HELP! My skin is schizo
Friday, October 30th, 2009
Ever think that your skin is playing tricks on you? You’ve finally gotten your breakouts under control and then ‘HELLO’ a congregation of zits greet you in the morning. Or perhaps one day your skin feels ‘oily’ and the other day it feels ‘dry’. STEUPS!
Several factors can affect the condition of our skins including:
~ Climate/ Seasonal changes
~ Environmental pollution
~ Diet
~ Stress level
~ Medication
~ Smoking
~ Ultraviolet Rays (UVRs), largely from the sun.
Lets look at these more closely:
1. Seasonal changes
It is typical that skin feels ‘drier’ during cooler months and ‘oilier’ during warmer months. Just like you would not wear shorts and sandals during the winter months, it is wise to change your skin care products to adapt to the changing weather.
For example the harsh outdoor wind chill combined with the forced heat indoors create havoc on our skin. Usually we tend to purchase a thicker, more moisturizing body lotion and likewise we should do the same for our faces. This is especially important for people who have a more dry skin type. You may want to consider a cream cleanser (not sudsy, but rather a creamy texture) combined with a moisturizing lotion (contains a moisturizing ingredient like Vitamin E, Cocoa Butter or Shea butter for example as it’s first ingredient).
Likewise, our skins may feel oilier in the summer months. Persons with an oily skin type may find it useful to use an acne-fighting cleanser to help control breakouts, combined with a hydrating moisturizer (contains water or similar ingredient like Hyaluronic Acid as its first ingredient).
Tropical island inhabiters may not have these issues.
2. Environmental pollution
From coming into contact with chemicals to inhaling toxic fumes, pollution can cause increased sensitivity in skin leaving it red, much like as in an allergic reaction. If you live in a metropolitan area, unfortunately there is not much you can do to avoid coming into contact with these fumes. It is therefore important that these pollutants are removed from you skin at night before bed. If not during sleep all the dirt and pollutants that were collected on your face during the day is further pressed into your pores while you sleep at night.
3. Diet
So the jury is still out on whether chocolates give you pimples. Maybe this was started by someone who was anti-Valentines day or by someone who was allergic to chocolate, either way chocolate in your diet is the least of your worries. There are larger diet issues to worry about such as:
~ Foods with a high sugar content
Excess calories. Sugar, and not fat, is the bigger enemy my friends. Diabetes is standing right outside your door with this one.
~ Heavily fried and seasoned foods
~ High alcohol/ caffeine intake
Dehydrates the skin. For every two cups of coffee two cups of water are needed to put your body back in balance.
4. Stress level
We’ve all heard that ‘stress can kill you’. It can also result in breakouts. There are only 24 hours in a day for a reason. Prioritize and deal with critical items one at a time.
~ Medication
Certain medications can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. If you are on any medication ask your doctor about the possible effects of the medication on your skin.
5. Smoking
Accelerates aging of skin and aids in the development of fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth area.
6. Ultraviolet Rays (UVRs)
Contributes to the destruction of skin cells which accelerates aging. See Sunkissed Beauty
Hmmm!
Act like you know.
Supernova