Your skin will let you know when it becomes unhealthy. You might start feeling itchiness, tightness or stinging, or even a burning sensation. These are clear signs that your skin needs attention. This could happen if you've applied a new product that may be causing an allergic reaction. Otherwise, it could be because you've neglected your skin's health.
Many skin problems can be improved through personal care. Cleansing and moisturizing, eating skin-friendly foods, drinking more water, and using quality skin care products will all help. If you have skin problems that you can't seem to resolve on your own, consult a skin care professional. They can determine the root cause of the problem and suggest appropriate remedies.
Don't have time for intensive skin care? You can still pamper yourself by acing the basics. Good skin care and healthy lifestyle choices can help delay and prevent various skin problems, especially when dealing with diabetes. Take a look at these easy steps to protect your skin and prevent it from deteriorating.
1. 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.
- Use sunscreen. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Apply sunscreen generously, and reapply every two hours — or more often if you're swimming or perspiring.
- Seek shade. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest.
- Wear protective clothing. Cover your skin with tightly woven long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats. Also consider laundry additives, which give clothing an additional layer of ultraviolet protection for a certain number of washings, or special sun-protective clothing — which is specifically designed to block ultraviolet rays.
2. Don't smoke
Smoking makes your skin look older. It narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin, reducing blood flow and making the skin paler. It also deprives your skin of oxygen and nutrients that are important for its health.
Smoking also damages collagen and elastin — the fibers that give your skin strength and elasticity. In addition, smoking increases your risk of squamous cell skin cancer. If you smoke, the best way to protect your skin is to quit. Ask your doctor for tips or treatments to help you stop smoking.
3. Treat your skin gently
Daily cleansing and shaving can take a toll on your skin. To keep it gentle:
- Limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from your skin. Limit your bath or shower time, and use warm — rather than hot — water.
- Avoid strong soaps. Strong soaps and detergents can strip oil from your skin. Instead, choose mild cleansers.
- Shave carefully. To protect and lubricate your skin, apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving. For the closest shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Shave in the direction the hair grows, not against it.
- Pat dry. After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on your skin.
- Moisturize dry skin. If your skin is dry, use a moisturizer suited to your skin type. For daily use, consider a moisturizer that contains SPF. DIABETOLINE CREAM moisturizes and softens dry and cracked skin thanks to its active ingredients, which have strong moisturizing and protective properties. Its antiseptic components protect the skin against pollutants, and it can be used even by people with sensitive skin.
4. Eat a healthy diet
A healthy diet can help you look and feel your best. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Some research suggests that a diet rich in fish oil or fish oil supplements and low in unhealthy fats and processed or refined carbohydrates might promote younger-looking skin. Drinking plenty of water helps keep your skin hydrated.
5. Manage stress
Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more sensitive and weaken your immune system, causing other skin problems. To promote healthy skin — and a healthy state of mind — take steps to manage your stress. Get enough sleep, set reasonable limits, shorten your to-do list and make time for things you enjoy. The results may be more dramatic than you expect.