The Forgotten Places: all links so far

the forgotten places

• Are you forgetting something? THE FORGOTTEN PLACES—face & body 

• Balding Heads

• The Décolleté—where’s that?

• The Ears

• The Elbows

• The Eye Area 

• The Hands

• The Neck

• Sun Protection: Face, neck, and hands

Sun Protection: Face, neck, and hands

I want to turn your attention to a few specific areas on your body where sun exposure is continual. These areas are the face, neck, and hands. They are usually exposed to sunlight all year round, especially if you live in continually warm conditions. In cold weather climates, your body is protected with clothing in the winter and therefore is safe from the sun. But unless your face, neck, and hands are constantly covered up, these areas will still be exposed to UV rays no matter what the climate or time of year.

Although exposing any part of your body to too much UV light is not desirable, it is the face, neck, and hands I am most concerned with here. Remember, sun damage is cumulative from birth. Because your face, neck, and hands are exposed throughout the year (much more so than your body), this tissue is going to show the ravages of sunlight much more quickly than the skin on your body.

The early signs of overexposure include lines and wrinkles, causing the skin to age prematurely; pigmentation spots, sometimes called liver, age, or sun spots; and flaccid tissue, skin that is sagging or has lost its firmness. It is important, therefore, to keep the face, neck, and hands protected throughout the year, minimizing their exposure to the sun. Obstruction (including clothing, hats, and gloves) is best for keeping direct sunlight off the skin, and wearing sunscreen on these areas helps to filter the damaging rays of the sun.

I have always worn “driving gloves” since I was in my early 20s. With my hands up on the steering wheel, I could see how much sun exposure they were getting and I would always hear older people complain about how old their hands looked. When I say driving gloves, these days they are actually work gloves that I have retired and now use exclusively for driving, but any glove that covers the tops of your hands will do. If you decide to wear gloves while you’re driving, don’t choose ones like in this photo. Why not? The very skin you are trying to protect (the tops of the hands) is left unprotected!

In The Forgotten Places: The Neck (link below), I go over some information to help keep the sun off your neck, especially when driving. And I think (I hope!) we all know how to protect our faces in the sun, but the hats article below will give you some ideas as well as a link to another article about how much sun protection your personal hat of choice might be giving you.

Keeping our face, neck, and hands in mind when outside getting sun exposure will help make sure these places are no longer forgotten or neglected when it comes to protecting them from ultra-violet sun rays.

For more information, see:

• The Forgotten Places: The Neck
• Let Bed Bath & Beyond save your skin!
• Hats, Hats, Hats! Protect your skin in the sun

OK, this is extreme. However it is important to keep
your skin protected from direct sunlight!

The Forgotten Places: The Ears

The ears are definitely a Forgotten Place. Many of my clients are surprised to hear me say they need to start cleaning in and around their ears. I see a buildup of debris behind the ears of a lot of clients who come in for facials. Because I do look over the ears, front, in and in back of, I have a first-hand account that the ears need more attention from many people—perhaps you? 

The front and back of the ears. Cleansing around your ears (front and back) is important. It may seem silly to say, “Wash behind your ears,” but debris does collect in this Forgotten Place. When I’m examining a client’s skin, I always lift the earlobes and check behind the ears for congestion that may be hidden there. Many times I find a buildup of dead skin and oil that could easily be removed by simply remembering to cleanse back there on a regular basis. It doesn’t take much effort, just a swab behind the ears as you’re cleansing your face. More often than not I see congested pores in front of the ears too. Make sure to get the cleanser all the way over to your ears because blackheads do collect there.

Along with cleansing, you’ll want to exfoliate in front and in back of your ears as well. You don’t need to get aggressive, but do get some of your exfoliator in that long ridge behind your ears, in back of your earlobes, and around to the front of your ears. 

