Health & Fitness

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Q: What can I do to have healthier-looking skin?

A: Making sure you have healthy-looking skin should begin early in life but it is never too late to start taking care of it. 

Keeping your skin moist with good moisturizers is a great start. Frequent reapplication is recommended, and it is particularly useful to apply it after bathing when the skin is still somewhat damp (i.e. towel dry) to lock in the moisture. 

Moisturizers differ greatly in their active ingredients and type of base (i.e. ointment, cream, etc.) so choosing the right one for your particular needs may require some help. For people who are prone to acne, look for a moisturizer that is non-comedogenic (does not clog pores). 

Drinking plenty of water is extremely important as we need to hydrate our body from within. Aim for one-and-a-half to two litres of water each day. 

Reducing consumption of caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea and colas is recommended as they dehydrate our bodies resulting in drier skin. 

Smoking is harmful for your skin and can lead to your skin looking much older than it really is. 

Having that “healthy” tan when you are younger can also result in prematurely-aged-looking skin. Wearing a sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher every day, even on cloudy days, can help keep your skin looking young and supple. 

For those who like to sport a brown hue, you may want to consider applying a sunless tanning lotion. They sure have come a long way over the years and now look like a real tan, minus the wrinkles and cancer risk. Keep in mind that the sunless tanning lotions do not protect you from the harmful effects of the sun so you still need to apply sunscreen.

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Thursday, June 30, 2011