With the fall season in full swing and the winter months upon us, it is time to start thinking about how this time of the year impacts your skin’s health. The change in temperature during the fall and winter affects the air outside, impacting your skin’s health. People tend to experience drier skin in the fall and winter months. Luckily, there are preventative measures one can take during this time of the year to avoid its adverse effects.
How To Take Extra Care of Your Skin During the Fall and Winter
- Moisturize - While moisturizing one’s skin is encouraged year-round, it is essential during the colder months. Moisturizing helps to trap moisture in one’s skin, prolonging its protective methods. If you tend to have sensitive skin, be mindful of the type of moisturizer you use, as some may irritate your skin.
- Avoid hot showers - This one hurts us to note, but taking a scorching shower can strip our skin of its moisture. It rips apart the protective barriers in our skin, leaving us vulnerable to more skin complications. Be sure to keep your showers under scorching levels, and try to limit your showers to a short period of time.
- Be mindful of the wind - The wind in the air can cause skin complications such as dehydration, chapped lips, and redness. Be sure to keep your lips and skin hydrated before leaving the house. Using and keeping a chapstick with you at all times is recommended during the winter months.
- Use a humidifier - The air in your house is just as impacted by the change in temperature as the air outside. Like the outside environment, the air inside one’s home becomes drier, causing skin complications such as dryness. Placing a humidifier inside can help remedy this issue and prevent you from experiencing said complications.
- Neutralize your skin’s temperature - When your body is too cold or too hot, it can cause skin complications to occur. It is essential to keep your body at a comfortable temperature to protect your skin’s barrier and hydration levels.
- Drink water - Drinking water is vital to keep yourself and your skin hydrated. You might be less inclined to reach for water during the colder months, but you must find ways to motivate yourself to drink water. Drinking herbal teas is a great way to get some water in and get warm all at once.
The Connection Between Your Skin’s Health and The Foods You Consume
Have you ever heard the saying ‘you are what you eat’? Believe it or not, the foods we consume impact our skin’s health status. Being the largest organ in your body, your skin is heavily affected by all the actions you take throughout your day, especially by the foods you consume. When consumed, foods that contain processed sugars, artificial sweeteners, and unhealthy fats can negatively impact your skin.
Some common skin ailments that can occur due to a poor diet include:
- Pre-mature aging
- Acne
- Dullness
- Inflammation
Our skin needs specific nutrients such as collagen and protein to thrive. Neglecting these nutrients in your diet makes you more likely to experience the skin ailments above.
Here are some foods we recommend incorporating into your diet for healthy skin:
- Strawberries - This sweet treat offers you the chance to boost your vitamin C levels, which are essential to skin health. Vitamin C helps to protect your skin from damage and helps with the production of collagen. Strawberries are an excellent addition to every meal, including breakfast yogurt bowls and light salads.
- Bone broth - Bone broth contains high levels of antioxidants and nutrients beneficial to one’s skin, including collagen and gelatin. While you can use bone broth as a base for your fall and winter soups, you can also sip on bone broth as part of your morning routine.
- Watermelon - As stated in the name, watermelon is known for its water content levels, making it an excellent way to stay hydrated. Hydration is critical to keeping your skin glowing and healthy.
- Kimchi - Kimchi contains high levels of probiotics, making it fantastic for your digestive tract and, in turn, your skin’s health. All of the processes in our body are connected, meaning that supporting one process helps another. A probiotic supplement can also offer the same effect but is not the only supplement you might want in your skin routine.
Supplements To Support Your Skin and Digestive Process
- Vitamin A - A vitamin A supplement can help protect your skin from the negative impact of the sun. While we still strongly recommend using sunscreen daily, a vitamin A supplement can give you that extra bit of support for your skin’s barrier. Vitamin A is also important for a healthy gut, because without it you are more likely to experience a leaky gut.
- Zinc - Zinc is a mineral that can help your body speed up the healing process when experiencing an injury such as a cut or scrape. Similarly, zinc can also help heal any damage your digestive cells might have. Be sure to avoid incorporating too much zinc in your routine as this can also have adverse effects.
- A digestive enzyme supplement - Supplements that contain gut health enzymes, such as Sexy & Slim, can help to protect your skin and gut health simultaneously. Digestive enzymes help your body properly break down the foods you consume and can help you absorb the nutrients from the food. Nutrient absorption is essential to getting your skin the nutrients it needs to thrive. Be sure to keep a digestive enzyme supplement in your daily routine.
- Vitamin C - Vitamin C is a strong support option for your skin health. It contains collagen that is essential to keeping your skin happy and healthy. Without collagen, you are more likely to gain wrinkles, fine lines, and dullness. We gradually lose collagen as we start to age, so incorporating it into your routine in different ways is incredibly important.
As always, contact your physician before implementing any new supplement into your routine.