Most of these are things we have all heard before, but it never hurts to be reminded of easy things we should be doing every day to take care of ourselves, both inside and out.
1. A healthy diet including fatty acids (fish, flax-seed, nuts and healthy cooking oils) and antioxidants has a direct effect on skin health. Fatty acids improve the health of protective cell membranes which allow nutrients and waste to pass in and out of cells while keeping harmful thing at bay. The cell membrane also holds moisture in the cell, so a strong membrane equals plump and healthy looking skin. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals that have been shown to age skin. They repair the moisture barrier of the skin and strengthen the immune system.

2. Use a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Most consumers don’t fully understand all the labels and descriptors found on sunscreens. The term SPF is only a measure of the protection from UVB rays. There is no comparable standard measure for UVA protection. The term “Broad-Spectrum” is an indicator that a sunscreen will protect against both UVA and UVB, although protection against all UVA wavelengthscan not be guaranteed Sunscreens with a physical block to the UV rays do the best job of protecting, so look for a product ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.

3. Purify the skin by drinking water.   Drinking water is essential to the health of our skin and bodies because it sustains the health of the cells and aids in the elimination of toxins and waste.  It is estimated that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated which greatly compromises the harmony of the body.  Lack of water in the cells leads to loss of tone in the skin which leads to the development of deep wrinkles.

4. A dose of daily exercise invigorates and oxygenates the skin by improving blood flow and circulation.  Sweat triggers the production of sebum, the skins own natural moisturizer.

5.  Conversely, make sure to take time to relax each day.  Stress has a huge impact on the health of our skin and our bodies.  Nerve endings found in our skin make it likely for stress to show it’s effect our skin just as it might wreak havoc on our digestive system.  The connection between emotions and skin health is being studied more closely now and the emerging field is known as “psychodermatology”.  Deep breathing, meditation, and sleep are all hugely important in maintaining healthy skin.