Your skin is the largest organ you have — you should take steps to keep it healthy just like all the others. Paying attention to your skin can improve its appearance and reduce your risk of cancer. To keep your skin youthful and healthy, our providers share these five tips.
The rewards of exercise extend far beyond losing weight. We know that regular physical activity helps people lose weight, improve heart health, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and even improve mood and focus. But did you know that exercise is linked to healthier skin, too?
Regular exercise can subtly revamp and revitalize your skin tone with every run, gym session, or yoga class. When you exercise, your pores dilate and your sweat ousts the dirt and gunk trapped in your skin. Additionally, the extra blood flow to your muscles sends more oxygen and nutrients to your skin, helping to repair damage and rev up collagen production.
It’s no secret that a nutritious diet is linked to a healthy body. Most of us know what we should eat — the problem is that bad habits are hard to break (and food is yummy). Knowing the benefits of healthy food for the skin might be just be the motivation you need.
When you eat an abundance of foods rich in vitamins, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and phytonutrients, your skin rewards you by appearing bright, dewy, and blemish-free. Fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and whole grains all influence the appearance of your skin by reducing inflammation and amping up your skin’s ability to easily repair damage.
If you take none of the other steps on this list, take just this one to improve the health of your skin. Sun exposure is the leading cause of premature skin aging and is a known cause of skin cancer. Wearing sunscreen outdoors — all the time, not just when you go to the beach — is the simplest way to avoid discoloration, premature wrinkles, and skin cancer.
When purchasing sunscreen, choose a brand that has both UVA and UVB protection. Water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher is best. You can also use a lip balm with SPF to protect your lips.
Just like food and exercise, sleep significantly impacts the health and appearance of your skin. Short-term effects of lack of sleep on your skin include dark circles, puffiness in your face, redness, and breakouts.
The long-term effects of inadequate sleep are worse. During a good night's sleep, your body works to remove dead cells and clears the pathways for new cells to replace the old ones. Lack of sleep interferes with that mechanism and can result in pH imbalances and dehydration of your skin.
Drinking enough water is critical to your overall health. When you’re dehydrated, none of your body’s systems work at optimal efficiency, and that includes the mechanisms that affect your skin. As your largest organ, your skin requires water to function, just like any other organ.
Drinking at least eight glasses, or 64 ounces, of water each day helps rid your skin of toxins and improve its elasticity. Water needs vary — small children may need less, and active people need more than 64 ounces each day.
Your skin is the window to what's going on inside your body, so if you're not taking care of your internal systems, you’ll notice the consequences — and it usually doesn’t take long! By following the tips above, you can ensure your complexion remains bright and healthy.
If you’re struggling with complexion issues like discoloration, blemishes, or breakouts, call Monarque Health and Wellness today or schedule an appointment online to talk with one of our providers.
