5 Tips For Healthy Skin

Good skin care and healthy lifestyle choices can help delay the natural aging process and prevent various skin problems. Get started with these five basic 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, skin cancer and other skin problems.

For the most complete sun protection-

  

  A: Sunscreen- Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Apply sunscreen generously, and reapply every two hours - or more often if you're swimming or perspiring.

  B: Avoid sun- Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., while the sun's rays are strongest.

  C: Protect through clothes- Cover your skin with tightly long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats. Also consider laundry additives, which give clothing an additional layer of ultraviolet protection for a certain number of washings, or special sun-protective clothing - which is specifically designed to block ultraviolet rays.

If your skin does not accept sunscreen cream or lotion.

2. Don't smoke

Smoking makes your skin look older and contributes to wrinkles. Smoking narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin, which decreases blood flow. This depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients that are important to skin health.

Smoking also damages collagen and elastin — the fibers that give your skin strength and elasticity. In addition, the repetitive facial expressions you make when smoking — such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke — can contribute to wrinkles.

3. Treat your skin gently

Daily cleansing and shaving can take a toll on your skin. To keep it gentle:

• Limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from your skin. Limit your bath or shower time, and use warm - rather than hot - water.
• Avoid strong soaps. Strong soaps and detergents can strip oil from your skin. Instead, choose mild cleansers or face wash.
• Shave carefully. To protect and lubricate your skin, apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving. For the closest shave, use a clean and 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. Do not rub your skin.
• Moisturize dry skin. If your skin is dry, use a moisturizer that fits your skin type. For daily use, consider a moisturizer that contains SPF. 

 4. Eat a healthy diet

A healthy diet will help you look and feel your best. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. 
Remember that Vitamin C is most important for healthy skin.

5. Manage stress

Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more sensitive and trigger acne breakouts and other skin problems. To encourage healthy skin - and a healthy state of mind - control your stress. Sleep enough and make time to do the things you enjoy.