8 Ways to Improve the Health of Your Skin
Healthy skin is an important part of overall health and well being. To maintain good skin, people must practice healthy skin care habits. Otherwise, people who forgo proper skin care risk facial lines, wrinkles, and other visible signs of aging — even at a young age.
Dr. Babak Azizzadeh of the CENTER for Advanced Facial Plastic Surgery in Los Angeles is world-renowned for his facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and head and neck surgery expertise. He understands that skin problems can occur at any time and escalate quickly, but a healthy skin care regimen can help address these issues.
Although there is no skin care regimen that works well for everyone, several best practices can be used to help enhance the skin. For those who are trying to determine how to improve their skin, Dr. Azizzadeh offers the following recommendations:
1. Apply Sunscreen
Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. This can protect the skin against excess exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays year-round. Additionally, sunscreen should be applied approximately every two hours — or more frequently if people go swimming or sweat profusely.
2. Keep the Skin Moist
Apply a skin moisturizer that contains SPF and use it regularly. A moisturizer helps combat dry skin, red skin, acne, and other skin problems. But, keep in mind that moisturizers are available for different types of skin. For people who are considering a moisturizer, they should review all of the options at their disposal to select the right one to accommodate their skin type.
3. Get Sufficient Rest
Make sleep a priority and get seven to nine hours of rest each night. A lack of sleep or low-quality rest can contribute to facial wrinkles, sagging skin, and dark circles around the eyes. Yet, by getting sufficient rest every night, people are well-equipped to stabilize their immune system. The result: these people can limit the risk of skin inflammation that may inadvertently cause acne, psoriasis, and other skin problems.
4. Stay Hydrated
Drink water frequently to help prevent skin dryness and tightness. Research indicates that drinking eight, 8-oz. glasses of water daily may help treat tight, dry, and flaky skin. At the same time, keeping the body hydrated may help make the skin more resilient and less susceptible to wrinkling.
5. Manage Stress
Practice mindfulness through meditation, yoga, or journaling, exercise daily, and enjoy other stress-relieving activities every day. People who struggle to cope with daily stress are exceedingly prone to psoriasis, eczema, and other skin problems. Stress can also make it tough to keep pace with an everyday skin care regimen. However, people who can safely and effectively manage their stress can simultaneously reduce the risk of skin issues and other physical, emotional, and behavioral side effects.
6. Maintain a Healthy Diet
Consume foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients as frequently as possible. A diet that contains high amounts of fatty foods, alcohol, and sugar may put people in danger of acne and breakouts. Furthermore, a diet that is too high in sodium may contribute to skin dryness, while a diet that is too high in dairy may lead to oily skin. On the other hand, a balanced, nutritious diet helps keep the skin, body, and mind healthy.
7. Avoid Smoking
Stop smoking and avoid cigarette smoke whenever possible. The toxins in cigarettes can damage skin collagen and elastin, resulting in premature aging. Conversely, people who stay away from smoking can minimize the risk of sagging skin, psoriasis, and other skin issues. They can also lower their risk of experiencing skin cancer and other long-lasting health issues.
8. Wear a Hat and Sunglasses
Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to help keep UV rays at bay. A hat and sunglasses help protect the skin against excess sun exposure, and they should be worn any time people plan to spend an extended period of time outdoors. Along with a hat and sunglasses, people can also wear a long-sleeved shirt and long pants to further safeguard the skin against sun damage.
Pursue Expert Help to Learn How to Improve Skin
In addition to the aforementioned recommendations, Dr. Azizzadeh is happy to meet with people who want to learn how to improve their skin. That way, people can gain expert support in their quest to develop and implement a healthy skincare regimen.
A patient consultation allows Dr. Azizzadeh to analyze a patient’s facial appearance and identify any skin issues. Dr. Azizzadeh also reviews his patient’s medical history and determines how the patient can alleviate skin problems.
Dr. Azizzadeh may recommend surgical or non-surgical procedures to help patients correct skin issues. Or, he may recommend patients use skin care products as part of a healthy skin care routine. Regardless of his recommendation, Dr. Azizzadeh works closely with a patient to deliver the best possible results. In doing so, Dr. Azizzadeh helps each patient find a healthy way to maintain beautiful skin now and in the future.
Schedule a Skin Care Treatment Consultation with Dr. Azizzadeh
Dr. Azizzadeh is available to meet with a patient to discuss skin care treatment options. To learn more or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Azizzadeh, please contact us online or call us today at 310-657-2203.