Learn how to fight the healthy skin villains

Source: Thinkstock

The secret to beautiful, well-groomed skin goes far beyond applying moisturizing lotions and creams. There are many villains that are infiltrated in our daily routine and hardly noticed. However, they do bring a very big damage to skin health.

Sleeping poorly, eating poorly and sunning in excess are some of the factors that contribute to the early aging of the skin, favoring an aspect of tiredness and carelessness. Therefore, in addition to investing in age-appropriate lotions and skin creams, we need to fight these villains on a daily basis.

For always-looking, beautiful-looking skin, learn more about the bad habits that directly influence your skin and learn how to deal with them. To help in this quest for healthier skin, we talked to dermatologist Fabiane Mulinari Brenner, Professor of Dermatology at the Federal University of Paraná and a member of Cepelle's clinical staff in Curitiba.

A matter of time

Going through some changes is never as simple as it seems. However, just as it took you a while to conquer the habits that make up your routine today, with a little discipline and patience, it's easy to reverse this situation.

Source: Thinkstock

You need to know that changes will not bring quick results, but it is still important to follow your new daily skin care routine. Over time, you will find that the good results will go far beyond your body and make you feel good about yourself and have a more balanced and stress free life.

The role of free radicals

Waking up radiant with that velvety touch and soft glow on the skin is every woman's dream. But for this to come true, we need to be aware from the moment we wake up to bedtime. Problems to be tackled can appear any time of day and any season. For this reason, skin care is a challenge that must be faced at all times.

However, it is crucial to note that free radicals are largely responsible for the appearance of the skin. These naturally produced chemicals in the body act to attack cells, assaulting and destroying their structures. Dermatologist Fabiane Mulinari Brenner warns that free radicals decrease healing capacity, thus leading to sagging and aging skin.

In addition to bad habits causing specific damage, they contribute considerably to the production of more free radicals and so the cycle goes on. Changing habits favors the neutralization of free radicals, as well as the use of creams with free anti-radical properties - or antioxidants - and vitamins, which act directly on the skin and diminish the effects of these substances on the skin surface. This will nourish your skin and prevent aging from coming too soon.

The villains of healthy skin

Sunbathe without protection

Source: Thinkstock

Sunbeams are fundamental to our health. However, this does not mean that we should be exposed to the sun for hours and hours without any protection. Too much sun and carelessness can end up doing more harm than good to health and especially to the skin. Among all the bad habits we have acquired throughout our lives, Dr. Fabiane chooses inadequate sun exposure as one of the worst.

"The sun brings spots of premature aging, sagging and wrinkles, which can lead to increased skin cancer, especially in light skin, " says the dermatologist. It is important to remember that ultraviolet rays still penetrate the epithelial layers and reach the collagen and elastin fibers, favoring the weakening of the skin. In addition, they can cause dryness and make the skin rough.

To prevent the sun from causing all this damage to your skin, just get in the habit of using sunscreen. In general, people do not fit the filter because they think the product leaves an unpleasant smell or sticky sensation on the body. However, in a simple consultation with a dermatologist, he can recommend a product that meets your exact needs and does not cause discomfort. Already available on the market are versions of odorless sunscreens, with oil free formulas, quick drying and even spray.

Once you choose the best option for your skin, just get used to applying it daily - even on cloudy days - and when you need to sunbathe, remember to reapply the product regularly.

Cigarette

Source: Thinkstock

Health professionals always insist on the harms that cigarettes bring to the body. So when it comes to skin, the problem of smokers is wrinkles. Along with sun exposure, dermatologist Fabiane Mulinari Brenner considers smoking one of the bad habits that most damage the skin.

This is because “cigarettes slow down the ability to heal and decrease collagen production. In chronic cases, it changes skin color, increases wrinkles and may favor mouth cancer, ”says Dr. Fabiane. In addition, cigarettes are one of the major triggers of free radical formation that contribute to skin aging, leaving the appearance opaque and devitalized.

The most sure way out is to quit smoking - or not even start. In addition to bringing great improvement to the skin, the rest of your body will also benefit from smoking cessation. To compensate, it is worth investing in creams and foods rich in antioxidants to counteract the large amount of radicals present in the body.

Sleepless nights

In addition to causing dark circles to appear, compromising the proper functioning of the body and resulting in tiredness and moodiness that seem insurmountable, sleeping poorly can also affect the health of your skin. Sleep is a fundamental part of your day, so depriving yourself of night rest causes a number of discomforts.

Some chemicals in our body only metabolize at night, so be sure to take your six or eight hours of rest daily. It is very important that this sleep has quality, so avoid taking your problems to bed; Experts also recommend avoiding caffeine or heavy meals, intense exercise, and using the television and computer just before bed.

Start slowing down a few hours before bedtime and get restful sleep so you can enjoy flawless skin and a lot of morning mood.

Source: Thinkstock

Inadequate food

That saying that we are what we eat fits in perfectly here. Everything we eat is reflected outside our body, so a diet full of nutrients and vitamins is essential for radiant skin and hair. To take special care of your skin, investing in a diet that is rich in antioxidant foods is a great way to counteract the action of free radicals.

Abuse the benefits of citrus fruits, berries, salads, lean meats and fiber foods. If in doubt, consult a dietitian and he will surely indicate the best options for a healthy, balanced diet that results in flawless skin.

Use cosmetics on your own

You may have noticed that specialty store shelves display a huge amount of products that promise to meet all your skin needs. That makes some sense, but you may also have heard of people who tried many different creams and couldn't adapt to any of them.

