Healthy Skin Means Healthy Life
The happier your skin is, the more radiant it looks. To keep your skin at its best, give it the love it deserves and steer clear of these harmful habits.
The single biggest factor in premature aging of skin is sun damage. Even moderate exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays causes lines, discoloration, and potentially even skin cancer. What looks like an attractive tan is actually your skin’s visible response to damage. Tanning beds are not the solution, though; they pelt skin with the same damaging radiation. Make a habit of using a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays on all exposed skin on a daily basis. The few minutes you spend applying sunscreen will pay off in smooth, healthy skin for years.
Although it’s meant to beautify, makeup has the opposite effect if left on overnight. Even high-quality cosmetics can clog pores and lead to breakouts if left on your face while you sleep. Choose an oil-free makeup remover to erase any trace of your makeup before you give your skin its nightly cleansing.
Unhappy skin shows its displeasure with breakouts and blemishes. Although blemishes aren’t always caused by dirt alone, dirt almost always causes blemishes. Keep your skin scrupulously clean to avoid breakouts. Cleansing once or twice a day and after strenuous activity is plenty; overzealous cleansing can leave even oily complexions feeling dry and irritated. The skin on your face is thinner and more delicate than the skin elsewhere on your body, so treat it gently with a cleanser specifically designed for the face.
Even clean skin gets blemishes. As tempting as it may be to make that pimple disappear with a squeeze, avoid picking or popping. Pimples contain bacteria which then get spread over surrounding skin when the pimple pops. Not only does picking potentially spread infection, it can also lead to permanent scarring or pitting. If your complexion is blemish-prone, switch up your skin care regimen with different products to discover if one of them is the culprit. More stubbornly unhappy skin may require a visit to a dermatologist who can likely help.
Although you might like a few drinks now and then, your skin may not. Tiny capillaries in the skin dilate when you drink, giving your face a flushed appearance. While a few nights on the town won’t do permanent damage, long-term heavy alcohol consumption can; when those dilated capillaries burst, your blotchy complexion could be with you for life. Your skin will thank you for moderating your alcohol intake.
Skin is forgiving; it bounces back from your having an occasional night on the town or feeling too tired to remove your makeup. The key is not to make a habit of mistreating your skin. Love your skin and it will love you back for a lifetime.
This was written by a leading dermatologist, who specialises in anti-aging treatments and skin care. Has recently reviewed and recommends the following product: lancome hydra intense
