA radiation, which leads to premature skin aging, and UVB rays, which cause sunburn.


If you've made it this far and think you're immune since you don't go outside in the winter, think again. Studies indicate that even the blue light from our computers and other gadgets is harmful to our skin. One tiny piece of research, for example, discovered that blue light exposure was connected with the generation of free radicals, which are linked to accelerated skin aging.

Not to add, as the Skin Cancer Foundation points out, UVA radiation can affect your skin even through windows, such as while you're driving or working indoors with natural light. "Sunscreen is now available 24 hours a day," adds Dr. Burgess.


2. Don't go to bed with makeup on.


According to Burgess, sleeping with makeup on can cause several skin issues, including clogged pores, breakouts, and very dry lips. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, there is also a chance that it will cause major eye damage. According to Burgess, this is a bad habit that many individuals have. Fortunately, this procedure is straightforward: Wash your face before laying your head on the pillow. If you're using oil-based concealer, you'll need a solvent-based makeup remover; Burgess recommends foamy cleansers since they can emulsify most foundations and lipstick. However, because the region around the eyes is very sensitive, apply a gentle cleanser there.


3. Prepare Your Skin for Winter


"Winter is likely the most difficult season for your skin," says Joshua Zeichner, MD, an associate professor of dermatology and the head of cosmetic and clinical dermatology research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. He advises individuals to commit to using more skin-care products in the winter since cold temperatures, low humidity, and wind are harsh on the skin's outer layer.


Look for products that contain hydrating humectants like glycerin and ammonium lactate, which may actually draw moisture to your skin, according to Burgess. She recommends AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Lotion as a low-cost pharmacy choice. Alternatively, you might check for generic ammonium lactate, which is generally less than $20 per bottle.

Instead of lotions, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) suggests using a cream or an ointment, which often comes in tubes or tubs. Burgess suggests a HydraFacial to help restore moisture to your skin over the cold months.

"I prefer to test as many products as I can to determine whether they are worth recommending, but my bathroom cabinet has turned into a junkyard with various half-filled containers of skin care—many of which are definitely expired," Turegano says. It makes skin care appear daunting.


Her personal resolution for skin care is to simplify and organize her skin-care products following the KonMari method.


Still, stumped as to where to begin? Examine the expiration dates on all of your skin-care products and resolve to discard anything that has passed its use-by date. Also, stay away from anything that irritates your skin. Turegano recommends greater simplification. If you have two hyaluronic acid products, you don't need both.


"When determining what to get rid of, if you have the same sort of product, go for one with a larger percentage of the active component."


Skin picking may lead to illness and scars, and it's one behavior Turegano wants people to abandon in the new year. While she acknowledges that many people pick at their skin to relieve stress, Turegano suggests that in 2022, people resolve to find other stress-relieving alternatives to skin picking, such as popping bubble wrap, doing aerobic exercise, and getting facials—all of which are recommended by the TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors.


According to the International OCD Foundation, skin plucking is a clinical impulse control issue in some circumstances.


They mention that up to 1 in 20 persons had this problem and that during the COVID-19 pandemic, skin picking rose among this population, according to a report published in March 2021 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. If this applies to you, seeking advice from a mental health professional could be beneficial. The International OCD Foundation states that SSRIs, cognitive behavioral therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy are effective treatments for skin-picking disorders.

Dr. Zeichner adds, "I'd want to see individuals give up their multi-step regimens in favor of simpler skin-care procedures." " More is not better and can just cause annoyance. Sticking to a straightforward, efficient skin-care routine is always preferable to over-scrubbing, over-exfoliating, and over-applying products.

A decent rule of thumb, according to Turegano, is to stick to three essential products: sunscreen, a cleanser, and a moisturizer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are about 40 million smokers in the country. Additionally, the category of "smokers" is growing due to the popularity of recreational marijuana. The highest-ever percentage of Americans who claim they currently consume cannabis is 12 percent, according to a 2021 Gallup survey.


Burgess points out that smoking does have an impact on your complexion, making it seem dry, dull, or reddish, whether you're smoking tobacco cigarettes or marijuana joints. To prevent smoking, she advises moving to edibles rather than giving up THC for cannabis users.

The American Lung Association offers a Freedom From Smoking program that includes interactive online features and group clinics, while the CDC provides information and services to assist you in quitting smoking in the new year.


If you're satisfied with your skin-care regimen right now, you may always decide to improve it by including more specialized items. According to Richmond, Burgess, and Zeichner, the skin can benefit from vitamin C serum and sunscreen in the morning, and retinol at night. Retinol is a gentler kind of topical retinoid generated from vitamin A, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Products containing retinol are sold over the counter, whereas those containing retinoids often need a prescription.)

Burgess explains that because vitamin C is an antioxidant, it is a supplement that fights oxidation processes, aging, and environmental damage. According to her, it's advantageous to apply it underneath your sunscreen since it serves two purposes: it shields you from the sun's rays and lessens the visibility of some of your pigmentation or sun spots.

According to Richmond, the best evidence for reducing outward indications of aging is provided by retinoids. Richmond's own skincare resolution is to increase her retinol dosage.

