9 Reasons Body Skincare Matters: Give Your Body Love Too

I’m shockingly bad at looking after my body skincare…….in comparison to my facial skincare. If we’re all honest, I’d say we’d all own up to that fact.

Why? Well, one look in a Sephora or a Boots store and you will see the overabundance of facial skincare in comparison to body skincare products, and adverts on TV are certainly swayed to facial skincare. It’s hardly surprising we don’t give the skin on our body much of a thought!

Here’s a crazy fact when we consider the proportion of facial skincare products and body skincare products on our dressing tables: the skin on our face and necks contributes to only 3.5% of the total amount of skin on our body. What!?

As a nurse, however, who’s spent nearly every day of my working life looking after the skin on people’s lower extremities, I know how vital body skincare is. Dare I say more important than our face (we don’t typically get skin ulcers on that location as an example – thanks gravity!)

This whole other world of skincare that I had been neglecting has recently been brought home to me since entering the wonderful world of perimenopause. My reliable oily and soft skin on my body is getting dry and I have started to notice the telltale signs of the puff of dead skin flakes in the air when taking my socks off – I’m afraid I’m rather partial to a bit of oversharing!

So, because of this slap-in-the-face realisation, I have added taking better care of the skin on my body to my recent 2024 personal goals. Now seems a good time as the cold weather is notorious for drying our skin out, but it also gives me a good length of time to get myself sun and limited clothing ready for the summer! 

If you’re a facial skincare lover and need a bit of convincing that your body skincare routine needs a bit of attention, then here are 9 reasons why body skincare is important.

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1. Body Skincare Protects Against Skin Conditions

I’m kicking this off with, and getting out of the way early, the 2 most important but arguably least sexy of all the reasons: our health.

There are a plethora of quite nasty skin conditions out there and, trust me, when you see them up close and personal, there won’t be any question about taking care of the skin on your body.

Many of these common skin conditions, after all, can be prevented or managed through regular moisturising, body oil and exfoliation. 

Conditions like keratosis pilaris (aka chicken skin), which causes rough, bumpy patches on the arms and legs, are exacerbated by dry skin and can be improved by keeping the area well-moisturised. Gentle exfoliation can also help remove excess buildup of dead skin cells that contribute to the rough texture. 

Here is a great Healthline article on dry skin you may find interesting

Properly caring for the skin barrier function with hydrating body creams and lotions (potentially with prescription skincare products) can help manage eczema flares and reduce instances of itching and irritation. 

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2. Body Skincare Protects Our Future Health

Apart from protecting us from current skin conditions, body skincare also protects against future skincare conditions.

If left unchecked, current skincare issues can result in further, frankly awful skin conditions as we age. I’m going to guestimate 70% of a District and Practice Nurse’s caseload is spent on these cases, and we would all love a time machine to go back and advise these patients on prevention rather than cure!

I’m not going to go into further detail here, but if you are interested and/or need further convincing (or have a morbid curiosity!), look at the Google images of varicose eczema, hyperkeratosis and leg ulcers.

I mention these three skin concerns specifically because they are common disorders that can be prevented by a simple weekly body care routine. 

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3. Body Skincare Slows Down Ageing

Ok, onto the much less preachy more fun stuff!

The same ageing process we fear for our faces also happens on the rest of our skin. With my use of facial retinol, I’ve been recently imagining myself in the future with a face that looks in my 40s but with a body that looks in my 70s!! Not a pleasant thought…..

As I’ve already mentioned, the skin on my calves has gotten drier recently and I’ve noticed a wrinkle above my knees. Ack!

Medically the drier lower legs are typical – they are further from the heart and have to deal with gravity – but it’s still a frightening wake-up call that these changes occur even in your early to mid-40s (when our oestrogen levels start to deplete).

A well-rounded body skincare routine can play a crucial role in minimizing these effects. By using products containing ingredients like retinoids, peptides, and antioxidants, we can stimulate collagen production, a protein responsible for maintaining the skin’s firmness and elasticity. 

Collagen acts as a structural support for the skin, and as its production diminishes with age, regular application of these skincare ingredients can help plump the skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines, and restore a more youthful complexion.

Skin elasticity (the skin’s ability to stretch and then return to its original shape) is another key aspect of anti-ageing skincare. Loss of elasticity is a common characteristic of ageing skin, leading to sagging and a less taut appearance.

Skincare products that contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid and retinol can contribute to maintaining skin elasticity by promoting hydration and supporting the skin’s natural regeneration processes.

Why are we only dealing with these ageing signs on our faces?

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4. Body Skincare Protects Against Environmental Damage

Our skin is constantly assaulted by environmental aggressors like air pollution, UV radiation, and free radicals that break down collagen and accelerate ageing. Protecting our body’s skin from this environmental damage is crucial for maintaining smooth, youthful skin. 

