The skincare is essential to our health, and their role in our body is vital. The skin is the largest organ in the body as well as being the most versatile. Along with nails and hair, the skin reflects the physical and psychological health of our body. Thanks to its observation, we can detect internal diseases according to its colour and texture, as well as the appearance of pimples, stains and flakes. But it is also that the skin is also the organ that is in more contact with the outside, so it receives a greater number of external aggressions.
Therefore, we must prioritise it within our prevention and health care routines. In this article, we will teach you the main tips and keys in skincare that you should not forget and the most common diseases that affect our skin.
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How To Care For Your Skin
Hydration and skin cleansing are essential when considering how to keep our skin healthy. These habits are usually acquired mainly in summer, and it is that at this time of year we must combat the heat and increased sun exposure. However, caring for the skin must be a mission that we keep very much in mind throughout the year. Exposure to external agents is continuous, and we must not let our guard down regarding prevention and its care.
Here are 10 key tips on how to care for your skin and prevent possible damage:
- Hydrate yourself frequently: drink plenty of water main or herbal teas.
- Wash your skin frequently to remove sweat and general dirt accumulated during the day, but do not overuse the soap or use strong soaps. Excessive cleansing or using the wrong soaps can dry out the skin excessively and deprive it of its natural lubricant: sebum.
- Use a cream suitable for your skin type, dry skin has very different needs than oily skin. After washing your skin, especially if you have used a product that contains soap, provide your skin with lubrication using a suitable cream. Lubricating the skin with an appropriate cream or gel is especially essential before shaving, always using a clean and well-maintained shaver.
- Avoid taking very long baths. Hot water and long showers or baths remove natural oils from the skin.
- Dry gently after bathing. After showering or bathing, gently pat your skin dry.
- Make responsible use of the sun. High sun exposure can not only cause burns and blisters in the short term but also in a long time can accelerate ageing and cause dermatological problems as dangerous as a melanoma. The WHO (World Health Organization) reminds us through its page of some simple measures to protect us from the sun.
- Use sun protection depending on your skin type. In the case of children, it is recommended that it is always above 30 and also in cases of whiter skin. In addition, in Summer, when we go to the beach or the pool, we must give ourselves cream every 2 or 3 hours, otherwise, we will not maintain its effectiveness.
- Don’t smoke. Tobacco directly affects the blood vessels in the most superficial layers of the skin, resulting in weaker, duller surface.
- Pay special attention to the most sensitive areas: Did you know that the skin around the eyes is ten times thinner than that of the rest of the face? You should also pay attention to the mouth and lip area.
- And of course, a balanced diet with a high water content is essential as part of your routines when caring for your skin
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How To Care For Your Face
Now we place particular emphasis on a more specific area of our skin, that of our face. Unlike other areas of our body that we can protect with clothing, the exposure of our face to external agents is much greater. Below, we expand on skincare tips to talk more specifically about how to care for your face.
All the tips that we mentioned in the general tips also apply to our face, but we want to focus on some more. For example, the fact of putting makeup on our face means that for this area we must also take into account both the makeup process and the makeup removal process. We recommend opting for hypoallergenic makeup. This makeup is designed for all skin types and avoids the risk of allergies. In the same way, when it comes to removing those traces of makeup, we must opt for gentle cleaning, preserving its balance.
As part of the cleansing process, remember to exfoliate your face once or twice a week. Proper exfoliation is also key in our face care.
Besides, as we discussed above, areas such as the eye contour are 10 times more sensitive than other areas of our body. Therefore, its care and hydration must involve a specific routine for this area of the face. And don’t neglect your mouth! Applying a repairing lip cream is always a good option.
Right Foods For Your Skin
To maintain proper skincare, it is essential to take care of our diet through a balanced diet (we invite you to read our article ” Nutrition myths and truths “). The deficit of some nutrients can cause diseases in this organ so important for our self-esteem. For this reason, you have to know that in addition to water there is a long list of good skin foods that will help you keep it healthy, not forgetting the skin vitamins that are best for you.
Here we expose a series of foods beneficial for their nutrients or rich in vitamins C and E:
- The tomato: Especially ripe, since it is the food with the highest concentration of lycopene. This nutrient helps protect cells against damage from the action of free radicals. A tip is to consume it in a cooked way since this nutrient is better assimilated.
- Red fruits: They contain flavonoids and vitamin C, which confers antioxidant properties that prevent cell destruction and premature ageing. To preserve them better, keep them in a place protected from heat and light, wash them in cold water and chop them before consuming them.
