Don’t have time for intensive skin care? You can still pamper yourself by following the basics. Good skin care and choosing a healthy lifestyle can help delay natural aging and prevent various skin problems. Get started with these five sensible tips.
1. Protect yourself from the sun
One of the most important ways to care for your skin is to protect it from the sun. A lifetime of sun exposure can lead to wrinkles, age spots, and other skin problems, as well as an increased risk of skin cancer.
For the most complete sun protection:
- Use sunscreen. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that has a sun protection factor of at least 15. Put on plenty of sunscreen, and reapply every two hours — or more often if you’re swimming or sweating.
- Find shady spots. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are most intense.
- Wear protective clothing. Protect your skin with tight-knit clothing with long sleeves, long pants, and wide-brimmed hats. Also consider laundry products that can provide clothing with an extra layer of UV protection during a specified number of washes, or special items to protect you from the sun, which are specially designed to block UV rays.
2. Don’t smoke
According to skin specialist smoking gives your skin an aged appearance and contributes to the formation of wrinkles. Smoking narrows the small blood vessels in the uppermost layers of the skin, which decreases blood flow and makes the skin appear paler. This also removes oxygen and nutrients that are important for good skin health.
Smoking also damages collagen and elastin, the fibers that give skin strength and elasticity. Also, repeated facial expressions you make when you smoke, such as puckering your lips when inhaling and squinting to exhale, can contribute to wrinkles.
Additionally, smoking increases the risk of squamous cell carcinoma. If you smoke, quitting is the best way to protect your skin. Ask your doctor for advice or treatments to help you quit smoking.
3. Treat your skin gently
Daily cleaning and shaving can harm your skin. To treat it gently:
- Limit the duration of the bath. Hot water and long showers or baths remove natural oils from the skin. Limit the length of your bath or shower and use warm water instead of hot water.
- Avoid strong soaps. Strong soaps and detergents can remove natural oils from your skin. Instead, use mild 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 in the direction the hair grows, not against the grain.
- Pat dry. After washing or bathing, pat your skin dry gently with a towel so that some moisture remains on the skin.
- Moisturize dry skin. If you have dry skin, use a moisturizer that suits your skin type. For everyday use, consider a moisturizer that contains sun protection factor.
4. Eat a healthy diet
A healthy diet can help you look and feel better. Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. 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 skin. Drinking plenty of water helps keep your skin hydrated.
5. Manage stress
When stress is out of control, the skin can become more sensitive and breakouts and other skin problems can be triggered. To promote healthy skin and a healthy mood, take steps to manage stress. Get enough sleep, set reasonable limits, cut your to-do list, and find time to do the things you enjoy. The results could be more significant than you expect.