Top 10 Tips for Healthier Skin

Skin is a mirror into your body… Skin is your first layer of defense against the outside world, but it can also give important clues to your overall health. It is very important to learn how to read the signs and take good care of your skin, so your skin can keep taking good care of you.

We have made a roundup of the top 10 tips to keep your skin looking and feeling healthy!

1 | Protect the skin from the sun all year long

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 and increase the risk of developing skin cancer.

Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least 15, but ideally 50+. If you are at the beach or the pool, reapply every two hours and every time you leave the water.

It is also important to avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun's rays are strongest.

Another top tip is to use a self-tanner if you like looking tanned. A self-tanner can give you the look you want without the risks. To keep your skin healthy, you want to protect it from the sun even when using a self-tanner.

2 | Don’t Smoke

Smoking makes the skin age rapidly and contributes to the appearance of wrinkles. Objectively, smoking narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin, decreasing blood flow and making skin paler. This also depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients that are important to skin health.

Smoking also damages collagen and elastin — the fibers that give your skin strength and elasticity.

In addition, smoking increases your risk of squamous cell skin cancer. If you smoke, the best way to protect your skin is to try to quit. Consult with your doctor for tips or treatments to help you stop smoking.

3 | Be gentle to your skin

Modern-day routines can be harsh to the skin. Daily cleansing and shaving can take a toll on your protective barrier so it is important to keep it as gentle as possible.

• 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 again. Instead, choose mild cleansers for your daily routine. Natural soap can be a very good option for you because it does not have chemicals and is gentler on the skin.
• Shave carefully: to protect and lubricate your skin using ideally a natural soap before shaving. For the closest shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Shave in the direction the hair grows, not against it.
• Pat dry your skin: after washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on your skin.
• Resist the urge to scrub your skin: if you've been sweating heavily or have a serious acne flare, it may seem natural to scrub your skin. But that is not ideal. Scrubbing irritates your skin, which can worsen any skin condition, including acne.
• Cleanse the skin every day: wash your face when waking, before bed, and after sweating. Washing when you wake up removes the dirt and bacteria that settle on your face while sleeping. Before bed, you want to remove makeup and grime, such as smog, smoke, or dirt, which may have landed on your skin.
• Use skincare products that match your skin's needs: using products formulated for your skin's needs will help your skin look and feel its best while being more gentle because it is curated to your needs.

4 | Do regular checkups on your skin

Skin self-exams can help you find skin cancer early when it's highly treatable. If you notice a spot that differs from the others, or one that changes, itches, or bleeds, make an appointment to see a dermatologist.

5 | Eat Healthy

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 fish oil or fish oil supplements and low in unhealthy fats and processed or refined carbohydrates might promote younger-looking skin. Also, drinking plenty of water helps keep your skin hydrated.

Add Antioxidants to your diet that help neutralizes and protect the body from free radicals. Free radicals are unstable and highly reactive molecules that come from a variety of sources, including air pollutants, chemicals, UV rays, and cigarette smoke.

Your body produces antioxidants naturally, but you can also find them in everyday foods like berries and leafy greens. Here are some common antioxidants that are beneficial for your skin and the foods they can be found in:

• Vitamin C: Most fruits and vegetables, especially berries, oranges, and bell peppers
• Vitamin A: Milk, butter, and eggs
• Vitamin E: Nuts, seeds, and leafy greens
• Beta-carotene: Brightly colored fruits and vegetables like carrots, mangoes, and spinach
• Lycopene: Red and pink fruits and vegetables like watermelon and tomatoes
• Lutein: Leafy greens, corn, papaya, and oranges
• Anthocyanin: Purple-colored foods like blueberries, pomegranates, and beets
• Catechins: Green tea, dark chocolate, berries

It is also important to reduce sugar intake. Sugar helps produce free radicals in your body and these radicals not only destroy collagen and elastin (structural proteins that keep your skin strong and supple) but also prevent your body from producing more.

6 | Manage stress levels

Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more sensitive and trigger acne breakouts and other skin problems. To encourage healthy skin take steps to manage your stress. Get enough sleep, set reasonable limits, scale back your to-do list and make time to do the things you enjoy. The results might be more dramatic and life-changing than you expect.

7 | Exercise Regularly

Regular exercise can do wonders for maintaining and improving the health of your skin. A sweaty workout raises your heart rate and increases blood circulation, which is necessary to deliver oxygen and essential vitamins and nutrients to your cells. Exercising regularly can also counteract the aging process by reducing cortisol levels and activating the release of healing endorphins.

But don’t forget to cleanse your skin after a workout. Sweating is your skin’s natural way of detoxing but without a proper wash, any toxins that have been released can seep back into your pores.

8 | Get 8 Hours Of Sleep

Getting enough sleep is just as essential as disconnecting before bed. Studies reveal that lack of sleep contributes to more fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and less elasticity. By getting enough hours of sleep, you give your body enough time to perform the functions that keep your skin healthy.

9 | Get an appointment with a Dermatologist

When it comes to our skin, dermatologists are the experts. These doctors diagnose and treat thousands of different skin diseases. They also have the expertise needed to help people safely rejuvenate and care for their skin.

10 | Use Natural Skin Care

One of the best things you can do for your skin is to incorporate natural ingredients and products into your skincare routine. Choosing natural skincare ensures that you are not exposing your skin to harsh chemicals that can disrupt its moisture barrier and cause irritation and dryness. Additionally, natural, and organic ingredients are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant-rich ingredients that improve your skin’s health over time.

With Gamila Secret you get 100% natural products that give your skin the best that nature has to offer. We keep our ancient process still in place to give you a clean and simple skincare routine that will keep your skin healthy!

 

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Sources: Newsinhealth; Mayo Clinic; American Academy of Dermatology Association