With more of us working longer hours and with disrupted sleep patterns, lying awake worrying about finances, work or any one of several things going on in the US and worldwide, taking medication or just eating a poor diet, it’s no surprise to see our skin suffer as a result. From tired-looking skin to dark circles and hyperpigmentation, it’s important to take time to look after your skin.
Dealing with Hyperpigmentation and Other Skin Problems
Your face is the first thing people see when they meet you or walk past you in the street. So, if you don’t feel confident with the appearance of your skin, your confidence can be low. Hydroquinone can reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation, age spots, patchy skin, melasma and scarring, among other skin conditions.
It works on the affected area without affecting the other parts of your skin, and although the results won’t be instant, it provides visible results over time. Consulting with a dermatologist will allow you to ask any specific questions about usage and see if it’s a suitable treatment for you.
Protecting Your Skin from the Sun
We all love spending time outdoors when the weather is good, but the sun is a major factor in skin damage, and prevention is better than cure. So, besides using a sunscreen with a high SPF, wear a hat to protect your face from too much direct exposure to the sun, stay in the shade as much as possible, reapply sunscreen regularly and limit your time just sitting or lying around in the sun.
Getting fresh air and generally spending time outdoors can be beneficial for your skin and your complexion, but this needs to be balanced with protecting yourself from the harmful rays of the sun or other intense conditions.
Improving Your Diet
Sugary foods can increase the chances of acne, and not eating enough protein can reduce your ability to produce college which your skin needs. Although, it’s important to avoid protein bars as most of these contain a large amount of sugar.
Instead, stick to healthy proteins such as chicken breast, broccoli, eggs (boiled or poached), almonds, oats and fish, etc. While you can take supplements for healthier skin, it’s always better to get the protein and nutrients you need directly from the food you eat.
Eating the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables each day can also develop healthy skin cells and give you a better complexion, and vitamin C can boost your immune system, including healing any skin blemishes or scars you have.
A Regular Skincare Routine
Your skin can get dry in different weather conditions, or greasy if working in certain environments, so sticking to a suitable skincare routine is important. First find your skin type (sensitive, dry, greasy, etc.) and tailor your routine to it, with an appropriate face wash, toner and moisturizer. This can reduce signs of aging and give your skin a healthy glow among other benefits.
It’s important to stick to a daily routine because your skin sheds regularly and you need to keep taking care of the new skin. Keeping your skin clean daily reduces the amount of dirt in the pores and provides a basis for applying toner and moisturizer, before applying your daily makeup.
Removing your makeup at the end of each day is recommended, as it gives your skin a chance to breathe. Improving the appearance of your skin will also make it look better without having to use foundation.
Getting Plenty of Sleep and Drinking Water
Two things we can all afford to do are drinking more water and sleeping more. While it’s difficult to switch off at the end of a long day, or remember to drink water regularly, these have multiple benefits. Water helps to flush out toxins – which results in healthier skin, can prevent acne, reduce skin tightness and maintain a healthy PH balance.
Getting more sleep can help to reduce lines because the skin produces collagen when we sleep. Our skin also gets time to recover, and of course, with enough sleep, we don’t get unseemly dark circles around our eyes.
Skin conditions such as hyperpigmentation are easily treatable. However, looking after your skin can help prevent this, or keep the skin looking great after receiving this treatment. Therefore, it’s important to take care of your skin by protecting it from prolonged exposure to the sun, getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of water and following a healthy diet.
