Happy National Healthy Skin Month, Lowcountry! As the change of weather can often cause your skin to go haywire, this month is the perfect time to take a look at your current skincare routine and see if there are any opportunities to incorporate healthier habits.

In honor of this celebratory occasion, we’re sharing some facts to help keep you informed about the importance of having healthy skin:

• Skin is the largest organ in the body
• The average person has about 300 million skin cells
• Changes in your skin can sometimes signal changes in your overall health
• Your skin sheds its dead skin cells on a daily basis, creating a new layer of skin every 28 days
• Every square inch of skin also holds up to 300 sweat glands
• Every inch of skin has its own stretchiness and strength designed especially for its position on the body; For example, the skin on the bottom of your heels is thicker compared to the skin on your arm
• Daily use of an SPF 15 or higher sunscreen reduces the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma by 40 percent and reduces the risk of developing melanoma by 50 percent
• For healthy skin, you need Vitamin A (treats sun damage and cellulite), Vitamin D (reduces spots and growths), Vitamin C (antioxidant, regenerates Vitamin E and provides sun protection) and Vitamin E (antioxidant, protects against sun damage and aging) — and lots and lots of water
• More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the U.S. than all other cancers combined
• One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70
• The AAD encourages everyone to conduct skin self-exams on a regular basis — at least once a month
• Individuals who notice any unusual spots on their skin, including those that are changing, itching or bleeding, should make an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist

We also encourage you to take the time to educate yourself on a variety of skin issues, such as:

• Eczema – Find out how this common skin condition is treated.
• Rosacea – Discover the cause, effect and potential treatment for rosacea.
• Acne – Find out how to keep those pesky pimples at bay.
• Psoriasis – Check out the different treatment options available for psoriasis.
• Skin Cancer – Learn all about the ABCDE’s of skin cancer!

Browse our blogs (above) on these common skin issues. Spot something out of the ordinary? Schedule an annual screening with one of our board-certified dermatologists to make sure your skin is as healthy as it can be, year after year. Now is the time to make your skin health a priority — take control today!