The tops of the ears. Whenever you will be out in the sun for an extended period of time (exercising, golfing, gardening, walking, etc.), don’t forget to put sunscreen on your ears, especially the tops. Over and over again I see clients with sun damage on their ears. If you think about it, even when you wear a baseball cap or visor, your ears are totally exposed. You don’t need to glob a bunch of sunscreen on your ears, but when applying sun protection to your face, don’t forget your ears.

For more information, see:

• Ear Blackheads—do you have them? Here is WHAT TO DO if you do!
• Can an aesthetician extract my ear blackheads?
• Blackheads in all the wrong places

The Forgotten Places: The Neck

Even though you (hopefully) are taking good care of the skin on your face, you may be neglecting your neck, something I consider a Forgotten Place. So if you aren’t already, you’ll want to start including your neck area in everything you do. That means The Basics 1-2-3 plus exfoliation and sunscreen. A clay mask isn’t necessary unless you have a lot of breakout on your neck.

Keep in mind that when you’re driving, your neck can (and does) receive a lot of sun exposure. The visors in most cars don’t have any kind of extension to shield the driver’s side (or passenger’s) from the sun. Tinted window glass may help prevent some UVB sunlight from penetrating, but not UVA; there isn’t a whole lot you can do except try to avoid long periods of exposure.

If you’re driving long distances, try wrapping a scarf around your neck to protect it from getting too much sun. Consider keeping a light cloth or towel in your car to drape over your shoulder and arm closest to the window. This can help keep your skin from burning while driving for extended periods of time.

When I know I’ll be in my car for a long drive, I’ll bring along a long-sleeved, white, cotton crew neck top. I don’t always put the top on, sometimes I just slip one sleeve over my left (sunny side while driving) arm. This really does help to keep that skin protected from the sun. At least more so than if I didn’t drape anything over that area.

For more information, see:

• The Basics 1-2-3 Program for proper skin care
• Let Bed Bath & Beyond save your skin!—for another idea on how to protect your neck (and face) while driving
• MYTH: You need to use a separate cream for your neck

The Forgotten Places: The Eye Area

Although I have written about the importance of eye creams in this blog, I wanted to include the eyes again for emphasis. I really feel the eye area is a Forgotten Place when it comes to proper skin care.

Many of my clients have never used eye cream before. I must admit, up until I was 30 I hardly ever used eye cream. Then when I hit 35, I started to use it with greater frequency. And now I apply eye cream many times throughout the day. Sometimes youth is wasted on the young. It usually isn’t until the lines actually make their presence known that we decide to pay attention to this Forgotten Place.

As I’ve said previously, you have no functioning oil glands directly under your eyes; therefore you need to use cream (sparingly) to keep that tissue soft. This will not erase wrinkles, but it will keep them from furrowing into the skin. Make your under-eyes a “remembered place.”

As a visual reminder, I have eye cream everywhere. It’s on my nightstand, at my writing desk, and in my bathroom. I also have some at my desk in my office as well as my gym bag. I use it all the time. Not in a thick layer, but just enough to keep that delicate, under-eye tissue soft. At any given point in the day, I’ll touch the skin under my eyes to see if it feels dry. If it does, I reach for my eye cream. (I don’t have far to reach!)

Granted, I have easy access to all these tubes of eye cream because I sell it at my office. But consider buying more than one container of eye cream. Although the investment does cost you more initially, in the long run the cost evens out. You will go through several containers more slowly than if you had only one. Whichever method you choose, don’t forget to use eye cream every day (at least twice a day).

When you apply sunscreen to your face don’t bypass the undereye area. Wearing sunglasses with UV filters will also help to curb ultraviolet light exposure. Sunglasses will keep you from squinting, lessening the potential for lines.

