There are certain common daily habits that can be bad for your complexion, but you may not realize how bad these habits can be until the damage is done. While new technologies are now available to reverse certain prolonged skin impairments, they can only do so much in the end.
Prevention remains the best medicine. In fact, these six key strategies will save your skin from unnecessary repercussions and expensive treatments down the road:
1.) What You Eat Can Help Or Hurt Your Skin
You are probably familiar with the saying, “You are what you eat.” Just like other benefits to eating healthy, your skin needs nourishment from the inside as well as the outside.
Important components of diet for skin health include daily protein intake to support production of collagen, and elastin & omega-3 fatty acids to improve cell membranes and to reduce inflammation. Antioxidants are also vital, which is why foods rich in vitamins A, C, and E can help limit damage before it progresses to visible levels.
2.) Drink Your Water
Insufficient total body intake of fluids can result in your skin drying out, making the signs of aging more evident. Without adequate water consumption, your body and your skin will not work efficiently, resulting in an accumulation of toxins and the skin looking dry and frankly older.
Ideal water intake can vary from person to person depending on gender, weight, and activity levels. My rule of thumb for people is that if your urine has any yellow coloration, you are not drinking enough. Keep drinking water until the urine itself looks like water.
3.) Protect Your Skin
Too much sun exposure is the number one factor affecting skin health and causing premature appearance of aging. Ultraviolet rays causes collagen to break down, pores to enlargement, and pigmentation of the skin to become abnormal, which is the most evident effect of them all.
The prescription remains the same: try to stay out of the sun during its peak hours of 10 AM to 2 PM. Wear hats and sunglasses when you can’t avoid the sun. Finally and most importantly, wear sunscreen with a minimum SPF 30+ every day.
4.) Keep Your Skin Clean
Pollution in the environment, whether in the air or on your hands, can cause damage to your skin. The most effective methods to counter the effects of these agents include a skin care regimen of a gentle cleanser morning and night, an antioxidant serum, and a moisturizer. Clean the dirt off your skin whenever you can, and your skin will be better able to repair itself.
5.) Your Skin Needs Beauty Rest
Lack of sufficient sleep is most obvious on your skin with the appearance of wrinkled puffy skin and dark circles. Be consistent with your sleep habits.
Go to bed at the same time most nights, and wake up at the same time every day after at least 6-8 hours of sleep. Also try to eliminate as much light and sound in your bedroom as you can.
6.) Get More Exercise
Physical exercise is important for your body and your skin. Time and again, medical studies have shown that exercise can slow and reverse the appearance of skin aging.
Exercise increases blood flow through your skin. More blood flow helps flush out toxins within the skin, and delivers more oxygen and nutrition throughout your body.
As you can see, lifestyle habits can have dramatic effects on your appearance and overall health. Since your skin is your largest organ, many of the habits for your general health will make you feel better and look better too.
However, if there is old skin damage from years past, we here at Maine Laser Skin Care can help reduce it or remove it depending on its severity. Feel free to call us at our Augusta office at (207) 873-2158 or our Scarborough office at (207) 303-0125 for your free consultation. Our mission remains to “beautify Maine one face (and body) at a time”