Many of us are skin conscious. We often want our skin to look young and
healthy and we really do something just to protect our skin from
whatever possible harms there may be in our environment. Well, our skin
is our largest organ performing several functions.
Protect your skin from sun:
Use sunscreen. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with
an SPF of at least 15. When you're outdoors, reapply sunscreen every two
hours — or more often if you're swimming or perspiring.
Seek shade. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest.
Wear protective clothing. Cover your skin with
tightly woven long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats.
Also consider laundry additives, which give clothing an additional layer
of ultraviolet protection for a certain number of washings, or special
sun-protective clothing — which is specifically designed to block
ultraviolet rays.
Treat your skin gently:
Limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or
baths remove oils from your skin. Limit your bath or shower time, and
use warm — rather than hot — water.
Avoid strong soaps. Strong soaps and detergents can strip oil from your skin. Instead, choose mild cleansers.
Shave carefully. To protect and lubricate your
skin, apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving. For the closest
shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Shave in the direction the hair grows,
not against it.
Pat dry. After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on your skin.
Moisturize dry skin. If your skin is dry, use a moisturizer that fits your skin type. For daily use, consider a moisturizer that contains SPF.
Manage stress:
Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more sensitive and trigger acne
breakouts and other skin problems. To encourage healthy skin — and a
healthy state of mind — take steps to manage your stress. Set reasonable
limits, scale back your to-do list and make time to do the things you
enjoy. The results might be more dramatic than you expect.
Eat healthy diet:
A healthy diet can help you look and feel your best. Eat plenty of
fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. The association
between diet and acne isn't clear — but some research suggests that a
diet rich in vitamin C and low in unhealthy fats and processed or
refined carbohydrates might promote younger looking skin.
