By Shawrna Sen
As we leave winter for spring, your skin is probably dry and has lost its moisture. You are also probably trying to keep your hands free from bacteria and viruses, especially now.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is constantly expressing the need to prevent covid- 19 with big headlines saying “ wash your hands constantly”! They also recommend using alcohol-based hand sanitizers. But it’s important to ensure that your hands are not being harmed by those alcohols and the harmful chemicals found in some soaps and hand sanitizers.
What’s Your Skin’s Job?
Your skin keeps you safe from bacteria, viruses, and acts as a barrier between the environment and You! Your skin has layers called the epidermis (outer top layer), dermis (middle layer), and hypodermis (inner layer).
So what can you possibly do to protect it?
Nutrition and proper skincare are essential for maintaining good skin health. You should always eat healthily. That means that you should eat plenty of vegetables and fruits. You can also include fish such as salmon, which is extremely high in fatty acids. Fatty acids help you absorb vital nutrients and minerals from foods that you eat. Another thing that you must try to incorporate in your diet is avocadoes. Several studies have shown that avocadoes help your skin remain supple and soft.
You should also include vitamin C in your diet. Vitamin C is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and how great it is at fighting free radicals. Free radicals damage your skin by breaking your skin’s collagen and creating wrinkles. Collagens are proteins found in your skin cells that help keep their structure.
One of the most crucial things for both your skin and entire body is water. Water will help your skin stay hydrated thus making it look visibly softer . . . and may even prevent wrinkles. Water is also required to keep all the processes in your body functioning properly to keep you healthy.
Other Important Tips
It is very important to limit your shower time. Putting too much water on your skin strips away your natural oils and makes your skin look dry and cracked. That’s how skin loses its moisture. Dermatologists recommend only taking a shower for a maximum of 10 minutes. You should also consider applying good quality lotions (or even baby oil) on your hands after every time you wash them. This will keep your skin moisturized and avoid issues with your skin.
You should also try to use a soap made of natural ingredients, that doesn’t contain too many harsh chemicals that irritate your skin. In addition, you should ALWAYS apply sunscreen to protect against the UV rays which may cause sunburn or even skin cancer.
Remember: TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN JUST AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD ANY OTHER IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR BODY!