Keep Skin Looking Good
in the Tucson Desert

The human body has numerous organs including the heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, and liver. But one human organ is far and away larger than any other: the skin. Your skin is really quite amazing. It's waterproof, flexible, dustproof, expands, contracts, breathes, and is essential to the body's cooling and heating system. Oh, and it's also self-sealing. This is the largest mass of our bodies, and as amazing as it is, it can't do everything.

Everyone's skin is different. Once every few months I go to a spa with two of my friends. One of our trio always gets the treatment for skin which is too oily, while the other two get treatments for dry skin. My younger brother rides a dirt bike in the desert areas around Tucson two or three times a week. He never uses sunscreen, but never does anything else to his skin, and it always looks great. (I always caution him to use sunscreen, but…) Now on the other hand, if I go out into the desert for a two hour weekend hike, even using sunscreen, by the time I get home my skin is already so dry that I can feel it pulling in my face.

There can be no universal "just right" treatment for skin, but there are some general rules that can be followed to help keep your skin healthy, flexible, and younger looking. Your skin will be with you for your entire life, and while it is always healing and reviving itself, it will serve you much better if you give it some help along the way. So, if you are losing that desirable 'flush of youth' look, consider adopting a more comprehensive skin care program. Start with some basics, and then revise the program to suit your own skin.

Remember that proper skin care, as with most things, follows this rule: an ounce of prevention is better than tons of cure. In the desert areas of the world, such as in and around Tucson, this rule deserves even more attention than elsewhere. The drying winds, the intense sun, and the generally arid condition of the air make life for your skin extremely difficult. The following basic suggestions can make it easier for your skin to keep its youthful look – but only if you follow them.

Using Sunscreen
No matter what your age, it's critical to protect your skin from the damaging rays of the desert sun. In the 1950's everyone wanted to buy and use products that enhanced the sun's effects on their skin. Many people still do this today. Now we know the immense damage the sun causes our skin, and the informed thing to do is to safeguard against the harsh damaging effects caused by the UV rays from the sun. This is true for no other part of the body more than for the sensitive skin on the face. Your face is, essentially, always exposed. For maximum protection, use a moisturizer or foundation followed by a sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Use this every day. UVA and UVB rays contribute greatly to wrinkles and burns, not to mention being the root causes of skin cancer – now the most common form of cancer.

Use a good moisturizer
As human skin ages, it tends to lose moisture, and therefore becomes drier. Dry skin clearly shows more wrinkles than well-hydrated skin shows. Here in Tucson this effect can be seen in fruits and vegetables that are left out on the kitchen counter. Watch how fast a tomato's skin will show tiny wrinkles if you put it out unprotected on your counter. Quality moisturizers create a barrier that keeps the skin from losing essential water to the air around it. It also provides the skin with essential oils and nutrients.

Today's scientifically developed moisturizers are far more sophisticated and effective than the nighttime-applied cold creams of years gone by. If you start a regular moisturizing routine, your skin will retain hydration, look younger, and have a more supple texture, thus reducing the appearance of fine lines. Moisturizers also prepare the skin for the application of makeup (or sunscreen). Using a quality moisturizing base will also help prevent the cracking or flaking of makeup.

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