15 Tips To Maintain A Healthy Skin....

The skin is the outer protective layer of the body
of any animal including human, it's appearance
could either speak positively (if it is healthy) or
negatively (if it is unhealthy) of the bearer. Hence,
maintaining a healthy skin is very essential as a
human being and this can be achieved by
adopting good skin care and healthy life style
choices which can help delay the natural aging
process and various skin problems. Below are 15
tips to maintain a healthy skin:
1. PROTECT YOUR SKIN FROM THE SUN
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, as well as increase the
risk of skin cancer.
Use sunscreen: Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen
with an SPF of at least 15. Apply sunscreen
generously, and reapply every two hours or more
often if you're swimming or perspiring.
Seek shade: Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 2
p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest.
Wear protective clothing: Cover your skin with
tightly woven long-sleeved shirts, long pants and
wide-brimmed hats. Also consider laundry
additives, which give clothing an additional layer
of ultraviolet protection for a certain number of
washings, or special sun-protective clothing
(which is specifically designed to block ultraviolet
rays).
2. TREAT YOUR SKIN GENTLY
Daily cleansing and shaving can take a toll on
your skin. To keep it gentle:
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. Instead, choose mild
cleansers.
Shave carefully: To protect and lubricate your
skin, apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before
shaving. For the closest shave, use a clean, sharp
razor. Shave in the direction the hair grows, not
against it.
Pat dry: After washing or bathing, gently pat or
blot your skin dry with a towel so that some
moisture remains on your skin.
Moisturize dry skin: If your skin is dry, use a
moisturizer that fits your skin type. For daily use,
consider a moisturizer that contains SPF.
3. EAT A HEALTHY DIET
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 vitamin C and low in unhealthy
fats and processed or refined carbohydrates
might promote younger looking skin.
4. QUIT SMOING
Smoking makes your skin look older and
contributes to wrinkles. Smoking narrows the tiny
blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin,
which decreases blood flow. This 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, the repetitive facial expressions you
make when smoking (such as pursing your lips
when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep
out smoke) can contribute to wrinkles. If you
smoke, the best way to protect your skin is to
quit. Ask your doctor for tips or treatments to
help you stop smoking.
5. MANAGE STRESS
Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more
sensitive and trigger acne breakouts and other
skin problems. To encourage healthy skin (and a
healthy state of mind) take steps to manage your
stress. Set reasonable limits, scale back your to-
do list and make time to do the things you enjoy.
The results might be more dramatic than you
expect.
6. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER
Drink plenty of water, your skin is made of water
so therefore, drinking more water will be highly
favourable to the skin.
7. AVOID TOUCHING YOUR FACE MORE OFTEN
Avoid touching your face often. Doing this can
spread serious bacteria that causes your pores to
get irritated from getting on your face.
8. WASH YOUR FACE REGULARLY
Wash your face before you go to bed, and after
you get up in the morning. Before you go to bed,
splash warm water and cold water on your skin.
For better results when you expose yourself to
water on your face let, the liquid air dry. There
can be a bacteria on the towel you use to dry
your face.
9. WASH YOUR PILLOW CASE ALWAYS
Wash your pillow cases often. Doing this can
prevent breakouts (Acne) towards your skin.
10. CLEAN YOUR MAKE-UP BRUSHES
A study have found that most women never wash
their brushes or sponges, even though they collect
dirt and bacteria which can cause breakouts. "You
should wash loose powder brushes every two to
three weeks, and those used to apply foundation
once a week. Mix a couple of drops of gentle
facial cleanser or shampoo and lukewarm water
in a cup, swish your brushes around, rinse with
lukewarm water, pat dry, and lay flat to air dry.
11. SANITIZE YOUR SMARTPHONE
Smart phones you can't keep your hands off of
can get more germ-infested than a toilet in a
public toilet. In fact, the glass touch-screens on
mobile devices are so good at spreading viruses
that sharing them may be almost as bad as
sneezing in someone's face. Here's a scary
thought: All those germs land right on your cheek
and jawline every time you chat away, causing
spots and irritation. To keep your phone (and
face) bacteria-free, wipe it down with an
antibacterial wipe like Clorox Disinfecting Wipes a
few times a day.
12. DROP DAIRY FROM YOUR DIET
"Dairy products (even those that are organic)
contain cow hormones that stimulate your oil
glands and your pores, leading to acne". Beware
of hidden dairy in foods like salad dressing,
protein bars, and shakes. And if you have to go
there, stick to skimmed milk. "The hormones are
concentrated in the fat, so it's your best option."
13. DON'T NEGLECT YOUR NECK AND CHEST
Most of us are guilty of stopping our skincare
routine as soon as we hit our chin. And our
neglected neck and chest take vengeance by
wrinkling, sagging, and displaying dark spots that
beg to be hidden by a turtleneck. The skin on
these areas is thinner, and doesn't have a strong
blood supply, so it doesn't heal well. Plus it's an
area that we often forget to protect with
sunscreen. Use the same products as you would
on your face, but start lightly (every other day)
when applying active ingredients like retinols or
acids since they may cause some initial irritation.
14. STRIP OFF YOUR MAKE UP BEFORE GOING
TO BED
Leaving makeup and dirt on skin doesn't just clog
pores; it can cause excessive dryness and even
skin dandruff. Most makeup contains a sugar-
type molecule that can grow yeast overnigh.
Don't forget to thoroughly remove eye makeup
too because it can lead to bumpy rashes around
the eyes or small white bumps called milia cyst..
Try Rinse-Off Eye Makeup before going to bed.
15. STAY OFF HOT WATER
A steamy shower may feel great, but it's one of
the worst things you can do for your skin. Not
only does the heat strip essential oils, but it
creates a mild burn. Blood vessels respond by
dilating in an effort to cool the skin, causing
flushing and ruddiness. When you're in your
twenties, you can take a hot shower, be red &
swollen and recover in an hour, but in your
thirties, it may take 2 hours. By your forties, your
skin just doesn't have the ability to shrink back
to its original state so you stay ruddy all the
time.

#Chibuzor