More Than Just Skin Deep (Part 2)
Care From “Without”
Cleansing
A regular bath or shower with soap and water is the first line of defense against skin problems. Soap easily removes grease and dirt from the skin’s surface. However, overuse of soap can remove the skin’s natural oils. It also reduces the natural acidity, or pH, of the skin which helps protect it from bacterial invasion. If your skin is irritates by the soap you are using, you may want to switch to a pH-balanced soap or foaming cleanser that does not alter the skin’s pH.
Cream and lotion cleanser, oils and cleansing milk cut through makeup and grime better than soap. Just remember to remove all traces with plain water afterwards. This facial cleansing routine can be done twice daily.
Moisturizing
Soaps, makeup, chemical pollutants and air-conditioning affect the protective oil film of the skin causing it to decrease in its effectiveness.
After washing, you might feel more comfortable if you apply a moisturizer to re-lubricate the skin. There are hundreds of moisturizers on the market and only you can find the one that is suitable for your face. Older people and those with dry skin may need to use the moisturizer more than once a day.
The sun
The sun damages the elastic fibers that give the skin elasticity, as well as the collagen that make up skin tissue and give it support. Over-exposure to the sun’s rays results in old, tired, dehydrated skin. If you have an Asian skin, you may get some advantage. Being darker in complexion than Caucasians, Asian skin contains more melanin ?the pigment that gives color to our skin and hair ?which is a natural protection against the sun’s rays. Even so, you should take precautions to shield your skin from the damaging effects of the sun’s rays as melanin can only give you limited protection.
When spending long periods of time under the sun, protect your skin by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, stay under the shade of an umbrella or a tree, wear a long-sleeved cotton shirt and trousers, avoid being under the sun between ten in the morning and two in the afternoon when sunlight is most intense. Apply a suitable sunscreen.
Cigarettes
Smoking makes skin age rapidly. The substance, benzopyrene, found in cigarette smoke is said to use up the body’s supply of Vitamin C, making it unavailable for the support of healthy collagen and causing wrinkles to appear.
Alcohol
Alcohol robs the body of its supply of B vitamins and depletes resources of Vitamin C. other than the occasional glass of wine or beer, too much alcohol is bad for health, including the health of your skin.
Stress
We now know that stress can trigger off many disorders in the body and the skin is not spared. One common stress related skin disorder is eczema. By keeping stress to the minimum, you will prevent spots and blemishes when you least want them. It would be better to keep them at bay than to have to care for these eruptions when they appear.
