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Everyone wants healthy, younger looking skin, which is not hard to achieve. Looking after your appearance and maintaining a regular routine coupled with a healthy diet can help to give you healthy looking skin, free from spots and blemishes. Good skin care and healthy lifestyle choices can help delay the natural aging process and prevent many skin problems. Healthy, glowing skin does not happen overnight, but making a few changes in your daily routine can alter the course of your skin's ability to thrive. Making a simple change such as adding water to your diet can significantly improve the look and feel of your skin. Protect Yourself from the Sun The most important way to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun's harmful rays. A lifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, freckles, age spots and rough, dry skin. Sun exposure can also cause more serious problems, such as skin cancer. For the most complete sun protection, avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. because this is when the sun's rays are the strongest. When you are in the sun, wear protective clothing by covering your skin with tightly woven long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats. You might also choose to wear sun-protective clothing, which is specifically designed to block ultraviolet rays while keeping you cool and comfortable. Sunscreen is also important when you are in the sun. Apply generous amounts of broad-spectrum sunscreen approximately 30 minutes before going outdoors. Re-apply your sunscreen every two hours, after heavy sweating and after being in water to maintain proper protection. Do Not Smoke Smoking makes your skin look older and contributes to wrinkles. In addition, smoking also narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin, which decreases blood flow. The decrease in blood flow depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients, such as vitamin-A, that are important to the health of your skin. Collagen and elastin, fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity, are also damaged if you smoke. Repetitive facial expressions that are made while smoking (pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke) may also contribute to wrinkles. If you smoke, the best way to protect your skin is to quit. You can ask your doctor for tips or treatments to help you quit smoking and further protect your skin. Eat a Healthy Diet and Manage Stress A healthy diet can help you look and feel your best. It is important to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. Research suggests that a diet rich in vitamin C and low in fats and carbohydrates may help promote younger looking skin. Additionally, uncontrolled stress can also make your skin more sensitive and prone to acne breakouts and other skin problems. To encourage healthy skin, and a healthy state of mind, takes steps to manage your stress. Set reasonable limits, scale back your to-do list and make time to do the things that you enjoy. The results may be more dramatic than you expect. If you notice any changes in the appearance of your skin that do not go away, it is vital that you visit your West Palm Beach dermatologist for consultation. Your dermatologist has the ability to successfully maintain and diagnose any skin health problems that may arise. Seek attention from your dermatologist to protect your skin from harmful changes.
Sean Hartmen writes for leading West Palm Beach dermatologist, Dr. Barry Kuttner. A board certified dermatologist, Dr. Kuttner is accompanied by Dr. Kathleen Herne and physician assistant, Dr. Kristen Hafner, providing the best in quality care available. Integrated Dermatology specializes in skin cancer treatment, Mohs surgery and excessive sweating in West Palm Beach for quality care patients can trust.
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