I often tell my patients that whole-body beauty is a marathon, and every day is a sprint in that marathon — a new opportunity to take the right steps toward health from the inside and out.
Doris Day, M.D.
Board-Certified Dermatologist, Medical Educator
It’s important to maintain a healthy diet, drink enough water, drink less alcohol, get adequate sleep, and stay active through aerobics and strength training. Antioxidant products with high-quality ingredients and some form of vitamin A (such as retinol) can also make a difference in optimal skin health.
Make these things a fun, enjoyable part of your lifestyle so it doesn’t feel like a dreaded task or punishment. Aim to have an overall balance between a wholistic approach and those sugar-filled foods on late nights. The younger you start, the easier it is to maintain and the better you age.
Stress
Stress can also take a huge toll on your skin. It can affect everyone differently, from hair loss to acne.
Stress affects cortisol levels, which affect everything else, both positively or negatively. A body under stress is in survival mode, even at the DNA level, and since hair goes through a growth, rest, and shed cycle, you may experience hair loss three to four months after a stressful experience.
Take into account your personal needs and do what you can to address them, thereby balancing the stress and giving your skin some relief. Your board-certified dermatologist may prescribe medications, topical products, and/or in-office treatments if appropriate, but the little changes you make on your own can actually have a big impact in the long run.
Sun smart
Protecting yourself from the sun and harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays every day, rain or shine, is the single most powerful thing you can do to prevent accelerated aging of the skin and skin cancer. Apply enough, and re-apply regularly, especially when sweating or getting wet.
Cumulative exposure to UV rays is like a series of insults to the skin. It breaks down collagen, damages the skin, and causes premature wrinkles and brown spots. A tan now is actually a wrinkle later — or worse, skin cancer. I always tell my patients that nothing looks more beautiful in your 50s than sun protection in your 20s.
Optimize your beauty over time to ensure lifelong healthy and beautiful skin. You will notice that by making these changes, you will think more clearly and feel better internally. This all contributes to optimal skin health, which is not just about vanity; it is a powerful reflection of your overall health and well-being.