We are in the golden age of Body Care and entering this new universe is simpler than it seems.
Nowadays, maintaining a daily facial skincare routine is as basic a habit as brushing your teeth. From soaps to sunscreens, masks, serums , tonics, acids and creams, the number of products available on the market is huge. But what about the skin on your body ?
“Although often neglected, taking care of the skin on your body is just as important as taking care of your facial skin. After all, this skin is also exposed to external aggressors on a daily basis, from the sun to pollution, which can cause dehydration and premature aging, leading to loss of skin elasticity and firmness, and even the appearance of blemishes and skin cancer,” explains Dr. Lilian Brasileiro
Fortunately, the market and consumers are beginning to realize the importance of body skin care. The projection is that by 2024, the skin care market will move around US$ 186.60 billion worldwide, with US$ 32.17 billion coming from the body care sector alone, ranking second, behind the skincare industry.
In addition to the market, the world of Body Care is also a growing trend on social media. On TikTok, the hashtag #bodycare has more than 12 billion views distributed among more than 730 thousand videos published on the subject.
But how do you maintain a proper Body Care routine?
According to Dr. Lilian Brasileiro, the skin on the body has fewer sebaceous glands, which makes it naturally drier than the skin on the face. Therefore, there is no point in using facial moisturizing products on the body, as these tend to be lighter.
«The body should receive products with active ingredients with greater moisturizing capacity in heavier vehicles, such as lotions and creams, which should be applied right after bathing, while the skin is still damp. Many people also like to use oils on the body, but it is important to note that they do not have the ability to really moisturize the skin, as they do not penetrate properly. They only form a film that gives the skin that pleasant texture and sensation. However, they can be used together with a moisturizer in cream or lotion form, and applied afterwards», advises the doctor.
What products to use?
In body care, a growing trend is the use of more potent active ingredients in this region, such as the famous retinol and alpha-hydroxy acids, for example, glycolic and lactic acids. The use of such active ingredients in the body is interesting, providing a series of benefits, but it is essential that they are incorporated into products.
“These active ingredients must be adapted for use on the body, generally in a lower concentration compared to that used on the face, as the skin on the body is more sensitive to the action of these substances and can suffer from dryness and irritation more easily if used incorrectly or in a very high concentration”, warns the specialist.
Before moisturizing the body, regardless of the product and active ingredients used, the skin in the region must be adequately clean, which must be achieved using soaps that have a pH compatible with the skin in the region so as not to cause dryness.
“When washing, do not use hot water, which can also worsen dehydration in the area, and do not use loofahs. Loofahs and sponges, together with soap, remove the lipid layer, which is the skin’s natural protective layer. Therefore, frequent use can leave the skin dry and susceptible to allergies and infections,” emphasizes Dr. Lilian.
Instead of a loofah, if you are looking for a body exfoliation, opt for using, twice a week, exfoliating products specifically for the skin of the body, which should have larger particles incorporated into creamy soaps for use in the bath or mixed with natural oils that promote easy application and spreadability for a homogeneous exfoliation.
Last but not least, photoprotection must be carried out, which is essential to protect the skin from damage caused by solar radiation, one of the main causes of accelerated skin aging, in addition to increasing the risk of skin cancer.
“The product should have at least SPF 30 and should be applied every morning. Ideally, it should be used before getting dressed, applying it even to areas that will be covered by clothing, as not all clothing is capable of combating the damage caused by UV radiation, only those made of fabrics with such protection. Furthermore, this way, the application is more uniform,” he recommends.
In addition to cosmetic brands, aesthetic procedures are also focusing on body skin care. And the goal is not only to treat common complaints such as stretch marks and cellulite, but also to improve the quality of the skin as a whole. This is the case with HydraBody, which removes impurities, dead cells and residues while providing intense hydration to the body’s skin, helping to improve its texture and make it smoother to the touch, revitalized and rejuvenated.
“The procedure includes skin cleansing, gentle exfoliation and extraction of impurities associated with deep hydration, protection and infusion of antioxidant products”, explains dermatologist Dr. Renato Soriani .
“In this way, we also improve blood circulation, promoting healthier skin, and combat problems such as folliculitis, acne and ingrown hairs.”
Regarding problems such as stretch marks and cellulite, Dr. Renato warns about the importance of being careful with cosmetics that promise to solve these changes when selecting products to follow the Body Care trend. Cosmetics for cellulite, for example, have very limited performance.
“Cellulite is a change that is predominantly located in the subcutaneous region (fat) and there are no creams with proven efficacy that act on fatty tissue,” says the specialist. In the case of stretch marks, the action of these products will depend on the condition they are in. “Red stretch marks can respond well to topical treatment with active ingredients that are really effective for this purpose, such as retinoic acid. But even these products have limited action and do not work in the treatment of white stretch marks,” he states.
For effective treatment of cellulite and white stretch marks, the specialist recommends carrying out procedures such as Morpheus microneedling radiofrequency.
“Morpheus uses needles that penetrate the skin to release deep radiofrequency energy, promoting heat to remodel the collagen damaged by stretch marks. In addition, the lesions generated by the needles, when healing, stimulate cell regeneration, the proliferation of stem cells and blood vessels, and the synthesis of collagen and elastin, improving the appearance of these changes,” says the dermatologist. This collagen stimulation also helps to properly support the fat tissue, improving the orange peel appearance of the skin in the treatment against cellulite. “In addition, the radiofrequency energy is capable of consuming the fat located in the treated area, thus contributing even more to the improvement of cellulite,” he adds. Finally, the doctor reminds us that the treatment of these changes must be individualized on a case-by-case basis. “And, even though daily home care is not capable of specifically treating problems such as cellulite and stretch marks, good skin quality, achieved through these habits, is essential for good results,” concludes Dr. Renato Soriani.