Naturally Healthy Skin

Like it or not, your skin is your personal billboard, advertising not only your age but often the state of your health. Some people are simply lucky and have dewy, child-like skin their entire lives; the rest of us ... not so fortunate. There are ways to achieve naturally healthy skin and methods of maintaining it. However, if you want youthful, age-defying skin, you will need to bite the bullet and give up some of your bad habits, changing your ways, and that includes paying close attention to your diet.

What you shouldn't put into your body if you want good skin is excessive amounts of dairy, alcohol, meat and sugar, according to JashBotonicals.com. What you should be ingesting are fruits--berries, cherries, grapes, melons--and vegetables--celery, spinach, lettuce, peppers and cucumbers. You should also be drinking lots of water and chowing down on legumes, beans, yogurt, soy, beans and almonds, and using olive oil and flaxseed oil. Green drinks, such as green tea, and green vegetables are high in minerals, which are necessary for good skin health, and also help rid the body of toxic waste. According to Merchantscircle.com's blog by JulieBooz.com, Vitamins B and E, which are found in green leafy vegetables, help prevent dry skin. When skin is moist and pliable it is resistant to tearing and cracking. Sulfur, which is naturally found in asparagus, garlic, onions and asparagus, produces smooth skin.

Even though we know that excessive sun exposure is not good for our skin, we don't always do what's good for us. We know that sun can cause skin cancer. It can also cause benign tumors. In addition, too much sun exposure can make your skin dry and rough, create deep wrinkles and result in liver spots. The Mayo Clinic suggests: avoiding the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and always wearing sunscreen, with an SPF greater than 15 and reapplying it every two hours; wearing protective clothing (hats and long sleeves) when you have to be out in the scorching sun for long periods. Do not smoke. Smoking causes the blood vessels to narrow as they travel to the outermost layers of skin, which results in depletion of nutrients to the skin, such as Vitamin A; smoking also depletes oxygen levels as well as decreases blood flow. Our skin needs the proper nutrients as well as oxygen and blood flow to nourish the collagen and elastin in our skin, which keep the skin elastic and smooth. Knowing what ages skin and prevents it from being healthy and beautiful is the first step to protecting it. Factors that can age the skin, according to JashBotanicals.com, include lack of sleep, poor nutrition--not getting enough Vitamin A, C or E or folic acid--lack of exercise, too much alcohol, toxins and chemicals in our products and environment, sun, tanning beds and dehydration.

Vitamin E is beneficial to the skin. It helps round up free radicals, which cause damage. According to Jashbotanicals.com, the suggested dosage is 200 to 400 IU taken in the morning. However, it is always recommended that you consult with your health care provider before you start a new regimen, even a natural one. Vitamin E can interfere with anti-coagulants and high blood pressure medicine. Consider applying Vitamin E to your face rather than ingesting it. Vitamin C is an antioxidant and assists in the production of collagen, which is essential for healthy, firm skin, and protects against pollution, which can be hazardous to our skin. Jashbotanicals recommends taking 1,000 milligrams a day. Note that too much aspirin combined with Vitamin C can result in stomach irritation, including ulcers. There are Vitamin C products that can be applied to the face and body so you may choose to go this route instead of ingesting it.

Smear that lotion on your face. Find the ideal moisturizer for your skin type and use it religiously. Maybe the best moisturizer for you is simple Vaseline or cocoa butter or a layer of Vitamin E oil. The best moisturizers will contain antioxidants and natural oil, according to Ezinearticles.com by Robin Newsome.

The followers of the Hindu system of healing called Ayurveda recommend using the plant gotu kola. The leaves have long been used to tackle skin problems. In addition, gotu kola is believed to diminish varicose veins by increasing blood flow and increasing the connective tissue that surrounds the veins. It is also good in minimizing scarring, according to JashBotanicals.com. Do not use this product if you are pregnant or nursing. Better yet, consult an herbalist before trying gotu kola. Pomegranates are a great source of antioxidants as are grape seeds and green tea, reports JashBotanicals.com. In laboratory testing, pomegranate has been found to prevent skin cancer in mice when applied to the skin. Burdock is an herb that provides anti-fungal and anti-bacterial results that may help treat skin disorders, such as dry skin or eczema. However, this herb should not be used if an individual is allergic to chrysanthemums, daisies and other flowers. Once again, consult with a health care provider or herbalist who can advise you.