Looking after your skin is very important, as skin is the human body’s main defense against infection. Unfortunately, skin care regimens can get complicated, expensive and time consuming. Luckily, this article contains some of the best skin care tips around, so you have no excuse for not looking after your skin.
Care for your skin by avoiding stress. Excess stress may cause skin to become more sensitive. Take time out of your life for stress management and you will see the results in your complexion.
Eat more antioxidant-rich foods to help your skin. Antioxidant-rich foods help to protect the skin. Some great foods that will help your skin are orange and yellow fruits such as carrots and apricots. Other excellent choices are blueberries, and green leafy vegetables such as spinach, tomatoes, peas, beans. Try to get some EFA-rich fish and nuts regularly too.
For your blemishes, try rubbing in a small amount of apple cider vinegar. The cider will replenish moisture where acne has dried out your skin. Use it during the day since the smell of the vinegar is strong. You don’t need it on your sheets.
To avoid getting a rash if you’ve been exposed to poison oak or ivy, you need to act immediately. It takes ten minutes for the invisible oil to bind to your skin. If you can thoroughly wash the area with lots of running water within that time, you can probably avoid the rash. You can use dishwashing liquid to help break up the oil.
For healthy baby skin, make sure you bathe your child everyday. If you add a manganese solution to the baby’s bath, this can help protect the umbilical cord area from infection. Also, make sure to wash your baby’s hair and scalp, at least one to two times a week, with a gentle children’s or baby shampoo.
If you want to prevent wrinkles from forming on your face later in life, the best thing you can do is stay out of the sun. If you do have to go in the sun, always wear sunscreen with at least 25 SPF. If you can, try to wear a hat. By decreasing sun exposure, you lessen the damage it does to the elasticity of your skin.
For total body exfoliation, invest in a long-handled, natural bristle brush. Before you step into the bath or shower, brush your dry skin with vigorous, circular motions. In addition to leaving your skin feeling tingly and invigorated, dry brushing will also improve your circulation and slough away dead skin to create a glowing appearance.
If you have sensitive skin, avoid facial scrubs that feel gritty or grainy; they will only make your skin retreat in pain. Instead, wash with a gentle castile soap (Dr. Bronner’s is a quirky but reliable brand) and pat gently dry after rinsing. Your sensitive skin is very reactive to its environment and needs the gentlest of treatment. Using grainy scrubs, or especially any products containing AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) will further aggravate your skin’s sensitivity, creating redness and irritation.
Be sure to include plenty of “good” oils in your diet to keep your skin, hair and nails moisturized. Use olive oil in salad dressings. Take flax seed oil and fish oil in capsule form. Use sunflower oil or peanut oil in cooking. All of these oils are healthful and help keep your skin nourished.
If you want to prevent a scratch or cut from scarring, apply an anti-bacterial cream every day and stay out of the sun. Anti-bacterial creams help the wound heal faster. Shielding your skin from the sun prevents hyper-pigmentation, which can make the scar even harder to erase later.
If you are using a prescription product to manage your skin care, be sure to use it as directed. While you might be able to get away with using more than the recommended amount of an over-the-counter remedy, a prescription is much stronger. Use it as directed, give it time to work, and let your doctor know of any problems.
If you suffer from enlarged pores and excessively oily skin, consider cutting down on the amount of alcohol you drink. Research by dermatologists has shown that alcohol consumption in excess of about one drink a day has been linked to increased oil production and larger pores. Excessive alcohol consumption has other health effects as well, so it’s better to be safe and limit your drinking.
If your skin appears to be on the oily side, look for products specifically made for your skin type, so your skin appears fresh looking and oil free. Remove excess oil gently with a daily toner. A moisturizer targeted for oily skin will also help your face stay oil-free.
Another treatment for removing scars can be found in cocoa butter. Cocoa butter, which is made from the seeds of the cocoa plant, contains vitamin E, which is well known for its skin healing properties. Simply apply to the affected scar area once a day, preferably after bathing since the skin is still moist.
To help your skin look its best, consider cutting back on the amount of milk you drink. Studies have shown that individuals who drink large quantities of milk experience more break-outs. Milk contains hormones, which can exacerbate skin problems. Try using soy milk as an alternative to cow’s milk.
If you use cologne or body spray during the course of the day, make sure that it does not come in contact with your face. These products are packed with chemicals, which can clog your pores and corrupt your skin. Tilt your head back and apply to your wrist and chest, avoiding your neck and facial skin.
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, skin care is very important. Hopefully, after reading all of the tips presented above, you will have all the knowledge necessary to keep your skin in the best condition possible. So, start applying the advice from this article today and look forward to having great skin in the near future and beyond.
