What is skin health?
Our skin is the largest organ of our body, and can impacted just the same as our bones, heart, or kidneys. Many people can agree that if you are stressed, it can sometimes show up on your skin.
While we think about helping our skin in terms of cleansing, hydrating, and protecting it. We may overlook that as we may want our body to be healthy, by working out, or eating good foods. We should take the same approach to our skin’s health.
Applying sunscreen daily and even when you may think it is unnecessary
I have written about sunscreen use so often I think I am sick of it, but I cannot reiterate how important it is to wear sunscreen daily. UV light triggers permanent damage to our DNA and can leave further damage even after you have gotten out of the sun.
Applying sunscreen before running out in the morning to get your coffee or to go for a run before work, can cause damage and skin cancer is no joke.
Stress is taking away from your skin health
Whether the stress is coming from work, people in your life, or coming from mental or physical or emotional stress. This can release hormones that send signals to the skin, that can range from a compromised barrier, excess production of oil, dehydration, and slower wound healing.
The best advice is to take time to break away from those stressful events or triggers. To have a time to self-care for the night.
Those late nights are tiring out your skin more than you may realize
According to Dr. Ukeleghe, “Sleep is a key regulator of hormone levels, metabolism, the immune system and the skin’s ecosystem,” Losing sleep can cause inflammation, and signs of aging.
I can tell when I haven’t been getting enough sleep when my skin looks dull or there is more puffiness around my eyes and cheeks. I find that my skin looks the best when I am taking the time to sleep and sleep well.
Your skin type will not be the same as it was when you first started using skincare
Right when you think you know exactly what your skin likes or does during a certain season- it can change on you. These changes can come from many factors. Environmental change, UV exposure, menopause, diet change, pollution, and stressors that last longer than they should. We have to see the internal and external factors when it comes to our skin.
Watch how your skin is day by day, my skin used to be so oily, I would wake up looking like a freshly greased pan, but now- 5 years later- I wake up with normal- sometimes on the dry side- skin.
I have learned and noticed how my old favorites don’t do it for my skin anymore.
We become what we eat
How our body may be telling us that something we are eating is not good for us may show up in many different ways. For me, when I am eating too much dairy, I will break out in little areas on my forehead or chin/mouth area. Our microbiome can be out of whack, and cause not only our body to feel the effects, but our skin can show it too.
Its about being healthy, not being on a diet. So yes, I will have a fun treat once in a while, but I try to eat well most of the time to help my skin out, but most importantly is my body’s health.
I think the big takeaway is that the goal is not to have perfect skin, but to have healthy skin. Just like we want to take care of our bodies, we should know that our skin needs just the same amount of effort to be healthy and happy!
What affects your skin the most?
How do you help your skin out for the best health of your skin?
Let me know on my socials!
