As the summer season is coming to an end, we’ll soon be switching out our tank tops for sweaters and shorts for long pants. And, while it may be upsetting to see that sun-kissed summer glow fade away, it’s important to keep your skin healthy and protected all year long—not just in the sunny summer months.

Rather than buying pricey skincare products, it’s much more important to lead a healthy, balanced lifestyle and understand how to care for your skin type.

With a few small changes, it’s easy to make sure you’re looking after your skin in the best possible way and keeping it beautiful all year-round.

8 Ways to Keep Your Skin Healthy All Year

Stay hydrated

Drinking plenty of water will keep all of your organs hydrated, as well as your skin. Similar to the other cells in the body, skin cells are made up of water and need plenty of hydration to function at their best. Without sufficient water, your skin will turn dry and flaky. 

Aiming to drink approximately half of your body weight in ounces throughout the day will help keep your skin hydrated. Try carrying a reusable water bottle with you to track how much water you’re drinking.

Wear sun protection

The sun doesn’t care if the air is chilly or the sky is cloudy, as its rays damage your skin just the same. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the US and affects roughly 5 million Americans annually.

UVB rays (the kind that cause sunburn) are slightly less intense during non-summer months, but UVA rays (the kind that cause cancer) stay strong all year. You may be wearing a long sleeve shirt and pants, but the face, neck and hands remain exposed, just where most skin cancers occur.

It’s easy to assume that if it’s cold or cloudy outside you won’t be at risk of sun damage, however, it’s still important to apply SPF. Protecting your skin from sunlight in all seasons is key to keeping it beautiful. 

Eat a balanced diet

We all know that eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables is essential for maintaining general health. If your priority is healthy skin, eating well is just as important.

Consuming too much sugar can be detrimental to having beautiful skin. Causing a spike in cortisol levels by undergoing a process called ‘glycosylation’, sugars essentially stick to collagen (a chemical responsible for youthful elasticity) and weaken it.

If you want healthy, beautiful skin, start by consuming the right kinds of food. Healthy fats found in oily fish and nuts, antioxidants found in dark leafy greens and berries, as well as vitamin C found in citric fruits are all great for nourishing your skin and giving it that desirable glow.

Eating fewer refined and processed foods while also consuming plenty of vitamin and mineral-rich foods like fruits and vegetables is key to making sure your skin receives the nutrients it needs to remain healthy and blemish-free.

Get plenty of sleep

We’ve all woken up tired with dark rings under our eyes at some point. Studies reinforce this and show that lack of sleep can cause hyperpigmentation - those dark puffy bags under your eyes that never seem to shift.

When you sleep, it’s your body’s time to repair and grow skin cells. Aiming to get 7 to 9 hours of beauty-sleep each night might seem like a big step for those of us already short on time, but getting enough rest is crucial for your body to do the maintenance it needs to refresh your skin.

Avoid stress

Staying calm and level-headed are key components of avoiding physical stress, reducing cortisol production, and avoiding a decrease in collagen.

Take time to unwind each evening after work. Find activities such as meditation or yoga that help you relax and try to maintain a balance between your work and personal life. If you do feel overwhelmed and under too much pressure, it's important to talk to your provider to find ways to ease your stress. 

Don’t smoke

It’s a well-known fact that smoking causes a huge variety of health issues. Smoking creates just as many problems for your skin, too. Contributing to wrinkles, constantly pursing your lips while smoking will increase lines in this area of your face.  

Smoking also narrows the tiny blood vessels in the skin’s outer layers, reducing the amount of oxygen and nutrients that are essential for healthy skin. For beautiful-looking, healthy skin, it's important to kick the habit. 

Choose products carefully

Make sure you choose products that are created for your specific skin type. Oily skin will need a different kind of treatment than dry skin. Once you have the right kind of products for your skin type, it’s important to be kind to your skin and treat it gently. If you wear makeup, you should always remove it at the end of the day. It’s best to try and use removal products that are pH-neutral to preserve your skin’s natural balance.

Selecting a gentle cleanser and using it each night will help keep bacteria away from your skin and prevent blemishes from popping up.

Applying a moisturizer will help maintain the water content of your skin by strengthening your skin’s natural barrier and slowing down water loss.

Choosing the right products for your skin type will ensure you're taking proper care of it. 

Exercise

We know how important working out is for overall health, but did you know that it can also contribute to healthier skin? By increasing your blood flow, exercise helps nourish skin cells and keep them vital. Blood flow also helps carry away waste products, including free radicals, from working cells. Aiming for a minimum of three hours of exercise a week will help keep your complexion clear and dewy.

It's crucial to remember that spending lots of money on products and treatments won't guarantee beautiful skin. Sticking to a healthy lifestyle and caring for your skin properly is what will make the difference. Try a few of these tips and you might be surprised at the improvements you see in your skin. 

Visit Voyage Healthcare 

If you have more questions about how to best take care of your skin, our providers are happy to help. Schedule an appointment with us today!