Being Skin Smart - Understanding and Caring For Your Skin !
The skin is the largest organ in the human body. An average adult human being has a skin area between 1.5 - 2.0 sq meters of skin coverage.On an average one square inch of skin has 650 sweat glands and more than 1000 nerve endings besides other glands !
Most people suffer from bad skin days and try everything under the sun with the hope of getting a glowing skin that is blemish free but end up making the situation even worse by trying out too many things at the same time , something like too many cooks spoiling the broth !!!. High humidity, sweat , oil deposits all spell doom for the skin and what makes it worse is that many women tend to skip some basic skin care routine of cleansing,toning and applying moisture and sun screen when it is necessary.
There are two factors that affect one's skin - Genetic and External. Due to the weather change you may have oily skin during summer and this may alter during rainy season. Other factors that affect the skin include diet, stress levels, medication and skin care routine that may alter the oil production in the skin. Before we set about adopting any kind of skin care routine ,it is better to know our skin type and then proceed acordingly and that's where most of the skin care routine adopted by women fail, they just follow the crowd !
Different Skin Types
Dry Skin - Skin that normally feels tight, especially after you wash it or have a hot bath. Dry skin has a tendency to develop a sallow tone, fine wrinkles ,flaking and red patches. Normally we notice that signs of ageing such as wrinkles ,crows feet and hollow cheeks show faster on women who have dry skin.
Oily Skin - This is the opposite of dry skin and normally tends to be shiny,greasy and is often problamatic. Enlarged pores, blackheads and blemishes develop easily on oily skins.The advantage is that it does not show age and wrinkles like dry skin does .
Normal Skin - Normal skin is the best skin type. Normal skin looks smoother,clean and has an even tone .This is the least problematic skin type and feels supple and firm to the touch .This is also the easiest to maintain since it generally adapts to different external factors.
Combination skin - Normally this is in between being half dry and half oily.This skin type has a smooth texture and needs to be cleaned frequently to reduce the oil content which is behind most of the problems.
Sensitive Skin - This is probably the most difficult skin type to manage.It feels tight and is prone to redness, spots and also allergies and bruises very easily .One has to take extra care with sensitive skin type !
How to care for your skin
Once you know your skin type and its needs , ensure that you take care ,even pamper it daily to avoid a build up of dirt ,grime and other toxines.
1, Make sure that you eat a healthy diet, drink at least a minimum of 8-10 glasses of water and other fluids as well which helps in protecting your skin.
2, Scrubing the skin with a gentle scrub gets rid of dead cells which is very essential part of skin care. Keeping your skin clean takes care of half the problem.
3, Never use heavy make up on your skin unless it is absolutely essential. But make sure that every bit of make up is removed before you go to bed.
4, Long hot showers or baths tend to deplete the skin's natural oils and can make it rough. It is better to bathe in luke warm water and avoid strong soap. Pat dry the skin instead of rubbing yourself vigorously which can damage the skin cells.
5, Using moisturisers and astringents is excellent for skin since it keeps your skin smooth and firm. Acne occurs due to excessive oil in one's skin.Using moisturiser on dry skin helps keep it smooth. Similarly , astringent helps remove excess oil from oily skin.
6, Eating a healthy diet is very essential since what you eat shows on your skin,hair and your general appearance . Eat a diet consisting of Fruits, vegetables, pulses, nuts ,protein and dairy products - in effect a well balanced diet that helps in maintaining a younger looking skin.
7, Stress shows up on the skin easily so it is advisable to stay calm. When you are stressed out ,try some practical measures ,like think of ways that helps in reducing stress . Listing out do's and dont's and also diverting your mind helps. Indulging in some stress free activity like gardening or listening to music is also very helpful .
A few Useful Home remedies for your skin
1, Mix some gram flour ,turmeric powder ,fresh cream,honey and a few drops of lime juce for a face pack that normally works on all skin types.
2, Grated cucumber mixed with a few drops of rose water is also a good facepack since it has astringent like effect , also closes open pores. Dabbing some cucumber juice around the eye gives an instant lift to tired eyes.
3, Olive oil is also a good beauty product. Applying olive oil and massaging the face and the under eye area helps the skin immensely.
4, Dabbing potato juice on your face has great benefits especially helpful in getting rid of tan and also in curing acne and dark patches that one develops after a certain age .
5, Take a handful of rice and some oats and run it through a mixer belnder adding some olive oil, a pinch of turmeric and a few drops of honey. Use the mixture as a body scrub. This gives an even tone to the skin besides keeping it tingling with health .
6, Fruits are a treat for your skin as they instantly boost our skin's health. Fruits have an enzyme that removes dead skin and brighten it.
7, Some things that help us stay younger are painless, fun and free ! Walking and exercise are both good for skin health. Walking and exercise both can also help in delaying the ageing process by almost 12 years, this is what the scientists say !
Finally to conclude - Smile Please ! To look younger instantly and make your skin look its best one should remain pleasant and smile more often !
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