5 Top Tips for Healthy Skin This Summer

The ease of getting healthy, glowing skin varies from person to person – some people routinely struggle with skin problems like acne, while some are blessed with naturally clear skin. Whatever your skin type, there are plenty of ways that you can maintain healthy skin with the aid of a healthy diet and skincare regime. If you don’t have the latter yet, then now is the time to start!

Follow our tried-and-tested tips below to be on your way to blemish-free, radiant skin this summer!

Visit a Dermatologist

First things first, if you’ve struggled with problem skin for a long time and skincare products or lifestyle changes don’t seem to be improving things, it could be time to consult with a dermatologist. According to WebMD, acne affects up to 85% of teenagers and a high percentage of adults too: it’s an extremely common problem that a lot of research has gone into fixing.

Skin doctors are well-trained and qualified to identify the cause of acne problems and can prescribe you with medication or medical-grade topical products that will improve your situation. Even the worst breakouts can be helped by a doctor!

Having problem skin can really impact your confidence, so don’t hesitate to contact your doctor for help with clearing acne-prone skin.

Eat These Skin-Clearing Foods

Foods known to have great skin-perfecting properties include:

Oily fish
Yellow and red bell peppers
Avocado
Broccoli
Tomatoes
Green tea
Walnuts
Sunflower seeds.

Invest in Skincare Supplements

Instead of loading up your diet with fatty fish and handfuls of nuts if that’s not your thing, you can get essential vitamins and nutrients in supplement form instead.

Try these for healthy skin:

Omega-3 – found in oily fish, but if you don’t eat fish, find a multivitamin containing this vital fatty acid.
Probiotics – contains good bacteria for a healthy gut and digestion, giving you a healthy glow.
Prebiotics – help probiotics do their job properly. Prebiotic ingredients such as oats, barley, flaxseed and banana also have amazing properties when included in skincare products and applied to skin. Look for moisturisers and serums that contain these ingredients, or take a handy supplement everyday.
Multivitamins – these are useful and convenient for everyone. Just take one tablet per day for a correct dosage of all the vital vitamins and minerals you need! Healthy skin requires a mix of all nutrients, especially vitamins C, D, E, B, choline, folic acid, and more. Get a multivitamin that includes all your daily necessities in one.

Hydrate!

The best thing you can do for your skin? Stay hydrated! The human body is comprised of approximately 60% water – a strange but true fact to get your head around!

This means it’s recommended that adult men should get a total of 3.7 litres of water per day, including foods containing water, and women should ingest 2.7 litres. Not including foods, Healthline suggests that men should drink 13 cups of water each day while women should drink 9. Children should be drinking at least 5 cups to get their daily fill.

Remember to up your H2O intake on hot summer days and when exercising.

Develop a Skincare Routine

According to dermatologist Paradi Mirmirani MD, moderate acne can potentially be improved with the aid of skincare products containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, if used for four to six weeks. Look for these ingredients in creams, face washes, serums and cleansers if you get regular breakouts. If the problem persists, you may need something stronger prescribed by a doctor.

In general, people with all skin types should follow a twice-daily cleansing, toning and moisturising routine; followed by sun-cream in the morning. Choose natural products devised for your skin type, e.g. oily, combination or dry. Some people will find that their skin is better with more or less steps in their routine – it’s all about experimenting and finding out what your skin prefers.