Overview

Your skin is much more than an outer surface for the world to see. It protects you from bacteria, dirt and other foreign objects and the ultraviolet rays of the sun, and contains nerve endings that let you know if something is hot or cold, soft or hard, sharp or dull. Your skin also plays an important role in regulating your body's fluids and temperature.

Don't have time for intensive skin care? You can still pamper yourself by acing the basics. Good skin care and healthy lifestyle choices can help delay natural aging and prevent various skin problems.

How to take care of your skin?

Nutrition

Keep your skin healthy by eating a balanced diet high in protein, foods such as fruits and vegetables and, if possible, fresh liquids.

Your skin needs the right balance of nutrients to do its main job: a barrier that protects the rest of your body from things outside it. To help keep your skin looking, working, and feeling good, feed it well from the inside.

If you have skin problems, such as pressure ulcers or the healing of surgical incisions, you can increase your intake of proteins (from lean meat, dairy products, legumes, carbohydrates, bread and cereals) and vitamins A, C, E and zinc. Additional iron may be needed if you are anemic.

Oily fish are a source of vitamin E, one of the most important antioxidants for the skin. Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation, keep the skin hydrated and promote many functions in the body, including skin health .

Keep moisture in the skin

You can work to nourish your skin by cleansing and moisturizing your skin regularly. This replenishes the skin and helps maintain its natural structure and balance.

Moisture in the skin keeps skin moisturizers, the top layer of skin cells moisturized and sealed. Treat dry skin with moisturizing creams and lotions Use warm or hot water when you bathe or wash your hands. Avoid using items that dry out the skin, such as hard soaps or alcoholic.

Choose a good moisturizer depending on the skin type (dry, oily, normal or sensitive) and skin diseases such as acne, rosacea, eczema and neurodermatitis. Use a product that is designed for your skin to look and feel the best.

Quit smoking

Smoking narrows the blood vessels in the outer layers of the skin, decreases blood flow and depletes the skin of the nutrients and oxygen it needs to stay healthy. 

Smoking speeds up how quickly your skin ages. If you smoke, your wounds will also take longer to heal. And research shows that smoking worsens some skin diseases, including psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa.

Smoking deprives the skin of oxygen and nutrients that are important for the health of the skin. It also damages collagen and elastin, the fibres that give the skin strength and elasticity. 

Keep stress in check

Aging skin has a decreased ability to respond to stress Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more sensitive and trigger acne breakouts and other skin problems. To encourage healthy skin — and a healthy state of mind — take steps to manage your stress. Get enough sleep, set reasonable limits, scale back your to-do list and make time to do the things you enjoy. 

Takeaway

Skin is the body’s largest organ. When healthy, its layers work hard to protect us. But when it’s compromised, the skin’s ability to work as an effective barrier is impaired.

Good skincare doesn't have to be complicated. Make sure you’re getting enough essential nutrients to protect your skin. Unhealthy diet, stress, lack of sleep, too little exercise, dehydration, smoking can also impair the ability of the skin to act as an effective protective barrier.