healthy skin

A healthy diet can help you look and feel your best. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. The association between diet and acne isnt clear but some research suggests that a diet rich in vitamin C and low in unhealthy fats and processed or refined carbohydrates might promote younger looking skin.

Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more sensitive and trigger acne breakouts and other skin problems. To encourage healthy skin and a healthy state of mind take steps to manage your stress. Set reasonable limits, scale back your to-do list and make time to do the things you enjoy. The results might be more dramatic than you expect. s

Overuse of products is the biggest mistake people make in their skincare regimens, says Jeanie Leddon, MD, PhD, a dermatologist in Boulder, Colo.Some patients come in with a grocery bag full of products and wonder why their skin doesn t look or feel great, Leddon says.Using a lot of different ingredients can be irritating, and some ingredients cancel out each others benefits.For example, the acid in salicylic or glycolic acid breaks down ingredients like retinol, hydroquinone, or vitamin C. More, Leddon says, is not necessarily better.Friedman agrees. He says the products needed for beautiful skin are a simple cleanser, sunscreen, moisturizer, and a retinoid or retinol.The simpler your skincare regimen, the more likely you are to stick with it.

Changing your products every couple of weeks can also be counterproductive.Give them a chance, Leddon says. Finish the entire tube or bottle of a skincare potion before you decide how well it works.You might, though, want to adjust your beauty regimen seasonally, swapping, say, the oil-free moisturizer you use in the summer for one that s more emollient during the winter when frigid temperatures and indoor heating can rob your skin of moisture.The exception: If your skin reacts with swelling, redness, or burning to a new product you ve tried, stop using it immediately.If not, Leddon says, finish the entire tube or bottle of a skincare potion before you give up on it.

Hormone-related skin problems aren t just for teens. Surging progesterone and testosterone levels before your period can cause adult acne to erupt around the mouth, chin, and nose. And hormonal stress can exacerbate eczema dry, irritated skin, often on the face and hands. To treat adult acne, which tends to flare up in the 30s and is more inflammatory than teen blackheads and whiteheads, derms often prescribe benzoyl peroxide and retinol or Retin-A, says Gary Goldenberg, MD, an assistant professor of dermatology at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, in New York City. Soothe eczema by using gentle, fragrance-free cleansers; if the problem persists, you may need a prescription for a topical corticosteroid.

Ready to start a family? Your skin may be clearer than ever while you re pregnant, thanks to abundant estrogen. But the hormonal flux of pregnancy can create a host of skin issues, such as melasma (dark discolored splotches on the face), which should fade after delivery. If it bothers you, your doc may prescribe a cream with lightening agents to fade the spots. Also common: an itchy rash called PUPPP (pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy), which may show up in the third trimester. If cool baths and moisturizers don t relive itching, you may need a steroid cream or oral antihistamine.

In middle age, damage done to your skin decades earlier starts to show up. This can include the first signs of skin cancer. The good news: when caught early, it s 99 percent treatable. So monthly self-checks for moles or anything suspect are smart. In front of a mirror, examine your entire body, from your scalp (use a handheld mirror) to the soles of your feet, advises Jennifer Linder, MD, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco.

Consider a prescription for a retinoid like tretinoin to minimize signs of aging such as uneven skin tone, wrinkles, and age spots, says Bobby Buka, MD, a New York City dermatologist. Dr. Buka also suggests skin-care products with botanicals such as feverfew or licorice root: They have antioxidant activity to combat UV damage.

If you re plagued by redness, spider-like blood vessels, and small bumps on your face, your derm may diagnose rosacea, a common skin condition often triggered by sun exposure, stress, alcohol, spicy foods, and hot weather. It s more likely to develop with age, says Laura E. Skellchock, MD, a dermatologist in Boca Raton, Florida. Experts recommend sensitive-skin products if you re prone to flare-ups, green-tinted makeup to camouflage redness, and over-the-counter antiredness serums with caffeine, such as First Aid Beauty Anti-Redness Serum

It s not uncommon for 40-something women to develop actinic keratosis dry, red, flaky spots, often on the forehead, cheeks, or nose, Dr. Goldenberg says. Another result of sun damage, they can become cancerous if not removed, so see your doc ASAP if you think you may have one. Two other common (and often similar-looking) problem spots: seborrheic keratosis (warty, yellow-brown growths, usually on the back and chest) and skin tags (often on the eyelids, underarms, neck, or groin). These two may look unpleasant, but they re benign and can also be removed in the doctor s office.