For more information, see:

• EYE CREAM: WHY you want to use it & HOW TO apply this all-important skin care product
• Eye Cream Quick Tip 
• Are you forgetting something? The Forgotten Places—face & body

The Forgotten Places: Balding Heads

A head without hair is truly a neglected and Forgotten Place. I’m not going to tell you to exfoliate and moisturize this area, gentlemen (although those are not bad ideas). But it is extremely important to keep the sun off the top of your head. This is true whether you are shaving that area; perhaps you’re follicly challenged; or you are just losing or have lost the hair up top. You are literally a target for skin cancer if you don’t take precautions against sun exposure.

The best and most obvious protection would be a hat. But if you can’t, don’t, or won’t wear one, applying sunscreen to your bald head would be wise. There are companies that have spray-on sunscreens, making it easy to get protection on those places where your hair might be thinning or absent. My strongest recommendation is to not fool around when it comes to the sun because in the end, the sun will win.

For more information, see:

• Sunscreen: Toss it out!
• SUNSCREENS: The WHAT & WHY plus the importance of REAPPLYING
• Men’s Skin Care Dos & Don’ts

The Forgotten Places: The Hands

We tend to worry about our hands (the tops of our hands) long after the damage has occurred, which makes this area one of The Forgotten Places. If you’re young, start now to take care of your hands, so they will reflect this care when you’re older. And even if you are older and haven’t taken very good care of this area, it’s never too late to start. Your skin will always reflect the care you give it. Here are a few suggestions.

First, whenever you exfoliate your face and neck, exfoliate the tops of your hands. It’s a small area, so it doesn’t take much time (or product), but getting rid of the dead cells here will go a long way in keeping your hands looking youthful and feeling smooth.

Next, after you have applied moisturizer to your face and neck, smooth any excess product on your hands. If they are chronically dry, apply a special hand cream or the cream you’re using on your body before you go to bed. Try to apply it as often as you can throughout the day as well.

Another suggestion is to wear gloves. They can really help to keep the tops of your hands hydrated as well as protected from the elements. I have clients who sleep with gloves on to ensure an overnight moisturizing effect. Rubber gloves are great if your hands are in water a lot or even a little. Wear them while doing the dishes or any other time your hands will be immersed in water. Driving with gloves on will help keep the damaging sun off your hands. Wearing gloves in cold weather will go a long way toward protecting the tops of the hands from damage, not only from the sun, but also from the dry, cold air. 

Finally, wearing sunscreen on the tops of your hands is important. When applying sunscreen to your face and/or body, don’t forget the tops of your hands.

For more information, see:

• Dry Hands? A simple solution for happy, hydrated hands
• Pigmentation is so one-sided for some helpful tips
• Yonka’s CREME MAINS: Repairing Hand Cream for a truly great (and effective) hand cream

The Forgotten Places: The Décolleté—where’s that?

The décolleté is the area below the neck and above the breasts. Most women don’t consider taking care of this skin until it is already damaged. Low-cut dresses show the décolleté. Bikinis expose the décolleté. And rarely, if ever, do we consider exfoliating, hydrating, or using sunscreen on this area. The décolleté definitely qualifies for one of The Forgotten Places.

Because gravity pulls the breasts down (to the ground, unfortunately), the skin of the décolleté is also pulled down with age and time. In addition to this stretching, I also see a lot of sun damage on this area, which causes tissue to become flaccid and sag. Sun can also cause damage to the capillaries and blood vessels. What you might have after years of overexposure is a décolleté that is permanently freckled and brown with a slightly leathered look and a lot of broken capillaries. In other words, it has been damaged by the sun.

Start by exfoliating your décolleté. It will help to reflect the healthy skin hidden underneath, eliminating dead cells that are rarely actively removed. After your bath or shower, be sure to get body lotion on your décolleté. There is no need to use the more expensive face and neck creams on this large area, but don’t forget to rub some body cream there.

Next, don’t forget sunscreen. Apply and reapply if you’re going to be playing out in the sun. Even if you’re not in a bathing suit but have a low-cut top or opened-up shirt, put sunscreen on your exposed décolleté. Keep in mind that even wide-brimmed hats don’t shade the décolleté. So unless this area is covered up with clothing, it is constantly exposed to the sun. Try to become aware of how much sun this and other Forgotten Places are receiving. You might be surprised.

