Thursday, August 23, 2018

The Worst Foods for Your Skin



As the old saying goes, “You are what you eat.” In the case of skincare, what you put into your body is just as important as what you put onto your skin. If you’re suffering from acne, puffiness, or premature fine lines, your diet may be the culprit. Keep reading to learn the worst foods for skin.

Simple Carbohydrates

If you’re a carb addict, your diet could be aging your skin. Pasta, white bread, soda, juice, candy, and cookies are all considered simple carbohydrates, meaning that they quickly convert to glucose when consumed. Glucose clings to the wrinkle-reducing proteins collagen and elastin. Collagen and elastin are essential for keeping skin soft, supple, and smooth, so the last thing you want to do is harm these youth-giving molecules.
To keep your skin soft and smooth, swap simple carbs for complex carbs like whole grains and vegetables.

Dairy

While there’s no scientific evidence directly linking dairy to acne, many skincare experts believe that dairy consumption can contribute to breakouts for some people. Dairy is full of growth hormones like testosterone, which boost inflammation and skin oil production.
If you have acne, you might want to try eliminating dairy from your diet to see how it affects your skin. Just keep in mind that dairy is an important source of calcium and vitamin D, so you’ll want to make sure you’re getting these critical nutrients from other sources (think seeds, beans, spinach, kale, etc.).

Shellfish

Shellfish like shrimp, lobster, oysters, and scallops can also lead to acne breakouts. Shellfish contains high amounts of iodine, which inflames skin and clogs pores. Consuming iodine is healthy in moderation, but eating too much can cause acne. Other foods high in iodine include cheese, milk, kelp, fish sticks, and boiled eggs.

Salt

If you’ve ever had a bloated face after a late night fast food run, you’re already aware of the effects salt can have on your skin. Salt causes tissues to swell, making skin look puffy. It can also dehydrate the skin, leading to the appearance of fine lines.
Almost all restaurant and processed foods contain high amounts of salt, so the best way to reduce your intake is by cooking whole, healthy foods at home (and taking it easy with the salt shaker).

Caffeine

Your afternoon latte addiction may be to blame for tight, dry, itchy skin. Caffeine, the ingredient that gives coffee, tea and soda their pep, is a diuretic. Diuretics prevent your body from holding onto water, and as a result, skin becomes dehydrated. To compound the effect, caffeine also increases cortisol levels, which accelerate the aging process by thinning the skin.
A cup or two of coffee each day is fine, but avoid going overboard to keep skin hydrated and fresh.

Fried Food

Fried foods are usually prepared with vegetable oils. While vegetable oils may sound healthy, they’re actually loaded with trans fats. Trans fats are known to slow circulation, which leads to clogged pores. They also contribute to inflammation and encourage cyst formation. The result? Blackheads and breakouts. Thus, it’s a smart skin move to avoid deep fried foods whenever possible.
Since everyone responds differently to foods, record what you eat and how your skin looks in a journal. See if you can connect your intake with changes in your skin.
If you like this article, you might also like “The 9 Best Foods for Glowing Skin”.



Thursday, August 9, 2018

How to Heal Chapped Lips



Cheilitis – also known as chapped lips – is a painful condition that happens when the skin on the lips dries out. In severe cases, lips may even crack or bleed.

Lips don’t have oil glands, so they’re naturally more dry than the rest of your face. They’re also vulnerable to chapping because they’re constantly exposed to the elements. Overexposure to sun, wind, heat, cold, or dry air can cause chapped lips, but they can also be caused by bad habits.

Follow these tips to heal and prevent chapped lips.


  • Choose your lip balm carefully. Since lip balm can sometimes make its way into your stomach, use a natural, beeswax-based lip balm instead of a petroleum-based balm. Beeswax naturally locks in moisture without harming the lips. 
  • Apply lip balm often. Most people need six to eight applications of lip balm throughout the day to keep their lips moisturized. Apply lip balm first thing in the morning, after meals (eating can wear away lip balm), and right before bed to protect the lips overnight. 
  • Keep lip balm on hand. Having trouble remembering to reapply lip balm? Keep a tube stashed in multiple places: your purse, work desk, car, bedside table, etc. This way, you’ll always have lip balm on hand when you need it. 
  • Use lip balm before applying lipstick to hydrate the lips and protect them from drying ingredients. Avoid matte and long-lasting formulas altogether, which can cling to chapped lips and further exacerbate the problem. 
  • Drink more water. Not drinking enough H2O throughout the day can dehydrate skin – and the lips are no exception! Aim for at least 2 liters of water consumption every day. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can further dehydrate dry lips. 
  • Use a humidifier. Climate control like heating and air conditioning can lower indoor humidity levels, which in turn can cause skin to dry out. If you crank the heat or the air (or you live in a dry climate), a humidifier will help to restore the air’s moisture to optimal levels for your skin. 
  • Don’t lick your lips. While licking your lips may provide relief in the short term, the habit can actually lead to your lips becoming more parched. As the saliva evaporates, it pulls moisture from the lips. When your lips feel dry, apply lip balm instead. 
  • Don’t pick. Peeling or biting flaky skin can disrupt healing and even lead to infection. Plus, it’s just painful! 
  • Avoid spicy and salty foods while recovering from chapped lips. These types of food can further irritate the mouth and delay the healing process. 
  • Switch your toothpaste. Believe it or not, synthetic flavoring in your toothpaste may be the cause of your chapped lips. Use an all-natural toothpaste without irritating synthetic ingredients to help speed your recovery.  

If none of these tips work, it may be time to see a doctor to make sure that your chapped lips aren’t a sign of an underlying medical condition. Your doctor can also prescribe a cortisone cream, which can help to heal extreme cases of chapped lips.