This blog post will be a little bit different. As much as I love sharing skin care tips with you, this time I want to talk about lifestyle choices that can impact the condition of your skin. Our skin is reflective of our lifestyle so if you want radiant looking skin it is important to nourish it from within.
The skin is our largest organ, so the healthier our body is the better it will look. Also, it is imperative that you watch what products you are using on your skin, as all those nasty chemicals will go into your bloodstream creating more damage than good. Here, I incorporated 6 steps to radiant skin list, that I hope will radically change the appearance of your skin and help you achieve a youthful glowing look.
Healthy diet
Having a nutrient-dense and diverse diet is imperative for the optimum functioning of our bodies. Consuming a high rate of plant-based foods, products high in omega 3, like olives, avocado and flaxseed, is also shown to have a positive impact on your skin, and prevent premature ageing.
Some people notice better skin when they stop consuming dairy, sugar, or gluten. Also, sensitive skin types and those with allergies may react to certain kinds of food, with spicy food being a common one. Pay attention to how the condition of your skin corresponds to various diets, and try to eat the foods that make you feel healthy and energetic without taking a toll on your skin.
Sleep and Stress
If you’re not sleeping enough, you might have bigger problems than the appearance of your skin. We’ve all experienced puffiness and darkness under our eyes after a sleepless night or two, but long-term sleeplessness, as well as long-term stress, can really wreak havoc.
According to this compilation of studies, excess amounts of cortisol, a stress hormone the body produces as a response to sleeplessness, totally disrupts the skin’s barrier functions, leading to water loss, and slower cell regeneration, which in turn leads to skin wrinkling and sagging. This hormone can also cause an increase in acne breakouts. Lack of sleep also inhibits the body from producing growth hormones, thereby slowing down the skin’s ability to repair itself following any kind of damage, including free radical damage which causes premature ageing.
Water
Water is extremely important for almost all human body functions – especially the skin. When the skin is dehydrated, it is much more susceptible to damage, and chronically dehydrated skin will age much faster than hydrated skin.
Making sure that the water that you consume is of good quality and filter can also make the difference in your skin and your overall health. However, the water we drink reaches every other organ before it reaches our skin, so while adequate water consumption is extremely important for overall health, it isn’t necessarily enough to keep the skin hydrated. That is why using a good moisturizer is so important.
Sun exposure
This one is big. Sun exposure is the primary environmental cause of ageing, and as any good dermatologist will say: sunscreen is the best anti-ageing product. The sun’s rays cause a chain reaction that destroys skin cells, known as oxidation or free-radical damage. Additionally, when sebum (human oil) is oxidized it becomes much likelier to clog pores and cause acne.
Some people’s skin produces more melanin as a defence mechanism against the sun. Sometimes the skin doesn’t produce melanin evenly, leading to dark patches which may become cancerous.
Speaking of, the most dangerous part of excessive sun exposure is the potential for skin cancer. So be careful and remember to always wear some sort of sun protection, whether it’s sunscreen or an awesome wide-brim hat.
Alcohol
With alcohol, minor consumption is okay for the most part, although it may trigger rosacea outbreaks in some people. Chronic overconsumption, on the other hand, can take a visible toll. A common symptom of alcoholism is permanently flushed and irritated-looking skin because the brain’s ability to regulate vascular control becomes impeded.
In individuals with pre-existing conditions like psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, rosacea, and eczema, over-consumption of alcohol has been linked to more frequent and more severe outbreaks.
Smoking
Cigarette smoke, like sun exposure, causes free-radical damage. That is why life-long smokers often have more wrinkles around their mouth. Their skin also becomes more susceptible to pigmentation and irritation.
Final Thoughts
I hope these few tips inspired you to take action and exchange some of the other unhealthy habits for some healthy ones that will help not only improve your health but it will also show in the quality of your skin.
Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Please share what lifestyle habits do you implement to have a radiant skin.
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