25 Best Things To Do For Your Skin
Show Your Skin Some Love
Provided by Women's Health
Hey -- your epidermis is showing -- all 20 square feet of it. And keeping it in showroom shape is no easy task. You could be battling breakouts, sun damage, dryness, irritation, unwanted hair or all of the above. The good news: You'll grow nearly 1,000 new layers of skin throughout your lifetime, so you've got plenty of chances to make sure it's smooth and glowing. To help, we sifted through the latest research and talked to lots of dermatology experts to come up with the 25 best tips. Follow them, and your skin will look so great you'll want to walk around naked (but don't, unless you're wearing sunscreen -- see number 21).
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25 Best Things To Do For Your Skin
Provided by Women's Health
1. Got milk? Get soy
If you battle breakouts, milk could be adding to your troubles. Three large studies have found that the more white stuff teens drink, the worse their acne gets. Researchers say hormones that occur naturally in cow juice may be to blame, and they believe women in their twenties and thirties could also be susceptible. "If you're a big milk drinker and zits are a problem, you may benefit from cutting back," says Clement Adebamowo, M.D., an oncologist and lead researcher on these studies. "Drink milk substitutes like soy instead," he says.
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2. Vote red
A recent British study found that subjects who ate five tablespoons of tomato paste every day suffered milder sunburns than those who didn't. Researchers think lycopene, a powerful natural antioxidant found in tomatoes, provides the sun-shielding benefits. (Tip: Cook your romas--your body will absorb the nutrients more easily.) It's no excuse to drop the SPF, but at least you have a good reason to go to your favorite Italian joint.
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3. Take a chill pill
Not that you need more to worry about, but it really is true that stress can mess with your complexion. Researchers at England's University of Manchester proved it using what many of us find the most brutal stress test: public speaking. They took pre- and post-presentation snips of skin from the butt cheeks of participants and then compared the cellular activity. The tense skin showed a 16.4 percent decrease in immune-system-regulating cells. Another study reported that stress caused acne to worsen. True, you can't protect your skin from every PowerPoint panic. But if you're under a lot of pressure, baby your skin.
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4. Forget fries
A group of researchers recently put 23 people with acne on a high-protein, low-glycemic diet for 12 weeks -- and guess what? Their skin got much better. Testers had 21.9 percent fewer blemishes, versus 13.8 percent fewer for a control group that followed a high-carb diet. (Bonus: All the low-carb subjects lost weight!) While the researchers can't say whether it was the weight loss or the dietary changes that helped, it appears that nutrition plays a role in your skin's behavior. So pile on more lean protein and cut back on high-glycemic foods (like starchy fries and sugary candy).
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5. Get all in a lather
Anytime you sweat, your body produces more sebum (an oily pore-clogging secretion), says dermatologist Audrey Kunin, M.D., founder of dermadoctor.com. So if you're tempted to skip the shower after a lunchtime workout (and we're not judging here), don't! Since bacteria love to feast on sweat and oil, you're setting yourself up for breakouts. After any sweat-inducing activity, rinse off under cool water with a shower wash containing oil-clearing glycolic or salicylic acid. We like Phisoderm Anti-Blemish Body Wash ($6 for 12 oz, drugstore.com).
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6. Don't wash money down the drain
"There's no need to buy an expensive cleanser loaded with fancy ingredients," says photobiologist Daniel B. Yarosh, Ph.D., author of The New Science of Perfect Skin. "They're on your skin for less than a minute, so they don't have time to really do anything." Adding injury to insult: Some pricey ingredients can actually cause irritation (that would be you, peppermint and eucalyptus). Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revitalize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser, $7 for 6.7 oz, drugstore.com) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3, drugstore.com). Both remove dirt, oil, and dead skin cells without stripping away your skin's natural (and necessary) oils.
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7. Cover your mouth
We're talking about a lip balm with UV protection, not ruby red lipstick. Your lips (along with your eye area and upper chest) have some of the thinnest skin on your body, so they need extra shielding. A survey by a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery found that only 47 percent of respondents used lip protection containing UV blockers. That's bad news, because "when skin cancer originates from the lips, it's especially aggressive and has a higher risk of spreading," says Erin Welch, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Guard your smackers by stocking up on balms with sunscreen, like Softlips Lip Protectant/Sunscreen with SPF 20 ($4 for two tubes, drugstore.com).
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8. Try some crunches
You could fill an entire Whole Foods produce aisle with the reams of research showing that fruits and vegetables protect and restore the skin. So down a rainbow's worth every day, and seek out edibles packed with vitamins A and C (both are antioxidants). Particularly good: leafy greens, cantaloupe, citrus fruits (especially oranges), blueberries, strawberries, and bell peppers.
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9. Use an anti-ager -- now!
