Protect your skin from the sun damage that ages it, wind that roughens it, and pollutants that leave it dull and blemish-prone. Healthy skin is radiant, smooth, and free of blemishes. Caring for your skin properly will keep it glowing with good health.
Keeping skin clean is the first step in keeping it healthy. Bacteria, dirt, and oil can accumulate in pores, leaving the skin vulnerable to breakouts. Blackheads are formed when the oily sebum your skin produces oxidize and turn dark; although they aren’t dirt, they can give skin a dirty, mottled appearance. Thorough, but gentle cleansing with a lotion or cream cleanser will keep skin free of pimple-producing bacteria and accumulations of sebum. Conventional bar soaps also keep skin clean, but can be harsh or drying to sensitive facial skin, so consider a creamier formulation designed for the face.
The outer layer of skin, the epidermis, continuously sheds old skin cells and replaces them with newer cells from deeper within your skin. These old cells can leave skin ashy or dull, but there’s a way to speed up the process and reveal the younger, healthier cells beneath. Exfoliation is the process of removing this outermost layer of dead cells; exfoliating skin gives it a youthful glow and a healthier appearance.
There are many exfoliating products on the market, but they all fall into one of two types of exfoliation. Physical exfoliation is the process of rubbing away old skin cells with a gentle abrasive. Specially formulated exfoliating scrubs contain small particles that wear off the outermost layer of the epidermis. Ingredients such as alpha hydroxy acids and certain enzymes act as chemical exfoliators, loosening the bonds between old, dead cells and the younger cells they hide. Anti-aging products often contain these chemical exfoliants.
Exfoliation reveals newer, younger-looking skin, but that skin needs more protection. Sun damage is one of the primary causes of prematurely aged skin, causing uneven pigmentation and lines. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun can even cause skin cancer, not only compromising your skin’s appearance, but also your health. Seek out a sunscreen that provides protection from both UVA and UVB radiation and check your sunscreen’s SPF (sun protection factor); the higher the number, the more effectively the sunscreen will protect your skin. Zinc oxide is a common, effective, and non-irritating sunscreen. No sunscreen can protect skin if you don’t use it regularly, though, so apply a generous amount of sunscreen daily to all exposed skin.
Sun damage is not the only danger your skin faces. Chlorinated water, wind, and arid temperature-controlled environments can rob skin of moisture, leaving it looking and feeling dry. Invest in a moisturizer that contains both humectants and oils or silicone-based polymers. Humectants like glycerin and uric acid collect moisture from the surrounding atmosphere, while oils and silicone-based ingredients act as an occlusive barrier to keep that moisture there to rehydrate parched skin. Some moisturizers also contain plenty of sun protection, allowing them to do double duty.
Protect your skin and keep it glowing with health; it will return the favor by protecting you for a lifetime.
This was written by a leading dermatologist, who specialises in anti-aging treatments and skin care. Has recently reviewed and recommends the following product: nivea visage oxygen