Even though the skin is the largest organ of your body, it is most often the most neglected one too. Most of us will ensure that we take a bath each day, cleaning the skin, maybe apply a little moisturiser and perhaps even some sunscreen. Many of us will pamper our face, because we feel that this is one part of our body that is an integral part of our personality. However, the rest of the body also needs tender care.
There are actually a few simple steps that you can take and these should ensure that the skin on your entire body looks and feels healthy. It is important to understand that your skin says a lot of things about your overall well-being. For instance, if you have dry skin which is constantly flaking, chances are that your body does not have enough water. This would mean that you would have to increase your fluid intake.
Here are a few steps that you could take to ensure that your skin looks healthy and nourished:
- Water: As basic as it might sound, water is the most important part of a skin care regime. When you are out in the sun, or working out in the gym, you are losing water. Every time you urinate, you are losing water, and the more water you lose, the closer you are to getting dehydrated. The possibility of getting dehydrated goes up when you have fever, vomiting or diarrhoea. While your body does absorb a little water when you take a bath or go for a swim, you need to understand that a majority of this water has to come from within. This means that you will have to eat healthy and include a range of fruits and vegetables that are known to have a high water content. Watermelon, cantaloupe, tomatoes, oranges, fresh berries, spinach, cucumbers are all high in water, and these should be consumed on a regular basis.
- Cleansers: Keeping your skin clean is the first step to keeping it healthy, which is why you should invest in good quality soaps, face washes and cleansers. It is important that you wash your face on a regular basis – two to three times a day would be ideal; however, for people with oily skin, there might be the need to wash a few more times. It is just as important to pick out a cleanser that suits your skin type, because that will help you on your way to healthier skin. For most people, a clean face or body is when there is a tightness in the skin or a dry feeling. However, this could mean that you have stripped your skin of the essential oils, which is why it is important to go through your cleansing routine with gentle hands.
- Exfoliant: Washing your face and body is something you will do every day, however, once in a while, you need to go the extra mile. You will need to scrub away the dead skin cells, or the epidermis, because when you do that, the dermis will be stimulated to create new skin cells, giving your face a fresh and healthy look. While you could always use a store bought exfoliant, you can easily make some at home, using ingredients that are normally present in the kitchen cupboard. For instance, oatmeal, yoghurt, natural sugar and sea salt are all natural exfoliants which can be used twice or thrice a week.
- Moisturizer: For your skin to look healthy, it needs to have hydration from inside as well as outside. This means, that every time you take a bath, you need to make sure that you apply good amount of moisturiser. This is all the more important when you take a hot water bath. It is advisable though that you do not use very hot water for bathing, because it will strip your skin of all the essential and natural oils. Look for a moisturiser that suits your skin type and will not clog your skin pores.
- Sunscreen: You might feel that sunscreen is meant for people who spend a lot of time outdoors. However, without realising it, you too keep stepping in and out of the sun – every time when you head out to the balcony to water the plants or hang the clothes to dry, you are exposing yourself to the sun. When you are out grocery shopping or are waiting to pick your child up at the bus stop, you are yet again exposing yourself to the sun. So, sunscreen is important for everyone – it is only the amount of sunscreen that needs to be determined. Additionally, you need to remember that all your exposed skin will be affected, which is why the sunscreen has to be applied to not only to the face, but also hands and legs. Pick a brand that is ideal for your skin type and has a sun protection factor of a minimum 15.
- Eating healthy: While many people might think that good skin care products are the way to having healthy skin, the truth is that healthy skin has to come from within. This means, that in order to have healthy skin, you need to make sure that you include fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet, avoid too much alcohol and caffeine, as these are recognised diuretics and will lead to dehydration. Too much oil might not be good, but you could consume regulated amount of olive oil, which will hydrate your skin from within.
- Exercise: Did you know that your acne gets worked up, when you are stressed? Exercise can help relieve some of the stress and less stress means less acne. Regular exercise will make you sweat, which in turn will open the pores. Studies have shown that people who exercise regularly get wrinkles much later in life and have a greater production of collagen in the skin.
- Sleep: If you do not get enough sleep, there is no way your face or skin will look perky and fresh. Sleep helps your skin rejuvenate. In addition, when asleep, your skin is safe from dirt and pollution.
Most importantly, for you to have great skin, you need to be happy and healthy attitude towards life!
