Your skin is the largest and one of the busiest organs in your body. The skin is constantly under attack and protects your body from bacteria, fungi and viruses. It also regulates your body temperature, and even helps you sense the environment around you. With so many important duties falling on your skin, it's essential that you take care of it on a daily basis.
Cleaning
Cleaning your skin with a mild soap or cleanser is one important way to keep the skin healthy. By cleaning your face twice a day, you remove dirt, oils and bacteria that can leave your face looking dull and oily and may also contribute to the formation of acne. Combining your cleanser with an exfoliating product is also helpful as it can remove excess dead skin cells, making the skin smoother and even less likely to develop acne.
Non-comedogenic Products
Many skin and facial products on the market contain comedogenic (acne-causing) products such as cetearyl alcohol, algin or cocoa butter. These products can contribute to blocked pores, resulting in acne formation. Makeup is especially problematic in this area. To keep the skin healthy and blemish free, opt for products that are labeled as non-comedogenic and always remove makeup before you go to bed at night.
Sun
The sun can be one of the most damaging contributors to skin problems. Sunlight contains harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays that can speed up the skin's aging process (photoaging), and can even alter the skin cells, raising your risks for skin cancer. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends applying a sunblock of SPF 15 or more at least 30 minutes before spending time in the sun to prevent sun damage to the skin.
Sebum
The skin relies on sebum oil produced by the sebaceous glands to keep the skin moisturized. Too much sebum on the skin can lead to an oily look and acne formation, but not enough sebum can result in dry skin. Certain actions such as spending too much time in the bath tub or washing your face too much can strip sebum away from the tissue, resulting in dry skin. To avoid this, the Mayo Clinic suggests limiting face washing to twice daily, as well as limiting the time you spend in the bath or shower.
Smoking
Smoking can also be harmful to the skin. When you consume cigarette smoke, nicotine is released into your bloodstream. The effects of nicotine narrow blood vessels, including the vessels supplying nutrients and oxygen to your skin. Over time, this loss in nutrients and oxygen can accelerate the aging process of the skin, resulting in loss of proteins called collagen and elastin. The loss of these proteins results in wrinkle formation and saggy skin.
