Habits for Healthy Skin

Since November is healthy skin month we will be talking about skin all month long! Most people struggle with one skin concern or another, yet many of us fail to take the necessary steps to achieve our best skin. There are various small changes you can make to improve your skin health. Our QOL health guru put together this list of things you can do to promote healthy skin!

1. Wash your face rather than always using makeup wipes – give your skin a break from makeup wipes, gentle facial cleaner and water can be a nice break for your skin if you find yourself habitually reaching for the makeup wipes.
2. Change your pillowcase regularly – bacteria builds up on your pillowcase and this can lead to breakouts.
3. Get at least 7 hours of sleep per night – if you don’t get adequate sleep your cortisone levels go up which causes inflammation in the skin.
4. Eat with your skin in mind – make smart food choices because what you eat reflects on your skin. Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins.
5. Exfoliate regularly – dead skin builds up, exfoliate regularly to keep your skin fresh
6. Protect your skin from the sun – use sunscreen, protective layers, and seek shade when available! A lifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, age spots and other skin problems. Protecting your skin from the sun is one of the most important things you can do!
7. Don’t smoke – smoking ages your skin and can cause wrinkles.
8. Treat your skin gently – when cleaning and shaving remember to keep it gentle.
   • Limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from your skin. Limit your bath or shower time, and use warm — rather than hot — water.
   • Try not to touch or pick at your skin. This habit can amplify irritated skin.
   • Avoid strong soaps. Strong soaps and detergents can strip oil from your skin. Instead, choose mild cleansers.
   • Shave carefully. To protect and lubricate your skin, apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving. For the closest shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Shave in the direction the hair grows, not against it.
   • Pat dry. After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on your skin.
   • Moisturize dry skin. If your skin is dry, use a moisturizer that fits your skin type. For daily use, consider a moisturizer that contains SPF.

Finally, one important practice for healthy skin that we tend to forget is managing stress. Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more sensitive and trigger acne breakouts as well as other skin problems. Steps to control your stress include, getting enough sleep, setting reasonable limits, scaling back your to-do list and making time to relax and enjoy yourself.

We hope this guide can help you achieve your best and healthiest skin! Share this blog with your friends and family so they can have healthy skin too.