You don’t need an intensive skincare routine to keep glowing and healthy skin from head to toe. Your skin is your bodies first layer of defense against the conditions of the outside world, so it needs to be taken care of to stay in good shape.
Good skin care and maintaining healthy habits can slow down the effects of natural aging and protect your skin from the elements. Keep reading to learn the best tips to improve and preserve your skin health.
Use Proper Sun Protection
Exposure to UV radiation can be harmful and do severe damage to your skin health over time. Protecting yourself from the sun may not seem important, but it can preserve your skin over the span of your life. In fact, intense exposure to the sun can cause age spots, wrinkles and can increase the risk of developing certain cancers.
In order to protect from overexposure to the sun, you can take the following precautions:
- Apply sunscreen – The best sunscreen for protection will have an SPF of at least 15. Apply a generous amount of sunscreen if you are going to be out in the sun for an extended period of time. If you are swimming or sweating, reapply the sunscreen every two hours.
- Wear clothing that offers sun protection – When you are out in the sun, try to wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats that offer sun protection. The best way to protect yourself is to wear clothing that prevents direct exposure.
- Avoid using sunlamps or tanning beds – These alternate methods of skin tanning emit the same UV radiation as the sun, which can be harmful for your skin health.
Using proper sun protection can help you keep your healthy skin in the best shape possible.
Quit or Avoiding Smoking
Smoking has a lot of negative effects on your skin, so quitting or avoiding smoking is a good way to preserve your skin health. For example, smoking can contribute to making your skin look older and more wrinkled. It can also decrease the blood flow in your skin which can make your skin look drier and paler. Collagen and elastin, which are essential to maintaining the strength and elasticity of your skin, can be damaged by smoking.
Also, certain skin nutrients are exhausted by long-term smoking and it can also increase your risk of developing cancer. If you are a smoker, you can improve the health of your skin by quitting. Quitting smoking can also prevent many other ailments from developing. For tips and treatments that can help you to quit smoking, speak with your doctor or professional medical consultant.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Eating a balanced diet on a regular basis can be an excellent way to give your skin the nutrients it needs for you to look and feel your best. The best diets for healthy skin will include plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and other nutritional foods. Some people take additional minerals and vitamins for skin health such as fish oil or vitamin A. Drinking lots of water can also work to keep your skin hydrated.
The best food for healthy skin will be dense with nutrients that help fuel your body. Typically, foods that are dense in vitamin E, antioxidants and healthy fats. Lowering your intake of processed sugars and carbohydrates can also improve your overall health. Some of the best foods for skin health include:
- Salmon or other fatty fish.
- Avocados.
- Walnuts.
- Sunflower seeds.
- Sweet potatoes.
- Green tea.
- Broccoli.
Reduce Your Stress Level
Stress is a major factor in triggering acne breakouts and other skin issues. Uncontrolled stress can have detrimental effects on the overall health of your skin. Managing your stress is a good way to encourage the healthy skin and a strong state of mind. Reducing your stress can have a dramatic impact on your skin health.
There are many ways to control your stress including, meditating, taking breaks from work and more. Certain gastrointestinal problems that can affect your diet are also caused by stress. You can avoid other major health issues such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and obesity by managing your stress long term.
Gently Clean Your Skin
A good home skin care routine can be simple but still dramatically improve how your skin looks and feels over time. Generally, you can wash your face twice a day for the best results. Over-washing and under-washing your skin can both be potentially damaging. Daily cleansing should be gentle to avoid damaging your skin in the long run.
Here are some tips on how to treat your skin gently while you clean:
- Limit baths and showers – Hot water from showers and baths can remove the good oils from your skin and cause your skin to dry out faster than usual. Limit the amount of time spent in the bath or shower and try to use warm water as opposed to hot water.
- Avoid strong soaps and cleansers – Strong soaps, especially those with perfumes or added scents, can strip the good oil from your skin and leave you feeling dry. Gentle cleansers are effective for cleaning your skin without causing any damage.
- Dry your skin gently – Rubbing too hard with a towel to dry up can cause damage to your skin. Instead, try patting your skin dry in order to retain some moisture on your skin.
- Moisturize daily – Dry skin can be damaging to your skin health. Use a moisturizer that matches your skin type. Using a daily moisturizer with SPF protection can help minimize sun damage over time.
- Avoid scratching your skin – If your skin is itchy, you can use a cold compress or moisturizer to help avoid scratching. Wearing non-irritating clothes can also prevent you from scratching your skin.
After a workout that causes you to work up a sweat, it is essential for you to wash your skin to remove dead skin cells and bacteria that can clog pores. This can also be a good way to improve circulation and blood flow after a workout. Staying clean is vital to maintaining good skin health.
