All About Skin Health
- Kaylee Mak-lin
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
What is it?
Your skin is one of the best indicators of good health, our skin is the largest organ in our body and it can tell us about underlying issues through rashes, itches, red spots, and more. If you are dehydrated your skin will also tell you through dryness and flakiness. Your skin is your best protector against harm in our everyday life that you might not even think of – it protects against surrounding bacteria, viruses, and environmental hazards. Skin plays other roles too such as containing nerve endings that let you feel when an object is too hot or sharp, to quickly pull away, and sweat glands and tiny blood vessels in your skin help to control your body temperature. Our skin cells also turn sunlight into vitamin D, which is important for healthy bones.
How can I improve my skin health?
Protect yourself from the sun
Prolonged sun exposure can lead to wrinkles, age spots, and other skin problems surrounding UV damage, thus increasing the risk of skin cancer.
To protect from the sun the best thing we can do is to wear sunscreen. Sunscreen of at least SPF 30 should be applied every few hours spent in the sun with a palm-size amount.
Stay under shade when possible, the sun’s UV rays are the strongest from 10am-4pm varying by region so ensure that when the rays are at their peak you stay protected.
Wear protective clothing – when possible, wear clothes that cover your skin as best possible, some clothing brands also use material that is specifically designed to protect against UV rays.
Avoid smoking
Smoking damages fibers called collagen and elastin that give skin strength and suppleness.
Smoking lessens the blood flow by narrowing the blood vessels in the outermost layer of skin.
Eat a healthy diet
Limit foods and drinks with added sugar, processed snacks, and other refined carbohydrates.
Eating a well-balanced diet helps insure that your body gets all the vitamins it needs to maintain healthy skin.
Drink plenty of water – this keeps your skin hydrated.
Manage stress
Too much stress can make skin more sensitive and trigger acne breakouts and other skin conditions.
Additionally, if you shower with very hot water to relieve stress, your skin may become dry and itchy.
Form daily skincare habits
Don't use strong soaps – strong soaps and detergents can strip oil from the skin.
Shave carefully – it's ideal to shave after bathing when your skin is moist. To help protect your skin, put on shaving cream, lotion, or gel before you start shaving. Use a clean, sharp razor.
Moisturize dry skin – if your skin is dry, use a moisturizer that fits your skin type. For daily use, try a moisturizer that contains SPF to help protect your skin from the sun.
Conclusion:
Skin health all year round is key! Whether you are sweating in the UV rays of the summer, or feeling dry and flaky in the cold winters, our skin is our best defense against harmful things in our environment and we should do our best to take care of it. A healthy skin helps resist any sign of aging and ward off likely disease.
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