The 5 Tenets of Healthy Skin
The pitfalls of urban living may also cause problems for your skin. Consultant Dermatologist Dr Nazirin Ariffin lists five essential tips for maintaining healthy skin in these modern times.
#1: Use sunscreen
It’s not just outdoors – ultraviolet (UV) light can penetrate the windows of your car, office and home. Apply sunscreen, and wear protective clothing like a wide-brimmed hat and long sleeves when out in the sun. Reapply after being in the water or after sweating. Opt for a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVB and UVA rays. UVB causes sunburn and cell damage, which can lead to skin cancer, while UVA causes premature aging of the skin.
#2: Get enough sleep
Most of us have experienced sallow skin and puffy eyes after a few nights of missed sleep. However, chronic sleep loss can lead to dull skin and fine lines. This is because sleep helps skin cells regenerate. So, when you lack sleep, the cells throughout your body don’t have sufficient time to repair themselves. The body may also produce more cortisol (the stress hormone), which can break down collagen, the protein that keeps skin smooth and elastic.
#3: Avoid stress
When you are stressed, the protective, outermost layer of the skin becomes impaired, allowing harmful microbes to infiltrate and activate the immune system, which can exacerbate chronic conditions like eczema and psoriasis, or activate cold sores, shingles, etc. Stress can also worsen acne, while repeated frowning – from stress – cause frown lines.
#4: Say ‘no’ to cigarettes and alcohol
Smoking accelerates skin aging by inducing the formation of free radicals, which damage cell DNA. It also restricts blood circulation, thus accelerating collagen breakdown in the skin. Continuous puckering of the lips and squinting of the eyes while smoking may also induce wrinkles around the mouth and eyes. Alcohol can be dehydrating, which is bad news for the skin. Excessive use may dilate blood vessels in the face, causing the appearance of red, spidery veins, as well as rosacea, a condition causing permanent redness on the cheeks and nose.
#5: Be careful with tattoos and piercings
Infection is the main risk associated with body piercing and tattooing; a small minority of people will develop scars from these practices. Choose a reputable practitioner who uses sterile instruments and follow the aftercare advice properly. This will usually involve keeping the area clean and dry, as well as recognising the signs of infection.
It’s not just outdoors – ultraviolet (UV) light can penetrate the windows of your car, office and home. Apply sunscreen, and wear protective clothing like a wide-brimmed hat and long sleeves when out in the sun. Reapply after being in the water or after sweating. Opt for a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVB and UVA rays. UVB causes sunburn and cell damage, which can lead to skin cancer, while UVA causes premature aging of the skin.
#2: Get enough sleep
Most of us have experienced sallow skin and puffy eyes after a few nights of missed sleep. However, chronic sleep loss can lead to dull skin and fine lines. This is because sleep helps skin cells regenerate. So, when you lack sleep, the cells throughout your body don’t have sufficient time to repair themselves. The body may also produce more cortisol (the stress hormone), which can break down collagen, the protein that keeps skin smooth and elastic.
#3: Avoid stress
When you are stressed, the protective, outermost layer of the skin becomes impaired, allowing harmful microbes to infiltrate and activate the immune system, which can exacerbate chronic conditions like eczema and psoriasis, or activate cold sores, shingles, etc. Stress can also worsen acne, while repeated frowning – from stress – cause frown lines.
#4: Say ‘no’ to cigarettes and alcohol
Smoking accelerates skin aging by inducing the formation of free radicals, which damage cell DNA. It also restricts blood circulation, thus accelerating collagen breakdown in the skin. Continuous puckering of the lips and squinting of the eyes while smoking may also induce wrinkles around the mouth and eyes. Alcohol can be dehydrating, which is bad news for the skin. Excessive use may dilate blood vessels in the face, causing the appearance of red, spidery veins, as well as rosacea, a condition causing permanent redness on the cheeks and nose.
#5: Be careful with tattoos and piercings
Infection is the main risk associated with body piercing and tattooing; a small minority of people will develop scars from these practices. Choose a reputable practitioner who uses sterile instruments and follow the aftercare advice properly. This will usually involve keeping the area clean and dry, as well as recognising the signs of infection.
No comments:
Post a Comment