Glowing, blemish-free skin isn’t reserved for an airbrushed face on a magazine cover, but it can feel overwhelming trying to figure out how to obtain radiant, healthy skin. Is diet affecting your skin? Maybe it’s your water intake or the environment where you live? Or perhaps your lifestyle or the skin care creams and medications you use? With the help of these skin care secrets, you can begin to see a difference in your own skin, no matter what your age.
Diet
Hydrated skin equals beautiful skin. Determine your daily minimum water intake by dividing your weight in half. The resulting number is the number of ounces you should drink. (Example: You weigh 150 pounds. You should drink 75 ounces of water each day.) Being hydrated will aid in cell energy, allowing them to better repair themselves.
In addition to water, your food choices will also impact the glow of your skin. Be sure to include raw fruits and vegetables with every meal. These foods will provide your body and skin with the vitamins and minerals it needs for healthy cell production and repair. Nitric oxide can be found in leafy greens such as spinach and arugula; pomegranates are packed with polyphenol antioxidants; walnuts contain omega-3 essential fatty acids. Carotenoids — the antioxidants in yellow and orange veggies — can decrease skin’s sensitivity to the sun; you can fight redness with a cup of green tea, which has anti-inflammatory properties and is particularly high in EGCG, which may prevent collagen destruction.
Activity and Environment
The types of activities you participate in regularly as well as your patterns of life and environment can also impact your skin. When your body sweats during exercise, your pores are ridding themselves of toxins, which clog pores and cause blemishes. Exercise boosts oxygen and blood flow to the skin and is also a stress reliever. When stress escalates, it increases the body’s production of hormones such as cortisol, which can make skin oilier and decrease its ability to fight off acne-causing bacteria, so going for a run can clear up your skin.
The air quality in which you live can also impact your skin, since it’s the body’s largest organ and has direct contact with the outside world. Try to avoid smoky environments, be sure to change the air furnace filter in your home regularly and consider using a humidifier in your bedroom as indoor air can be dehydrating to your skin.
It’s also important to wear sunscreen even if your time outside is limited or if it’s an overcast day. UVA rays can damage skin through clouds or windows, and studies have shown there are higher rates of skin cancer on a person’s left side of the face and upper body compared to the right side due to time spent driving. And, finally, be sure get at least seven to eight hours of sleep each night as this is when your body’s skin repair mechanisms kick into action.
Medication
For some skin conditions, diet and lifestyle alone won’t be able to provide you with the desired results, but both over-the-counter and prescription medications could offer you that relief.
- Mederma is an over-the-counter product with formulas specializing in reducing scarring or stretch marks. Their scar creams have been shown to improve the overall appearance, color, and texture of scars while the stretch mark products help prevent stretch marks as well as reduce the visibility of already present stretch marks.
- Eucerin creams are available over-the-counter in a variety of strengths and formulas including eczema relief, intense hydration, anti-wrinkle and redness relief facial care products.
- Retin A also known as tretinoin, is made from vitamin A and has been prescribed to slow signs of aging as well as fight acne. It boosts collagen production, plumps skin, and reduces fine lines and wrinkles. It also has been shown to improve irregular pigmentation and promote quick healing of pimples by affecting the growth of skin cells.
- Triderm is used to treat a variety of skin conditions including eczema, dermatitis, allergies and rashes by reducing the swelling, itching, and redness that can occur with conditions.
As with all forms of medication, be sure to consult with your dermatologist to determine what prescriptions or over-the-counter options will work best before you buy skin care medication online as well as how to best integrate lifestyle changes into your daily routine. In order to make your skin be as healthy as possible, you’ll likely incorporate a combination of these secrets. Start with small steps and take it one day at a time. As you integrate these lifestyle changes into your daily routine, you’ll soon see the benefits reflected in your skin.
Water image by Greg Riegler Photography from Flickr’s Creative Commons.
Sunscreen image by Hacklock from Flickr’s Creative Commons.