The quest for youthful, radiant skin is a timeless one.
While ageing is a natural part of life, there's a lot we can do to promote healthy skin and prevent premature ageing.
This goes beyond a fancy cream – it's about embracing a holistic lifestyle that nourishes your skin from the inside out.
Sun Protection is Non-Negotiable
As much as we love it, sun-worshipping isn't doing your skin any favours. Up to 90% of visible skin ageing is caused by the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays [1]. Here's your defence strategy:
☀️Suncream Every Day: Apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher suncream daily, even on cloudy days, and especially in the summer. Reapply every two hours, and more often if you're sweating or swimming.
☀️Sun-Smart Clothing: Wear lightweight, long-sleeved shirts, pants, and wide-brimmed hats for added protection.
☀️Seek Shade: When the sun is at its peak (10 am to 4 pm), find refuge under an umbrella or seek air-conditioned comfort.
Nourish Your Skin from Within
You are what you eat when it comes to skin health! Here's how to fuel your skin with the nutrients it craves:
💧Hydration is Key: Aim for eight glasses of water daily to keep your skin plump and hydrated.
🍓Load Up on Antioxidants: Fruits and vegetables like berries, leafy greens, and tomatoes are packed with antioxidants that fight free radical damage, a major contributor to wrinkles. They are packed with vitamins like vitamin C and E which protect cells from oxidative stress. Oxidative stress and free radical damage can be caused by UV exposure.
🐟Healthy Fats are Your Friends: Include healthy omega fats like those found in fatty fish, avocados, and seeds in your diet. Evening Primrose Oil seed is an example of a seed with skin-nourishing oils. These healthy fats are incorporated into cell membranes and keep your skin supple.
🌟Nourish your Collagen: Collagen is a structural protein in the skin. Eating plenty of protein, or taking a collagen supplement, provides your body with the amino acids it needs to replenish collagen levels. Vitamin C is also required to produce collagen.
🚫Limit Processed Foods: Sugar and refined carbohydrates can wreak havoc on your skin. Choose whole grains and complex carbohydrates instead.
References:
1 https://www.skincancer.org/blog/photoaging-what-you-need-to-know/