National Healthy Skin Month

When it comes to motherhood one thing is for sure, time is precious. Our lists of responsibilities are a mile long usually starting at the crack of dawn. We cook, clean, make lunches; help with homework, schedule appointments and the list goes on. In these hectic yet rewarding times we sometimes forget about ourselves. I hope today you take a few minutes to reward yourself.

November is National Healthy Skin month. Our skin is the largest organ in our body. It protects our internal organs from injury, regulates body temperature, and helps remove excess salt and water from the body. Your skin has an amazing ability to rejuvenate and look young again when properly cared for. Start today for a healthier looking you.

Tips on keeping your skin healthy and young:

Get enough Sleep- Try for 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. This helps the body to rejuvenate itself. Sleep on your back and avoid lying on your side. Lying on your side increases wrinkles on the face and chest. Collagen in our skin becomes less pliable as we age.

Eat Healthy- Make sure you eat a well balanced diet and drink plenty of water daily. Water helps keep the body hydrated and prevents dryness giving the skin a healthier look. Consider including Vitamins A, C, and E which are all strong antioxidants. Eat good fats, such as Omega 3’s and monounsaturated fats found in peanuts. Eat whole foods and grains while minimizing sugars and processed foods.

Use sunscreen daily- The most important component to youthful skin. UV light causes wrinkles, skin cancer and age spots. Avoid the sun during the hours of 10am-4pm when the rays are their strongest. Use a SPF of 30 or higher on your face and reapply frequently to ensure protection. Wear sun protective clothing and avoid tanning beds.

Wear Sunglasses- Wear sunglasses during the day. Squinting causes wrinkles around the eyes and on your forehead. Sunglasses also protect your eyes from developing sun related damage to the eyes. Eyes can yellow after long exposure to the sun.

Avoid Tanning- Tanning changes the pigment of the skin causing damage over time to the skin. Tanning either by sun or tanning beds are now known to cause damage and increase aging. Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer, apply sun screen when outdoors and reapply after exercising or swimming.

Establish a nighttime skin care routine- Clean face nightly using a gentle cleanser. Remove eye make-up with a cotton ball or soft cloth and avoid applying pressure to sensitive eye tissue. Apply an anti wrinkle cream to face nightly. When showering avoid hot water and limit your exposure to 15 minutes. Prolonged heat and showering removes body oils leaving your skin dry.

Don’t Smoke- Smoking is bad for you’re over all health but it accelerates wrinkles especially around your mouth and eyes. Smoking decreases blood flow depletes skin of oxygen and causes narrowing of the tiny blood vessels of the outer layers of the skin.