Dear Dr Diana
I was wondering how I can improve the texture and look of my skin?
You may have heard it said that your skin is one of your largest organs. Skin is the glorious stuff that holds our bodies together and shapes our appearance. Skin protects us from the elements and provides pleasure and information for our brains to decipher. Skin is a fabulous thing, but when it starts to get dried up, wrinkled, spotty and saggy, well, we just don’t seem to appreciate it as much as we should. The appearance of your skin can make you look older or younger and we just don’t pay enough attention to it until it is too late. If you want your skin to stay looking great, you need to make a conscious effort to follow a strict routine, every day, forever. Once your skin is damaged, it is very difficult to get it back to the way it was, so do everything you can to keep it as close to its original condition as possible.
Of course we all should know by now that the sun is our skin’s worst enemy. Most of us still can’t resist a nice tan in the summer. There is nothing that will take its toll on your skin like the sun, no matter how much we love to lay in it and worship its warm and brilliant rays. Never leave the house without sunscreen. Even if it is only a simple number 10 or 15 which is built into your moisturizer, protect your skin from the suns rays.
The second most important ingredient to good skin is water. Properly hydrated skin is skin that will be less likely to sprout blemishes and can also help defend against wrinkles. You must drink at least eight glasses a day, no matter how clichéd that may seem. The more water you drink, the better your skin will look, it’s as simple as that. If the water in your taps tastes off, buy bottled water, it is the most inexpensive beauty treatment you can buy, and the benefits to the rest of your body are innumerable as well. You’d be surprised at how easy it is to drink the required eight glasses per day when the water tasted delicious!
To care for your skin you should wash it daily with warm water and an oil free soap. Gentle foaming face washes are the best kind and the milder the better. Harsh astringents are not really good for your skin as they contain alcohol. Try to keep alcohol and oil off of your face.
Lastly, use a good moisturizer at night before you go to bed. The best moisturizers contain vitamin C and you can get them with UV protectants as well which will save you money and time. Always wash off your makeup at the end of the day as makeup contains chemicals that are harsh to your skin and can cause oily buildup. Remember, keep oil, alcohol and sun far away!
Dr Lorenzo Diana ND
Doctor Of Naturopathic Medicine