How to Keep Your Skin Healthy
Knowing how to keep your skin healthy while aging is important for self esteem. As you age, the components of your skin change. Skin becomes less firm, spots appear and there are more prominent fine lines. None of this makes anyone less beautiful, but if you want to know how to keep your skin healthy in old age, we have you covered.
Stay Out of the Sun
We do not mean completely. Sun is a great source of vitamin D and enhances happiness. Fresh air is also great for your well being, but if you stay in the sun for too long and do not take the proper precautions, this could damage your skin. This damage will make you look older by producing more wrinkles. Make sure you take periods of sitting in the shade and make sure to wear sunscreen at all times.
You can believe I will never go out in the sun again without sunscreen and fortunately, I stopped smoking about 25 years ago. Here are some tips various dermatologists recommend for keeping your skin healthy and youthful.
Moisturize and Protect
Use a daily moisturizer all over that has an SPF of 30 or higher. If you’re going to be out in the sun for a while, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 that protects against both UVB and UVA rays. Reapply your sunscreen every two to three hours you’re outdoors and if you’re at the beach, when you come out of the water, whichever comes first.
Do Not Smoke
Quit smoking not only for your appearance, but also for your health. In addition to making you look older, the list of damage smoking does is comprehensive. It damages the skin’s collagen and elasticity, it contributes to wrinkles, it deprives the skin of oxygen and nutrients, it decreases blood flow, and it can cause emphysema, COPD and cancer. If you are still smoking, see a doctor for suggestions and help on quitting.
Be Gentle
It is good to be clean, but daily showers and shaving can exact a toll on your skin. The Mayo Clinic staff recommends limiting hot water and long showers or baths because they remove essential oils from your skin. They suggest selecting mild soaps to use and skipping the shower or bath every now and again.
Shave Carefully
When you shave, lubricate your skin before you shave. Use a sharp razor and shave in the direction the hair grows. Then moistrurize when you are finished shaving.
Use a Retinoid
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using an AHA or retinoid products with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or retinoids if you want to lessen the signs of aging. They also suggest using products with antioxidants since research has shown that these products may help repair and prevent additional skin damage. If you want to go this route, however, check with a dermatologist first.
It is Okay to Smile
Do not repeat the same facial expressions over and over again. When you make any facial expression, for example, when you are squinting, you are contracting the underlying muscles. Doing the same thing, like squinting, over years will cause lines. Also wear UVA sunglasses that will help prevent squinting.
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Switch Sleeping Sides
Do not sleep on the same side all the time. If you are a side sleeper, try switching positions a couple of times a night. Sleeping on the same cheek causes deep wrinkles. It is amazing how different each side of a person’s face looks when they have slept on the same side year after year. New York dermatologist Debra Jaliman, author of Skin Rules, in her books says, "The way you sleep does affect wrinkles, that's why some lines are called sleep lines. If you crunch your face against a pillow you can get them."
The remedy? “Get satin pillowcases as opposed to the usual cotton pillowcases. The face slides against the satin pillowcase so that it doesn't crunch against it, and no sleep lines are formed. Beauty sleep pillows are also an option, they are made with a special foam and have a unique shape which helps alleviate pressure on the face."
Exercise
As Experience Life says, “Working out isn’t all about dropping pounds or prepping for your next triathlon. Regular exercise also gives you a healthy, glowing look and an unmistakable va-va-voom that you just can’t get any other way.”
A lot of people have stated that their skin problems cleared up after starting a regular workout regimen. Dermatologists have long said that a good workout is like getting a mini-facial.
Eat Well
Help your skin repair and regenerate itself and fight its constant battle against environmental factors by eating right. The right nutrition really does equate to younger, more vibrant looking skin. Let’s face it, if you are putting junk food in your mouth, you are giving your skin junk. You need to eat a diet rich in antioxidants like vitamins C, E, A and B. Those are the ones that are particularly good for your skin.
If you eat the recommended five to seven servings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily, your body and skin will get all of these vitamins and nutrients. A great way to start is by having a salad made of tomatoes, citrus, green leafy vegetables and carrots every day. Good for you and delicious to boot.
Here are some foods that are good for your skin:
- Carrots, apricots, and other yellow and orange fruits and vegetables
- Spinach and other green leafy vegetables
- Tomatoes
- Blueberries
- Beans, peas and lentils
- Salmon, mackerel and other fatty fish
- Nuts
I have been graced with great genetics. That said, I do try to follow as many of these tips as I can and it never hurts to help nature along.