Aside from being the first thing that other people may notice about us, our skin has many functions. In fact, there can be no emphasizing the important role our skin plays in our bodies. It is our largest organ, covering everything else as a huge waterproof envelope does, and as such, is our first defense against germs. Skin also controls the body’s temperature, so we sweat when it is hot, and shiver and get goosebumps when it is too cold. An important component of the skin is the pigment called melanin, which not only gives us our color, but also helps protect us from the harmful UV rays of the sun.
These are the reasons why meticulous skin care is not merely a matter of vanity, but an important health routine too. There are now many skin care products that are coming out in the market today: some for whitening the complexion, others for getting a youthful glow, and there are also others for eradicating skin imperfections. But nothing beats the basics, and healthy skin simply needs care and consideration. Here, we give simple tips for getting skin-tastic!
- Keep it clean. Make sure that you cleanse your skin gently and thoroughly, and that goes not just for your face, but the skin all over your body. As with the products you use for your facial wash, make sure that the soap you use for hand scrubbing and bathing also has a mild formulation.
- Be gentle. Even though a hot bath sounds like a relaxing idea, you have to make sure that your water is not too hot. This robs skin of its natural oils and leaves it dry. Exfoliants help to scrub away dead skin cells, but you have to remember that they are not meant for everyday use. Excessive exfoliation can irritate your skin.
- Keep away from irritants. Many experts advocate using natural items that are found in your pantry as masks, peels, or scrubs. These are fine and dandy, however, you should check for allergic reactions by dabbing a dollop of the product on a small area of your arm. Soaps and creams with strong perfumes, or unregistered products that have not been approved by your country’s drug agency can cause allergic reactions or worse, so you should be wary of these too.
- Moisturize and hydrate. Dry skin is itchy, flaky, unsightly, and irritating. So you would do best to avoid its triggers, such as using strong soaps or applying too much alcohol, and dry weather conditions. Dry skin can also be caused by excessive alcohol intake, so drink moderately! Several glasses of H20 helps keep the skin healthy by flushing out toxins. With inadequate amounts of water circulating through the body, toxins can build up and escape through skin pores. This contributes to acne. Therefore, by flushing the body internally with water, acne breakouts are less likely to occur.
- Stamp out smoking. Cigarette smoking contributes 4000 toxins to the body and is taken by the bloodstream directly to the skin, leading to wrinkles, skin discoloration, and acne. In fact, the British Medical Journal published in 1985 states that smokers can be identified easily by the appearance of the skin. So if you want to look younger and healthier, think twice before lighting up!
- Eat right. Feed your face right with nutrients such as Vitamin E, for youthful, glowing skin, found in nuts, seeds, and egg yolk; Vitamin C, which eliminates free radicals in the body that destroy collagen and elastin, found in citrus fruits and green leafies; and Vitamin A, which is necessary for the repair of skin tissue, found in low-fat yoghurt and other dairy products.
- Slather on sunscreen. Sunscreen isn’t just for the beach! Even on cloudy days, the sun’s harmful UV rays can still get to you. So before you head out, reach for a trusty bottle with at least an spf of 30, and remember to reapply after two hours of sun exposure.
- Trust only a pro. Never try anything drastic, such as a facial or wart treatments, without consulting a reputable dermatologist. A dermatologist can recommend the best treatment for skin problems such as acne or scars that will work best with your skin type. Before having any skin work done, insist on a consultation with the establishment’s dermatologist. It may be more expensive or time-consuming to do so, but it is the best way to save your skin from damage.
