Skincare tips: Get glowing skin with healthy diet, sunscreen, daily exercises

Apply SPF every day, regardless of being indoors or outdoors, and irrespective of the weather. Photoaging is real, and sunscreen is the best preventive measure against it. (Image: Canva)

Your skin, the body's largest organ, plays a vital role in protecting against environmental hazards and regulating temperature. Preventive care is essential for maintaining its health and youthful appearance. On the other hand, restorative care addresses damage and rejuvenates the skin. By combining preventive and restorative strategies, you can ensure your skin remains healthy, vibrant, and resilient.

So here are essential tips to integrate into your daily routine for optimal skin health suggested by Dr Geetika Srivastava, dermatologist, and founder of Influennz Skin and Hair Clinic, Delhi.

Preventive skin care tips

Stay hydrated

Drink lots of water: Hydration is key for maintaining skin elasticity and overall health. Aim for at least eight glasses of water a day to keep your skin supple and radiant.

Exercise regularly

Daily exercise: Incorporating physical activity into your daily routine improves blood flow and promotes healthy skin.

Weight training: Boosts calcium levels, increases metabolism, and releases endorphins, all of which contribute to healthy skin.

Cardiovascular activity: Aim for 180 minutes of cardio per week. This improves heart health, enhances blood circulation, removes toxins, and gives your skin a healthy glow.

Use SPF daily

Sunscreen: Apply SPF every day, regardless of being indoors or outdoors, and irrespective of the weather. Photoaging is real, and sunscreen is the best preventive measure against it.

Maintain a healthy diet

Fruits and vegetables: A diet rich in fruits and vegetables provides essential vitamins and antioxidants.

Eliminate dairy and sugar: These can cause gut inflammation, which negatively impacts your skin.

Reduce carbs: Prefer complex carbohydrates for better skin health.

Include Multivitamins: Ensure you get all necessary vitamins to support skin health.

Avoid trans fats: These are harmful to your skin's elasticity and overall health.

Add resveratrol: Found in red wine, resveratrol has anti-aging properties.

Manage stress

Reduce stress levels: High cortisol levels from stress can damage your skin. Practice stress-reducing techniques like meditation or yoga.

Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol

No smoking: Smoking causes vasoconstriction, reducing blood flow and nutrient delivery to the skin, leading to accelerated aging.

Limit alcohol: Regular binge drinking dehydrates the skin, reducing its elasticity and health.

Moisturise regularly

Daily Moisturisation: This helps repair the skin barrier and retain natural moisturising factors (NMF), keeping your skin hydrated and protected.

Restorative skin care tips

Skincare products

Antioxidants:

Oral and topical antioxidants: Include vitamins C, E, and B3, as well as green tea polyphenols and isoflavones in your skincare routine. They help reduce collagen degradation and protect the skin from free radicals.

Retinol

Collagen synthesis: Retinol promotes collagen production. While retinol is gentler, tretinoin is more potent for advanced skin restoration.

Ceramides and peptides

Skin barrier repair: These mimic natural peptides like collagen and elastin, boosting collagen synthesis and repairing the skin barrier.

Hyaluronic acid

Hydration: Replenishing hyaluronic acid, especially as epidermal levels decrease with age, leads to better skin hydration and plumpness.

One can also go for Invasive Procedures but that’s the last resort if other options are not working. Here are some options but remember natural is always better.

Photofacial

Nonablative skin rejuvenation: Uses IPL lasers for a low-risk, short downtime procedure that improves aging skin and UV-induced damage. Benefits include collagen remodeling within 3 to 12 months.

HIFU and monopolar RF

Skin tightening: These energy-based devices induce natural collagen production using ultrasound and radiofrequency, effectively tightening skin at various depths.

Botox

Wrinkle reduction: A US FDA-approved treatment, Botox works on wrinkles with results lasting up to six months. It is a quick, single-session treatment with no downtime.

Fillers

Volume restoration: Injectables like hyaluronic acid and poly-lactic acid lift the skin, fill sunken areas, and promote biorejuvenation.