Your Skin Deserves It: How to Nourish Your Skin

Skin plays a vital role in preventing harmful substances from entering the body. The sad part is sun exposure, pollution, and other harsh elements can cause damage and negatively affect the way your skin looks. This only makes it important not just to cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturize, but also to nourish your skin.

Do take note that nourishing is different from moisturizing. The former is more about supporting the health of your skin and cells to be able to fight signs of aging and repair damage. The latter, meanwhile, focuses on hydrating the skin’s surface layer and sealing the skin to lock in moisture and nutrients. 

Both moisturizing and nourishing are important in maintaining healthy skin. Moisturizing can be done by using a quality formula and applying it right, while nourishing may involve tweaking some of your habits. Continue reading as we list a few things that can help nourish the skin. 

Drink lots of water

While drinking lots of water will not necessarily plump or clear your skin, signs of dehydration can show up on it. Rough, scaly, and itchy skin are the common symptoms. Other factors such as weather, harsh skincare, and lack of sleep can also contribute to dehydrated skin, resulting in dullness, sunken eyes, or more visible fine lines. 

It is worth noting that water is essential in every bodily function. It breaks down the foods you eat, allowing your body to absorb their nutrients. Water, furthermore, helps carry oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, including skin cells. It also restores the fluids we lose through sweating, breathing, metabolism, and waste removal. 

Eat a healthy diet

Plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, and beans are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. These foods, according to studies, can help promote skin barrier health and function. Antioxidants are particularly beneficial, as they help reduce inflammation and fight against oxidation. Foods high in antioxidants include: 

• Citrus fruits
• Berries (blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries)
• Granny Smith, Red Delicious apples
• Green leafy vegetables
• Red, pinto, and black beans 
• Artichokes, potatoes
• Pecans and other tree nuts (pistachios, walnuts, and almonds)

Other diet tips for healthy skin include:

• Include omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods in your diet, such as fatty fish (salmon, halibut, mackerel, and sardines), walnuts, and ground flax.
• Choose lean cuts of meat.
• Eat whole grains regularly.
• Limit the amount of saturated and trans fat in your diet.
• Limit the consumption of soda and sweetened beverages. 

Don’t forget your sunscreen

You’ve probably heard the importance of applying sunscreen countless times. We’re here to reiterate that fact, as it protects the skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Regular use of sunscreen helps prevent sunburn, lowers your risk of skin cancer, and reduces signs of skin aging. 

Here are a few guidelines when buying/using sunscreen and protecting your skin from the sun: 

• Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
• Apply a liberal amount of sunscreen and don’t forget commonly neglected areas such as ears, neck and chest, back hands, eyelids, and lips.
• Seek shade or use an umbrella when outside. 
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat or wraparound sunglasses with UV protection when you’re out in the sun. 
• Limit sun exposure during peak hours (between 10 am and 4 pm)

For further reading: 9 Ways to Up Your Sunscreen and Sun Protection Game

Limit alcohol consumption and avoid or quit smoking 

Both drinking and smoking negatively affect your skin and overall health. They dehydrate the body and skin, resulting in a dry, dull, and older-looking complexion. This only makes it important to limit your alcohol intake and quit smoking or never start in the first place. 

Alcohol is known to increase inflammation, which then creates redness or flushing of the skin. The sugar in alcohol can also crystallize your skin cells, resulting in damaged cells and less plump skin. It can also compromise your sleep and disrupt the body’s regenerative processes. 

Smoking, meanwhile, impairs blood flow and reduces the amount of oxygen and nutrients that reach your skin. Its smoke, furthermore, produces chemicals that can degrade collagen and elastin, which can cause premature wrinkling and sagging. It can reduce skin elasticity, making you look older than you are. 

Use nourishing skincare products

Certain skin products can also nourish and protect your skin, especially those that contain nourishing ingredients, such as Vitamins A, C, and E, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and glycerin. Dr. Sylvia Skin Care has a range of products that can nourish and deliver multi-layer fortification to the skin.

One nourishing skincare solution worth considering is our Vital Repair Cream. It is formulated with a blend of essential vitamins, peptides, and antioxidants that can help repair and revitalize the skin, as well as hydrate and help restore the moisture barrier. Other benefits include: 

• Soothes and calms the skin to reduce redness and inflammation
• Promotes skin repair and regeneration
• Supports the skin’s natural healing process
• Helps protect the skin from environmental stressors
• Can be used as a part of your daily skincare routine or as a post-care cream after microneedling procedures

Consider aesthetic treatments 

Some aesthetic treatments can refresh and rejuvenate your skin. Cutis’s bio-remodeling injectable contains 100% pure hyaluronic acid (HA) that can help you achieve smoother, tighter, and luminous skin. It also bio-stimulates essential skin proteins that can assist in restoring hydration and improving skin laxity. 

This injectable can transform and remodel your skin with intense hydration benefits, as well as improvement in the tone, texture, and overall quality of the skin. Benefits include: 

• Boosts skin hydration
• Stimulates elastin and collagen levels
• Treats fine lines and wrinkles
• Stimulates tissue repair, which is ideal for acne scarring
• Improves the overall quality of the skin
• Effective anti-aging treatment with fewer sessions and minimal downtime

Give your skin the best care possible. Contact Cutis Medical Laser Clinics in Singapore and schedule a consultation with our aesthetic doctor to find out how we can help you achieve your beauty and skincare goals.