proven ways keep skin young healthy

Protect Your Skin from the Sun

One of the most important things you can do to keep your skin beautiful is protect it from the sun. A lifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, age spots and other skin problems.

The American Academy of Dermatology says that the sun plays a major role in premature aging of the skin. This is why it’s important to protect your skin from the sun every day, even on rainy and winter days.

protect your skin from the sun

You can protect your skin by seeking shade, wearing clothes that cover up all your body and applying sunscreen that is broad-spectrum, SPF 30 (or higher) and water-resistant on all exposed skin.

Even tomato paste consumption can provide protection from sun damage. A 2012 study published in Nutrition Research reports that tomato paste supplementation improves endothelial dynamics and reduces plasma total oxidative status in healthy subjects. This is important for healthy skin.

Sun exposure is also linked to skin cancer, one of the leading causes of deaths due to cancer.

A 2001 study published in the Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology reports that ultraviolet (UV) radiation induces skin cancer. Researchers emphasized raising awareness of the harmful effects of UV exposure for prevention of skin cancer.

A recent 2015 study published in Genome Biology also found that aging and sun exposure are the leading causes of skin cancer. Sun exposure causes epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, which are well established mechanisms for cancer.

Wash Your Face Just Once a Day

Unless you have a skin condition like acne, dermatologists say you only need to wash your face once a day, in the evening right before going to bed. Always use a mild cleanser.

Nighttime cleansing helps remove makeup, pollutants and other particles that have collected on the skin throughout the day.

If you like washing your face to feel fresh in the morning, skip the cleanser and just rinse with lukewarm water. Cleansing your face twice a day or more can cause dryness, especially if you have dry and sensitive skin.

wash your face just once a day

That squeaky-clean feeling you get after washing your face is actually not good as it indicates that your skin is overly dry.

A 2012 article by the American Academy of Dermatology reports that how you wash your face can make a difference in your appearance. Experts offer several suggestions in the article, including:

Use a gentle, nonabrasive cleanser that does not contain alcohol.
Wet your face with lukewarm water first, then apply cleanser using your fingertips.
Never scrub your skin, as scrubbing irritates the skin.
Rinse with lukewarm water, and pat dry with a soft towel.
Also, make sure to wash your face after sweating as it can irritate your skin, especially when you have been wearing a hat or helmet. If you have excessively oily and acne-prone skin then you can wash it twice daily, in the morning and night.

There is no need to wash your face with hot or cold water. In fact, hot water can cause redness and irritation in people with sensitive skin, and cold water can lead to shock. Most dermatologists recommend using lukewarm water.

Moisturize within 3 Minutes after Bathing

Moisturizing is important for healthy and beautiful skin, as it protects the skin from the weather and from drying out and looking dull. It even helps maintain your skin’s natural moisture levels by sealing in the water already in the skin or slowly releasing moisture into the skin.

But to enjoy these benefits of moisturizers, it is important to apply the moisturizer at the right time.

apply moisturizer within 3 minutes of bathing

To capture the most amount of moisture from your bath or shower, apply a moisturizer within three minutes of bathing. This is suggested by the American Academy of Dermatology.

When you come out of the shower or bath and pat dry your skin, the skin pores are still open. So, applying moisturizer at this time helps it penetrate deep inside the skin. It even traps water in the skin by preventing it from evaporating.

To hydrate the skin, it is also important to drink enough water throughout the day. Aim to drink eight glasses of water a day to keep your skin firm, toned and glowing – from head to toe.

Eat 5 Servings of Fruits and Vegetables Daily

A diet with more fruits and vegetables can improve your skin tone. In fact, you must try to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants that can help protect your skin from damage. Vitamin C is one antioxidant that helps tissue repair itself and regrow. Another antioxidant, vitamin A, supports cell growth and even helps guard cells from damage.

eat 5 servings of fruits

Try to munch more on carrots and tomatoes to enjoy a brighter skin color. Carrots and tomatoes contain carotenoids, which are antioxidants that help soak up damaging free radicals produced by the stresses and strains of everyday living, especially when the body is combating disease.

A 2011 study published in Evolution and Human Behavior showed that eating a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables gives your skin a more healthy golden glow than getting a suntan.

A 2012 study published in PLOS ONE found that increased fruit and vegetable consumption confers measurable and perceptibly beneficial effects on Caucasian skin appearance within six weeks.