Circle of Wellness: Healthy Skin

Your skin is your best protector. It is the largest organ of the human body and protects you in remarkable ways. To keep your skin looking and feeling as healthy as possible, avoid the following:

Cigarette smoke: Whether you smoke, or you spend time with a smoker, cigarette smoke is damaging to your skin. Research has shown that exposure to cigarette smoke significantly increases skin wrinkles and dryness.

Sun exposure: When you are exposed to the sun, make sure you use sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Choose sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, and use it all year-round, even on cloudy days.

Lack of exercise: Living a sedentary life contributes to aging skin. Exercise helps tone muscles and gets blood flowing. Exercise should be an important part of every anti-aging skin care program. In addition to the physical benefits of exercise, the benefits of a regular exercise program will show on your face--having a bright smile and lots of energy looks good at any age!

Exposure to cold weather: Cold winds and low temperatures contribute to aging skin by making skin dry. If you venture out in the cold make sure to use a good moisturizer. It is important to use moisturizer indoors too as heated rooms can be very drying to skin.

Stress: Maybe you have heard the saying “Don’t frown; your face could stay that way.” Stress and worry cause frowning, and over time the muscles in the face actually, conform to that expression.

Lack of sleep: Too little sleep makes you look and feel tired. One of the first places lack of sleep shows up is on the face, with dark circles and bags under the eyes.

For more information about Seabury’s Circle of Wellness, go to http://www.seaburyretirement.com/wellness/.