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Post Date: Sunday, February 2, 2020 |
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The cosmetic and personal care industry hears it all the time: the skin
is the body’s largest organ; and we focus on its holistic status to treat signs of aging, or
address compromised conditions. But what we do not often consider is how its
negative health could affect our overall health—being the largest organ.
It's
hardly news that exercise is great for your heart, lungs,
and mental outlook. Here's another reason to get moving: Regular exercise is
one of the keys to healthy skin.
We tend
to focus on the cardiovascular benefits of physical
activity, and those are important. But anything that
promotes healthy circulation also helps keep your skin healthy
and vibrant.
If you
have dermatological conditions such as acne, rosacea,
or psoriasis,
you may need to take special care to keep your skin protected while exercising.
But don't let skin
problems prevent you from being active. Here's
why.
By
increasing blood flow,
exercise helps nourish skin cells and keep them vital. Blood carries
oxygen and nutrients to
working cells throughout the body, including the skin. In addition to providing
oxygen, blood flow also helps carry away waste products, including free
radicals, from working cells. Contrary to some claims, exercise doesn't
detoxify the skin. The job of neutralizing toxins belongs mostly to the liver.
But by increasing blood flow, a bout of exercise helps flush cellular debris
out of the system. "You can think of it as cleansing your skin from the
inside."
Exercise
has also been shown to ease stress. "And by decreasing stress, some
conditions that can be exacerbated by stress can show some improvement.
Conditions that can improve when stress is reduced include acne and eczema.
Although researchers are still investigating the link between stress and skin,
studies show that the sebaceous glands, which produce oil in the skin, are
influenced by stress hormones.
Eat a healthy diet
A healthy diet can help you look and feel your
best. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. The
association between diet and acne isn't clear — but some research suggests that
a diet rich in fish oil or fish oil supplements and low in unhealthy fats and
processed or refined carbohydrates might promote younger looking skin. Drinking
plenty of water helps keep your skin hydrated.
Manage
stress
Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more
sensitive and trigger acne breakouts and other skin problems. To encourage
healthy skin — and a healthy state of mind — take steps to manage your stress.
Get enough sleep, set reasonable limits, scale back your to-do list and make
time to do the things you enjoy. The results might be more dramatic than you
expect.
Daily cleansing and shaving can take a toll on
your skin. To keep it gentle:
-Limit
bath time. Hot water and
long showers or baths remove oils from your skin. Limit your bath or shower
time, and use warm — rather than hot — water.
-Avoid
strong soaps. Strong soaps and
detergents can strip oil from your skin. Instead, choose mild cleansers.
-Shave
carefully. To protect and
lubricate your skin, apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving. For the
closest shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Shave in the direction the hair grows,
not against it.
-Pat
dry. After washing or
bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture
remains on your skin.
-Moisturize
dry skin. If your skin is
dry, use a moisturizer that fits your skin type. For daily use, consider a
moisturizer that contains SPF.
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