Don't forget that your skin, while coming into contact with all of the above and more, protects your body and provides a barrier to help stop environmental hazards and bacteria from entering the body and making you ill. If your skin isn't in good condition and you aren't treating it well, then it won't be able to perform its duties as well as it needs to, and you could be at risk of many different health conditions and illnesses.
Caring for your skin doesn't need to be complicated, but it does need to be done on a frequent basis so you should find the right skincare plan that works for both your skin type and lifestyle. For example, some people need to know Dry Skin: Causes, Treatment and Prevention tips, while others need to know how to combat oily or sensitive skin to help them avoid worsening skin concerns and ensure their skin is healthy from the inside out. While beauty is only skin deep, when it comes to the skin, you need to go deeper than the surface to keep it looking and feeling good. The following tips can help.
Drink Water
Water is vital for your body. Your body uses water for every action it makes, both internally and externally. Breathing, talking, sweating, functioning. If you are dehydrated, your skin won't look its best, and you won't be as healthy as you could be. People who drink plenty of water are less likely to have lines, scars, and wrinkles and will look younger since their skin is properly hydrated. They will be in better physical condition overall as well.
You need at least 8 cups of water a day, but keep in mind that you also get water from other sources like fresh fruit and vegetables; melon, cucumber, and celery, for example, all have high water counts, even drinking tea and coffee counts (just make sure it not loaded with sugar or other sweetener to keep it healthy). Avoid drinking your water all at once and space out your intake. If you feel thirsty, tired or dizzy, chances are you are already slightly dehydrated. Drink smaller amounts at regular intervals during the day to stay properly hydrated and keep your skin healthy and supple.
Moisturize
External elements like your environment and the weather can affect your skin on a near constant basis. It makes sense that it needs support to help protect it from stressors and remain healthy. This is where proper hydration and a good skincare routine come into play. You can benefit from daily facial and body moisturizers to help your skin maintain its barrier and avoid becoming dry, cracked, and dull. These days moisturizers are packed with many different ingredients that can help you reverse various skin issues or support healthy skin. Choose a moisturizer that suits your needs, and use it on your whole bod at least once daily. Many people prefer to do this post-bath or shower, but regardless of when you do it, make sure that you do.
Moisturize
External elements like your environment and the weather can affect your skin on a near constant basis. It makes sense that it needs support to help protect it from stressors and remain healthy. This is where proper hydration and a good skincare routine come into play. You can benefit from daily facial and body moisturizers to help your skin maintain its barrier and avoid becoming dry, cracked, and dull. These days moisturizers are packed with many different ingredients that can help you reverse various skin issues or support healthy skin. Choose a moisturizer that suits your needs, and use it on your whole bod at least once daily. Many people prefer to do this post-bath or shower, but regardless of when you do it, make sure that you do.
Warm, Not Hot Water
Long soaks in the bath or long showers using hot water can strip your skin of the natural oils it needs to stay healthy. So while taking regular hot showers or baths can be relaxing, they might actually be doing your skin more harm than good. Swap to cooler showers with warm water to help preserve your skin's good health and avoid doing extra damage. The same with long soaks; limit them to avoid additional damage to your skin and when you do take them, make sure you are nourishing your skin afterward to help replenish anything it has lost. This will be helpful to help avoid drying you skin and reduce itching, irritation. and inflammation issues.
Use Sunscreen
Sun safety should be a priority for everyone of all ages. Prolonged sun exposure can cause untold damage to your skin, from premature aging, increased lines and wrinkles, sun spots, and even cause skin cancer. Protecting your skin from the sun's harmful rays needs to be a habit that you practice regularly to ensure you aren't exposing yourself to unnecessary damage. Be sure to apply sun protection to your face and any exposed parts of your body before you leave the house each day. You can use facial moisturizers with added SPF in them and you should be wearing at least 30 SPF on a daily basis. For those with fair skin or those who spend more time outside, you might need to use a higher factor for more protection.
Top skincare tips for the sun include;
- Apply sunscreen before sun exposure, then every 2 hours throughout the day.
- Avoid the sun at its hottest, typically between 10 am and 4 pm, but mostly the midday sun from around 12 pm to 2 pm.
- Wear loose, light clothing that can help to protect your skin while allowing it to breathe and not sweat being covered in high temperatures.
Smoking is not just terrible for your health, it is also terrible for your skin. Smoking narrows the tiny arteries in the skin's outer layers. This narrowing effect reduces blood flow, which makes the skin look paler. On top of this, smiling also causes the following;
- Oxygen and nutrient depletion in the skin
- Reduced collagen and elastin in the skin
- Increased risk of wrinkles from the facial action of smoking
- Increased risk of squamous cell skin cancer
Healthy Diet
You are what you eat, after all, and if you have a diet lacking essential vitamins and minerals, this will manifest itself through your skin, weight, and overall health. To give your skin the best possible chance of being healthy and performing its vital functions, you should be consuming a balanced diet to nourish it.
Your skin needs vitamins and minerals found in many antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables, as well as a diet rich in whole grains, fish, and lean meats rich in omega−3 fatty acids. There is no direct link as of yet between a poor diet and acne, but improving your diet will give your skin the best chance of remaining healthy and supporting any acne treatment you might be undertaking as well, giving your body everything it needs. Also consider eating more of these foods that offer sun protection.
Sleep
The quality and the amount of sleep you get can directly impact how your skin feels and functions on a day-to-day basis. When you sleep, your body performs vital operations to keep fit, healthy, and ready for the next day. It needs a good amount of sleep in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle to be able to do this so you reap the benefits.
Neglecting your sleep will eventually start to show in your skin as it becomes less supple, drier, and dull. 7-8 hours sleep per night is recommended for adults, and you need to be getting as good a quality of sleep as possible. Adopt good sleep habits and rest promoting practices. Removing sources of blue light from the bedroom can be a starting point as can working out the perfect sleeping environment for yourself. Avoid any food and drink to close to bedtime as well as anything that can interfere with your sleep like excessive alcohol consumption or spicy foods that cause acid reflux or heartburn.
Reduce Stress
Easier said than done; however, reducing stress in your life can positively impact every aspect of your life including your skin and help you to reduce the risk of breakouts and other skin issues. There are many ways to manage your stress, and even making sure you are doing the things mentioned here can help lower stress levels along with exercise, self care and talking through your issues with someone else instead of bottling them up. Much like how "you are what you eat" applies to your body and your diet, the same goes for your mental and physical health; if you are practicing healthy behaviors to support psychological and physical health, like reducing stress and working out, this will show in your skin and your physical wellness and vice versa.
Conclusion
Most of the time, people are already practicing habits that promote healthy skin as part of their daily routine. But if you have fallen into bad habits and want to reverse any skin damage or support getting your skin back to full health, these tips can help you repair your skin and ensure you are on your way to a healthier, glowing version of yourself.
Eat well, sleep well, drink plenty of water, and cover up in the sun, and you have the basis for good health in place. From here, you can make bigger, more positive changes in how you care for your skin to help you ensure it is in the best condition possible.
This is a contributed post.
Photo: Elle Korea
No comments
Post a Comment