N Skin Care Alert

Post-Holiday Skin Blues? Get the Glow Back!
Holiday stress, too many goodies, and a whole lot of celebrating
can take a toll on your skin.

     From dark circles under the eyes to a decidedly "green in the gills" complexion to bloated, puffy, swollen eyes and zits when you least expect it, for many women, seasonal skin problems can abound.

     The good news: Here are some cosmetic tricks and tips to keep your skin looking fresh and youthful.  The best place to begin is with some preventive care, starting as soon as possible.

*Eat A Well-balanced Diet
     To remain healthy, your skin needs a regular and well-balanced supply of nutrients. You may not need any supplements, provided you look after your skin and you are generally healthy.

*Drink Plenty Of Water
     One of the commonest causes of tired-looking skin is dehydration, both on the surface and throughout the body. Aim to re-hydrate your body by drinking two to three liters ( four to five pints) of water a day. This should ideally be taken as plain and not tea, coffee or other caffeine-containing or sugary drinks.

*Cut Down On Tea And Coffee
     Women who drink a lot of tea, coffee, hot chocolate and cola-type drinks are more likely to have tired-looking skin and to suffer from conditions such as greasy skin and spots. This is because these drinks contain caffeine, which prevents your body from making good use of the vitamins and minerals from your food.

     Try to drink no more than three cups of coffee, tea or other caffeine- containing drinks a day.

*Keep Your Alcohol Intake Low
     Excessive alcohol intakes may lead to skin problems such as rosacea.

     Try not to drink more than the recommended 21 units a week (a unit is the equivalent of a glass of wine, a standard measure of spirits or half a pint of beer).

     Some women have a skin allergy to some alcoholic drinks, which usually manifests itself as hives. Hives are little itchy red spots that appear under the surface of the skin and make it feel hot and sensitive. The most common allergic reaction is to salicylates, substances that occur naturally in some foods, such as grapes, banana, beans, and strawberries.

     If you get a rash after eating some of these foods, beers may affect you in the same way, since they are often high in Salicylates. Instead, choose wine, gin, vodka or whisky.

*Try To Give Up Smoking
     Nicotine does not help you keep a healthy skin. It attacks the blood vessels that feed the skin with nutrients and oxygen, as well as those that drain away the waste products from the skin.  Your skin therefore becomes poor at ridding itself of unwanted substances and in severe cases also starts to lack oxygen.

     Other substances produced by smoke can greatly age the skin and affect the nail beds and hair follicles as well. If you want to have a youthful, healthy appearance, try to give up smoking.
 

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