5 effective ways to keep your skin healthy, clean and protected

Your skin plays an important role in protecting the rest of your body, so keep it safe, healthy and clean with these five easy steps.

The sun is dangerous; we all know this. Sun exposure results in different kinds of skin damage.

• Repeated exposure greatly increases your chances of skin cancer (over 3.5 million people are diagnosed every year and 90 per cent of cases are caused by continuous sunning).
• Other results include premature wrinkling, moles, age spots and freckles.

The presence of germs and bacteria has a part to play in numerous skin problems, ranging from cold sores to acne.

• These bacteria are almost always a result of a lack of hygiene. So if you think your hands might be dirty, don't touch your face.

Washing your face is crucial to maintaining healthy skin, but if you do this too vigorously or if you scrub your face with a rough sponge, it could result in other skin problems like redness and irritation.

• Use a  soft washcloth.
• Massage your face gently and in a circular motion. Use soap, but rinse well with warm water to avoid possible irritation. Opt for dabbing the face dry instead of wiping it dry.
• Repeat this routine morning and night.

Keeping the skin moist is a textbook skincare rule. Moist skin protects from flakiness, chapping and itchiness. This can be done in a few different ways.

• Use an effective moisturizing cream with active ingredients
• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated
• Take warm (not hot) showers and limit them to less than five minutes

Do a self-assessment at least once a week. Pay attention for new developments — moles, spots, wrinkles, inflamed skin, acne, etc.

• If you identify any questionable moles, arrange to see your doctor.
• If you notice a cut or an infection, deal with it appropriately.

It is important that you know your body so that you know when to seek help. Don't be reluctant to pay a visit to an expert.

Taking the appropriate steps can help prevent many skin problems from arising.

• Staying healthy and treating your body right will minimize the chances of serious problems, but if you feel there might be something to worry about, do not hesitate to arrange a check-up with your dermatologist.