Healthy Skin Means Healthy Life

Healthy skin is happy skin. Be kind to it and avoid the habits that skin hates most.

Sun damage is the primary cause of premature aging, uneven skin pigmentation, and even skin cancer. What looks like a fashionable tan is actually the skin’s response to damaging ultraviolet rays. Nor is the sun the only culprit; tanning beds also bombard skin with ultraviolet light. Even a short session on the tanning bed or beside the pool puts unprotected skin at risk. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen that offers protection from both UVA and UVB radiation on exposed skin every day and your skin will love you for it.

If you wear makeup, remove it thoroughly at the end of the day. Makeup is meant to beautify, but there’s nothing pretty about clogged pores and the pimples that come with them. Oil-free makeup removers do a good job of readying your face for cleansing.

It’s important to cleanse your skin thoroughly, but gently. While it’s a myth that blemishes are caused by dirt, it’s true that dirt almost always results in blemishes. However, cleansing too much or with harsh detergents strips your skin of its natural protection. The thinner skin on your face is especially susceptible to irritation from drying soaps. Use a cleanser formulated for your face once or twice a day at most.

If you do get a blemish, resist the urge to pop or pick at it. Squeezing a pimple may make it less obvious at the time, but it can also spread bacteria to surrounding skin and lead to bigger breakouts. Picking at blemishes may even leave permanent scars, pits, or discoloration. If you have troubled skin on a regular basis, try changing up the products you use; you might just be using a product that doesn’t get along with your skin. A visit to a dermatologist can also provide relief for more serious acne.

You may like the occasional drink, but your skin doesn’t. Alcohol causes the tiny capillaries in your skin to dilate, leaving you looking flushed and blotchy. While a few parties won’t harm your skin, heavy alcohol consumption can make those dilated capillaries burst. Splashing cool water on your face is a quick morning-after fix, but your skin will look healthier if you adopt a long-term strategy of moderation.

Skin is forgiving; it bounces back from your having an occasional night on the town or feeling too tired to remove your makeup. The key is not to make a habit of mistreating your skin. Love your skin and it will love you back for a lifetime.

This was written by a leading dermatologist, who specialises in anti-aging treatments and skin care. Has recently reviewed and recommends the following product: avene cleanance oliy