Taking Care of Your Skin

There is a lot of emphasis in today’s world to stay as young looking for as long as possible. There are many “miracle” products available to you that promise to keep you looking young and beautiful at any age. But how many of these products actually deliver what they promise? The honest truth is that there is no miracle product that is going to keep you looking young forever. However, taking good care of your skin can keep you looking and feeling fresh and healthy no matter how old you are.

Learn about Wrinkle Prevention

Facial wrinkles happen as you age. The skin cells begin to die at a rate faster than your body can create new ones. Skin looses its elasticity and the fine lines appear, growing deeper each year. Other than age, there are several factors that can increase the appearance of lines and deep wrinkles. Some of these include sun, diet, and anxiety. These can increase free radical damage, which in turn causes premature aging. In order to prevent wrinkles you must understand what causes them.

Sun Protection

The sun has been found to be a major factor in premature aging. The best defense against aging is protecting the skin from the sun. While it is unreasonable to try and avoid the sun at all costs, especially since a little sun exposure is good for us, there is something we can do. Wearing a moisturizer with a SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 or higher can greatly reduce premature wrinkles. A SPF should also be used year-round since UVA/UVB rays are present even during the winter months. During the summer avoid the sun during the middle of the day and wear a hat when you’re outside.

Diet and Wrinkle Prevention

Eating a healthy and well-balanced diet can help ward off premature wrinkles, and there are certain foods that are particularly beneficial. Some of these include omega 3 fatty acids (found in food such as salmon and flax seeds), vitamin C (found in blueberries, strawberries, and citrus fruits), vitamin E (found in many seeds), and anything containing antioxidants (such as green tea).

Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety have been shown to speed up aging, so being able to relax is important not only for your skin but your entire well-being as well. Many people can’t simply quite their stressful jobs or reduce their responsibilities, but there are many ways you can deal with stress. Exercise is the number one way to reduce stress. Choosing activities that are enjoyable is essential, such as swimming, walking, biking, or even dance classes. Relaxing activities are important as well. Some of these include yoga, tai chi, and meditation.

Taking Care of Your Skin without Cortisone

It seems to be the popularity among conventional doctors to treat skin conditions and diseases with medications that either doesn’t work or that have harmful or irritating side effects. There is no point in treating a skin condition with cortisone only to have the lingering side effects of cortisone within your body.

There are many natural alternatives when it comes to your skin and treating it for burns, eczema, acne, sunburn, minor wounds, or other skin conditions. Consider the
following alternatives to keep your skin healthy naturally and without the use of harmful medications:

• Aloe Vera is a natural plant that has healing properties that have been known about for many years and are often overlooked. Aloe Vera can be found as a gel form or you can purchase an Aloe Vera plant and break a leaf off the plant as you need it. If you are treating a skin disorder you will want to apply the Aloe Vera at least three times per day. If you are treating a wound you should liberally apply Aloe Vera and it can be used for as long as needed. Aloe Vera is a wonderful, natural way to heal skin conditions without any other side affects.
• Emu oil has been used for many years to treat pain and skin problems. Emu oil is very effective in the treatment of skin conditions since it has traces of three of the essential fatty acids: Omega 3, Omega 6, and Omega 9. The oil can be used all over your body for many skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, shingles, rosacea, skin irritations, and dry skin.
• Red clover. Red clover is very effective against skin conditions that are caused by heat and dryness, such as allergic dermatitis and eczema.
• Copaiba. This natural resin is useful in the treatment of skin conditions such as eczema.
• Neem. This plant is very similar to Aloe Vera and is just as beneficial in treating all kinds of skin disorders.