Tips For Keeping Your Skin Healthy

The skin is the largest organ in the body. It defends against disease and infection, regulates temperature and even aids in vitamin production. Keeping skin healthy is crucial for beauty and general health, unfortunately most of us are more interested in our skin looking good, rather than keeping it healthy. Follow these tips for keeping your skin healthy.

The best way to keep skin healthy, young looking, radiant, supple, soft and wrinkle free – is to keep out of the sun.

Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun brings about a healthy-looking tan, but does damage to the skin in terms of pigmentation, sunburn and loss of elasticity. These can lead to premature aging in the form of wrinkles, fine lines, sagging, dark skin, uneven skin tone, loss of translucency, enlarged pores and dryness. Even the best of genetics, topical skin lightening or moisturizing treatments and oral skin supplements would be of little use if one tans mercilessly and regularly.

Keeping out of the sun helps, but if you cannot avoid it, you need to use a sunscreen. This is especially crucial if sun exposure is for an extended period of time.

Supplement From Within

Things you want in a supplement for skincare would be vitamins, minerals and collagen which are essential for proper function of every organ.

The vitamins and minerals that can affect skin health include the B-complex, especially B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin) and B12 (cyancobalamine). Overt deficiencies of vitamins B1 and B2 are known to cause special forms of dermatitis (a kind of skin inflammation). B12 deficiency is particularly detrimental to neurons and rapidly dividing cells, including skin cells.

*Vitamin A is critical for the normal life cycle of skin cells. Vitamin A deficiency causes skin to become dry, fragile and prone to wrinkles.

*Vitamins C and E, and beta-carotene have been touted as anti-oxidants that reduce free radicals. (Free radicals result in skin degeneration and aging.) Antioxidant are used to counteract free radicals and stabilize cell membranes.

*Vitamin C protects against immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular disease, prenatal health problems, eye disease, and even skin wrinkling.

*Vitamin E helps promote healthy skin. It scours the body for free radicals that have the potential to damage skin cells, neutralizes these threats and helps provide damaged cells with the electrons required to complete any unstable cells.  Skin cells need to be protected by these antioxidants.

*Collagen a naturally occurring fibrous protein that is an essential basic building block of our body. Collagen forms an overwhelming one third of our body’s protein and is necessary to promote and support proper joint, cartilage and skin health. With age, your skin’s inner layer loses collagen and becomes less supple and firm and more vulnerable to damage. This fibrous protein provides shape, texture and resiliency for your skin. The benefits of collagen supplementation include firming of thin loose skin, smoothing fine lines and wrinkles leaving you with visibly younger-looking supple skin.

Topical Help

Oral supplements should go hand-in-hand with topical applications – a sunscreen, moisturizer, eye serum and a hydrating serum. Consumers have to be realistic about their expectations because results will not be seen in 7 days or 2 weeks.

We recommend a holistic approach to skin health, such as:

* A healthy balanced diet comprising all food groups as well as vitamins, minerals and micronutrients.

* Keep a happy positive mood. It is well documented that some skin conditions – such as acne and eczema – are more prevalent when stressed.

* If you smoke, quit. Smoking causes free radicals and damages the microcirculation of skin it also causes staining of teeth and other discoloration.

* Minimize sun exposure and use a good sunscreen on a daily basis.

* Wash your face day and night.

* Apply a quality eye serum first then a hydrating serum finally a moisturizer after cleansing your face.