4 Health Apps for Your Skincare Routine
Discover how health apps can support your skincare routine, ensuring healthy skin all summer. In this article, we'll explore the importance of monitoring skin anomalies, building habits, and staying hydrated with the help of these digital tools.
Monitoring skin anomalies
Sun exposure and dehydration can significantly impact your skin's health and appearance.
When it comes to the sun, prolonged exposure without protection can result in painful sunburn, premature aging signs like wrinkles and age spots, and an increased risk of skin cancer.
Dehydration, however, can leave your skin dry, flaky, and more prone to wrinkles and fine lines. It can also lead to increased sensitivity and irritation.
In the quest for healthy skin, early detection is crucial.
Scanoma and SkinVision are two powerful apps utilizing AI and image recognition to analyze your skin for potential issues. Here's what you need to know:
These apps provide detailed skin assessments, identifying potential anomalies and irregularities.
Regular monitoring allows you to take timely action and seek professional advice if necessary.
The SkinVision app provides a quick and reliable skin assessment for moles and skin spots, using clinically validated technology and an algorithm to detect potential signs of skin cancer. Users can receive risk indications within 60 seconds, store photos for monitoring changes, and access personalized advice based on their skin type and risk profile.
This app is CE I marked by the EU. A study conducted by Thissen et al. in 2017 (1) evaluated this app for skin lesion risk assessment, finding that it demonstrated 80% sensitivity and 78% specificity in detecting (pre)malignant conditions, offering support to professionals less experienced in differentiating between benign and malignant lesions.
The Miiskin app’s primary goal is to assist users in tracking skin changes, moles, and skin care while providing asynchronous teledermatology services. The app offers features such as close-up photography for tracking changes, side-by-side photo comparison, automatic full-body imaging, mole sizing, face tracking, web access for photo comparison, and robust security and privacy measures.
However, it is essential to note that these apps do not provide diagnoses and encourage users to consult certified doctors for any concerning moles or marks.
To prevent skin damage, it is crucial to establish an effective routine
Consistency is vital when it comes to maintaining a healthy complexion.
To maintain healthy skin during the summer, here are some tips you can follow:
Protect your skin from the sun
Sun protection is crucial in summer. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to all exposed skin, including your face, neck, arms, and legs. Reapply every two hours, especially if you're sweating or swimming.Stay hydrated
Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your skin hydrated from the inside out. Aim for at least eight glasses of water daily. Hydrated skin is less prone to dryness, wrinkles, and other skin issues.Cleanse and moisturize
Wash your face with a gentle cleanser twice daily to remove dirt, sweat, and excess oil. Follow up with a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated without feeling heavy. Look for products that are suitable for your skin type.Take cool showers
Hot showers can strip away the natural oils from your skin, leaving it dry. Opt for cool or lukewarm showers to help maintain your skin's moisture balance.Wear a hat and sunglasses
Wear a wide-brimmed hat to shield your face and eyes from the sun's harmful rays. This helps to protect your skin and prevent premature aging, sunburn, and eye damage.Be mindful of chlorine and saltwater
If you're swimming in a pool with chlorine or the ocean, rinse off with fresh water afterward to remove any residue that can dry out your skin. Apply a moisturizer afterward to rehydrate your skin.Eat a healthy diet
Incorporate foods rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can provide essential nutrients for healthy skin.
This non-exhaustive list is part of the best practices to have in summer; it can seem daunting to include all these elements in your routine. Health apps might be just what you need to help you establish and maintain essential skincare habits. Here's why it deserves a spot in your routine:
Create personalized reminders to apply sunscreen whenever needed and follow a healthy diet, ensuring you never miss a step.
Set goals, track your progress, and stay motivated on your skincare journey.
Positive improvements in habit formation were observed in individuals who associated their behaviour with a daily routine or a specific time, as indicated by a study published in the British Journal of Psychology. (2)
Apps for sustainable habits
Here are two apps with engaging, friendly interfaces to help you achieve your goals in a fun, structured way.
Establishing positive habits can contribute to improved well-being and increased self-assurance. However, developing these habits necessitates considerable motivation and consistent repetition. Habio presents an opportunity to facilitate and enhance this process, making it more manageable and enjoyable for individuals.
Simply providing your weight and height information as requested makes maintaining a healthy water balance effortless with the daily water tracker. The application calculates and recommends your ideal daily water intake. Subsequently, you will receive timely push notifications from the hydration app, gently reminding you to hydrate yourself.
Harnessing the Power of Health Apps
In conclusion, health apps have the potential to support your skincare routine by offering convenient and effective ways to monitor skin anomalies, build healthy habits, and stay hydrated during the summer. With the help of AI-powered apps like Scanoma and SkinVision, you can receive detailed skin assessments and early detection of potential issues, supporting timely action and professional advice.
Additionally, incorporating habit-building apps like Habio can help you establish and maintain essential skincare practices, ensuring long-lasting results and improved well-being.
By utilizing these digital tools, you can take proactive steps towards maintaining healthy skin and enjoying a radiant complexion all summer.
References
Thissen, M., Udrea, A., Hacking, M., von Braunmuehl, T., & Ruzicka, T. (2017). mHealth app for risk assessment of pigmented and non-pigmented skin lesions—a study on sensitivity and specificity in detecting malignancy. Telemedicine and e-Health, 23(12), 948-954.
Keller, J., Kwasnicka, D., Klaiber, P., Sichert, L., Lally, P., & Fleig, L. (2021). Habit formation following routine‐based versus time‐based cue planning: A randomized controlled trial. British Journal of Health Psychology, 26(3), 807-824.
Your health care professional can help you choose
Feeling confident is important. Get all the essential information about health apps by talking to your healthcare professional.
AppGuide provides reliable information about mobile health apps that allows patients and healthcare professionals to make informed, shared decisions about using a health app to track health status or act on your priority health goals.