Health Quick Tips – Health Tips For Common Ailments

Archive for the ‘Skin Care’ Category

What’s Best For Wrinkles — Health Quick Tips

In order to freshen appearance and reduce the impact of wrinkles caused by aging and the effects of the sun, you may be on a search to find what’s best for wrinkles.

Our skin is the largest organ of our body and, just like any other organ, it wears with age. Unfortunately, this wear, in the form of facial lines and creases, is sometimes all too visible and, while some wrinkles undoubtedly add character to our faces, most people are happy to delay their onset while they can.

Skin’s firmness and elasticity are provided by two fibrous proteins–collagen and elastin. A layer of fat beneath the skin provides additional support, while moisture adds plumpness. The outermost layer, the epidermis lies smoothly over the top like a wrinkle-free sheet on a new mattress.

By age 30, the “mattress” is starting to give a little and the first lines develop around the eyes, mouth and forehead, where the skin naturally creases into expressions. While you cannot avoid this completely, and may not really want to, a simple skin routine, basic exercises and a sensible diet can do much to help you keep the looks of your youth.

Environmental and lifestyle factors can prematurely cause wrinkles and aging:

Sun — Ultraviolet radiation penetrates as far as the dermis, where it destroys elastin and causes early wrinkling and sagging. UV exposure also causes dryness. Experts believe the sun is responsible for 70% of visible aging! Use a moisturizer with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 6 in the winter and 15 in summer. At the beach, apply protection more often.

Smoking — Nicotine inhibits the absorption of vitamin C and damages collagen. Carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke deprives the skin of nutrients; smoking in general reduces blood flow to the skin’s surface, robbing it of still more nutrients. Quit smoking. Drawing on cigarettes contribute to fine lines around the mouth and eyes.

Simple complexion care and a healthy diet are also best for wrinkles and will go a long way in keeping skin smooth and toned.

A basic skin care routine including cleansing, takes fewer than five minutes a day. Skin is acidic, so alkaline-based products such as ordinary soap can leave it tight, itchy and dry. Soapless cleansing bars and washes are gentler.

Cleasing creams, lotions and oils are other good alternatives, but they may require “rinsing” with toner to remove residue. Follow cleanser with moisturizer both morning and evening to maintain suppleness, prevent any moisture loss and protect against the drying effects of cold, heat and air-conditioning.

Once a week, make a moisturizing face mask from kitchen ingredients. Try honey, mashed banana, avocado or yogurt and strawberries. Rinse off after 10 minutes.

A healthy diet is rich in all the nutrients your skin needs, most notably the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, which maintain healthy skin tone, cell renewal, collagen production and overall suppleness. Various fish oils also benefit the skin. Boost a diet low in any particular nutrient with supplements.

Ideally, a sensible body weight should be maintained, and any weight loss should be gradual. Repeated episodes of weight gain and loss lead to frequent stretching and contraction of the skin, resulting in rapid loss of elasticity.