Good skin care and healthy lifestyle choices can help delay
the natural aging process and prevent various skin problems
1. Protect
yourself from the sun
One of the most
important ways to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun. A
lifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, age spots and other skin problems
— as well as increase the risk of skin cancer.
For the most
complete sun protection:
·
Use sunscreen. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. When
you're outdoors, reapply sunscreen every two hours — or more often if you're
swimming or perspiring.
·
Seek shade. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun's rays
are strongest.
· Wear protective
clothing. Cover your skin
with tightly woven long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats. Also
consider laundry additives, which give clothing an additional layer of
ultraviolet protection for a certain number of washings, or special
sun-protective clothing — which is specifically designed to block ultraviolet
rays.
2. Don't smoke
If you smoke, the
best way to protect your skin is to quit. Ask your doctor for tips or
treatments to help you stop smoking.
3. Treat your skin
gently
Daily cleansing
and shaving can take a toll on your skin. To keep it gentle:
·
Limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from your skin.
Limit your bath or shower time, and use warm — rather than hot — water.
·
Avoid strong
soaps. Strong soaps and detergents can strip oil
from your skin. Instead, choose mild cleansers.
·
Shave carefully. To protect and lubricate your skin, apply shaving cream, lotion
or gel before shaving. For the closest shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Shave
in the direction the hair grows, not against it.
·
Pat dry. After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with
a towel so that some moisture remains on your skin.
·
Moisturize dry
skin. If your skin is dry, use a moisturizer
that fits your skin type. For daily use, consider a moisturizer that contains
SPF.
4. Eat a healthy
diet
A healthy diet can
help you look and feel your best. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole
grains and lean proteins. The association between diet and acne isn't clear —
but some research suggests that a diet rich in vitamin C and low in unhealthy
fats and processed or refined carbohydrates might promote younger looking skin.
5. Manage stress
Uncontrolled
stress can make your skin more sensitive and trigger acne breakouts and other
skin problems. To encourage healthy skin — and a healthy state of mind — take
steps to manage your stress. Set reasonable limits, scale back your to-do list
and make time to do the things you enjoy. The results might be more dramatic
than you expect.
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