By Mashum Mollah
Your skin is your largest organ and when it’s healthy, it protects the rest of your body. It regulates your temperature, retains moisture, helps you to recognize pain, and protects you from harmful UV rays. However, when your skin is compromised, you become more exposed to things like bacteria, viruses, and pollution. That’s why it’s important to do everything you can to support your skin’s health. Skincare doesn’t have to be complicated. In this article, we’ll share some of the simple things you can do to get to get healthy, glowing skin.
Drink More Water
Like all other cells, your skin cells are made of water. If you don’t take in enough water, your skin will be dry, tight and flaky and more prone to wrinkling. On the other hand, when you’re properly hydrated, blood circulates at optimum levels and it’s reflected in the condition of your skin. Water replenishes your skin’s tissues, improves the elasticity of your skin, and prevents dark circles and fine lines from developing.
Keep Your Skin Moisturized
If your skin doesn’t retain sufficient moisture, it can become dry, red and itchy. Moisturizers help to hydrate the top layer of the skin and seal in moisture. Lifestyle changes can also help you to retain more moisture. If your skin is lacking moisture, try:
- Using warm water rather than hot water
- Taking just one short shower or bath daily to avoid stripping the skin of natural oils
- Showering with gentle body washes instead of harsh soaps
- Reducing your use of abrasive scrubs or sponges
Improve Your Diet
A clear complexion starts with eating a healthy, balanced diet. Very often, when people don’t like the way their skin looks or feels, they buy topical products. However, while moisturizers and serums can help, what you eat and drink is just as important. It may even be more important. While you need to get all the necessary nutrients, there are some foods that are believed to be particularly good for your skin.
One study conducted on mice found that daily tomato consumption reduced the development of skin cancer by 50 percent. Meanwhile, mangoes contain antioxidants that help to protect collagen and olive oil can limit the damage like dark spots, wrinkles, and discoloration which are typically caused by long-term sun exposure. You may also want to try green tea since it contains compounds that rejuvenate dying skin cells.
Keep Stress to a Minimum
Stress affects pretty much every part of your body. It increases the body’s production of a hormone called cortisol and this can make the skin oilier. It also reduces the skin’s ability to fight off the bacteria which cause acne. If you want to get your acne, rosacea or psoriasis under control, find techniques to manage your stress like exercise, breathing exercises, and meditation.
Improve Your Air Quality
Pollutants in the air can negatively affect your skin. For example, even if you don’t light up, being around smoke can result in the release of free radicals which cause premature aging. Oil, dirty filters in your HVAC system or even dry air can irritate your skin. Using a humidifier in your home, placing an extractor fan over your cooking range, and changing your air filters regularly can keep skin problems at bay.
Limit Your Sun Exposure
You probably already know that excessive exposure to UV rays can cause wrinkles, discoloration, dry, coarse skin, and skin cancer. However, you may assume that you only need to think about sun exposure when you’re outdoors. The truth is that some UV rays can penetrate the windows of your car or home and cause damage. That’s why you must wear sunscreen whenever you’ll be exposed to the sun and if you’re heading outside, add protective gear like hats and sunglasses whenever possible.
Get Adequate Sleep
When you sleep, your skin gets busy repairing itself. If you don’t get enough sleep, this puts stress on your body which can cause an over-production of adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones often trigger breakouts and other skin problems. Getting seven to eight hours of sleep every night (after properly removing your makeup) can help you to get the glowing skin you want.
Good skin doesn’t have to be a pipe dream. While some conditions need to be treated by a medical professional, there’s a lot you can do at home. Start using these tips today to improve the look and feel of your skin.
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