Editor’s Note: Jonny Webber lives in Manchester, England where he works as a freelance writer, creating content about health, eco-living, and cosmetic surgery. He writes regularly for a dermatology website that offers all manner of tips and information on skin care and health. Follow him on Twitter by clicking @Jonnywriter.
Step 1 for healthy skin - Maintain a Healthy Diet
Everyone wants soft, healthy-looking skin. Skin reflects not just an outer appearance, but also your overall health. Check out these simple, yet effective, ways to keep your skin healthy.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
The saying, “You are what you eat,” isn’t far wrong. What you put into your body does matter. A diet filled with processed, overly sweet, fat foods slows and ages the body. You feel tired and rundown. Pimples and other problems may begin to appear on the skin. For soft, healthy skin, eat a well-balanced diet of protein, fruits and vegetables. Remember what goes in the body reflects on the skin.
Take Supplementary Vitamins and Minerals
Even when eating a well-balanced, healthy diet, you will probably still need a daily supplement. A multivitamin helps insure you receive all the vitamins and minerals your body requires. This, in turn, helps maintain healthier-looking skin and a vivacious energy level.
Stay Hydrated
Not consuming enough water brings on dehydration and harms both body and skin. To improve the moisture content of your skin and to help keep it looking supple and fresh, drink at least six to eight glasses of water per day. Of course, the actual amount depends upon your size and body weight. Properly hydrated skin has a healthy glow and is less prone to blemishes and wrinkles.
What you drink makes a difference. Drink water. Sugar-laden drinks, or even diet sodas, do not offer the same healthy benefits to your skin and may cause more harm than good.
Keep Skin Clean
Wash regularly with a product that does not dry out the skin. Do not scrub until the skin is raw. A gentle circular motion will help loosen dirt, debris, and dead skin without damaging its surface. Treat your skin with care and take time every day to clean it, especially your face. Wash before adding makeup and always remove makeup before going to bed. This gives your skin time to breathe and regenerate.
Moisturize
Moisturize your skin after a bath, shower, or after a wash. A good quality moisturiser restores oils to your skin and helps in keeping it hydrated.
Use Sunblock
The sun’s rays destroy skin. When spending time outdoors, always factor in the need for sunblock – one strong enough to protect your skin. Choose one with an SPF of 15 or more. Use your sunblock liberally and often, especially if out in the sun for long periods of time or when swimming. Sun damage ages the skin and opens the door for cancer or other medical problems. Just remember – there’s no such thing as a healthy tan.
Don’t Smoke
Like the sun, smoking also ages skin. Both smoking and drug use make your skin look old, which ages you before your time. Don’t start smoking and, if you do smoke, stop. Smoking and healthy skin do not go together.
Exercise Regularly
Exercise aids in your overall health and well being. It tightens muscles, burns fat and even works in promoting the elasticity of the skin. Regular exercise adds to the healthy glow of well-hydrated skin. For most people, exercising intensely for at least 30 minutes, four or five days a week, will do the trick. Remember to check with your doctor before starting on any new exercise program.
Sleep Well
Without adequate sleep, you drag through the day. Sleep deprivation shows in the lines on your face and bags under your eyes. Sleep restores energy to all parts of the body, including the skin. Sleep actually invigorates the skin, making it healthier looking and fresher. Also, how can you keep up with an exercise routine, skin care regimen, and eating healthily if you don’t get enough sleep?
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