Self-help for skin
Of course, many women are confused or simply overwhelmed when it comes to making sound decisions about skin care. How could they not be? Bombarded with seductive advertisements and a bewildering array of new and expensive skin care products, it’s a wonder that any woman can feel confident in this arena. So, we asked the experts, what can you reasonably do — without resorting to expensive or invasive cosmetic procedures — to keep your skin’s healthy glow?
For starters, they said, it’s never too early to begin protecting your skin, even when there’s not a blemish or wrinkle in sight. Young women in their teens and 20s can begin a lifetime of healthy habits — such as not smoking — that can slow down the skin’s aging process.
Here are the most important steps to take:
- Use sunscreen and protective clothing. By far the most important measure you can take to save your skin is to avoid excessive exposure to the sun. “Basically, we consider the science of aging all sun-related,” says Arielle N.B. Kauvar, MD, clinical associate professor of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine. “If no one was ever exposed to the sun, we wouldn’t have wrinkles, brown spots, red blotches — even sagging is accelerated. It’s all from the sun. The most important thing anyone can do for skin — infant, child, woman, man — is sunscreen.”
- To protect your skin, you should use a hat and other protective clothing as well as sunscreen. Seek out shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., use umbrellas on the beach, and avoid tanning parlors.
- Stop smoking. Smoking can damage the skin’s connective tissue and impair its healing process by preventing oxygen from getting to your blood vessels and skin. What this translates into is the classic “smoker’s face” — one etched by countless fine wrinkles. Even if you’ve been smoking for years, though, stopping means that your skin will probably sustain less damage.
- Get some sleep. Getting adequate rest means you don’t look like you have bags under your eyes. This is also one way to alleviate stress, which is thought to contribute to damage from free radicals.
- Avoid dehydration. Drink at least eight glasses of water daily, and don’t drink excessive amounts of coffee, which can make your body lose water. Although there are no studies that say it will help your skin, getting enough water may help your body remove toxins and maintain good circulation.
- Watch your diet. Avoid loading up on white sugar or processed food, and don’t drink too much alcohol (the federal government recommends that women have no more than one drink a day). It’s also important to try to maintain a healthy weight throughout your life. “Yo-yo” dieters whose weight fluctuates dramatically can speed the aging process, as well as end up with sagging skin.
Why sun worship is damaging