Many body skincare products now include antioxidant ingredients that help neutralize free radicals and pollution particles before they have a negative effect. Antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, green tea extract, and niacinamide can form a protective barrier when applied to the skin.

Let’s not forget our SPF as a (crucial) part of our body skincare.

Broad-spectrum sunscreens in body lotions and creams do provide some protection against UV rays, but a separate SPF is the gold standard body skincare product to reduce cumulative sun damage that can lead to sunburn, pigmentation issues, and an increased risk of skin cancer.

Here’s a post I wrote about the pros and cons of using mineral sunscreen over chemical sunscreen

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5. Body Skincare Prevents Acne Breakouts

A regular body skincare routine helps prevent annoying breakouts and acne flares in problem areas. 

Our bodies continuously shed thousands of dead skin cells each day which can clog pores typically on the back, chest, and shoulders which can lead to body acne. Cleansing and exfoliating these areas removes accumulated sweat, excess oil, and dead skin buildup. This is particularly helpful if you have sensitive skin.

Using a body wash containing acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid can help kill bacteria in pores while clearing away debris.

A word of caution: if you’re prone to body acne, have a read of this post on skincare pre and post-exercise.

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6. Can Boost Confidence

Caring for your body’s skin can have a profound positive impact on self-confidence. When skin is smooth, evenly toned, and free of irritation, it enables us to feel more comfortable and confident in our bodies. 

Regular exfoliation leaves skin looking glowing and vibrant by removing dull, dead skin cells to reveal fresher ones underneath. Proper cleansing and moisturising help even out skin tone and reduce the appearance of dark spots or redness that can make us self-conscious.

Using targeted treatments on problem areas like the knees, elbows, and bikini line smooths bumpy or irritated patches. All of these skincare efforts combine to create skin we feel good about showing off.

Of course, there is the little matter of us feeling more…..sensual shall we say, when we know our skin feels more soft for someone else to touch. I think you know where I’m going with that!

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7. Body Skincare Prevents Irritation From Shaving

An effective body skincare routine can help minimize annoying bumps, ingrown hairs, and razor burn resulting from shaving. 

Exfoliating dead, dry skin allows hairs to grow out without becoming trapped. This prevents ingrown hairs and allows for a closer shave. 

The combination of gentle exfoliation before shaving, and rich moisturisation after, softens the skin and creates an environment where irritation can’t take root.

Being diligent with body exfoliating and moisturising can transform shaving from a necessary nuisance into a pleasant (ish!) experience free of bumps!

8. Is Necessary For Self-Tanning

I’m not entirely convinced this should make the list as I’m sure those who partake in self-tanning know full well they need to prep their body beforehand.

Maybe not, after all, I’m not sure I did this correctly the first time I used a self-tanner (but that was back in the 90s and there wasn’t anything we could have done to make those products not look atrocious on us!)

Exfoliating before applying self-tanner is crucial for removing the dull, dead skin cells on the surface that can cause uneven patchiness. This ensures the self-tanner is absorbed by the newer, smoother skin underneath rather than clinging to flaky bits on the surface.

I have learned to embrace the ghost-white, reflective glow of my skin now so don’t bother with self-tanning, but if I did, you better believe I’d be all over prepping my skin correctly. If this is something you are toying with, body skincare will be your best friend! Trust me!

9. Encourages Relaxation and Self-Care

I know it can sometimes seem like a chore (I often have reached the impatient stage when moisturising my body after a shower – a mindset I’m working on changing!), but body skin care routines can, and should, be a form of self-care and relaxation, providing a moment to unwind and pamper yourself. An evening set aside for just you and a variety of body care products could just be what the doctor ordered, whether that be a body scrub, body serums or body oils.

These essential beauty products also allow us to hit the shops to buy these products! So many great ways these products enrich our lives – also the great ideas for gifts for the skin care body lovers in your life!

Talking of relaxation, if taking yourself off for a massage is on your self care to-do list, a consistent body skincare routine helps prepare the skin to relax and reap the benefits from massage fully.

Hydrated, moisturised skin more readily absorbs massage oils and lotions compared to dry, flaky skin. The oils and lotions are retained by the skin which nourishes the skin even further.

As busy mums, we should be embracing any of these moments we can get, so here’s a post on self care that we should all be aiming for.

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The skin on our body is just as vulnerable to the issues we spend a fortune on our face for….issues like acne, wrinkles, dryness, hyperpigmentation and general dullness. Issues we can face no matter what skin type we have.

Investing in the whole of our skin now will undoubtedly cause you less time, money and upset later in life. A full body care routine at home now might be all you need to prevent a lot of time with a nurse like me as you get older!

Our skin is the largest organ of our bodies and is our main line of defence against the outside world. I’d say the 96.5% that doesn’t always get a look in, deserves a bit of love….don’t you?

Please have a chat with me: How good are you at skincare on your body? What information would you like in this area? I’m planning on writing more about this subject so let me know in the comments below….