Your skin is the largest organ of your entire body, but many of us spend less time caring for it than we do washing our hair. Considering how important our skin is, this is truly shocking when you think about it. Caring for your skin isn’t tough, but you need to know what to do. The following six ways can help you take care of your skin and protect it so it is healthy and looks it best no matter how old you may be.
1. Don’t Smoke
We all know what smoking does to our lungs and heart, but did you know it is hard on your skin as well? Smoking narrows the blood vessels in the outer layers of the skin, decreasing the blood flow. This depletes the skin of oxygen and much needed nutrients. At the same time, it also damages collagen and elastin, making the skin appear much older and increasing the chance of developing wrinkles. The bottom line is if you want to look young, don’t pick up that cigarette.
2. Check Your Diet
A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean proteins will not only help you look and feel your best, but it will promote younger looking skin as well. Admittedly, the research is fairly limited on the link between diet and your skin, but it is generally believed that those who eat right and drink lots of water have younger looking skin.
3. Protect Yourself from the Sun
While it is true that the sun gives life to our planet and we need a good dose of it to live, too much exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun can damage the skin and even cause cancer. If you want to make sure you skin stays looking its best, you need to limit your exposure. If you do go out or enjoy spending a lot of time outside, it is important that you protect yourself.
- Use Sunscreen – Always apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Apply liberally every two hours to ensure maximum protection from the damaging rays of the sun.
- Find Those Shady Spots – When spending extended periods outside, seek out those shady spots under trees, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the sun is at its strongest.
- Wear Proper Clothing – Always wear proper clothing when spending a lot of time outdoors. Try hats to shade your face and protect your head and use long sleeve shirts and long pants to limit the exposure on your arms and legs.
4. The Skinny on Soaps
Who doesn’t love a nice soak in a tub or a good shower where you can scrub your skin clean from all the dirt and grime of the day? Showers and baths can make you feel better and even live a healthier life. However, not all soaps are actually good for your skin. Strong soaps and detergents can actually strip your skin of the natural oils it needs for optimum health. While you don’t want to feel oily, your skin needs some of those natural oils to promote healing and healthy looking skin. Try using a mild soap and don’t soak in the bath for too long or use water that is too hot. This will effectively clean your body while still promoting good skin health.
5. Check Those Stress Levels
It is remarkable how much stress can impact your overall health. It has been demonstrated that uncontrolled stress can trigger outbreaks of acne and even hives that can damage your skin. To remedy this, find ways to control your stress and even relieve it. Lower stress levels promote better health across all your body’s systems, your skin included.
6. Treating the Skin
It is important to not only clean your skin and protect it from damage, but you need to take proper care of it as well. How do you do that? There are many different ways you can. Using softer soaps is the first step, but if your skin is dry or damaged, you want to take it a whole new level.
Try using moisturizer with a little SPF in it on a regular basis. This will help really help if your skin feels dry and help you look younger. There are many skin treatments you can use as well. Try applying an Aztec healing clay mask to your face to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and other blemishes.
The key to successful skin care is diligence. You must give your skin the proper attention on a regular basis to ensure that your skin looks its best and is healthy each and every day.
Conclusion
Taking care of your skin should be one of the top concerns in your daily health regimen, but it is often ignored. However, these six ways to help you care for your skin will help put you on the right path towards proper skin care so your skin looks its best. Remember, skin care is essential to anyone wanting to live a healthy life. So what are you waiting for? Start taking care of your skin the right way today so you can live a happy and healthy life.
