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Hai mommy . . .
I believe you
know that our skin is an external organ, and our first line of defense
against our environment. Without
a good care, it can take a beating
when protecting us from harmful elements.
You can read on to learn about some of your
skin's worst enemies, and follow these tips for
avoiding them.
Stress.
Stress has a significant effect on
physical and emotional health-and your skin and hair are often the first to
suffer from prolonged periods of anxiety. When feeling particularly stressed,
be sure to pamper your skin to keep it from losing its glow.
Sugar.
Too much sugar in your diet can
actually speed up the aging process. When your body processes
sugar, certain chemical reactions can cause it to bind to the proteins found in
your collagen. This makes the elastic fiber in your skin stiff and less able to
repair itself.
Sleep.
While we sleep, our bodies rest up and
build new cells. If you aren't getting enough shuteye, you'll see the effects
in your skin immediately-plus; you could do long-term damage to your skin by
not giving it a chance to heal.
Dehydration.
Your body needs water for all of its
vital functions-and your skin is no exception. Tissues, proteins, and collagen
all fare better when they're able to maintain a certain level of moisture.
Drink plenty of water, and you'll see a boost in your skin and overall health.
Sun.
The sun is perhaps the biggest enemy
that your skin will face. If you're regularly exposed to rays with no
protection, your skin will eventually suffer from blemishes, wrinkles,
dullness, discoloration, and loss of elasticity.
Pollution.
Whether you live in the city or the
countryside, pollution is unavoidable, and has an adverse effect on the health
of your skin. The farther you live from city centers; the better-but car
exhaust and other forms of pollution will irritate your skin and slow down cell
renewal.
Alcohol.
The occasional wine or beer won't be
detrimental to your skin, but if you are a regular drinker, the dehydration
will eventually affect your skin's elastin and collagen. In serious cases, a
condition called coupe rose causes weakened capillaries to dilate and prevents
them from returning to their normal size, resulting in a permanent pinkish
tone.
Smoking.
We all know smoking is bad for you for
many reasons, one of which is its negative effect on the health of your skin.
Dehydration, deficiency of vitamins and minerals (especially vitamin C), and a
decreased supply of oxygen all contribute to dull skin. On top of that, deep
wrinkles can form around your mouth as you pucker to inhale, not a good look!
Although the overall health of our skin
is partially dependent on aging
and genetics, our lifestyle choices really determine whether it retains a
healthy glow or becomes dull and lifeless. If you nurture your skin with the
proper amount of attention and care, you'll see and keep those radiant results
for a lifetime.