The skin is the largest organ of our body. For the coming new year, let me send across some simple but essential skin care and beauty resolutions for all members of the family.

RESOLUTIONS FOR YOUR CHILD –

1) Use only fragrance-free and hypoallergenic creams and soaps for your child. Try the Cetaphil or Aveeno range of products.
2) Skip the talcum powder.
3) Protect your child against insect bites. Insect bite allergies start at the age of 2, and may continue till the age of 7 or 8 when your child finally outgrows the allergy.
You can protect your child by closing the doors and curtains in the evenings. Dress your child in full-sleeved garments after 5 pm. Use mosquito mats and mosquito nets. And use gel based mosquito repellents like Good Knight Cool Gel.
4) Teach your child the importance of proper genital hygiene from a young age.
The penis, scrotal area and anus should be cleaned with water and a gentle soap at least once a day. No attempt should be made to try and clean the inside of the urethra, as this can cause injury and serious damage. Special care should be taken by uncircumcised men to clean the head of the penis and the inner side of the foreskin. Warm water is sufficient for this purpose.
For girls, the external genitalia should be washed with soap only once a day, typically after passing stool. Excessive washing with soap must be avoided. Washing should be performed using a singular front to back motion to avoid bacteria around the anus from coming into contact with the vagina or urethra.
Hand washing should be a part of genital hygiene after using the toilet. Teach your child to wash each time after passing urine. This is a basic hygiene necessity that several men and women ignore.
5) Teach your child the importance of proper dental hygiene from a young age. For babies younger than 6 months of age, wrap a clean wet cloth around your index finger and use it to wipe your babies tongue and gums clean. Teething rings should be cleaned regularly and chilled before use. When the first tooth comes in, use a soft bristled tooth brush without tooth paste and continue massaging gums and teeth with a clean wet cloth. Make your child’s first dental appointment by his first birthday. Brown or white stains on the teeth indicate dental decay, and must be treated quickly or they may damage the permanent teeth as well, even before they appear. You can start using baby toothpaste after 18 months of age, in consultation with your local dentist on brands with or without fluoride. Do not let your child fall asleep with a bottle or pacifier. By age 3, your child should be completely weaned off the bottle, pacifier and/or thumb sucking. Brush their teeth twice a day, and ensure that they do not swallow the paste (you can do that by cleaning out their mouths with a clean wet cloth). By age 6 or 7, your child should be able to brush on his own.

RESOLUTIONS FOR TEENAGERS –

1) Start using deodorants.
2) Do not squeeze, scratch or pop your pimples. Consult a dermatologist instead.
3) You are still too young for facials and waxing.
4) You are still too young for make-up. Use it only on special occasions.
5) You are still too young to colour, straighten or perm your hair.
6) Most teenagers lack the discipline to take good care of their skin. But the bare minimum requirement is to wash your face twice everyday and use a sunscreen with added moisturizer. This applies to both boys and girls.
7) Beautiful skin and beautiful hair cannot be achieved by using beauty creams or imported shampoos alone. It must come from within. Take iron supplements and Vitamin C regularly. Drink plenty of water. Do not resort to starvation and crash dieting to lose weight.
8) Do not neglect your pimples. You may not care about them now, but these pimples will leave scars on your face, which will never fade away. This will turn into a lifelong regret. Consult a good dermatologist for help.
9) Most boys and girls will quickly grow tall in these few years. Girls will gain weight and develop breasts and larger hips. This will lead to stretch marks appearing on the buttocks, hips or arms. Stretch marks are harmless but they are permanent scars across your body. Apply baby oil on your skin before every shower. And use a body lotion soon after a bath. Exercise regularly to avoid excessive weight gain. And drink plenty of water. Well-hydrated skin is less likely to develop stretch marks.

RESOLUTIONS FOR WOMEN –

1) I am sure most of you are using face washes and moisturizers regularly. But most women neglect their eyes and hands. The skin around your eyes is thin and delicate and the first to show signs of ageing. Your hands will give away your age as well. After the age of 30, every woman must use a good hand cream and under eye cream on a daily basis. Use good quality sun glasses with Poloroid and UV filters.
2) Throw away old makeup and clean your makeup brushes regularly.
3) Use a conditioning hair mask once a week.
4) Eat almonds and flax seed on a daily basis.
5) Take your supplements. Focus on Iron, Biotin, Vitamin C and Omega-3-Fatty Acids for good skin and healthy hair.
6) Never buy beauty creams from a chemist. Consult an experienced Aesthetic Dermatologist.
7) Get at least 7 hours of sleep every night. You will be doing your skin AND your body a favour.
8) Treat pigmentation issues early. Almost all brown skinned women over the age of 25 have at least one pigmentation problem on their face. These dark spots will get deeper and more stubborn over the years. So when you start noticing freckles, age spots, uneven skin tone or under eye dark circles, consult a dermatologist to treat it aggressively and effectively.
9) Move from creams to serums. Serums are far more concentrated, penetrates deeper into the skin and gives you more value for your money.

RESOLUTIONS FOR MEN –

1) Give up smoking!
2) Start using a sunscreen every day.
3) Fight against body odour. Eat healthy, stay away from tobacco, use an antibacterial body wash like Sebamed Fresh Shower, and use foot deodorant.
4) Take care of your teeth. Floss every day and do not forget to brush at night.
5) Always wash your face before going to bed.
6) Increase your intake of fruits, vegetables and dietary fibre.
7) Go easy on the hair styling products.
8) Get a head-start on your fight against balding. Consult a dermatologist at the first sign of hair thinning.
9) Reduce your intake of mutton and beef. Increase your intake of fish and nuts. Keep your weight under control to enjoy a long, healthy and productive life.

RESOLUTIONS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS –

1) Take your calcium supplements, but consult your doctor first if you suffer from kidney stones.
2) Don’t stop exercising. You may have to reduce the duration and intensity of your exercise. Consult a qualified physiotherapist who can create a good exercise regime for you based on your age and health constraints. But continue to exercise your body and mind on a regular basis
3) As you grow older, your skin will become dry and itchy. Avoid soap, and use soap-free body washes instead. Women must only use lactic acid based feminine hygiene washes to clean their private parts.
4) If you have been itching all over for more than a few weeks, without any visible rashes, then consult a dermatologist. Full body itching in elderly men and women is often a sign of internal illness. It might be something innocuous like a sluggish thyroid gland. Or it may be a sign of cancer like Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
5) Take good care of your feet and nails. Foot ulcers and nail infections could turn dangerous at this age.
6) By this age, some of you might be colouring your roots every fortnight. Use “PPD-Free” hair colours for a safe and hassle-free experience. They are now available in various colours. These are easy-to-use permanent colours in drip-free and stain-free formulations. Consult your dermatologist for more information.