The working mom’s lifestyle wreaks havoc on your skin. Late nights, skipping meals, hormonal swings, and the drying effect of office airconditioning strip us of a natural, beautiful glow. The problem gets worse during summer. All that “fun in the sun” exposes our already-sensitive skin to chlorine and ultraviolet radiation. The result? Dryness, wrinkles, age spots, discoloration, and dullness. In short, looking old.

That’s why it’s important to take extra good care of our skin. We can’t switch to a perfect lifestyle (10 hours of sleep? You’ve got to be kidding), but we can protect it against some damage, and help it heal faster.

Defense against UVA and UVB

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So prom is looming in, huh? It’s high time to prepare your checklist. Before you get hooked into prom dresses and prom shoes exploration, take into consideration your face first. Get the lowdown on facials for clearer, radiant skin!

Finding the right facial for a certain skin type has been such a constant battle, and you’ll now this if you’ve been burdened with problem skin. There are tons of facial salons today that it’s difficult to decide which one will suit you best. Here are some guidelines (or pre-prom advice) that will help you choose the right place, the right people, and the right facials just for you.

1. Skin Analysis – Your dermatologist or, in some cases, a “facial therapist”, will examine your skin under a lit magnifying glass to diagnose any existing skin problems like acne, clogged pores, discoloration, broken capillaries, fine lines, and so on. Only then ill she know the treatment suitable for your skin type.

2. Cleansing and Massage – After securing your hair away from your face, all traces of dirt, oil and makeup will be removed with a hypo-allergenic soap or cleanser. Then she will use a light scrub to exfoliate the top layer of dead skin cells no matter what skin type you are. Massage stimulates the circulation and brings oxygen to the skin cells and gives you that glow after a facial. It also releases tension and relaxes the facial muscles.

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Our nails are designed to protect the fleshy fingertip and help us manipulate small objects. Our nails are incredibly absorbent; they can take in 20 to 25 percent of their weight in water. When they do, the keratin (the same protein that makes up hair and skin) swells and splits which can cause the nail to become weak and brittle.

Although nails are actually dead tissue, they grow in a matrix of living flesh beneath what is called the nail bed. A complete nail grows in six months — as the cells push up from the fold, they harden and become keratin. A fun little-known fact: if you are right-handed, your nails on the right grow faster because the additional activity stimulates circulation. And believe it or not, nail biting actually stimulates nail growth (through this isn’t a good enough reason to do it).

All of us should really have our own manicure kit and bring it to each appointment we go to (or have your manicurist keep it for you) to protect us against the risk of infection. Even though most nail salons sterilize their equipment between clients, don’t put yourself at risk of infection from someone else’s germs, bacteria, or fungus, as these are highly contagious.

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When your mother nagged you each time she caught you picking your skin, there was a reason. Here’s the short list of why mom was right:

Picking your skin.

This can lead to infections from staphylococcus, temporary discoloration of the area, delay of healing and worse, a scar. If it needs some TLC to heal, then check with your doctor.

Habitually scratching or rubbing the skin.

This can cause the skin to take on a leathery texture that actually may be more symptomatic than the original problem.

Ignoring an itching or bleeding mole.

This is a significant symptom associated with skin cancer. While not all symptomatic moles are melanoma, better to find out early than too late.

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Tired, swollen aching legs are all possible signs of pending varicose veins. This problem affects nearly 50% of middle-aged adults; women are affected about four times as frequently as men. Preventing varicose veins isn’t always possible, but you should do everything you can to avoid the hassle of treating them. Here’s a list of things to do to prevent onset of varicose veins:

Exercise Regularly

Take 30-minute or longer walks several times a week or participate in other exercises, such as bicycling or jogging, to strengthen leg muscles and improve blood circulation. Before beginning an exercise program, check with your doctor, especially if you have health conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, or breathing difficulties.

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