Keeping your skin healthy and young looking is a life-long – but inexpensive and common sense – effort, according to Isabella Gyening, M.D., a dermatologist with Kelsey-Seybold’s Clear Lake Medical Center Clinic at 17448 Highway 3 in Webster.

“The best thing any of us can do for our skin is to avoid the sun whenever possible,” Dr. Gyening says. “Even moderate exposure, the kind that produces those healthy-looking tans, causes damage that can lead to skin cancer and speed the natural aging process.”

Dr. Gyening suggests the following:

• Wear a dual-purpose sunscreen (blocks out UVA and UVB rays) with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 on all exposed skin. Sunscreens should be applied about ½ (one-half) hour before exposure to the sun and reapplied every 1-1/2 to 2 hours during outdoor activity, or after swimming. Dr. Gyening also recommends wearing a broad-brimmed hat, sunglasses and protective tightly woven clothing whenever possible. “Ask your dermatologist for products that may reduce the effects of sun damage and beware of over-the-counter agents that claim to reverse signs of aging,” says Dr. Gyening.

• Cleanse your skin twice a day with a mild cleanser and use an oil-free moisturizer. Avoid astringents as these may irritate normal to dry skin and may actually increase oil production in oily skin types.

• When choosing cosmetics, look for agents that are oil-free and non-comedogenic (acne-producing), as these will not clog pores. Remember that some inexpensive products purchased in your local drug store may work as well as their costly counter parts purchased at the cosmetic counter.

• Eat a balanced diet, drink at least six 8 ounce glasses of water and get regular exercise for maintaining overall health which contributes to younger-looking healthy skin.