For more information, see:

• Understanding Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR)
• Skin changes due to sun exposure
• Do you have dry, itchy skin on your body?

Sun damage on the décolleté. Due to the weight of the breast tissue, 
it will pull the skin even more. Do your best to 
keep sun off this gravity-sensitive area!

The Forgotten Places: The Elbows

When was the last time you put anything on your elbows? This area is truly a Forgotten Place on many people—including those as young as teenagers.

Moisturizing is the most important thing you can do to keep your elbows from looking like they just stepped off an elephant. If you have a special hand cream, smooth a little on your elbows as well. This skin needs attention and should become a part of your Forgotten Places routine.

You can also exfoliate your elbows. It’s not something I personally subscribe to, but exfoliation certainly helps skin, no matter where it is located. Be careful while using an exfoliater on your elbows. Although this skin may feel tough, it is very thin skin and can be sensitive to too much abrasion.

As far as sunscreen goes, when putting it on your arms, get some on your elbows too. But for the most part, moisturizing is the main step you want to include when taking care of your forgotten elbows.

For more information, see:

• Do you have dry, itchy skin on your body? 
• Yonka’s CREME MAINS: Repairing Hand Cream (although this is a hand cream, I think it would do wonders for rough, dry elbows)
• Are you forgetting something? The Forgotten Places—face & body

Are you forgetting something? THE FORGOTTEN PLACES—face & body

Narda Lebo illustration from Timeless Skin

As an aesthetician, my main focus is the skin on the face. Throughout my career I have also stressed the importance of treating your neck tissue the same as your face. I also talk about the tops of the hands, an area that receives a lot of sun throughout our lives. But there are other areas that I call The Forgotten Places that you will want to pay attention to.

Along with the neck and hands, these sometimes neglected places consist of the décolleté (the area above the breasts or chest and below the neck), the ears, the eyes (eye area), the elbows, and balding heads. The skin all over our body ages, not just on the face, so read the articles (listed below with links) to learn more about what to do for these all important yet forgotten places.

When caring for The Forgotten Places, there are three main things you’ll want to keep in mind. They apply to your body as a whole, but in the forgotten places blog posts, you’ll be concentrating on those places you tend to forget. These three steps include using sunscreen, exfoliating on a regular basis, and using a moisturizer or hydrating cream. If you start caring for The Forgotten Places now by incorporating these three steps, you can enjoy healthy, well cared for skin all over.

Sunscreen. One reason these places look forgotten is because they receive quite a bit of sun. Sun damage brings with it loose, sagging skin along with pigmentation spots (also called age, sun, and liver spots), and the potential for cancer. Start now (it’s never too late) and remember to include The Forgotten Places when you’re applying sunscreen to your face and body.

Exfoliation. Because exfoliation is so essential to the overall health of your skin, it is important to exfoliate thoroughly and often in most of The Forgotten Places. Getting rid of the dead skin buildup will enliven your skin, making it feel smoother and look healthier.

Hydration. Finally, extra care needs to be given to The Forgotten Places to ensure they get adequate hydration, day in and day out. Keeping the skin well-moisturized makes it feel soft and supple, keeping dry and flaky skin away.

Your skin is alive and responds to care. Any attention you give The Forgotten Places will be remembered and reflected in the healthy look and feel of these different spots. With just a few short minutes per day, you can help to extend the life of these areas and enjoy healthy skin—everywhere.

Here are all The Forgotten Places that are currently posted:

• Balding Heads
• The Décolleté—where’s that?
• The Elbows 
• The Eye Area 
• The Hands 
• The Neck
• The Ears

For further information, see:

• Top 10 reasons for not wearing sunscreen: What’s your excuse?
• All About Exfoliation
• Why you want to use a moisturizer