ACHIEVING HEALTHY,BEAUTIFUL SKIN!

Looking good starts with having great skin.Everyone wants to have beautiful skin especially females as we are more conscious of our looks than the male folk. However,great skin is an essential for guys too! Many people spend tons of money on beauty products but end up disappointed because there are little or no results.The cost of beauty products DO NOT determine how good they are and that’s the answer if you’ve ever wondered why someone using inexpensive beauty products may look better than another who is spending a lot more. A number of factors determine how fast the skin ages and these include genetic factors (natural skin type),environmental factors such as exposure to sunlight and external factors such as smoking and frequent consumption of caffeine and alcohol.I put together a few tips that I hope would help if you’re looking to achieve healthy,beautiful skin!

TIPS TO FOLLOW

HEALTHY DIET: The importance of maintaining a healthy diet cannot be overstressed.Vegetables and fruits rich in color are great for the skin as they contain antioxidants.Vitamins A, C and E are also great for the skin and supplements containing these help to nourish the skin. Carrots, oranges, pawpaw, watermelon are sources of these vitamins.It is also imperative to avoid yoyo dieting as frequent loss and gain of weight can cause stretching of the skin which makes it more prone to wrinkles.Avoidance of excess sugar,salty food such as chips and other water retention traps would help decrease the appearance of cellulite.Anyone can have cellulite at any size so the assumption that only people on the big side are affected by this is totally wrong.It is therefore an important measure to take.

EXERCISE:Regular exercise is good for the skin as it decreases the appearance of cellulite and gives the skin a toned look. It also assists the body in performing its functions such as perspiration which enables the skin to breathe.

ADJUSTMENTS:In our journey towards achieving healthy,beautiful skin,certain adjustments will have to be made in our everyday lives. In the hustle and bustle of today’s world,stress is almost unavoidable.Hence the need for rest and adequate sleep(8hrs) on a daily basis. Also,cutting down on our intake of alcohol and caffeine is important. SMOKING IS A BIG NO-NO when it comes to having great skin. It is also important to keep the skin hydrated by drinking lots of water(3 litres or 8 glasses) everyday.

EXFOLIATE:Exfoliation is the removal of the oldest dead skin cells that cling to the skin’s outermost layer,the epidermis.Exfoliation is an important part of maintaining beautiful skin and leaves the skin feeling smooth and fresher looking. It also makes it easier for the skin to absorb moisturizers and serums. When exfoliating,it is important to use products that are mild as harsh products can chafe the skin or cause micro-tears in the skin. Over exfoliation is to be avoided as it can cause hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin). It is therefore wise to exfoliate only 3-4 times a week.

MOISTURIZE: Apply a rich moisturizer to the skin daily while it is still damp. People with oily skin are to stick to oil free moisturizers. Moisturizing ingredients like Shea butter and Cocoa butter are great to look out for. Identifying good moisturizers cannot be done only by looking at the ingredients – choosing a brand you can trust and price range you will feel comfortable using everyday is also key. Be wary of skin lightening products as sometimes not all the ingredients used in production are listed on the label and some of these contain steroids,mercury or hydroquinone. Avoid such products as they give beautiful results at the beginning but totally damage and wreck the skin in the long run. More on skin lightening in my next post.

SUN AVOIDANCE AND PROTECTION (SAP) : Sunscreen! Sunscreen!! Sunscreen!!! Sunscreen lotions are very effective and help protect the skin from harmful UV rays and hyperpigmentation caused by excessive sun exposure. As complete avoidance of the sun is almost impossible (except maybe you’re in jail for a serious crime) and downright unhealthy, it is important to avoid the sun as much as possible and to use an umbrella to shield yourself from the sun(doesn’t include the early morning sun as that’s a good source of vitamin D). If it proves too much work applying moisturizer and then sunscreen,it is a good idea to buy a nice moisturizer that has sunscreen.

There you have it!Tips to keep you looking beautiful and have your friends and colleagues in awe of you radiant skin!:)

Remember: Beautiful skin isn’t always healthy, but healthy skin is always beautiful!! -Dr. Hauschka