- Citrus: These foods are very rich in vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant that is involved in the formation of collagen. Collagen is a protein necessary for the skin to remain firm and elastic. It is essential for their conservation, in addition to keeping them in a cool place, that you do not peel them long before consumption because they lose their properties. If they are taken in the form of juice, it is recommended to take it immediately after squeezing.
- Carrot, apricot and other orange-coloured foods like a pumpkin : They are a great source of beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A that helps reduce sagging and wrinkles. It is recommended to consume it before exposure to the sun since it favours a uniform and lasting tan, as well as having photoprotective properties.
- Nuts: Contain vitamin E and reduce cell oxidation. Walnuts also have an anti-inflammatory effect thanks to their copper content.
- Olive oil and green leafy vegetables: They also contain vitamin E that protects the skin from oxidative stress. In the case of plants, to better enjoy their properties, we recommend that you boil them with little water and for less time.
- Cucumber: it is a good moisturiser both as food and as a mask. Therefore, we recommend that you consume half a cucumber with skin per day during the summer.
- Red pepper: It is the food with the highest content of vitamin C, essential for the formation of collagen.
- Horsetail: It is very rich in silicon, a mineral that intervenes as a cofactor in the formation of collagen.
- Turmeric: It can be an excellent ally to fight acne, being a spice with anti-inflammatory properties.
- Sesame seeds: They can provide methionine, an amino acid necessary for the formation of collagen.
- Green tea: It is an excellent ally for the fight against acne since it helps to decrease the levels of the acne-producing hormone. It is also a drink full of antioxidants, which makes your skin look younger and healthier.
- Avocado: The oil of this fruit penetrates deep into your skin, nourishing it, cleaning it and making it softer. It also has antioxidants that will help your skin appear younger.
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Main Diseases In Skincare
The skin can suffer from many different diseases and, being a highly visible organ; these alterations can create complexes for people who suffer from them. That is why it is so essential to prevent or treat them in time. We show you some of them:
- Acne: It is a skin problem that affects 80% of adolescents, although in women, 20% suffer from this from 20 to 50 years. This is due to hormones, which promote inflammation of the sebaceous glands.
- Psoriasis: This is a chronic and autoimmune inflammatory skin disease that can cause other health problems such as obesity, diabetes, Crohn’s disease, hypertension and psychological disorders. The main symptoms are changes of colouration and flaking of the skin, something that can cause aesthetic problems that lead to complexes, affecting the quality of life of people who suffer from them.
- Dermatitis: They can be of very different types. Most of the cases are atopic dermatitis whose signs are inflammation of the skin that causes burning, itching, and also favours the appearance of allergies and asthma. Another type is seborrheic dermatitis that presents with similar symptoms but in more fatty areas of the body and giving the skin a yellowish appearance. Some examples of dermatitis can also come out as a reaction to certain substances or poor blood circulation.
- Melanoma: This is a type of cancer that appears when the cells of the epidermis become malignant. It is one of the most severe and frequent dermatological pathologies among the population, despite being increasingly aware of prevention. Therefore, it is important to always protect the skin from UVA and UVB rays when we are exposed to the sun throughout the year.
- Sunburn Appears from excessive exposure to the sun, exposure to the sun without adequate protection, or sunbathing in times of increased solar radiation. This can lead to skin lesions ranging from redness to blisters and skin lifting.
- Eczema: It is a chronic allergic manifestation and is characterised by itching and inflammation of the skin. The affected area usually flakes and dries up.
- Seasonal alopecia: This condition is presented by 58% of the population, and in some cases, this fall is very steep and striking. It usually happens in the autumn season, and it is because the hair loses vitality and the hair follicles suffer damage accelerating their fall.
- Urticaria: Their origin is usually food allergies, and they are more common in childhood. The symptoms are red welts in any part of the body due to the intake of certain medications when we are allergic to them.
- Athlete’s foot: It is the most frequent fungal infection. It occurs on the skin of the feet in the form of burning, blisters and redness of the sole. Wearing a closed shoe for a long time favours its appearance.
- Warts: They are caused by a virus and appear as a piece of raised skin that is hard and darker than the surrounding area. The most common treatment is to burn them, although in some cases it requires surgical intervention.
Conclusion
The skin is an organ of the body that is highly visible and that we must take great care to preserve its health and pleasant appearance. Some of the conditions you may have can create complexes that limit us in our quality of life and self-esteem. For this reason, we recommend making periodic reviews of the dermatologist to detect skin diseases early. Also, it is beneficial to have health insurance to enjoy these reviews and that our skin always looks glowing. And goodbye complexes.
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