Today’s article is a guest post from Myrtle Bautista, an excellent writer who knows a lot about healthy skincare. Let’s hear what she has to say about healing damaged skin.
Our Skin is our biggest Organ
Caring for your complexion is not just desirable but also ideal. Your skin is your body’s largest organ, measuring about 22 square feet on an average adult. As our interface to the world, it has the critical function of defending us from disease-causing microbes, harsh temperatures, chemicals, and many other environmental pollutants.
Our skin cells also create the pigment called melanin which shields us from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
And, of course, there’s the aesthetic benefit of making us look presentable. Beautiful-looking and healthy skin not only helps protect our physical health.
At the same time, it also gives us the confidence we need for our enhanced sense of well-being.
But what if you have skin problems? Can you undo it? In this article, we will talk about giving your damaged skin some serious TLC. Here are several natural yet highly effective things you can do to salvage your skin. Read right on!
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Top skin-saving tips
Since our skin is almost always in contact with the environment, it can quickly get damaged. Other stressors, such as stress and lifestyle factors, also contribute to its degradation. If you’re suffering from skin concerns and unsure what to do, check out these natural and easy-peasy must-dos.
1. Shield yourself from the sun.
Sun-damaged skin is easily one of the most serious skin problems.
Although the sun gives us many benefits, particularly heat and light, these same things can destroy the skin. When the sun’s ultraviolet light hits bare skin (i.e., without sunscreen), changes happen at the cellular or DNA level. As a result, photoaging occurs, a primary cause of skin cancer.
What if your skin is already affected by the sun?
Prevent further sun damage by regularly wearing natural mineral sunscreens with at least an SPF of 30.
Even if you work from home or are traveling in a car, the sun’s rays can still catch up with your skin if you are positioned near a window. So, you should still wear sun protection even when indoors. Also, wear long-sleeved clothing, long pants or skirts, or wide-brimmed hats (if you can) when outdoors.
Arresting further injury to your skin tissues is not enough.
You also need to use ingredients that can help reverse the signs of sun damage, such as niacinamide. Although it can be found in supplement form, did you know that you can ingest the substance more naturally? You can do so by eating foods rich in niacin or vitamin B3, like turkey, salmon, and liver.
Consuming these niacin-rich foods can help reduce sun damage, relieve inflammation, and decrease pigment production that causes skin discoloration. Niacin also has antioxidant properties that effectively combat oxidative stress from premature skin aging.
2. Drink up!
When you’re not drinking enough fluids, you can easily get dehydrated.
Your skin requires moisturization to protect you as it should. Without the correct hydration levels, your skin can become dry and lose its suppleness and elasticity. It then becomes susceptible to itchiness and cracks, making it weak enough for harmful bacteria and other pathogens to get through the skin’s barrier. The result is dehydrated or dry skin.
Fortunately, you can help undo the effects of dehydration on your skin by simply drinking the right amount of water.
According to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, men should have at least 3.7 liters of fluids a day, while women need to have a minimum of 2.7 liters.
The bonus? Hydration not only makes your skin healthier, but it can also produce a healthy volume of tears and prevent dry eyes.
3. Eat an anti-inflammatory diet.
Yet another prevalent cause of damaged skin is inflammation.
Some of the more typical inflammatory triggers are allergens, extreme temperatures, and stress. Or you may also be prone to skin inflammation if the predisposition runs in your family. Over a prolonged period, it can cause tissue damage. Conditions associated with inflammation are eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis.
Suppose you have already seen a doctor and have ruled out an immune dysfunction or a similar underlying cause of your skin inflammation. In that case, you can try to reduce it by eating anti-inflammatory foods like vegetables high in collagen and vitamin C.
Examples are tomatoes, bell peppers, and other red and yellow veggies. Collagen and vitamin C both have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that scavenge free radicals and reduce oxidative stress (the imbalance between the latter and antioxidants).
4. Practice good sleep hygiene.
Getting a good night’s rest is one of the easiest and best activities you can do for your body and mind.
Sleep deprivation may result in the diminished production of collagen. Collagen is a protein our bodies produce that acts as the scaffold of our skin, giving it its structure and elasticity. Without it, our skin will lose its plumpness and youthfulness. The loss of collagen, which can come from lack of sleep, will result in sagging and dull skin.
Little sleep also impacts the thin skin around our eyes, leading to dark circles.
So the obvious solution is to get enough sleep. But sleep can be elusive. To help ensure that you’re constantly well-rested, you need to be intentional about it. Craft a bedtime routine and stick to it. Here’s one practical sleep regimen:
- Go to bed and get up at the same time daily.
- An hour or so before you sleep, ditch the electronic gadgets and anything stimulating that may keep your mind awake.
- Indulge in a warm soak with relaxing lavender scents to help you relax.
- Sip a cup of warm and delicious chamomile tea.
- Bring the curtains down to keep light from disrupting your sleep cycle.
- Lower the thermostat, so your body temperature is also set just right for bedtime.
Check out this article from a Natural Endeavor about good sleep habits!
The bottom line
Rescuing damaged skin is possible with the easy and natural tips we’ve shared. So, don’t waste more time. Repair and revitalize skin by protecting it against the sun, eating right, drinking enough, and sleeping well. Incorporate these into your everyday self-care; soon enough, you’ll see visibly beautiful improvements in your skin.
What to read next:
How to create an adult bedtime routine + sleep supplements
