Different seasons may wreak serious havoc on your skin. The threat of sunburn from extreme summer sun will subside to give way to the threat of chapped lips and flaky skin from the extreme cold weather in the wintery season. This cycle of threats from different seasons underscores the importance of skin health all year round.
Your skin health and you
Your skin health says a lot about you. Your skin is the largest organ of your body and protector of everything that makes you. A healthy skin is an asset to the body; it helps regulate your body temperature. It acts as a natural filter of elements that affect your health, and it is constantly growing due to the rigorous and thankless jobs it is doing every day to keep you safe and healthy. Whatever you do; what you eat, what you drink, and the type of job you do, and the type of environment your body is exposed will have telling effects on your skin in good or bad ways.
Why skin health all year round is important?
The sunburn in hot summer sun and the dry, flaky skin in cold winter weather and the resulting discomforts should be a stern personal reminder of the importance of skin health all year round. Whether, during a sunny or cold day, your skin is affected, one way or the other. Therefore, taking necessary skin health precautions will give you all year round protection against skin problems and if otherwise, may lead to more complications.
Benefits of healthy skin
As the largest organ of your body, the skin plays the role of first line of defense in keeping you safe from infections and other unfriendly elements. It is for this reason that your skin needs to be in good health always. The following are benefits of a healthy skin.
Protection from infection: Your skin protects your body from the many viruses and bacteria you are exposed to daily. Healthy skin also helps you react better to important changes around you by feeling pain or pressure.
Protection against UV: It also protects you from the rays of the sun – specifically ultraviolet light – that can damage cells
The supply of vitamin D: Healthy skin produces vitamin D when exposed to the sun, and vitamin D is important for many body functions.
Keeping a healthy skin
Your skin is much more than an outer surface for the world to see. It protects you from bacteria, dirt and other foreign objects and the ultraviolet rays of the sun, and it is a filler that let you know if something is hot or cold, soft or hard, sharp or dull. It also helps in regulating your body’s fluids and¬temperature. Healthy skin is smooth without cracks on the surface. It is warm and is neither flaky nor moist and wrinkled. A healthy skin shows healthy personality.
Ways to maintain good skin health all year round
Good nutrition: Eat a well-balanced diet to maintain a healthy skin. Foods such as protein, fruits, vegetables and water ensure all-round skin health. Eating good food keeps your skin from stress and diseases.
Circulation: Your skin needs well-circulated blood and air. Your skin has a large number of blood vessels providing adequate circulation to it. Maintaining a good circulation system free of blockage is what your skin needs to stay healthy. To ensure a healthy blood supply, consider the following suggestions:
- Smoking free – stay free of smoking if you could. Nicotine in tobacco is known to narrow blood vessels that will prevent sufficient blood circulation and starve your body of the right amount of oxygen needed to nourish your skin.
- Regular exercise – edema caused by fluid retention in skin tissues mostly occurs due to lack of exercise. Try to observe regular exercise and get all part of your body moving and well circulated.
- Regular health check – not identifying a potential danger to your body early enough may result in problems later on. To avoid anemia, caused by a reduction in red blood cells, require the right amount of oxygen circulates your system to carry red blood cell to all and vital parts of the body. When your body lacks oxygen and red blood cell, the skin suffers.
Observe simple skin hygiene
- Avoid use of soaps that reduce skin acidity that protects your skin from infection. Such soaps are antibacterial or antimicrobial are not good for your skin.
- Keep your skin clean and dry. When you wash with soap and water, make sure to rinse and dry thoroughly.
- Pay more attention to areas where the skin folds or creases. Mostly the groin area and underarms areas need washing at least twice daily to prevent rashes due to warmth and moisture
- Use the right soap. Not all soap are good for your skin, and it is better to ask your doctor or dermatologist for the best soap to use if in doubt.
- Keep your skin moist and cool always and avoid using soap or body cream that may dry your skin.
- Get yourself a good body moisturizer to keep your skin lubricated. You should be careful when applying body creams over bony areas of your skin as this may cause skin damage.
- Don’t use talc powders, they are fertile grounds for yeast growth and can cause skin breakdown when they get caked.
- Take the time to remove dead skin. You can remove calluses from your feet and hands by frequently soaking in warm water and dry briskly with a towel. Use a moisturizer to soften calluses and another stubborn area.
- Cut your toe and fingernails frequently. Leaving your nails longer and unkept may become a threat to your health. Soak up your nails and dry gently.
Conclusion
Looking after your skin health helps you stay healthy. A healthy skin helps resist any sign of aging and ward off likely disease. Therefore, the importance of skin health all year round cannot be overemphasized.
