The skin is the first layer of your immune system, serving as a shield between you and legions of germs including viruses and bacteria. It also protects your insides from the sun and cold, scrapes and cuts, and moisture.
Like any other part of your body, your skin can be healthy or it can be ill. It can be well-nourished or malnourished. It can be exercised, and it can wear down with age and/or abuse. As we age, our skin becomes thinner and drier. We also unfortunately begin see other undesirable changes such as wrinkles, age spots, dark circles, and large pores – I find that they all tend to turn up like uninvited guests at a wedding!
While you can’t control your age, you can control numerous other factors that accelerate this aging process, including excessive exposure to sunlight, loss of estrogen during menopause, poor dietary habits, stress, and cigarette smoking.
Unlike the other organs of your body, you can apply medicines, moisturizers, and other healthy potions directly to the skin. For that reason alone, there is absolutely no reason that you can’t have healthy, attractive skin throughout your lifetime – no matter what age! To keep your skin and face young and healthy, and to maintain its natural, protective moisture, follow these simple tips:
1. Skip the long, steamy showers and opt for shorter, cooler sprays. Long, hot showers strip the skin of its moisture and wash away protective oils. So, limit showers to 10 minutes and keep the water cool.
2. Check the dryness of your skin by scratching a small area on your arm or leg with your fingernail. If it leaves a white mark, your skin is indeed dry and needs both moisture and exfoliation (that is, removal of the outermost layer of dead skin cells).
3. Treat your neck and chest like an extension of your face. Your neck and upper chest area is covered by very sensitive skin, making it a prime spot for telltale signs of aging such as dryness, sun spots, and wrinkles. Be sure to moisturize and treat this area, just as you do your face.
4. And, of course, drink lots of water! Hydration is essential for healthy-looking skin!
-Posted by Licensed Master Aesthetician Lina Harooni
