NATURAL REMEDIES for a healthy skin #1 | Page 10

Top 10 tips for a healthy skin 1. Drink adequate amount of water. Drinking an adequate amount of water daily is important for skin because water aids in circulatory and excretory functions of skin. Studies have showed that drinking water gives you a radiant, healthy, younger- looking complexion. The fact is that skin is an organ, and just like any other part of the body, skin is made up of cells. And skin cells, like any other cell in the body, are made up of water. Without water, the organs will certainly not function properly. If your skin is not getting the sufficient amount of water the skin will become skin, tight and flaky. Dry skin has less resilience and is more prone to wrinkling. As water is lost in large quantities every day, you need to replace it somehow. The unfortunate truth about drinking water and skin is that water will reach all the other organs before it reaches the skin. So drink more water. Drinking at least 8 glasses a day will help rid the body and skin of toxins. Many people have experienced that by increasing their water intake, their skin has got a more radiant glow. Those who suffer from acne have reported the same results. Nothing will happen overnight, but even a good couple of weeks of increasing water intake should be enough for you to see how water affects your own skin. 2. Protect your skin from sun One of the most important ways to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun. A lifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, age spots and other skin problems — as well as increase the risk of skin cancer. Sun exposure causes most of the skin changes that we think of as a normal part of aging. Over time, the sun's ultraviolet (UV) light damages the fibres in the skin called elastin. When these fibres break down, the skin begins to sag, stretch, and lose its ability to go back into place after stretching. The skin also bruises and tears more easily -- taking longer to heal. So while sun damage to the skin may not be apparent when you're young, it will definitely show later in life. Use sunscreen. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. When you're outdoors, reapply sunscreen every two hours — or more often if you're swimming or perspiring. Wear protective clothing. Cover your skin with tightly woven long-sleeved shirts, long pants and widebrimmed hats. Also consider laundry additives, which give clothing an additional layer of ultraviolet protection for a certain number of washings, or special sun-protective clothing — which is specifically designed to block ultraviolet rays. 6