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Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Skin

It may sound corny, but beautiful skin really does come from within. Lifestyle factors play a large part in ensuring that skin stays healthy and glowing, and a healthy lifestyle can even help to ward off certain skin cancers.

smiling woman with glowy, clear skin

It’s common knowledge that smoking can cause a slew of cancers, from lip to lung, but this bad habit can also wreak havoc on the appearance of your skin. Tobacco in cigarettes causes the skin to turn a dull gray color, and smoking causes excessive facial wrinkles leading to the appearance of premature aging.

Alcohol can also have numerous damaging affects to your skin. The oil glands and blood vessels of chronic drinkers become larger, causing oversized, unsightly pores. If drinking progresses to liver disease, skin color can take on a yellow appearance.

Being under too much stress can also do harm to skin. Stress can trigger or worsen conditions such as psoriasis, rosacea, and fever blisters, and can also dehydrate the skin.

Sun exposure without proper protection can cause skin cancers such as melanoma. Additionally, not covering up with a good SPF can lead to sun damage such as wrinkles, freckles, and age spots. Remember, there is no such thing as a healthy tan.

A poor diet can make you gain unwanted pounds, and it can also determine the appearance of your complexion. Drinking coffee, tea, or soda can dehydrate your skin, but water flushes your system for a fresh, healthy glow. In addition, foods with excess processed carbs can irritate skin, clog pores, and cause
acne.

Exposure to pollution can cause numerous negative affects to skin including dryness, premature aging, rashes, eczema, and acne. If you live in a highly polluted area and you plan to be outdoors, consider wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants on poor air quality days.

An Expert Weighs In

"The sun is the biggest factor in extrinsic aging, and yet many people leave their faces, necks, and hands exposed by not wearing daily sun protection. While using a sunscreen with SPF is incredibly important, it’s just as important to choose the proper sunscreen for your skin type. Some people get the best protection from physical blockers, while others benefit more from chemical ingredients. I also suggest finding a sunscreen that contains antioxidants. As important as sunscreen ingredients are, they do break down quickly, so antioxidants act as your backup plan.”

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