Many skin issues have more to do with your lifestyle choices than your age or genetics. Unhealthy lifestyle choices can decrease your skin quality and health. On the other hand, healthy choices can give you naturally glowing skin. Discover how lifestyle factors affect your skin’s health and learn how to make the best choices to cultivate beautiful, clear skin.
Negative Factors
Many things can negatively affect your skin; therefore, you should reevaluate your lifestyle if you struggle with unhealthy or acne-prone skin.
Smoking and Drinking
Smoking and drinking regularly dries out your skin and breaks down collagen and elastin, which leads to premature aging and unwanted wrinkles. You don’t have to entirely cut out either of them, but make sure to drink plenty of water if you do plan to smoke or drink.
Eating Junk Food
Eating junk food continuously is never a good idea, but your skin definitely doesn’t benefit from it. Your skin needs vitamins and antioxidants from fruits and vegetables; therefore, you should eat a balanced diet with a low glycemic index.
Staying Sedentary
Sedentariness can also negatively affect your skin. When you sit for the majority of the day, your blood doesn’t move through your body as quickly, which can ultimately cause your skin to age prematurely.
Getting Excessive Sun Exposure
You probably know that spending a full day in the sun without proper protection isn’t the best choice, but even a little daily exposure can add up. Sun exposure causes your collagen to break down and your skin pigment to change, so it’s best to protect yourself with sunscreen.
Positive Factors
The negative factors may seem daunting, but there are several positive choices you can make to boost your skin’s overall health and appearance.
Eating Whole Foods
Eating a balanced diet is the key to healthy skin. Ultimately, sugary foods and drinks, refined carbohydrates, deep-fried foods, and foods high in sodium contribute to worse skin conditions. Swapping out the sweet treats, white bread, and pasta for fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is a great way to start changing how you eat.
Exercising
Getting enough exercise is crucial for maintaining glowing skin. Moving your body increases your blood flow, and it also allows your body to detox through sweating. Additionally, regular exercise relieves stress, which can wreak havoc on your skin.
Taking Care of Your Skin
In addition to living a healthy lifestyle, you must also adequately care for your skin. However, developing a skin-care routine is more than just washing your face once a day; it might include several steps. The process doesn’t look the same for everyone.
Understanding how lifestyle factors can affect your skin’s health is essential for maintaining happy, clear, beautiful skin. It’ll surprise you how small changes can make a big difference when it comes to your stubborn skin issues.
