How to protect your skin

Your skin is not just an outer covering; It is a large organ that is responsible for protecting your body from germs, balancing your body temperature, making vitamin D, and regulating body fluids. It is also a reflection of your health and lifestyle. Protecting your skin from sun damage, infection, dehydration, allergic rashes, and premature aging is important to looking good and staying healthy.

1
Reduce excessive sun exposure. Sun exposure is healthy in moderation, but too much increases the risk of sunburn, skin cancer, and premature aging (lots of wrinkles and sunspots). [1] In summer it is particularly important to protect yourself from solar radiation, because this is when the harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation is most intense.
Do not avoid the sun too often out of fear, but try to limit your direct sunlight, especially in summer between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. [2]
In most climates, you can meet your daily vitamin D requirement by spending just three to eight minutes in the sun with your arms and legs exposed. [3] If you have lighter skin you don't have to stay outside as long as people with darker skin do. Don't stay outside long enough for your skin to turn pink.
If you have to be outside longer, cover yourself with a hat, sunglasses, lip balm with sunscreen, and long-sleeved clothing. Don't forget to apply a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and stay in the shade as much as possible.
If you get light sunburn on your skin, apply some aloe vera gel - it's great for soothing inflamed skin and promoting healing.
2
Wash regularly, but not excessively. Washing your skin and keeping it clear of dirt, debris, bacteria, and other microbes is important to keep it safe, but too much washing / scrubbing can damage sensitive skin. Try once a day and use gentle, hypoallergenic soap on your skin. Do not bathe or shower in hot water, as it can scald the skin and draw moisture out, leading to dehydration and flaky skin. [4]
Bathing too much removes all natural oils from your skin. These oils are needed to protect against microbes and keep the moisture inside.
Gently pat your skin dry with a soft towel instead of rubbing it aggressively.
Also exfoliate your skin regularly (weekly) with a mild detergent and an exfoliating pad, e.g. B. a loofah. An exfoliation removes dead skin cells (so the living cells underneath can breathe) and prevents wrinkles.
3
Quit smoking cigarettes. Smoking carries a long list of health risks, including lung cancer and stroke, but it also negatively affects your skin - especially the skin of your face. [5] Yellowing, wrinkles, and other signs of premature aging are common in cigarette smokers because they cannot get enough oxygen from their lungs and they bring more toxins into their bodies. [6] So protect your skin and other organs by quitting smoking as soon as possible.
Tobacco chewing is also very harmful to your body including your skin. Chewing contributes to the signs of premature aging by depriving the skin of oxygen due to its negative effects on the cardiovascular system and loading it with free radicals that damage cells.
Smoking pipes and cigars carries the same, if not greater, risks as smoking cigarettes.