Do you enjoy the outdoors? I get into being outside. I have lived and worked in various countries for decades and always found richer experiences out of doors. To this day, I spend most of my time alfresco unless I am dodging rain.

The variety of environments and exposure to elements over that length of time have caused damage to my skin. If you have them, our injury or surgery scars have their own stories to tell. We are profiting with new equipment and treatments from years of continual funding for research in medical sciences. 

Some of these new technologies are responses to medical needs, and others are for cosmetic segment demands. Office treatments or non-surgical therapy clinics provide umbrella services to address any concerns. 

I recommend evaluating your likely dermatology practitioner with these thoughts in mind. They will want to schedule an assessment with you. Assess them first. Australian dermatology is a 4-year program. Do they have a degree from a reputable institution? There is a substantial workforce shortage (sounds familiar) in this field. It is a highly competitive and lucrative practice. 

Your practitioner should be accredited by recognized industry bodies and currently licensed by governing authorities. Ask for documentation for your records. Do not forget to ask for insurance documentation that clarifies acceptable levels of coverage. Read these documents thoroughly. 

Continue your research when you schedule your first screening and visit. Staying with your dermatologist over the long term has increased benefits in identification and prevention. Be certain this is the office you want to build that relationship with. It's your skin, take it seriously.

We spend an average of 4 hours outside every day and the epidermis is our largest organ. We need to take care of it as our first line of defence against environmental damage. I give credit to whoever made our bodies because they are amazing at regeneration. With a little help, the advantages accelerate repairs and firm up resistance.

Raise your hand if you have experienced or know someone who has had to deal with; rosacea, shingles, psoriasis, white sun spots, laugh lines, wrinkles, injury, or surgical scars.  My hand is still up. The frustrating thing is there is no magical cure-all combination that fits all of us. 

That variety of needs increases the importance of a proper evaluation or assessment for treatments by a qualified and active practitioner in the industry. They will know all of the latest options in microneedling, chemical peels, injectable fillers, microdermabrasion, RF or LED therapies, etc. 

As we talked about, this profession takes years of study. What you can study and incorporate are self-care initiatives. Restrict exposure to UV by time or with appropriate apparel. Use protective cremes with peptides in the morning and rejuvenating lotions before bed. Stay hydrated. 

That is all reasonable. I hear people talk about quitting coffee for skin health. Let’s be reasonable, and remain friends. How about we control our acidity with other sacrifices? Sodas, sweetened beverages with real or fake sweeteners, and certain grains can increase acidity. 

Find a happy balance to mitigate factors you can control, regular check-ups with your dermatologist for prevention, and simple therapies to help us feel like sharing our smiles.