The skin is a delicate organ that deserves special care to be always beautiful. For this reason, it is not worth risking experimenting with your skin. Often the product that works great for your friend may not be the best option for you.

Specific purpose dermocosmetics are still products that are usually priced higher than ordinary creams and lotions found in supermarkets and pharmacies. For this reason, investing in such a product without knowing if the result will live up to your expectations may not be a good idea.

So the best way to ensure the beauty and health of your skin is to consult a dermatologist. The professional is able to analyze your skin and prescribe a product that meets exactly your needs. You can even handle a product with the substances you need, and only a doctor can do it for you.

Excessive Exfoliation

There is so much talk about exfoliation and other abrasive methods that provide skin cell renewal that we often get confused and find that the only solution to flawless skin is in this type of treatment. But not quite...

Exfoliation is a method that removes impurities that are retained and accumulated on the skin, thus leaving a smoother and renewed feeling. However, its indication depends on each skin type. Dermatologist Fabiane Mulinari Brenner suggests that light exfoliation should be done at most twice a week.

The expert points out that excessive exfoliation can result in unwanted effects such as dryness or bruising on skin that has acne lesions. If you want to invest in a daily treatment, prefer hydration. Passing creams every day will only ensure that you have an increasingly beautiful and soft skin.

Take very hot showers

The jet of hot water falling on your back provides an unrivaled sense of relaxation, especially when temperatures are cooler. However, while you relax, your skin suffers from excessive heat from the water.

Source: Thinkstock

Many hot baths are the best recipe for skin dryness. The high water temperature removes the skin's natural oiliness and stimulates pore dilation. So the solution is to take warm and preferably faster showers, even in winter.

Stress

Controlling stress is another important factor in keeping your skin always beautiful. Keeping your mind busy with worry all the time can raise stress levels and deregulate your entire body, making your neurological and immune system more susceptible to disease.

In addition, there are skin diseases that can get worse in stressful situations such as psoriasis and hair loss. Remember that nervousness and anxiety can also impair your sleep and result in a sleepless night and a morning with tiredness and dark circles.

Avoid these situations by separating college or work problems from the routine of the home with your partner and / or children. To release accumulated tensions, choose a relaxing activity to do once or twice a week. It's worth taking a jog in the park, taking a yoga class, coaching a sport, practicing some handicraft, or even setting up a relaxed chat with your closest friends.

Sleep without removing makeup

When we get home after a party, all we want to do is get rid of the heels and fall into bed, so the makeup cleaning ends up just for the next day. However, even though it is difficult, removing makeup before bed is an essential step to maintaining skin health.

Source: Thinkstock

Just not removing makeup seems like an innocent attitude, but it's one of the biggest mistakes we make with our skin. Base, dust, blush and other products clog the pores and do not allow the skin to breathe properly. Dr. Fabiane points out that makeup that remains on the skin can still aggravate acne and facilitate skin and eye infections. In addition, at night, our body goes through natural regeneration processes that do not occur when there is a deposit of makeup on the skin.

If you are so lazy that you can't go to the bathroom to wash your face well, always have your make-up tissues nearby. These products remove makeup, and some of them even moisturize the face. However, it is important to remember that they do not need a good wash with plenty of water and a soap suitable for your skin type.

Source: Thinkstock

Pollution

Overcoming pollution is practically a challenge. Those who live in large cities cannot escape exposure to dirty air, exhaust fumes and other impurities that are eliminated in the air at all times.

When pollution comes into contact with the skin, the pores are clogged, resulting in the appearance of blackheads and pimples and increased oiliness. The only way to counteract these effects is to invest heavily in cleansing, especially of the face.

Consult a dermatologist to choose a face soap that fits your skin and uses it morning and evening. To complement the cleansing, an astringent lotion can be applied right after washing to remove heavier dirt and leave a fresh air.

Hormonal problems

Many times we suffer from the bad appearance of the skin and do not even suspect that the cause of the problem may be hormonal variations. As women, we are aware that the change that occurs with hormones at certain times of life - and more specifically on certain days of the month - are capable of altering the body's normal functioning and greatly affecting emotions.

The same reasoning goes for the changes we make to the skin. Women with polycystic ovaries tend to have greasy skin - which results in pimples and thinning hair - as the problem causes the presence of male hormones in the body to be higher than normal. Those who go through menopause have to deal with dryness, the appearance of wrinkles and the lack of brightness on the skin, caused by the absence of estrogen, the female hormone.

To solve these problems and keep up with your skin and hormones, visit your dermatologist and gynecologist. Controlled-dose birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy are two common treatments that can easily eliminate nuisance, regulate hormones, and break your skin for a much better look.

Squeeze blackheads and pimples

Source: Thinkstock

Another complicated task is to resist the temptation to squeeze blackheads and pimples that eventually appear on the skin. But this should be avoided because acne already represents a type of inflammatory lesion that, when pressed, can leave permanent marks.

There are still those cases where we squeeze the skin, but the wound is not eliminated, and the insistence can end up causing much worse injuries. Persistently squeezing the skin hurts the tissue, and contact with unhygienic nails facilitates the proliferation of bacteria and the onset of new inflammation. Dermatologist Fabiane Mulinari Brenner advises waiting for the pimple to evolve until it naturally dries to prevent skin marks.

If a pimple is causing a lot of discomfort, the specialist recommends applying heat on the spot - this can be done while bathing or with compresses. And to prevent the appearance of blackheads and pimples, follow a deep cleaning routine with specific products for this purpose. If your skin is badly affected, the best way to solve the problem is to look for a dermatologist who will indicate the treatments or products developed especially to combat acne.