How to Take Care of Your Skin in Places You Forget About

There are a lot of areas on your skin that you should be taking care of in addition to your face: everything from your neck and ears to your decolletage, hands and feet. But how do you know what kind of regimen these often-forgotten-about areas need? We hit up Joshua Zeichner, MD, the Director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital to find out. Here’s what you need to know.

What Unexpected Places Require Skin Care?

“Wherever you have skin, you can apply a skin-care product,” says Dr. Zeichner. This means that products you are already using for your body can usually be used on areas like the hands, feet, neck, decolletage and even your ears. This also includes your hairline as well as your fingernails.

When to Moisturize Unexpected Areas

If you’re feeling like your skin is dull, dry or flaky in any of these areas, Dr. Zeichner suggests  moisturizing daily. “Areas where the skin is thick and rough often require heavy vehicles like ointments,” he says, “which will provide a protective barrier to hydrate and soften the skin, especially on the elbows, knees or bottoms of the feet.” If greasy products make you cringe, stick to creams or lotions like the CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion on sensitive areas like the neck or ears.

When to Exfoliate Unexpected Areas

To complete your regimen for these places, you can also exfoliate them as you would your face or body. “After moisturizing, if the skin is still flaking, you can use gentle exfoliation to remove dead cells from the skin’s surface,” says Dr. Zeichner. And don’t forget to apply sunscreen to any exposed areas as vigilantly as you do your face!

Photo Credit: Chaunte Vaughn

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