eTopical Precious Finds
Spotless skin that glows is everybody’s dream! Alas, our dream often shatters because we neglect our skin’s needs. Spotless skin requires attention and care, but most of us fail to provide the hydration and protection our skin demands. Nurses are no different. Even though nurses provide care to their patients 24/7, they often forget about their skin. Nurses work grueling 12-hour shifts that leave them drained and worn out. Their skin also suffers the consequences and ends up looking dull and wrinkly. However, this does not mean nurses have to look untidy and drab. Nurses should still look perfect and pristine, especially their skin.
This brings us to our main question; why is fresh and radiant skin essential for a nurse? Simply because nurses meet thousands of people daily, and their look is the first thing people notice. How a nurse maintains her skin says a lot about her. A well-kept nurse with healthy skin radiates elegance and affirms confidence. She also leaves a positive impact on the patient. On the other hand, a nurse with unkempt skin suffers from low self-esteem and depression, because of which she cannot serve her patients properly. Thus, soft and supple skin is valuable for nurses.
How can nurses achieve such perfect skin? Nurses should routinely do skincare to maintain their skin. Jotted down are six skincare tips for nurses to follow in-home or at a job.
- Moisturize:
Moisturizing makes the top of our list because it is the easiest tip to follow. Whether you are working late night shifts or studying for a BSN program, you can easily maintain radiant skin by moisturizing. Moisturizing helps fight off dryness. Dryness occurs because of dehydration of the skin, and it leads to dullness and cracking. Consequently, the skin looks grey and worn out. Moisturizers prevent this from happening as they provide the skin with much-needed hydration. Moisturizers with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and glycerin trap moisture within the skin without clogging up pores and thus plump up the skin. So, whenever your skin needs a little oomph, moisturize!
- Exfoliate:
Did you know that cleansing alone is not enough to maintain healthy skin? It only gets rid of the dirt and oil on your skin and does nothing for your clogged-up pores. So what can you do about the nasty grime in your pores? Exfoliation! It is the key to clearing up our pores and attaining fresh skin. It removes dead skin cells, and the best part is you do not have to exfoliate daily. Exfoliation is required only 2-3x a week and takes 1-2 minutes. Moreover, various exfoliants are available; you can choose whatever suits your skin or make your own from ingredients present in your pantry.
- Use antioxidants:
Our environment plays a vital role in the health of our skin. If our environment contains pollutants like particulate matter, bacteria, and exhaust gasses, then the chances of skin problems within the community increase. The particulate matter within the air reacts with the skin to form free radicals and reactive oxygen species, both of which destroy the skin and lead to hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and fine lines. It also accelerates aging and increases the chances of skin cancer. Therefore, to keep their skin healthy and safe: nurses need antioxidants. Antioxidants are compounds that neutralize free radicals, thus retarding aging. Mostly, antioxidants are available orally. However, topical antioxidants are also available. Topical antioxidants specifically work on the facial skin to stimulate collagen production and guard skin against free radicals. Resultantly, the skin remains calm, elastic, and refreshed. Topical antioxidants are present as serums or creams containing vitamin C, vitamin E, niacinamide, retinol, and polyphenols. Only 2-3 drops are required to achieve the antioxidant effect.
- Protect your skin from the sun:
According to research carried out by the department of dermatology Harvard, around 90% of skin problems occur due to sun damage. Sun damage can lead to premature aging, sunburns, pigmentation, uneven skin texture, and skin cancers. It occurs due to different ultraviolet rays present in the sunlight. UVA rays are the most detrimental as it destroys the skin inside out: while UVB light is less damaging and only affects the outermost layer. However, these UV rays alongside ozone lead to mutation within the DNA. To prevent or reduce the harm caused by sunlight, nurses should apply sunscreens with SPF 30 or higher every three hours. SPF will shield the skin from the harmful rays of the sun: thus preventing any photodamage. The nurses will stay looking youthful and spotless.
- Massage your skin:
Nothing is more relaxing than a good old face massage. Face massages relax the muscles and de-stress the skin. A simple five-minute massage can increase blood circulation, drain lymphatic discharge, and release congestion. Moreover, facial massage helps fade scars, relieve pain, and brighten the skin. Facial massages are of various types, and nurses can use facial oils with massages for additional benefits. To carry out a facial massage, you can use your fingers or a massaging tool such as rose quartz rollers, ice globes, gua sha, and electrical massagers. Thus, all nurses have to do is squeeze this magical technique into their schedule, and voila, nurses will be looking perfect and pristine in no time.
- Heal your hands:
Did you forget that your hands need just as much care as your facial skin? No problem, this last tip got your back. Nurses’ hands help others become better, but they often end up needing help. The constant scrubbing, washing, and sanitizing leaves the hands rough, scaly, and discolored. Moreover, the skin starts flaking off, and nails become brittle. However, nurses cannot stop any of these activities because disinfection is necessary. So what can a nurse do to keep her hands healthy? A nurse can begin with using non-irritating hand washes and sanitizers. Similarly, nurses can avoid latex gloves and opt for non-latex ones. Nurses should also keep thick hand creams, cuticle oils, and nail filers with them at all times. After each wash-up, nurses should ritually apply moisturizers. Lastly, nurses should avoid extremely hot or cold water.
Working as a nurse can be quite tiring and gratifying, but it does not always have to come at the cost of your health. A nurse’s skin health is just as important as her mental health, and she should look after it. The above-mentioned tips enable nurses to perform skincare during their busy schedules. Therefore, whether a nurse is at home, with a patient, or in Operation Theater, she can look healthy and beautiful.
