When I was in the sixth grade we would play a game called ‘pinch.’Two boys would pinch each other’s arm as hard as possible and the first one to say ‘give’ lost. I learned right away that I had really thin skin with many nerve endings and Terrance Bove, my classmate, had really thick skin and was apparently oblivious to pain.
A youngsters skin is usually healthy but as you age your skin will eventually become your enemy and will lose elasticity, produce sun spots, acne, hives, itchiness in the winter, become oily or worse yet suffer from cancer.
I have had my fair share of all the above so I have developed a keen awareness of my skin and its problems. But I am not alone in being obsessed with skin.
When I was younger I did a lot of TV work to discuss the psychology of sports for ESPN, ABC, and Fox and Friends. Whether you’re a man or a woman when you arrive at the studio you first go to the green room and then are escorted into a makeup room whereupon a cosmetologist puts on gobs of makeup to cover up blemishes and get rid of the oily shine.
It is there that I learned to empathize with women who are forced to put on make-up every morning.
Novelists also write about skin. The most poignant and moving passage in the novel “Hawaii” by James Michener describes a scene where the central character who was a courageous Chinese woman would spend time each night slowly inspecting her body for any signs of leprosy.
I also recall an opening scene in a Dostoevsky novel where one of the brothers carefully inspects his face to see if there are any new pimples which will ruin his day. John Steinbeck started his masterpiece “The Grapes of Wrath” by describing a waitress who would keep inspecting a lump under the skin on her neck.
I have always been amazed at the skin tone of professional athletes. I was the team sport psychologist for the New York Power, a professional women’s soccer team and recall how heathy and glowing their skin was. The amount of exercise they did apparently cleansed their skin and made them look radiant.
When you have good skin you look really good so it behooves us to try our best to maintain its health.
Conversely, neglected skin can cause big problems so here are 7 tips to follow:
1. Cover up: I have recently noticed that many of the ladies on the LPGA tour have taken to wearing long sleeve shirts to protect their skin. You can do the same when you are in the sun.
2. Wear a hat: When my father got to be very old he developed a nasty cancer on his head which he refused to have treated. This is a good lesson. When you go out of doors, bring a hat.
3. Sun Screen: Years ago no one seemed to worry about sunscreen but we know better now. It is interesting to watch a golf pro in the locker room get ready to play. They don’t just dab on sunscreen they literally bathe in the stuff.
4. Hydration: There is differing opinions about hydration and skin health but my belief is that you ought to stay as hydrated as you can to maintain healthy skin and to flush out toxins.
5. Moisturize: The only way to cope with itchy dry skin is to systematically moisturize each day. The best way to do this is after you shower when the pores are still open. My good buddy dermatologist Robert Paltzik, M.D. said to avoid itchy skin use soap and hot water sparingly on your skin as you shower so that the skin’s natural oils stay put.
6. Visit your friendly dermatologist: It pays to get checked up by a dermatologist. I visit mine monthly thanks to a childhood filled with golf and sunburns.
7. White is better than tan: Everyone wants to have that tanned outdoorsy look but every dermatologist will tell you to rethink that attitude and begin to embrace the white look. The sun is life-giving for the planet but too much of it creates big problems for the skin.
Skin is your biggest and most exposed organ so learn to protect it every day.
