Here’s what dermatologists want you to know about body skincare
As for skincare aficionados, we’re the first to spend hours on end scrolling through the latest and greatest facial product launches. However, when we got to thinking about it, we couldn’t help but wonder why we spend so much time dedicated to our faces without thinking nearly as much about the rest of our body—a much larger area of skin.
So we reached out to two of the industry’s leading dermatologists to determine whether body skincare is even important. Ahead you’ll discover whether or not you need to tend to the skin below your chin, as well as which products can help along the way.
Is body skincare necessary?
The same way your face requires TLC to look and feel its best so does your body. “The body is often an area that gets overlooked,” says Alabama-based board-certified dermatologist Julie Harper, M.D. “When an older patient comes in for a full-body skin check, the best-looking skin is on their abdomen and/or behind, which has been protected for the majority of their life, as opposed to their arms, legs, shoulders, and back of their hands, which have often been neglected.”
NYC-based dermatologist Dendy Engelman, M.D., adds, “The face is not the only area that is susceptible to skin issues, like skin cancer, age spots, acne, skin disorders (such as rosacea or eczema), dry patches or flakiness, redness, and saggy skin.” As such, it’s important to know how to properly care for your skin from head to toe, as well as which skincare products will bring about the best results. More on that below.
What body skincare products are the most important?
Compared to the face, the body doesn’t require quite as much maintenance when it comes to skincare. While the face requires frequent serum, oil, retinol, and acid applications, Engelman says that the body can typically farewell with proper cleansing, moisturizer, SPF, and occasional treatments.
When looking for a daily body sunscreen, Harper says that any zinc-based product with an SPF of 30 or higher will be a good choice. “If you’re going on a warm vacation or to the beach, make sure you look for something with a bit of a higher SPF, and always make sure your sunscreen says ‘broad-spectrum,’ which helps protect the skin against both UVA and UVB rays,” she adds.
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