Our faces are how we present ourselves to the world. So perhaps it’s not surprising that many of us are constantly searching for ways to improve the condition of our skin. And it’s not just women, today the skincare market for men is also massive. Historically maybe men cared less about how to take care of their skin, that’s all changed. Skincare products are ever increasing but there are ways to get better skin naturally.
Natural ways to better skin
It is great advice to begin thinking about your lifestyle early in life. Skin will change through the years as you age. As with many things, the earlier you deal with a problem the better. And, as ever, prevention is better than cure. Treating your skin well when you are young will pay dividends later. So if you want to know the ways to get better skin naturally you need to consider the factors that affect that.
Factors that affect your skin condition
Sun
The number one risk is unprotected exposure to the sun. Most of us love the summer months and sunlight has many benefits like helping in the manufacturing of Vitamin D. However sunlight also has some damaging effects.
When you are outside during the summer, you should protect your skin from the sun. Wear sunscreen suitable for the conditions and your skin type. The closer you are to the equator and the fairer your complexion the more you need to worry. If you are fair skinned, a redhead or freckled then take extra care.
Use a high factor sunscreen and bear in mind that it will wear off during the day especially if you are swimming or sweating. Re-apply sunscreen during the day. Don’t forget the bits like ears and scalp and remember you need to apply even if you are in shade. The sun’s rays reflect off water and sand.
At the very least sunburn will cause pain and in some cases scarring but there can be serious consequences. Overexposure to sun can lead to solar keratosis or worse still melanoma i.e. skin cancer.
Sleep
Another factor affecting the condition is the effect of not getting enough sleep. Your skin uses your sleeping hours to heal itself from the damage that it has suffered throughout the day.
It’s all too easy to burn the candles at both ends and ignore our need for good quality sleep. If you find that you are constantly not getting enough sleep then make some lifestyle changes. Setting aside at least 7 hours for sleep should be part of a healthy daily routine. Men in particular are often guilty of ignoring this need. They fear it makes them seem soft or lazy, but the truth is that getting a good night’s sleep does more than just give your skin the chance to heal.
Stress
Just as sleep is important to health so too is trying to avoid stress. Stress has a detrimental effect on the body in many ways, and skin is no exception. Taking time to relax is important.
Nutrition – You are what you eat
If you have problems with your skin then consider your diet. Good and healthy nutrition is important for maintaining overall health and this includes skin. You need to eat a healthy diet that is well balanced and supplies all the nutrients you need.
Improving your diet and cutting down on processed foods, sugar and fats is one of the easiest ways you can get better skin naturally.
Also I don’t want to nag but, as pointed out many times before, you probably need to drink more water. Make sure that you are drinking enough water. You need to aim for 2 liters. If you want to know why this is especially important for skin just think about the difference between a plum and a prune!
If you have a problem with a dry complexion then be honest are you drinking enough water to properly hydrate yourself? The first port of call to prevent dryness is to drink plenty of water every day and ensure that you are getting adequate amounts of rest. Use a moisturizer every day and don’t forget the sunscreen if you are out and about in the sun.
How skin changes as we age
Perhaps you have the opposite problem and are suffering from oily skin. Our bodies change as we age and our faces are no different. Oily skin is a problem for many teenagers. The teenage years can see many suffering with acne. Go on to any teen forum and you will find young people asking “How do I get rid of acne?”.
It’s not much comfort to be told you will grow out of it. Some people will look for acne cures and ask which acne treatments are safe.
Another big worry many have is large pores. Knowing how to deal with large pores is one of the key areas where we want help with problems we see on our faces.
Our skin varies throughout life and that means that your skincare should also. It’s no comfort to an adolescent with acne to tell them they will be worried about dryness and wrinkles in 40 years time!
Skin care regime – cleanse, exfoliate, moisturize
The last thing we should mention is the importance of a clean face. Obviously you need to be cleansing every day. If you have a tendency to dry skin in particular then you may find soap to be too drying. There are many moisturizing face and body washes available.
Try using an exfoliant once a week. Exfoliants remove dead cells from the skin surface, allow it to breathe and show a natural glow. Obviously because they are abrasive, you need to be careful not to overdo it and cause damage. Using an exfoliant every day is too much for most people.
Unless you have naturally oily skin you will want to moisturize every day. Pick one that suits your needs. Your choice will vary through your life. Your favorite skincare product in your teenage years is probably not going to be the same as you age. Anti aging skincare can help you stay looking good into old age.
Beware of heavy make up, all day, every day. It’s good to have days where you go without make-up and let your pores breathe.
To sum it all up
You may be able to get rid of skin conditions naturally with these simple tips. If you want to have healthy skin you need to begin by eliminating the things that are making it worse. Then follow a healthy routine:
- Sun – avoid sun damage from overexposure to the sun
- Sleep – get enough sleep to allow your body time to heal
- Diet – consider the effect of your diet on your skin
- Cleanse – remove make-up and general grime every day
- Moisturize – choose a skincare regime that suits your skin type.
Being healthy overall is the number one tip to solving skin conditions. Getting enough rest and eating a balanced diet are two important steps to keeping your skin healthy. Add a skincare regime that suits your age, skin type and lifestyle and you will be well on your way to getting better skin naturally.
