Five Tips for Healthy Skin
1. Protect yourself from the sun. The most important way to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun. A lifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, freckles, age spots and rough, dry skin. Sun exposure can also cause more serious problems, such as skin cancer. Read more about the dangers of sun exposure, risk factors and prevention of sun-related diseases
2. Don't smoke. Smoking damages your skin in many ways, including:
- Making your skin look older and contributing to wrinkles, especially around the mouth and eyes from repetitive facial expressions made when inhaling and squinting
- Depleting your skin of oxygen and nutrients
- Damaging collagen and elastin—fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity
3. Treat your skin gently. Daily cleansing and shaving can take a toll on your skin, so keep it gentle:
- Limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or baths remove protective oils from your skin.
- Avoid strong soaps that 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. 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. Find a moisturizer that fits your skin type and makes your skin look and feel soft.
4. Eat a healthy diet to help you look and feel your best. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. Research suggests that a diet rich in vitamin C and low in fats and carbohydrates may promote younger looking skin.
5. Manage stress. Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more sensitive and trigger acne breakouts and other skin problems. Takes steps to manage your stress: set reasonable limits, scale back your to-do list and make time to do the things you enjoy.