Top 5 Tips for Skin Health
Skin problems affect most of us at some point in our lives. Here are my top five tips for optimal skin health.
Water, water everywhere
Making sure you are properly hydrated means that your skin will be hydrated too. It also helps to flush through toxins and waste products from the body. The body is roughly 70% water so it makes sense that you need to drink a lot! I recommend pure water or herbal tea for the most hydrating drinks. If you want some flavour, try adding fresh fruit such as slices of orange, lemon, lime, berries or fresh mint to make your own flavoured water.
Look after your gut
Gut health is really important when thinking about skin health. Your skin is often a reflection of what is going on inside your gut and it is essential to optimise your digestive health. Skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis can have links to digestive health and allergies can often manifest in your skin. Make sure that you are avoiding any foods you are allergic to (seek advice if you’re not sure) and include foods such as live yoghurt that adds beneficial bacteria and fermented foods such as kefir, kimchi and sauerkraut that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria.
Eat Whole Foods
Your diet is an essential part of skin health and is one of the key areas to focus on. It is important to eat a whole food diet, avoiding processed foods and sugar and eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and healthy protein such as fresh meat and fish. Make sure you include plenty of fat too, the good kind! Avoid cakes and biscuits with refined fats and opt for fats from fish, meat, nuts, seeds and foods such as avocado which is great for skin health.
Get in the sun
Vitamin D is really important and the best source is from the sun which is often sadly lacking in the UK. Make sure you get out in the sun as much as possible, exposing your skin but making sure you don’t burn. It is worth considering a vitamin D supplement, particularly during the winter months.
Catch your zzzzzs
Getting enough sleep is essential for many areas of our health, not least of all your skin. It helps prevent dark circles under the eyes, promotes blood flow to the skin and helps reduce stress which is also important for healthy skin. Aim for a minimum of 7-8 hours of sleep a night and make sure to remove all devices from the room to improve the quality of your sleep.
If you would like to talk about help with your skin, please get in touch .
