Five Ways To Ruin Your Skin

Filed in archive Beauty , Skin Care on July 18, 2010

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Here are five common mistakes people make that affect their skin adversely:

1. Overexposure to the sun. Always use sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 30 and protects you against both UVA and UVB. Don't forget to apply behind the ears and neck, especially for men.

2. Stressing yourself too much. Stress causes your skin to be more reactive, which leads to worse acne and psoriasis. Hormones like adrenaline constrict blood vessels and deprive the tissue of nutrients. Get into mindfulness meditation, hypnosis, biofeedback, exercise, yoga, or tai chi to manage stress and help improve your complexion.

3. Picking on acne. Stop squeezing pimples and picking blemishes. If your skin is inflamed, go to your dermatologist quickly. Steroid injections can solve the problem quickly without leaving marks.

4. Not sleeping adequately. Stress is lowest during sleep, while anti-inflammatory molecules are at their highest levels. The less you sleep, the worse your skin condition is. Get 8 hours of sleep if you can, but if you can't, try adding 30 minutes, and see the difference.

5. Drying your skin out. Things like alcohol, cold weather and washing diligently in hot water can all dehydrate the skin. Use moisturizers with ceramides.