Skin is the largest organ of our body. Clear, glowing skin is something everybody wants. Besides its aesthetic significance, the skin is one of the most important organs in our body. It’s actively involved in sensory functions,  immune responses, control of body temperature, and many more.

Keeping the skin healthy is something we all have to do, but we often fall prey to several skin problems due to an unhealthy lifestyle and constant exposure to harmful substances. In this article, we will talk about how we can uplift our skin health and achieve soft, supple, and glowing skin. We’ll also look into some natural skincare tips. Let’s begin!

Common reasons for an unhealthy skin

Diet

Skin problems can be caused by poor nutrition. Each nutrient is essential for improving the health of your skin. Protein is the most important nutrient as it’s the collagen protein that makes up your dermal tissues. Omega-6 essential fatty acids encourage the development of healthy skin, while omega-3 fatty acids aid in preventing dry skin. When deficient, vitamins like C, E, A, and D can lead to dry, non-elastic skin, which is prone to sun damage. Zinc deficiency may increase the risk of dermatitis, skin lesions, and pigmentation, whereas selenium deficiency can retard normal skin cell development and increase the risk of skin cancer.

Dehydration

Dehydrated skin is a result of a lack of water. The skin gets dry, itchy, and dull-looking in such a situation. Your skin’s general tone and color can appear uneven, and wrinkles and fine lines might be more obvious. Sensitivity is one of the most profound impacts on dehydrated skin. When its moisture barrier is compromised, your skin cannot effectively defend itself against external stress factors like germs and toxins.

Solar radiations

While moderate UV exposure won’t significantly worsen your health, prolonged exposure usually damages your skin, leading to wrinkles and a loss of skin elasticity over time. The detrimental effects can range from conditions brought on by chronic exposure, such as harmful changes in dermal structure and function, dermal malignancies, photoaged skin, etc., to acute biological responses, such as sunburn, skin tanning, inflammatory erythema, skin pigmentation, immunologic abnormalities, and more.

Hormonal changes

Hormonal fluctuations can result in various skin issues, including hormonal acne, dry skin, dark undereye bags, and excessive hair growth or loss. The leading cause is often fluctuations in sex hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and androgens.

Smoking

Premature aging of the skin may be caused by nicotine and other compounds in cigarette smoke. Because nicotine narrows blood arteries, less oxygen and nutrients reach dermal skin cells, making them malnourished and unhealthy. Smoking causes the skin’s melanin to rise, which could result in dark patches, especially on the skin of the face.

Other factors

A sedentary lifestyle with no proper exercise can cause skin problems like dullness, wrinkles, sagging, and fine lines. Lack of sleep and hygiene also affects skin health adversely.

9 tips on how to improve skin health inside out

1. Eat right

Have a balanced diet with an appropriate amount of protein, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibers. If you have difficulty including certain nutrients in your diet, go for a good-quality supplement. This is the best natural skin care tip ever! Drink adequate water as well.

2. Have Adequate collagen

Our skin’s structural framework is collagen, and collagen production significantly affects how healthy your skin is. As we age, our ability to produce collagen decreases, which causes wrinkles, age spots, sagging, and fine lines.

You can get adequate collagen from your diet or through a good supplement. If considering a supplement, go for collagen peptides as it’s the broken-down form of collagen, which has higher bioavailability. Also, New Zealand collagen peptide supplements made from free-roaming pasture-raised New Zealand cattle are superior as they have the full spectrum of collagen peptides.

Researchers have established that collagen supplements can successfully fend off different aging symptoms while giving the skin suppleness and moisture. It is pretty rich in glycine, which is known to possess anti-inflammatory effects.

3. Take astaxanthin supplements

Astaxanthin is a natural antioxidant suitable for sensitive skin and works to lessen inflammation. There is no question that its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities will assist the skin, but its photoprotective abilities are the cherry on top. A study discovered that adding about 4 grams of natural astaxanthin supplement to the diet considerably reduced the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and increased the skin’s ability to retain moisture.

It also has DNA repairing properties that will improve skin health even further. In terms of restoring your skin health, it is several folds more effective than vitamin C. Additionally, natural astaxanthin helps to brighten, lighten, and improve the texture of your skin.

4. Use a sunblock

Regular use of sunscreen with SPF 30 and above will eventually uplift your skin health. Mineral sunscreens are better preferred than chemical sunscreens. You can also use physical means like caps, hats, scarfs, and sun coats for additional UV protection.

5. Use Manuka oil

Manuka essential oil soothes the skin while also assisting in the reduction of scars, acne, redness, and blemishes. The best manuka oil for skin on the market is Turner’s since it causes almost no irritation. It will control oil production, eliminate microbes, and encourage the growth of new cells. It has photoprotective properties too.

Its antibacterial activity aids in treating several bacterial, yeast, and fungal skin problems. Manuka oil has solid anti-inflammatory qualities that reduce inflammation brought on by infections, injuries, insect bites, and sunburns by preventing the generation of cytokines that cause inflammation.

6. Quit skin-damaging habits

As said before, smoking, alcoholism, improper cleansing, low-quality products, excess caffeine intake, etc., can promote skin problems. Quitting such habits would be helpful.

7. Proper cleansing

Proper cleansing with a skin cleanser suitable for your skin type would be beneficial to remove external debris, oil, and microbes. It’s preferable to clean your facial skin twice a day. Remember, over-cleansing can be harmful too.

8. Exfoliate your skin

Occasional removal of dead skin cells will help you to expose the new, healthy layer of skin beneath it. It will also help to clear up acne, pigmentation, dark spots, whiteheads, and blackheads.

9. Moisturize properly

While proper water intake ensures your skin stays hydrated from within, applying a good moisturizer that can ensure external hydration is also essential. Right after washing your face, use a good quality moisturizer regularly.

That’s all, friends. Skincare isn’t a luxury but a necessity. Take good care of your skin, and I hope you have healthy, supple skin. Which supplements and natural skin care tips did you find the best? Comment below!