Skin Care Tips

No other part of your body gets as much abuse as your skin. Think about it: it gets scratched, burned, bitten, doused in water, and exposed to heat on a daily basis. Add to that the natural wear and tear of aging, and you’ve got a recipe for incurably bad skin—unless you take good care of it.

Of course, that’s easier said than done. With the wide array of skin care products on the market, you can’t run out of options; the problem is choosing the right stuff. The first thing you should remember is that there’s no such thing as a miracle cure. Spots and wrinkles will happen, and all you can do is keep them at bay for a while. Once you accept that, it’s all a matter of maintaining your skin while it’s still young. Here are a few tips that can help.

Eat right. Proper diet and exercise are the best way to maintain your skin. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and slow down on fatty foods like meat, fries and desserts. Drink lots of water; this helps flush out toxins and other impurities that make your skin look dull.

Don’t smoke. Smoking impairs the circulation of blood to your skin, which is why smokers often look gray and sullen. If you do smoke, try to cut down and drink more water to wash out the nicotine. Secondhand smoke can also affect your skin, so try to steer clear of smokers in public areas.

Take care of your joints, too. Don’t neglect the thicker skin on your feet, knees and elbows. Give them a regular scrubbing and keep them clean at all times. These parts tend to thicken fast, and if left alone, they can become a breeding ground for fungal and bacterial infections.

Relax. Stress is a major risk factor for acne, oily skin, and other chronic skin conditions. When you’re stressed, your skin’s ability to regenerate is impaired. Give your skin a chance to refresh by de-stressing once in a while.

Use sunscreen. The sun’s ultraviolet rays can speed up the aging process by as much as 20%, not to mention increase your risk of cancer. Avoid direct sunlight between 10 am and 2 pm—that’s when the sun is at its hottest and most damaging. When you do go out, put on some sunscreen and shade yourself with a hat.

Go natural. Each skin care product contains around 30 different chemicals—that’s 30 potential skin irritants. Cut the risk by going for natural or organic products, which have little to no synthetic chemical content. Test new products on a small patch beside your elbow (it’s where the skin most closely matches facial skin) to check for reactions.

Give it a break. Facial cleansers, toners, moisturizers, scrubs—the array of skin care products on the shelves can be pretty daunting. But skin care doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, the more treatment you give it, the more it tends to go awry. Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your skin is leave it alone.