Skin is one of the most important parts of your body. It covers and protects all of your internal body parts and controls your body temperature. It’s also the only layer of your body that people see, making it even more important to take care of. If you’re not sure how to best take care of your skin, don’t worry. We’ve created a list of five ways to keep your skin extra healthy to ensure that you’re taking the best possible care of it.
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Exercise Every Day
Most people choose to actively exercise to lose weight, build muscle or live a healthier life. What many don’t take into consideration though, is the fact that exercising is good for skin as well. Physical activity has been proven to reduce stress. Decreased stress leads to less acne and eczema, as well as well-hydrated skin. Exercise also increases your blood flow, which means waste products will be carried away faster and more essential nutrients and oxygen will be delivered to your skin. This keeps skin healthy and looking good.
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Maintain a healthy and balanced diet
This one is easier than it sounds. Simply put, don’t have too much of any one kind of food, especially if it’s unhealthy. It’s okay to cheat with chips or a chocolate every now and again, but try not to make it a habit. The food that you eat affects the outer layers of your body as well as the inner. For the healthiest skin possible, make sure your diet includes a balanced amount of nutrients. If you’re not getting all of the nutrients your body needs from your diet, try taking vitamins. Antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acid are best for your skin.
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Shorten Your Shower Time and Turn Down the Heat
Surprisingly, long, hot showers are actually bad for your skin. With the help of the oil it produces and the cells on the outermost layer, your skin protects you from your environment and retains moisture. If you take hot showers, the water heat softens your skin’s oil. When you wash your skin with soap, you scrub away the oil and some of the cells. The loss of your skin’s protective coating causes moisture to leave your skin, which is why it sometimes becomes dry and itchy after a shower.
To keep your skin as healthy and hydrated as possible, try to make sure you’re out of the shower within 10 minutes and turn down the temperature. If you notice your skin is still dry after making these changes, apply moisturizer to your body. Moisturizer will temporarily replace your skin’s natural oil, ensuring that your skin does not dry out.
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Consider trying retinoids
Retinoids are a skin saver. These vitamin A products work to improve your skin in many ways, including reducing fine lines, clearing up acne, unclogging pores, evening out discoloration, smoothing out your skin and increasing collagen production to help your skin look younger for a longer period of time. It is one of the few anti-aging products that has proven to be effective.
You can take the over-the-counter version of the product, called retinol. But, if you want more drastic improvements, we suggest you talk with us about professional skin care developed by Dr. Chernoff and prescription retinoids. Prescription brands include Retin-A, Renova and Atralin.
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Refrain from skin-damaging activities
Smoking, sunbathing and tanning are three of the worst activities for your skin. These activities can cause severe skin damage, premature aging and cancer. Studies show that people who smoke regularly look 1.4 years older than nonsmokers. Why? When you smoke, the blood supply necessary for healthy skin decreases, leaving your skin wrinkled, dry and discolored.
Sunbathing and tanning salons damage the elastin and collagen in your skin, which keeps it looking youthful and healthy. This leads to wrinkles, spots and other skin damage. Instead of sunbathing, try using sunless tanning products, and always make sure to wear sunscreen while you’re in the sun.
We hope you follow these tips to keep your skin looking fresh, young and beautiful for as long as possible. If your skin has already prematurely aged, you do still have some options. Consider getting injectables from a board-certified plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Chernoff. These treatments require very little downtime and can reverse the effects of aging. To learn more, feel free to contact Dr. Chernoff’s office. We would love to help you attain the skin you desire.
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