Babies may have sensitive skin but have not yet suffered the effects of age and environmental stress. As a child, your skin is soft, moist and elastic. Collagen and elastin fibers support the layers of dermis and allow plenty of room for the blood vessels to do their work unobstructed. A healthy lifestyle marked by sun protection and a diet rich in vitamins and minerals shelters and nurtures young skin. It is later, when we are away from a mother's skin care, that various factors begin to deteriorate our skin tone and texture.
Sun
The sun's ultraviolet rays are absorbed by all exposed surface areas, damaging skin cells. Sensitive skin may tend to burn or freckle. Over the years, sun exposure causes wrinkles, patchy pigment and possibly skin cancer. The American Academy of Dermatology reports that one in five Americans will contract skin cancer in their lifetimes. The majority of sun exposure (about 80 percent) is experienced before we reach our twenties. That is why you should begin using sunscreen daily as a child. Practice a healthy lifestyle by avoiding sunburns and indoor tanning beds.
Hygiene
Oil glands excrete sebum, which can clog pores and invite infection in the absence of regular skin care. Clear the skin surface by cleansing twice daily with a gentle gel or moisturizing soap. Use your fingertips to lather the face and a soft cloth for your body. Don't irritate sensitive skin areas by scrubbing or by rubbing with a towel to dry. Pat the skin, leaving a few drops of water behind; then apply a cream or lotion moisturizer to seal and protect your skin.
Toxins
Toxins build up below and at the skin surface. When colon or liver function slows due to poor diet or disease, metabolic wastes aren't fully flushed from your system. Drinking plenty of water and periodically cleansing the colon through diet or enema are healthy lifestyle choices that combat toxins from within. Surface skin care includes clearing pores by exfoliating every week or so.
Age
Gravity, metabolism and genetics all work gradually to determine how our skin ages. As the collagen and elastin fibers break down and eventually disappear, skin can sag, wrinkle and discolor. The tiny blood vessels that feed skin cells recede, providing less efficient nourishment. To reduce the effects of aging, switch to sensitive skin products with a higher moisture content and less acidity. Add a night repair cream to your skin care regimen, rejuvenating facial skin with retinoids, peptides and collagen.
Diet
Return to the healthy lifestyle of your childhood by focusing on a nutrient-dense diet. Cutting out unnecessary fat, sugar and salt leaves more room in your menu for more nutritious foods. Just as growing kids need vitamins and minerals for development, aging skin can be improved with an emphasis on eating fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Vitamins A, D and E, and the antioxidant compounds in plant-based foods, support skin cell growth and a beautiful complexion.
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