Skin

Healthy Skin Matters

 

What you know about your skin

 

Your skin is the organ that comes into contact with the rest 

of the world. It holds body fluids in, preventing dehydration

(dee-hahy-DREY-shun), and keeps harmful microbes (MYE-

krobs) out—without it, we would get infections. Your skin

is full of nerve endings that help you feel things like heat, cold, and pain. If you couldn’t feel these things, you could

get badly hurt and not even know it!

 

What can go wrong?

 

You can injure your skin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s not too hard to injure your skin. So be careful when you’re doing anything that might injure it (like using sharp tools, working in the yard, or playing a sport). Cuts, bumps, and scrapes are a normal part of life. It wouldn’t be much fun if you tried to avoid them completely. But it’s smart to wear the right protective equipment, like gloves, long sleeves, knee and elbow pads, or helmets. Be very careful when you’re around anything hot that can burn your skin. Burns, including sunburn, can be very painful and can

take a long time to heal. Burns can also get infected easily.

Sometimes, burns leave bad scars and permanently damage

your skin. If you’re helping out in the kitchen, make sure you use hot pads or wear oven mitts to protect your hands when you’re grabbing something hot. 

 

What to do when your skin is injured

 

If you do get a cut or scratch, clean it right away with soap and warm water and put on a bandage to protect it while it heals. This keeps dirt and germs from getting into the wound and causing an infection. If you come into contact with a plant like poison ivy, wash your skin and clothing right away. If you develop a rash, ask your pharmacist about over-the-counter medicines. For severe rashes, you might need to see your doctor. 

 

What to do about insect bites

 

 

 

 Watch out for insect bites, too. Try   not to scratch them, because they could get infected. Cover up your skin as much as possible when you will be in the woods, tall grass or other areas where there maybe ticks (small,8-legged bugs). It helps to wear light-colored clothing, so you can see ticks before they have a chance to bite. Ticks can carry germs that will make you sick. If you find a tick attached to your skin, get a trusted adult to help you remove it.

 

 

How do I keep my skin healthy?

 

Keep it clean

 

Washing your skin, especially your hands, is very important for keeping it healthy. Hand washing keeps you from spreading germs to other parts of your body. It also keeps you from spreading germs that could give others a cold or the flu. To help keep your skin from getting dry, use water that’s

comfortably warm, not too hot, when you take a bath or shower. If your skin is dry or itchy, try a moisturizing

cream or lotion.

 

Enjoy being in the sun—but protect

your skin

 

Your skin produces vitamin D when it is exposed to sunshine. Vitamin D helps keep your bones and other body systems healthy. However, too much sun can damage your skin and increase your risk for skin cancer. It may make your skin look old years too soon and can make it less able to fight off infections. Whenever you’re outside, use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or 45. Apply it evenly,

and have a friend or parent help you with the hard-to-reach spots. 

What about tanning beds?

 

Tanning beds don’t offer a safe alternative to natural sunlight. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) (uhl-truh-VYE-uh-lit) radiation damages your skin, whether the exposure comes from tanning beds or natural sunlight. This damage increases the risk of skin cancer and premature skin aging just like too much sun. In fact, most tanning beds emit mainly UVA rays, which may increase the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

 

 

Physical activity

 

Being physically active is good for your skin! It increases the flow of blood to the surface of your skin and brings oxygen

and nutrients to your whole body. Sweating helps to

flush out impurities from your skin. Get 1 hour or more of physical activity every day. This will be good for your skin as well as your heart, lungs, muscles, and other parts of your body. Be sure to drink enough water to replace the fluids you lose when you sweat. If you have any concerns about your health, talk to your doctor or a physical therapist to find out what kinds of activities are right for you.

 

 

A healthy diet

 

You really don’t need a special diet to keep your skin in good health. Eating a balanced diet will help you maintain a healthy weight and provide a variety of nutrients for your skin and your overall health. A balanced diet: 

 

• Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free

or low-fat dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt.

 

• Includes protein from lean meats, poultry, seafood,

beans, eggs, and nuts. 

 

• Is low in solid fats, saturated fats, cholesterol, salt

(sodium), added sugars, and refined grains.

 

• Is as low as possible in trans fats.

 

• Balances calories taken in through food with calories burned in physical activity to help maintain a healthy weight.

 

 

Get some sleep 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting enough sleep helps improve your overall health,

which is good for your skin. Teens need at least 9 hours

of sleep each night, while adults need about 7 to 9 hours.

 

 

See your doctor

 

If you find anything unusual on your skin, like a mole that changes size or color or a patch that looks red or itches, ask a parent or other trusted adult to take a look at it and arrange for you to see a doctor. For skin diseases, it’s important to see a doctor as early as possible to prevent permanent damage to your skin.

 

 

Start now

 

Healthy skin will help you look your best and feel good about how you look. Start healthy habits now while you are young—they will help you keep your skin healthy for the rest of your life.