Clear, youthful skin is synonymous with radiant good health. The following steps can help you achieve healthy, younger-looking skin.
1. Feed Your Skin the Nutrients It Needs
Optimal skin health is dependent upon optimal nutrition. Antioxidants are key, especially zinc and vitamins A and E because they protect your skin from the onslaught of environmental free radicals. Equally important are essential fatty acids (EFAs), which contribute to the formation of healthy cell membranes. To ensure that your skin is getting all the nutrients it needs, take a high-dose, antioxidant-rich multivitamin and high-quality fish oil supplement daily.
2. Drink Plenty of Water
Seventy percent of the dermis, the inner layer of the skin, is water. One of the main reasons our skin sags and wrinkles as we age is that the dermis loses about 30 percent of its water content. Don’t overlook the importance of hydrating your skin from the inside out by drinking 10 to 12 glasses of filtered water every day. This is vital for overall health and imperative for supple, moist skin.
3. Shield Against UV Radiation
The majority of skin damage is caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight. After you’ve gotten your daily dose of vitamin D by spending 15 minutes or so in the sun, use a zinc oxide or titanium dioxide sunscreen. These natural minerals stay on the surface of the skin and reflect and scatter light as opposed to chemical sunscreens that are absorbed into the skin.
4. Stimulate New Skin With Alpha Hydroxy Acids
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) stimulate the growth of new epidermal cells—the most superficial layer of skin—by encouraging older cells to shed more rapidly. AHAs also increase the number of glycoaminoglycans, complex sugar molecules that help skin retain moisture. The result? A fresher appearance and reduction of fine lines and wrinkles.
5. Make Your Skin Glow With Vitamin C
Collagen is the supporting structure of the skin. Along with water, it makes up the bulk of the dermis. As we age, collagen production plummets, and this causes the skin to droop, pucker, and wrinkle. To stimulate collagen formation, apply a topical vitamin C serum or cream every morning. Topical vitamin C will also protect your skin from UV damage.
6. Smooth Away Fine Lines With Retinol
To help your skin retain moisture and to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and age-associated skin discoloration, use a retinol cream. Retinol is a nonprescription, weaker relative of Retin-A, the vitamin A compound long touted as a wrinkle remover. Like Retin-A, retinol increases cell turnover, helps new cells retain moisture, and improves the appearance of the skin—without the irritation often associated with Retin-A.
7. Use a Good Moisturizer
Another way to keep your skin hydrated is to use a moisturizer several times a day. The best moisturizers contain hyaluronic acid and/or essential fatty acids. Hyaluronic acid binds with water to prevent evaporation, while essential fatty acids seal moisture into the skin.
