Full Body Affair: Skin Care Should Go Beyond Your Face & Neck

As we come to the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, it is time to approach skin care as a full body affair. This means extending your routine beyond the face and neck area or giving more TLC to other body parts, especially those that are commonly forgotten or neglected. 

Continue reading as we walk you through the commonly taken-for-granted body parts and share a few tips on how you can give them the love and care they deserve. 

Behind the ears

The area behind and around your ears contains sebaceous glands that can get clogged and lead to the formation of acne and cysts. This area can sometimes smell too because of the excess sebum, substance build-up (from pollution and hair care products), as well as long hair and clothing accessories that can trap oil and other body secretions. 

If you never even bother to clean your ears or include them in your daily hygiene routine, it is time to change that now. Here are a few tips for cleaning the area.

• Gently clean the outside of your ears with a damp washcloth.
• Wash behind your ears with mild or gentle soap.
• Use a dash of mild facial cleanser to clean the outside of your ears (especially if the area tends to be greasy).

Hands

Hands are one of the first areas of the body to show signs of aging. They can develop not just wrinkles and age spots, but also look dry and veiny due to aging and your lifestyle. These changes can reveal your age or even make you look older than you are. Below are a few ways to take care of your hands:  

• Use a gentle soap when washing your hands.
• Moisturize or use hand cream/lotions regularly, especially after washing your hands.
• Use gloves when doing chores or using products or cleaning products that can dry out or damage your skin.
• Consider dermal fillers for restoring volume, minimizing wrinkles, and reducing the visibility of veins and tendons.

For further reading: How to Keep Your Hands Looking Youthful

Belly button

The belly button is dark, moist, and has multiple small folds that create an ideal spot for bacteria and fungi to grow and flourish. This can result in a bad odor and even a fungal infection if the bacteria in the area multiply. Poor hygiene is the common cause of belly button lint and smell. 

• Use water, mild soap, and a washcloth to gently clean your belly button. Rinse with clean water and dry the area with a towel.
• You can also use a Q-tip dipped in mild soap and GENTLY clean the area.
• If you want to use a lotion afterward, keep it away from your inner belly button.

Elbows and knees

Both elbows and knees stretch and bend almost all the time. This constant movement can make them prone to dryness and roughness. The colder months and the use of harsh bathing products can also contribute to (or worsen) this problem, as they deplete the skin of moisture 

It is also common for the elbows and knees to become darker over time due to constant friction and pressure. Below are a few tips on caring for these areas: 

• Exfoliate to remove old and dead skin cells.
• Moisturize both areas with a lotion or nourishing body cream, especially after a bath or shower when the skin is damp.
• Avoid putting too much pressure on both areas for a prolonged period.
• Consult a skin or aesthetic doctor for products and treatments that can safely whiten your elbows and knees.

Back

We rarely give attention to our back, mainly because it is hard to reach. We do this despite the fact that the area is also vulnerable to clogging and developing acne just like our faces. If you like to be more confident in showing off your back or wearing backless outfits, here are a few things you might want to keep in mind.  

• Cleanse your back using a mild cleanser or body wash.
• Exfoliate gently to remove dead skin cells and discourage clogged pores and acne.
• Use skincare tools such as gentle back scrubbers and back lotion applicators to help you apply skin care products to the back effortlessly.
• If you’re prone to bacne or back acne, limit or avoid using oil-based skin care.
• Change dirty, sweaty clothes, as they can harbor sweat, oil, and dirt.
• Avoid prolonged and unprotected sun exposure. Always wear sunscreen and reapply every two hours.

Butt

Yes, your booty needs skin care too. This is especially true if you notice butt skin care problems such as acne and chicken skin (keratosis pilaris) or just want to have soft, smooth, and firm buttocks. Here’s how you can give this area the extra love and attention it deserves. 

• Keep the area clean using body wash or a cleanser with benzoyl peroxide if you have butt acne. When using the latter, leave it on for 30 seconds before rinsing.
• Exfoliate gently to unclog your pores and discourage butt acne. You can use a physical exfoliator or alternate with a chemical exfoliant if you have chicken skin.
• Moisturize with a body lotion or an oil-free cream.
• Avoid wearing tight-fitting pants and shorts.
• If cellulite is making you self-conscious, consider a non-surgical treatment like acoustic shockwave therapy, which can effectively reduce its appearance.
• For toning and lifting your buttocks, non-invasive body shaping procedures such as ZField Dual and ThermoSculpt can help.

For further reading: Work It: Ways to Tone and Tighten Your Buttocks

Bikini area

The skin down there is more sensitive than the skin on other areas of the body. Wearing tight clothing or underwear, for instance, can cause extra friction and pressure that can result in irritation and darkening. Shaving the area, on the other hand, can also lead to side effects such as razor burns, cuts, and ingrown hairs. 

It is ideal to treat the skin down there with more care and attention. Here are a few tips that can help:

• Don’t douche or stop douching. Stick with mild or unscented soap and use your fingers instead of a washcloth.
• The vagina is a self-cleaning organ; you do not need to wash its inside.
• Ditch the razor. Groom the area by trimming the hair or switching to laser hair reduction.
• Choose cotton underwear and avoid tight-fitting clothing, including thongs and G-strings.
• If the discoloration down there is making you self-conscious, a medical-grade depigmenting solution like Dermamelan intimate can help.
• Consider non-surgical vaginal rejuvenation treatment like Ultra Femme 360 for vaginal laxity, urinary stress incontinence, and labia remodeling

Feet

We use our feet every single day to help us get to wherever we need to go, but they are often taken for granted. They rarely get care and attention unless they hurt, become injured, or emit a bad odor. Poor foot hygiene practices, however, can contribute to many diseases and foot issues.

Here are a few tips on protecting your feet:

• Wash and dry your feet regularly and make sure to include between the toes.
• Use moisturizers or lotions to keep your feet soft and supple.
• Clip your toenail nails (but don’t cut too short) and always keep them clean.
• If you wear socks, change them at least once a day.
• Always buy or wear properly fitting shoes.
• Inspect your feet for cuts, dryness, soreness, and swelling, and apply the right treatment as needed.
• Pamper your feet with a pedicure or a foot massage.

Show love and care for every part of your body. While it isn’t going to be easy at first, consistency will give you a payoff you can be proud of. You can also make us your partner in achieving your beauty goals. Contact Cutis Medical Laser Clinics in Singapore today to learn more or book a consultation with our aesthetic doctor.