10 Lifestyle Tips for Keeping Your Skin Looking Young and Healthy All Year

Your skin is one of your most visible attributes, influencing the first impression people form of you. Improving your skin care, therefore, can help you nail that first impression with a more youthful and healthy glow. To get great skin that will last the whole year round, our care team at Specialists in Dermatology PLLC of Southern Arizona, with three convenient locations in Tucson and Green Valley, Arizona, recommends that you follow these 10 tips and tricks.

1. Get plenty of sleep

Exhaustion leaves your skin slack and sagging, increasing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. For more youthful, vibrant skin, make sure to get sufficient sleep at night. At least seven or eight hours of uninterrupted sleep will give you the best results.

2. Stay hydrated

Drinking plenty of fluids will keep your skin firm and elastic. While different guidelines make a variety of recommendations, an intake of about half a gallon, or two liters, is typical — the equivalent of about eight glasses of water a day. One of alcohol’s side effects is dehydration, so drink moderately, and make sure to accompany alcoholic beverages with plenty of water.

3. Quit smoking

Smoking damages your skin in several ways: reducing your natural collagen production, which decreases elasticity; and decreasing blood flow, which creates pallor and leads to a poor distribution of nutrients. Smoking also carries the risk of several cancer types. If you smoke, quit now! If you don't, don't start, and your skin will thank you for years to come.

4. Try green tea

Green tea contains epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which may protect your skin's collagen resources. The beverage also works as an anti-inflammatory. While green tea comes at all temperatures, you might be better off with an iced option, as hot beverages can cause redness reactions in your skin.

5. Watch out for dairy

Dairy, including skim milk products, appears to be linked to acne outbreaks. Natural hormones present in all dairy, including beverages, cottage cheese, and desserts like sherbet, may be to blame. To clear up breakouts and maintain clear skin, try cutting back on dairy, or even eliminating it from your diet.

6. Reconsider your cleanser

Especially if you have dry skin, make sure your face wash isn't stripping your skin. We recommend non-soap cleansers to replace your facial moisture barrier, protecting you from dryness, flaking, and eczema. Apply moisturizer after washing your face. To avoid irritating, wait for at least 10 minutes after cleansing to use any acne medication.

7. Always use sunscreen

Protecting your skin from the sun will help prevent future cancers, as well as minimize the development of wrinkles and dark spots. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, especially in the middle of the day, no matter the season. Using sunscreen regularly substantially benefits your skin’s health.

8. Treat your skin gently

Harsh handling can irritate your skin, leading to redness, dry spots, or breakouts. Keep it gentle by minimizing your use of hot water on your face, choosing mild soaps, and patting your skin dry instead of rubbing it.

9. Take a day off

While the elements of your skin care routine are all aimed at supporting your skin’s health, daily cleansing, shaving, or cosmetic use can strip away your natural oils or create irritation. Sometimes taking a day off from everything except the most basic cleansing and moisturizing can be a good idea.

10. Manage stress

Stress causes a lot of skin problems, including serving as an acne trigger and increasing your risk of wrinkles. Manage stress by adjusting your routines, seeking support, and balancing your expectations. Reduced stress benefits you in many ways, not just by improving your skin!

To schedule your initial consultation appointment with a member of our team, give us a call at one of our locations, or use the online booking tool.