Skincare Tips for Different Parts of Your Body

Noticed how most of the skincare products focus largely on nourishing our face? Yes, it is the most noticeable part of our body, an excellent indicator of our internal health and is also the most exposed to the harsh rays of the sun. The skin on your face is thinner, sensitive and also more vulnerable to ageing. It also has the most sebaceous glands that secrete oil or sebum to waterproof and naturally moisturises your skin but an imbalance can often lead to acne and blocked pores, blackheads or whiteheads. Supermarkets and beauty stores stock their shelves with face packs, masks to manage your pH levels, serums, lotions and all possible cures for facial skin-related issues but what about the rest of your body?

We carefully devise our facial skincare routines and rightfully so, but the skin on the other parts of our body also requires attention. Maybe a slightly different regimen because not all skin is the same. For example, our hands have thicker skin since they perform more mechanical functions and the palms are hardly sweaty so that we have a stronger grip. There must’ve been an instance where you tried a skincare product on your hand and experienced no reaction, but it might’ve caused a rash or redness on your face. And thus it is important to assign different products or DIY concoctions for your overall skincare.

SCALP

You know how we have bad and good hair days? We blame our diets or even the weather for how the hair feels and looks, but we forget to look at our scalp that plays a pivotal role in healthy hair production. Products available in the markets are more dedicated to making hair stronger and lustrous with little focus on scalp care. We only pay attention to it when we notice dandruff. The scalp, like your face, has the most sebaceous glands producing sebum which then creates a layer of the protective hydrolipid film which helps in hair production. If the hydrolipid layer deteriorates then you suffer from dry hair, itchiness and hair breakage.

Scalp care needs your intervention and this is how to do it.

Brush your hair daily to get rid of dead skin cells that might clog the pores and prevent hair growth.
Shampoo your hair using a mild shampoo that helps balance your scalp’s pH levels.
Use essential oils like lemongrass, rosemary, lavender, chamomile, etc and gently massage your scalp. You can wash your hair the next day.
Just like your body, you must exfoliate your scalp once a month. There are exfoliation masks now available for your scalp. You may also make one at home using two tablespoons of ground oatmeal and brown sugar mixed with two tablespoons of hair conditioner. After shampooing your hair, take some of this mixture to scrub your scalp and later rinse.

NECK & CHEST

Wrapping yourself up using a stole or a turtleneck is quite impossible especially when the temperature soars. You’re chest and neck are exposed to harmful UV rays of the sun which damages the collagen and elastin that lets your skin stretch and bounce back. This area has fewer oil glands compared to your face and can suffer from dryness, wrinkles and freckles. Droopy skin or ‘chicken neck’ is the result of the sun damaging your skin cells which then hinders their renewal process.

In order to maintain the smoothness of your décolletage, you must apply sunscreen before stepping out in the sun of at least 30 SPF and don’t forget to moisturise. There are special neck creams now in the market though you can also apply your face cream to the area. Exfoliate this area at least twice a week in order to get rid of dead skin and keep yourself hydrated.

ARMPITS

Your underarm skin is super sensitive and more prone to darkening, irritation, itchiness, redness and bumps especially since it does not get much light and air. The presence of sweat glands in this region also makes it more susceptible to bacteria growth causing strong body odour. We usually tackle these issues by using deodorants or antiperspirants and rely on various hair removal methods which would further deteriorate the skin’s health. Your underarms, too, require an unfussy beauty routine where one needs to regularly clean the area using a mild, anti-bacterial soap or cleanser. You must also exfoliate to get rid of the dead skin that causes skin darkening. Moisturising your underarms with body lotion or shea butter is not to be skipped.

BACK

Suffer from bacne or back acne? Or does it often feel dry and itchy and you keep looking for someone to scratch that itch? Turns out that even your hair products sliding down your neck during a shower or the post-workout sweat clog your back pores leading to annoying breakouts. To avoid the stinging pimple-popping sessions, be sure to wash your back after you’re done with your hair. You can also use salicylic acid-based washes to clear up acne and remember to exfoliate. But don’t scrub too hard or it’ll over dry your skin.

Maintaining a full body skin care routine can seem daunting since our lives are packed with schedules that give us almost no time to splurge or pamper ourselves. A quick daily shower does not imply total skin care but a more few steps like exfoliation or a deep scrub, moisturising and shielding your skin from UV rays, a balanced diet, sufficient water intake and even sleep can help promote your skin’s health. But remember, not all skin is the same and would behave slightly different from where it is on your body. Its need would also differ and will require different care or treatment. It is always great to get your dermatologist’s opinion on what suits your skin best.