Don't wait for the first crow's feet to appear before you reach for that little tube. "Even women in their twenties should be using a topical retinoid -- unless they're pregnant or nursing," says Francesca Fusco, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. Here's why: Retinoids, which contain vitamin A, are one of the most potent agents for preventing and reversing sun damage and signs of aging. And, says Hirsch, "they're the ultimate multitasker. They speed skin renewal by shedding dull, pore-clogging cells and increase collagen production to prevent wrinkles." Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC, such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treatment -- Night ($22 for 1 oz, drugstore.com).
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10. Suck it up
If your skin can't hold on to the products you put on it, you're just wasting money. "Lock in the benefits of a product's active ingredients by following up with a moisturizer," says Ranella Hirsch, M.D., president of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery. Look for a lotion containing hyaluronic acid or glycerin; they keep skin supple.
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Markboo404 11:44:34 PM Nov 09 2009
I have been using Essential 24 Best Skin Oil(www.bestskinoil.com) ..it has made a huge difference in my skin...after just a few days I began receiving compliments about how healthy my skin looks...It is softer and actually glows, something I never experienced before using other beauty products. Best Skin Oil penetrates into the skin without leaving an oily residue. I recommend it highly to anyone, both men and women, who wish to have softer, healthier looking skin
philridley 07:54:38 PM Oct 25 2009
"Got milk? Get soy?" SOY ALERT!! http://files.meetup.com/1463924/Soy Alert.pdf Babies fed exclusively on soy formula receive the estrogenic equivalent of at least five birth control pills per day. High levels of phytic acit in soy reduce assimilation of calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc. High phytate diets cause growth problems in children. Vitamin B12 analogs in soy are not absorbed and actually increase the body's requirement for B12. Soy foods increase the body's requirement for Vitamin D. Trypsin inhibitors in soy interfere with protein digestion and may cause pancreatic disorders. Soy phytoestrogens disrupt endocrine function and have potential to cause infertility and promote breast cancer. They are potent anti-thyroid agents. Processing of soy protein results in the formation of toxic lysinoalinine and highly carcinogenic nitrosamines. Free glutamic acid or MSG, a potent neurotoxin, is formed during soy food processing. Soy foods contain high levels of aluminum.
philridley 03:00:13 PM Oct 25 2009
"You have to realize that genetics play a huge part in having nice skin" (Not so)In the early 1930s, the Cleveland dentist named Weston A. Price (1870-1948) began a series of unique investigations. For over ten years, he traveled to isolated parts of the globe to study the health of populations untouched by western civilization. His goal was to discover the factors responsible for good dental health. His studies revealed that dental caries and deformed dental arches resulting in crowded, crooked teeth are the result of nutritional deficiencies, not inherited genetic defects. Follow this link for the full text of the book: http://www.journeytoforever.org/farm_library/price/pricetoc.html
Jgamble28 01:57:10 PM Oct 25 2009
you have to realize that genetics play a huge part in having nice skin. My Mother is 93 and still has smooth skin on her face. She neve wore sunscreen and worked in her garden all the time. i"m hoping that I have a lot of her genes.
sgrey90 01:32:13 PM Oct 25 2009
I have always been very afraid of aging, you know, becoming old and useless and unattractive. When I turned 50, I decided to do something about it. I've spent fortunes on face creams and anti-aging serums⦠but using GenFX is the first time I've tried turning back the clock from the inside out. It's also the last time I'll spend a fortune on face creams! Now everyone says I look 35! http://www.antiaginggenfx.com/
Diva42Long 12:49:50 PM Oct 25 2009
themselves through the liver or colon they get trapped and create over active sebaceous glands. The toxins mixed w/ oil and dead skin clog the pores and cause the skin to erupt. The eruption is acne.
Diva42Long 12:46:44 PM Oct 25 2009
If you are suffering from acne itâs an internal issue. I have suffered from severe acne (cystic, pustule, white heads, black heads, you name it Iâve had it) for over 10 years. I have been on every topical and oral treatment including Acutane, yes TWO SIX MONTH treatments. Both times my acne came back w/ a vengeance. My last dose of Acutane was DEC â09. My acne was horrible AGAIN by July â09. Unfortunately I was laid off my job so, w/ out health insurance I could no longer see my dermatologist. However I was feed up and frustrated. I took matters in my own hands and purchased Dr Hauscka. I was so excited, I used the products for a month and they DID NOT work for me. In fact I think it made my skin worse. So I started researching acne and different NATURAL remedies for acne. I was determined not to use any more conventional products. I started researching the cause of acne and realized acne is basically toxins try to rid themselves from the body. When toxins are not able to rid
BNBOURGET 12:45:11 PM Oct 25 2009
I have drank whole milk all my life and all my children and everyone in the family have never had any problems, When I was little we had a farm and I used to drink cows milk directly from the cow and it has never hurt me. Don't believe everything you hear that milk is bad for you. If you a diabetic then you may want to just watch your intake because of the sugar in the milk, glucose. Other than that milk is Great.
BlueHowler 12:39:50 PM Oct 25 2009
My teen boys never drink milk and their skin is far clearer compared to most of their friends. In fact, they don't even like the taste of cow's milk anymore, preferring So Delicious coconut milk beverages, instead.
