When you think about skin health, often many only think about their face. But, all of your skin is important! As the barrier between the world and your body, and the largest organ you have, maintaining healthy skin is crucial for your well-being. There are many regular habits you may be engaging in that you don’t know are affecting not only the health of your skin, but also potentially speeding up aging or promoting breakouts! Let’s talk about 7 things you may be doing that are terrible for your skin and what you should be doing instead.
Avoiding Sun Protection
As much as you may love laying out in the summer, exposing your skin to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays is one of the largest contributors to both skin damage and premature aging. There are a number of ways to protect your skin while still enjoying the sunshine. Be sure to wear sunscreen of at least 30 SPF and reapply often, especially after swimming or sweating. Don’t forget to include your face, ears, neck, and feet! Not only may you get a sunburn, but built up unprotected exposure to UV rays can lead to wrinkles, sunspots, and eventually skin damage and skin cancer. You can also utilize hats, SPF-protected clothing, or be sure to avoid the sun during the highest UV hours of the day, typically from 10 AM to 2 or 3 PM. (You may enjoy a tan, but the health risks aren’t worth it.)
Ignoring Skin Exams
Seeing your doctor for regular skin exams is so important in early detection of skin cancer or any irregularities. Keep an eye out for any new or changing moles, or other irregular or suspicious lesions on your skin. You can perform regular monthly skin examinations, and schedule an annual visit with your Avance Care primary care provider, which will include a skin examination. These exams allow for early detection, which can help bring awareness to any changes and provide suggestions for prevention, or allow for early treatment before anything progresses further.
Neglecting Hydration
You’ve heard how important it is to hydrate more times than you can count, by healthy skin is hydrated skin. If you don’t drink enough water, you’ll notice your skin becomes dehydrated, leading to dryness, flakiness, and even a dull complexion! Speak with your primary care provider to discuss how much water is appropriate for your weight, geography, and lifestyle. The effects of hydration on skin are not immediate, so be sure to stick with it while the hydration works from the inside out. And don’t forget that hydration goes beyond water and includes electrolytes, too.
Poor Sleep
You probably haven’t heard of the effect sleep can have your skin much. Sleep is when your body undergoes repair and regeneration, and that includes skin cell renewal! If your sleep is disrupted or you’re not getting enough, then this regeneration process can’t be completed. That means you could have dull skin, dark circles under your eyes, and even increased risk of conditions like acne. Aim for adequate sleep each night, 7 to 9 hours for most adults, to be sure your skin can be as healthy as possible. Here are 11 more tips to improving your sleep hygiene.
Inadequate Nutrition
Your skin isn’t just affected by what happens on the outside, but also by what happens on the inside. If you’re lacking essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals, you may have increased skin problems. If you’re eating a lot of processed foods, excessive sugars, or unhealthy fats, you may see an increase in acne breakouts, sped up aging, and even inflammation. Be sure to eat a well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats to help support your skin health. Especially focus on vitamins A, C, E and omega-3 fatty acids!
Stress
Stress can play a really big role on your skin, especially if you have certain existing conditions. Acne, eczema, and even psoriasis can increase or worsen if your body is in a state of constant stress. Stress also causes hormonal imbalances, which leads to uneven oil production and breakouts. Coping methods for stress are important to implement for your overall health. If you need professional health to learn coping methods that may work for you, be sure to reach out to Avance Care Behavioral Health.
Smoking
Smoking causes serious risks to your overall health. Smoking can cause lung cancer, deplete oxygen levels, reduce blood flow, and so many more things. In relation to your skin, it also prohibits the production of collagen, which has detrimental impacts on the appearance of your skin. With support from our primary care providers, you can find the support you need to start your smoke-free journey.
The importance of your skin health extends beyond just that of your appearance. Your skin is the largest organ of your body and performs a wide number of functions you probably don’t even think about. Your skin is also prone to many problems, like skin cancer,acne, wrinkles, and rashes. By changing just a few habits, you can largely support and improve the health of your skin. If you don’t consider your skin as part of your regular health when you visit your primary care provider, it’s time to start. Try to cut out any of these negative habits and do everything you can to protect your largest organ. Your long-term health and wellbeing depends on it!
This article is for information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice from or consultation with your healthcare provider.
