Clear and healthy skin is the first thing anyone notices. It is not only an indicator of a good health status, but also an instant confidence boost. How do you take care of your skin changes with age and time of the year. Therefore, it is a need to be aware of your skin and adapt your skin care and lifestyle to account for these changes. This blog details all the ways you can better understand your skin to maintain its health, prevent signs of aging, and preserve its radiant glow.
What is Good Skin?
Good or healthy skin is defined as being free of redness, rashes, rough patches, with an even tone and texture. The skin is an important human organ, protecting internal structures and acting as a barrier to external pathogens.
What is a Skin Barrier?
The skin barrier is essential to maintaining the integrity of skin and keeping external pathogens at bay. By following suitable skin care tips and tricks the health and structural integrity of the skin barrier can be easily preserved. Skin barrier consists of the following structures:
- Epidermis (External layer)
- Dermis (Middle layer)
- Hypodermis (Internal layer)
The epidermis is covered by two more layers on the top. Stratum corneum, which is made of strong cells called corneocytes packed closely together. These cells are continuously renewed by the epidermis. When you look at the upper side of the stratum corneum is a layer of sebum and sweat. The main function of the skin barrier is to maintain hydration and prevent any pathogens from accessing the internal environment of the body.
How to Take Care of Your Skin?
Like any organ in the human body, skin requires care and maintenance to function properly. Ordinary skin care routine does not account for individual characteristics of the skin that are unique to each person. An effective skin care routine involves overall health, nutrition, hydration, and other supportive treatments. The three key factors for optimum skin health are as follows:
Nutrition And Hydration
Hydration
Water is the key to life as the human body is made up of 60% water. It is one of the most important factors in maintaining a healthy, glowy, and plump skin. For proper hydration, women require approximately 2.7 litres and men require 3.7 liters of water every day. Good water intake is also necessary for having healthy kidneys and getting rid of the toxins.
Nutrients
Skin care treatment is not just on the surface. Ingesting supportive nutrients like antioxidants, omega 3, zinc, biotin, etc., protects against free radical damage, decreases signs of inflammation on skin, and enhances skin health.
Avoiding Processed Foods
Processed foods that have huge amounts of sugar and have either little or any nutritional value should be avoided. Foods with high glycemic nature or many dairy products may trigger episodes of acne, compromising skin health.
Personalized Skin care Routine
Your skin is unique and has its specific needs. Your remedy skin care should be tailored to these needs for best possible results. The skin care steps for a personalized routine include the following:
- Narrow-down and identify your skin type (Normal, Dry, Oil, or Combination)
- Daily skincare routine should atleast have four steps (Cleansing, Toning, Moisturizer, SPF) according to skin type
- Exfoliation treatments once or twicw a week (as needed)
- Face masks 2 – 3 times a week
- Using products with actives (Retinol, Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Ceramides, etc.) according to age and skin type
Cosmetic Procedures
A good skin care routine and proper diet and hydration status can maintain optimum skin health. However, signs of aging (E.g. pigmentation, rough texture, etc.) will eventually begin to appear. Regular skincare can be augmented with cosmetic procedures to delay or minimize these changes and maintain the youthful appearance of the skin.
Non-Surgical Skin Care Treatments
These include well-known skincare treatments like chemical peels, lasers, microneedling sessions, fillers, botox, etc. These non-surgical treatments work well when combined with a well-structured skin care routine. However, moderation is the key for natural results.
Surgical Skin care Treatments
Cosmetic surgical treatments treat signs of aging like wrinkles, sagging, smile lines, crows feet, eyelid laxity, appearance of jowls, double chin, etc. Common cosmetic surgical procedures include facelifts, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, etc.
Both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures should be performed by trained and experienced healthcare professionals at an accredited hospital/clinic to ensure safety and effectiveness. Maintaining realistic expectations is crucial for the success of these procedures. Before a surgical treatment things like aftercare guidelines, recovery period, and maintenance protocols should be carefully considered.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the results of new skin care appear?
Noticeable results may take approximately 6 – 12 weeks depending on the skincare product.
What are effective anti aging ingredients in skin care?
Retnoids, VitaminC, Hyaluronic acid, and ceramides can be counted as one of the best skin care ingredients.
How often should I exfoliate?
Changing from one skin to another, exfoliating once or twice a week is quite effective.
Are home remedies for skin care effective?
Yes, some home remedies such as aloevera gel, clay masks, etc are effective options for remedy skin care. However, caution should be exercised with acidic ingredients like lemon juice, etc.
Are cosmetic procedures safe?
Yes, when performed by a professional, all cosmetic procedures have a high safety profile.
