atmospheric protection from ultraviolet (UV) radiation and
increased levels of air pollutants have negatively impacted our
skin on a daily basis. This is truer today than it has been even
a decade ago. These conditions can result in an increased risk
to the aging of our skin.
Another concern is that - on average - human beings are living
longer than ever before. People now want to be kept youthful,
healthy and even sexy year after year, even while the calendar
tells them they are getting older. While the fountain of youth
may remain out of reach, most of us want to do whatever we can
to preserve youthful, vibrant skin. We are moving into an era
where the age of our bodies does not need to correlate to the
way our skin looks. Science and medicine are giving the average
person a fighting chance to protect and nourish their skin in
increasingly effective, affordable ways.
Here are 7 tips for protecting your skin against the effects of
aging and for having healthier, more vibrant skin - no matter
what your age.
Tip 1: Wash your face every morning: When you wake up each
morning, your skin is coated with layers of dead skin cells,
oil, dirt, and dust. To clean your skin of these impurities,
part of your morning ritual should include washing your face.
You might also periodically use a mild exfoliant, which can
remove layers of dead skin cells that collect overnight to
reveal the healthy skin underneath.
Tip 2: Get plenty of rest: Nowadays, people are working longer
hours and packing more activities into each hour of the day,
increasing the potential for more stressful lives. Stress
releases hormones within your body which some studies show may
diminish your cells' ability to regenerate. One excellent way to
combat the effects of stress is to get a good night's sleep.
Getting at least 7 or 8 hours of sleep each night is good for
your mind and for your skin.
Tip 3: Avoid cigarette smoke: Whenever possible, you need to
reduce your exposure to smoke and other pollutants. Pay
particular attention if you smoke cigarettes or live/ work
around people who do. Cigarette smoke is absolutely detrimental
to healthy skin. Smoke fills your blood with carbon monoxide,
which then edges out the life-giving oxygen that your cells
need. Smoke also uses up the vitamin C in your blood, which is
important for the preservation of collagen in your skin (see
below).
Tip 4: Use sunscreen every day, even on cloudy days: You have
probably heard this before, but it remains as true now as ever:
use sunscreen every day. How many times have you seen a
nice-looking 40, 50, or 60-year old person whose face and neck
have become weathered and wrinkled while the skin on other parts
of their body still looks young and taut? If what we know about
the positive effects of sunscreen were known 30 or 40 years ago,
these folks would have much softer, more beautiful skin today.
Do yourself a favor and take advantage of what science has
proven: sunscreen helps fight the effects of aging skin - even
on cloudy days.
Tip 5: Wear a hat when going out into the sun for extended
periods: If you find that you will be going out into the sun for
extended periods of 30 minutes or more, be sure to wear a hat.
This provides an added layer of protection beyond sunscreen.
Even one or two serious sunburns can have lasting negative
effects on the health of your skin.
Tip 6: Get plenty of vitamin A: Our skin has a complicated
relationship with sunlight. On the one hand, skin needs sunlight
in order to produce enough vitamin D, which is essential for the
proper absorption and use of calcium. On the other hand, too
much sun can damage the skin and can also contribute to
premature aging of the skin and wrinkles. Fortunately, recent
studies have confirmed that applying cream containing vitamin A
directly to the skin appears to remove wrinkles associated with
natural aging (Archives of Dermatology, May 2007).
Tip 7: Apply vitamin C to your skin: Collagen is a natural
component of your skin which helps to naturally smooth out
wrinkles. Collagen production in the skin can be hurt by the
natural process of oxidation, a process whereby the free
radicals in oxygen break down cell tissues. Applying vitamin C -
a natural antioxidant - to the skin can help stimulate collagen
production and thereby smooth out wrinkles in the skin.
Maintaining healthy skin requires daily attention, but the good
news is that there are many things you can do to stay looking
healthy. Even if you have been neglecting your skin for months
or years because you have been too busy, it is never too late.
Try these tips for a few weeks and you should notice a marked
improvement in the beauty, glow and health of your skin.
About The Author: Nancy Kittle is the president and daughter of
the founder of E. Burnham Cosmetics, a leading supplier of a
full line of skin care products for both women and men. Find out
more about how to get healthier skin, affordably at:
http://www.eburnham