Roopal Kundu, MD, a dermatology and medical education professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, claims these findings, and the founding director of the Northwestern Center for Ethnic Skin and Hair says studies show that all retinoids appear to lessen photoaging. There are various kinds of over-the-counter retinol products.

Retinol regimens will differ significantly based on where you reside, the season, and the type of skin you have, according to Dr. Kundu. Kundu advises beginning with two weekly applications of a product before bed because retinoids increase your sensitivity to the sun; for best results, space applications at least two to three days apart. Then, you can add one more application per week every one to two weeks. If tolerated, the long-term objective is to apply it every night, but some will only be able to do so twice or three times per week, according to Kundu.

To put it simply, this increased routine involves Zeichner saying, "In the morning, protect your skin and prevent damage, and in the evening, repair your skin."

It is possible to improve your routine by gradually incorporating new active ingredients and keeping track of how your skin reacts. Retinol and other exfoliants like it can be especially helpful, but when it comes to them, less is usually more. Over-exfoliating is a concern that can be uncomfortable, particularly for people with sensitive skin.

"Retinols, alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs), and other peeling actives can be very valuable for your skincare schedule, yet going overboard on shedding can make you think twice about skin hindrance, which can prompt irritation, dryness, knocks, rashes, or in any event, scarring." That makes sense to Melanie Palm, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in San Diego and the pioneer behind Skin MD.

Dr. Palm advises starting slowly when incorporating new exfoliants into your routine. You don't have to try chemical exfoliants right away because you can gradually build up your tolerance over time. According to Palm, it's especially important not to exfoliate on days when you shave, wax, or thread.

For those who are new to exfoliation, Palm advises using a gouge product since it is gentler. It is a cream or paste that combines the advantages of chemical and physical exfoliation to create smooth skin by delicately eliminating dead skin cells. According to the AAD, the frequency of exfoliation depends on your skin type and the technique you employ. Additionally, it states that more forceful techniques are often less frequent.

Nutrition-related resolutions are nothing new. According to the Mayo Clinic, if you want to reduce your intake of added sugar because of the potential links between sugar and adverse health effects, you can add skin-related effects to the list. Sugar might make acne and aging skin worse.

Carmen Castilla, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at the New York Dermatology Group in New York City, states, "Diet is one thing that is often overlooked in maintaining skin health and overall health." The perception of age has been linked to high sugar levels.

According to previous research, sugar's ability to influence skin aging is partially due to a reaction called glycation. According to Dr. Castilla, glucose can cause a chemical reaction with collagen that hurts its structure and function. This reaction makes collagen stiff and slows down the turnover of collagen. A lack of collagen can cause the skin to lose its firmness and elasticity because collagen provides the skin with support.

According to a systematic review that was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in March 2022, there may also be a connection between acne and a diet high in sugar. According to research, acne can be significantly influenced by foods with a high glycemic load, like sweets. As a result, the AAD suggests following a low-glycemic diet to lessen the frequency of acne breakouts.

Palm hopes that people will alter their habits in the new year, even though taking hot showers may be comforting. Even though many individuals seek warmth in long, hot showers throughout the winter, Palm cautions that "overdoing it will deplete moisture from your skin and create dryness, scaling, and itching."

The water temperature shouldn't be too high when bathing or taking a shower because long showers are often bad for the skin. Research that will be published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine in January 2022 claims that hot water worsens the effects of extended water contact on the skin's ability to maintain its natural barrier function. The amount of erythema, a form of skin redness, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL), commonly known as the evaporation of water through the epidermis, increased when patients were exposed to hot water.

To reduce the dryness and irritation that occur with hot showers, the Cleveland Clinic advises reducing the temperature, although you can still take warm showers. Palm advises regulating the warmth of your shower to protect your skin's protective barrier and using a moisturizer right after to keep your skin hydrated.

If you can't stop taking hot showers immediately, Palm suggests at least avoiding receiving really hot water on your face. You should wash your face at a tepid temperature at the bathroom sink before you take a shower since the skin on your face is more fragile than the skin on your body.

Dermatologists advise scheduling a yearly skin checkup the same way your primary care physician would. According to the CDC, skin cancer is the most prevalent kind of cancer in the country. Many of the causes, such as exposure to direct sunlight, are preventable. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, skin examinations can be used to detect skin cancer early.

Given the increased incidence of skin cancer, a dermatologist can inspect your skin for any new moles, rashes, or other signs of skin cancer. Additionally, you may utilize it to voice any concerns you may have regarding skin issues.

"Be vigilant about seeing your dermatologist once a year for full body skin checks to keep tabs on any odd moles or growths," advises Palm, who adds that the skin may be a window into other diseases. The early diagnosis of various underlying health problems, such as hormonal or autoimmune difficulties, is frequently also possible with the use of skin tests.

Annual skin checks should be carried out in addition to other sun protection measures that may reduce your chance of developing skin cancer, such as using broad-spectrum sunscreen or avoiding indoor tanning beds.

Skincare doesn't have to be difficult, but it is vital. If you stick to these resolutions, your skin will remain wholesome and radiant throughout the entire year.