Do you moisturize your skin every day? If not, you should start. Moisturizer isn’t just about vanity. It has many benefits that can help your skin stay healthy. There is no such thing as an age limit for skincare and moisturizing. As we grow up, the needs of our skin may change, but day-to-day maintenance of your skin is essential for all ages. Skin naturally produces oils, but these can be stripped away by sun exposure, cold air, and harsh cleansers. Moisturizers help to add water back into your skin and prevent dryness.

The benefits of moisturizing go beyond preventing dryness, though. With so many moisturizers on the market, choosing the right one can be a daunting task depending on your specific skin type. Moisturizers are categorized into light lotions ideal for oily or acne-prone skin, creams that are great for ordinary to dry skin, and thicker ointments that work best for dry or irritated skin. Here are the hidden benefits that you may not have known about when it comes to using moisturizers daily.

1. Prevents Wrinkles

One of the hidden benefits of using moisturizer daily is that it helps to prevent wrinkles from forming. This is because it helps to keep your skin hydrated and plump, which keeps your skin from sagging or forming fine lines or wrinkles. It doesn’t mean that you won’t get them over time, but they will be less noticeable if you take care of your skin correctly by using an appropriate moisturizer daily.

2. Prevents Eczema and Stops Breakouts

Another benefit of using this product regularly is that it can help prevent eczema from developing. Eczema is an inflammatory condition that causes redness and itching, and it’s another condition that can be improved with regular moisturizer use. It is caused by inflammation in the skin, which can be triggered by dryness or irritation.

The oil glands underneath the skin are stimulated by dryness, so when water evaporates from the surface of dry skin, more oil gets squeezed out. This is why people with acne-prone skin are more likely to suffer from breakouts if they don’t use a moisturizer. So what is the best way to combat this issue? Apply a non-comedogenic moisturizer once or twice a day.

3. Reduces Dry Skin

Dry skin is itchy skin, but moisturizing daily provides a protective layer of moisture to keep the itching at bay. This is especially helpful for people with chronic dry skin conditions like psoriasis. Dry skin typically results from a lack of water in the top layer of the skin — the stratum corneum — which is made up of dead cells in a matrix held together by lipids (fats), cholesterol, ceramides, and fatty acids. Moisturizers work by preventing water loss through this outermost layer of our skin, thus keeping it hydrated.

4. Helps Prevent Cancer and Melanoma

Not only does a moisturizer make your skin soft and supple, but it also helps protect against skin cancer and melanoma, the deadliest form of cancer. It provides an extra layer of protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays and antioxidants that help repair damage done by the sun. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, moisturizers are a crucial step in preventing skin cancer because they protect against daily environmental aggressors that can cause damage to your skin. The foundation recommends using moisturizers that contain SPF 30 or higher every morning and reapplying throughout the day as needed.