Don’t have time for intensive skin care? You can still pamper yourself by mastering the basics. Good skin care and a healthy lifestyle can help delay natural aging and prevent various skin problems. Start with these five sensible tips.
1. Protect yourself from the sun
One of the most important ways to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun. A lifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, age spots and other skin problems, as well as increase the risk of skin cancer.
For the most complete sun protection:
Use sunscreen. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Apply sunscreen liberally and reapply every two hours, or more frequently if you are swimming or sweating.
Find the shadow. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. m. and 4 p.m. 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 extra layer of UV protection for a certain number of washes, or special sun protection clothing, which is specifically designed to block UV rays.
2. Don’t smoke
Smoking makes the skin look older and contributes to the appearance of wrinkles. Smoking narrows the small blood vessels in the outermost layers of the skin, which decreases blood flow and causes the skin to become paler. This also depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients that are important for skin health.
Smoking also damages collagen and elastin, the fibers that give skin strength and elasticity. Additionally, the repetitive facial expressions you make while smoking, such as pursing your lips as you inhale and squinting to avoid the smoke, can contribute to the appearance of wrinkles.
Additionally, smoking increases the risk of squamous cell skin cancer. If you smoke, the best way to protect your skin is to quit smoking. Ask your doctor for advice or treatments to help you quit smoking.
3. Treat your skin gently
Daily cleansing and shaving can take a toll on your skin. To keep it soft:
Limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or baths remove oil from the skin. Limit your bath or shower time and use warm, rather than hot, water.
Avoid harsh soaps. Harsh soaps and detergents can remove oil from the skin. Instead, choose gentle cleansers.
Shave carefully. To protect and lubricate your skin, apply shaving cream, lotion, or gel before shaving. For a closer shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Shave with the direction your hair grows, not against it.
I know that. After washing or bathing, pat your skin dry or towel dry so some moisture remains on the skin.
Moisturize dry skin. If your skin is dry, use a moisturizer that suits your skin type. For daily use, consider a moisturizer that contains SPF.
4. Eat a healthy diet
A healthy diet can help you look and feel better. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. The association between diet and acne is unclear, but some research suggests that a diet high in fish oil or fish oil supplements and low in unhealthy fats and processed or refined carbohydrates may promote younger-looking skin. Drinking plenty of water helps keep your skin hydrated.
5. Manage stress
Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more sensitive and lead to acne breakouts and other skin problems. To promote healthy skin and a healthy state of mind, take steps to manage stress. Get enough sleep, set reasonable boundaries, reduce your to-do list, and take time to do the things you enjoy. The results may be more dramatic than expected.
