Skin is the largest organ of your body. It is also the first defence against infections and viral threats. It protects our inner organs from direct contact with harmful environmental bacteria. Skin health is a critical part of your immune system. That is why you need to care for your skin - not just for appearance but overall well-being.
So, how can you ensure a healthy skin? It’s easy. Here are 10 simple ways you can maintain healthy skin and strong immunity with your regular diet and routine:
How to Maintain Healthy Skin?
1. Have a Nutritious Diet
Your food habits matter as much as the products you apply to your skin. Eating nutritious foods will help improve skin health from the inside. So, having good skin starts with eating healthy. Diets containing high levels of antioxidants alongside vitamins and healthy fats can provide protection and support the damage control processes for your skin. Remember to include these foods:
- Fruits and veggies (source of vitamins A, C, and E)
- Nuts and Seeds (packed with omega-3 fats)
- Whole Grains (proven to mitigate inflammation)
- Lean Meat (helps produce collagen)
Science proves that these foods are great for your skin. Also include enough tropical fruits and veggies like mangoes, papayas, tomatoes, etc. Mangoes help protect skin collagen due to their antioxidant compounds, thus preventing skin ageing. Tomatoes can reduce UV-related sunburn damage by 50% if consumed every day. (Source: NIH NLM)
2. Stay Hydrated for A Natural Glow
Water is essential for the body, especially the skin. It removes toxic elements from the body, hydrates skin cells, and improves elasticity. Dehydration could result in dry, rough skin and exaggerated signs of ageing.
Although no one size fits all with water consumption, you can drink small quantities of water regularly throughout the day. Also, watch out for the signs of dehydration like dark yellow urine, weakness, dizziness, or low blood pressure.
(Source: HBR Health)
3. Use Probiotics for Better Skin Health
Probiotics are good bacteria that are part of our body’s natural micro-environment. Aside from gut health maintenance, probiotics also serve a pivotal role in clear skin. Probiotics contain healthy microorganisms that assist in balancing the skin microbiome and hence mitigate breakouts, redness, and several forms of skin irritation. Probiotics also:
- Help in alleviating acne and eczema inflammation
- Enhance the skin barrier’s ability to retain moisture
- Stop harmful bacteria that can disturb the skin’s balance
CYou can get probiotics from yoghurt, kefir, and pickled veggies, or take probiotics supplements for a more direct approach.
You can get probiotics from yoghurt, kefir, and pickled veggies, or take probiotics supplements for a more direct approach.
4. Protect Your Skin from Sun Damage
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure is one of the leading causes of premature ageing. You probably know how damaging UV rays are, but are you protecting your skin daily? The best thing you can do for your skin is to protect it from the sun - your most significant enemy regarding premature ageing.
Use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) daily, even on cloudy days. Make sunscreen part of your daily regimen, regardless of how long you intend to be outdoors or inside your home.
5. Follow a Consistent Skincare Routine
You don’t need an elaborate routine to take care of your skin. Try these three golden rules:
- Cleanse: Use facial soap to wash your face in the morning and evening to eliminate dirt and oil accumulation.
- Exfoliate: About once a week, get a gentle exfoliator to remove dead skin cells.
- Moisturize: Keep the skin moisturized with water-based or cream-type moisturizer, depending on your skin type.
- Treat: Add serums or treatments for problems like acne or dark spots for better skin agility.
You can consider using collagen supplements to ensure proper skin moisture, elasticity, and hydration. Collagen supplements have been shown to help maintain healthy skin and delay the ageing process. (Source: NIH NLM PMC)
6. Get Enough Sleep
Your skin heals itself while you take proper rest. Not getting sufficient sleep can leave you with a smaller, duller, and wrinkled version of yourself. Aim for a minimum of seven to eight hours of sleep each night. You can also enhance your skin’s overnight recovery using a hydrating cream or serum with hyaluronic acid.
7. Exercise Regularly
Exercising regularly improves your skin for two reasons. One, it improves blood circulation, oxygen and nutrient delivery to the skin, which saves it, and two, sweating aids in some of the detoxification processes. Do regular yoga, jogging or any strength training to help your skin glow.
8. Manage Stress
Less Stress = Healthy and Clean Skin
Chronic stress has been a leading cause of acne. It triggers breakouts, inflammation, and other skin issues. Meditation and deep breathing are essential relaxation techniques that keep your stress level in check and energize your skin glow. Engaging in hobbies gives you happiness and makes your skin look young.
9. Choose Safe Skincare Products
Every skincare product serves a different purpose. Use non-comedogenic products for skin health, as they do not clog pores, and refrain from using harsh chemicals or fragrances that may aggravate sensitive skin. For makeup, consider natural products that contain skin-beneficial ingredients such as vitamin C or hyaluronic acid and are natural.
10. Avoid Smoking and Limit Alcohol
Smoking can reduce blood flow to the skin, causing premature ageing and dullness. Whereas alcohol makes your skin look tired and dull because it dehydrates the skin. Reducing the amount of alcohol consumed may reduce the likelihood of acquiring non-melanoma skin cancers.
Studies suggest that alcohol consumption increases the chances of developing common types of skin cancer. (Source: WILEY Online Library). Thus, cutting smoking and alcohol consumption will help you retain healthy skin.
The Best Collagen Supplements for Women
ARRAVITE offers some of the best collagen supplements for women. ARRAVITE’s Collagen 20 is a high-quality Collagen Powder supplement that contains ingredients like milk thistle, grape seed, nicotinamide, and cranberry to nurture optimal skin health. Combine Collagen 20 with a healthy lifestyle and food, and you can say goodbye to dryness and fine lines on your skin.
Collagen 20 Supplement has four flavours and features French marine collagen peptides. The clinically proven skincare nutrition meets all your skin’s nutrition and collagen demands and complements your diet.