How to keep Your skin healthy ?

Good skin care and healthy lifestyle choices can help prevent various skin problems and delay the natural ageing process.

 Protect yourself from the sun 

• One of the most important ways to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun. A lifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, age spots and other skin problems – as well as increase the risk of skin cancer. 

• For sun protection, remember the Cancer Council’s

• slogan ‘Slip, slop, slap, seek and slide’: Slip on some sun-protective clothing that covers as much skin as possible. 

• Slop on broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen of at least SPF30+. Put it on 20 minutes before you go outdoors and every two hours afterwards. 

• Never use sunscreen to extend the time you spend in the sun. Slap on a hat – broad-brim or legionnaire-style – to protect your face, head, neck and ears. Seek shade. 

• Avoid the sun when the sun’s rays are strongest. Slide on some sunglasses – make sure they meet Australian standards.

 Don’t smoke

 Smoking makes your skin look older and contributes to wrinkles. It narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin, which decreases blood flow and thus the amount of oxygen and nutrients reaching the skin. 

Smoking also damages the collagen and elastin fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity. In addition, the repetitive facial expressions you make when smoking – such as pursing your lips and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke – can contribute to wrinkles. 

If you smoke, ask your GP for tips or treatments to help you. Treat your skin gently Daily cleansing can take a toll on your skin.