Here are the main factors that effect the health of our skin:

INNER NUTRITION

Health of our skin starts on the inside as unhealthy diet and stress have a huge impact on our body from inflammation that affects our gut and digestive process and the way nutrients are absorbed.

Gut health, being our second brain, has an effect on the way we manage weight, our immune system, but also the health of our skin.

Nourishing our skin from the inside is essential and that includes, apart from giving the skin nutrients it needs (explored further in the article) – also taking out of our diet foods that cause inflammation and age us prematurely.

Avoid refined sugars sugar that cause and worsen many common skin conditions like acne, rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis. Sugar has also been found with higher rates of skin cancer. Stay away from foods like white bread, soda, candy, fruit juices, sugary cereals and sugary snacks, alcohol to avoid the insulin spike that stimulates inflammation.

Dairy and non-organic meat and poultry can have an effect on the hormonal balance in our body because they may contain hormones and antibiotics.

EXERCISE

By increasing blood flow, exercise helps nourish skin cells and keep them vital. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to working cells throughout the body, including the skin.

Exercise also helps relieve stress that has an impact on the skin too, so, one of the most important things about exercising and getting your heart pumping is it helps to alleviate stress. Lower stress levels help you to relax, sleep better and keep your skin from taking on that brow furrowed, stressed-out appearance, which definitely can age you. And, less stress has been known to keep hair from becoming brittle and falling out.

SLEEP

Body and skin renew itself during sleep. Good night sleep is key for the health of our skin. The more we rest – the more skin repairs itself.

Aim for minimum 7-8 up to 10 hours of sleep.

When you are sleep-deprived, your body makes more of the stress hormone cortisol, which increases stress further, can cause inflammation in the body, the effects of which will present itself in the health of your skin too.

STRESS

Stress causes a chemical response in your body that makes skin more sensitive and reactive to the environment. It can also make it harder for skin problems to heal. Stress causes your body to make hormones like cortisol, which tells glands in your skin to make more oil, which can cause acne.

For those suffering from acne, eczema, hair pulling, hives, psoriasis, rosacea, and skin picking, anxiety and stress can agrevate conditions further and cause flare-ups.

So, better stress management makes for better skin.

Dandruff is sometimes caused by stress, so be mindful of your emotions, focus on things that you can change. Make sure you use products that have no sulfates as it strips body and scalp of the natural oils that we do need.

HYGIENE

Have your own towel for the face to minimise bacteria getting on to your face, change it often. Change pillow cases every few days too.

Wash hands often as research finds that we touch our face on average 23 times per hour, which is hundreds of touches during the day. Each time we touch our face – we risk exposing it to toxins, bacteria, viruses or just regular dirt that can cause skin inflammation.

NUTRITION FROM THE OUTSIDE

Good skin care is essential at any age and healthy habits in your 20s and 30s can strengthen and prepare your skin for the effects of aging down the road due to environmental and other factors that influence our skin directly from the outside.

Herbalife Outer Nutrition – Expert nutrition for your skin from the experts in nutrition