| Our skin is a fascinating organ that has a unique | | | | 4. Dehydration: |
| type of resilience, but yet still needs gentle care in | | | | Dehydration is one of our skin's very worst |
| order to thrive and be healthy. It's never too | | | | enemies. Besides causing it to age faster and lose |
| early or late to avoid the seven deadly things that | | | | its youthful elasticity, it also prevents the skin's |
| can harm your skin, aging and damaging it beyond | | | | cells from regenerating themselves. Dehydration |
| repair. | | | | also causes the body to become constipated, |
| 1. Smoking: | | | | storing up toxins that otherwise should have been |
| Besides the dangerous effects on the heart and | | | | eliminated, but instead may be secreted |
| brain, smoking also damages the body's largest | | | | microscopically through the skin's cells. |
| organ, the skin. Filled with harmful chemicals, | | | | 5. Alcohol: |
| cigarette smoke causes premature aging, | | | | Many people are surprised to learn that alcohol is |
| wrinkles, and generally has a negative affect on | | | | harmful to the skin in addition to the damage it |
| the overall quality and appearance of our skin. | | | | does to the liver and other organs. Besides |
| Smoking saps the skin's cells of vitamin C, which | | | | depleting the body's supply of the essential |
| is necessary to create collagen, restricts blood | | | | vitamin B, alcohol also severely dehydrates the |
| vessels, and also reduces oxygen intake, which | | | | skin. |
| causes the skin to take on an unhealthy pallor. | | | | 6. Some Prescription Medications: |
| Smoking also causes an increase in the amount of | | | | Some types of prescription medications may |
| fine lines and wrinkles, particularly around the | | | | actually cause a condition known as |
| mouth. Dermatological studies have shown clear | | | | photosensitivity, which causes the skin to |
| signs of skin damage in smokers as young as | | | | overreact to sun exposure, making it prone to |
| their early 20s. Although, after quitting smoking, | | | | burning and suffering permanent damage, not to |
| the skin will begin to show significant signs of | | | | mention increasing the risk of skin cancer. Other |
| improvement over time, and with proper care, | | | | types of medications may cause acne breakouts, |
| actually reverse some of the damage that's been | | | | sensitivity, dryness, and redness or blotchiness. |
| done. | | | | Medications or creams for acne skin care may |
| 2. Excessive UV Exposure and the Environment: | | | | actually cause blemishes to become far worse |
| Without protection from ultraviolet rays, our skin | | | | before showing any signs of improvement. This, |
| is prone to a host of conditions such as deadly | | | | unfortunately, sometimes causes people to stop |
| skin cancer, photoaging, which is the term used to | | | | using the product before it actually has a time to |
| describe the type of aging that's caused by | | | | truly be effective as they fear it is really making |
| excessive sun exposure, and blotchy, rough or | | | | matters worse due to the appearance of more |
| wrinkled skin. Although in limited, controlled | | | | acne. |
| amounts, natural sunlight provides us with the | | | | 7. The Wrong Skin Care Regimen: |
| essential vitamin D, sunscreen should still be worn | | | | Overzealous cleansing of the skin can be just as |
| religiously anytime you are outside. wearing | | | | harmful as not taking care of it at all. Our skin, |
| wide-brimmed hats when in the sun, and wearing | | | | particularly on the face, is comprised of |
| protective clothing when needed. | | | | innumerable cells and delicate tissue that respond |
| Much like smoking, pollutants in the environment | | | | best to regular, gentle cleaning as opposed to |
| have similar harmful effects on the skin. | | | | scrubbing or scouring. To exfoliate the skin, which |
| Protecting our skin from the every day ravages | | | | helps remove dead cells, causing it to regenerate |
| of the environment should also entail avoiding | | | | new cells a bit faster, and also removes any |
| exposure to any type of harsh chemicals or | | | | build-up of cleansers or oils, use a gentle scrub |
| substances. | | | | that contains natural ingredients applied using light |
| 3. Poor Nutrition: | | | | but steady pressure. |
| A well-balanced diet rich with the necessary | | | | Using your fingertips, and a cleanser, toner, or |
| vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants is imperative | | | | moisturizer that's formulated for your skin type, |
| for healthy skin. The old saying that we are what | | | | gently and slowly apply the product to the skin |
| we eat still proves true today as every system | | | | before rinsing with warm, but never hot, water. |
| relies on us to make the right choices about what | | | | Tugging or pulling on the skin will cause it to sag |
| we provide our body with. | | | | and lose elasticity, so makeup products should |
| Likewise, repeated or excessive weight loss or | | | | also be applied and then removed gently. |
| gain also damages the skin, causing stretch | | | | If you watch out for these seven skin problems, |
| marks, sagging skin, and a loss of tone and | | | | you'll look and feel much better. |
| elasticity. | | | | |