Friday, July 24, 2009

HEALTHY SKIN SENSE


Unfortunately for sun lovers like you, it's true: all you have to do is look at the leathery, wrinkled skin of farmers or fishermen (who spend lots of time in the sun) for proof. Believe it or not, doctors believe that if not for the sun's UV rays, our skin would stay relatively smooth till we're 80 years old! in fact, 90% of the skin changes that we start noticing at 30-40 years old can be blamed on sun exposure, or "photo aging". Just one bad sunburn can result in wrinkles later on. As if wrinkling weren't bad enough, the sun can cause something far scarier: Skin Cancer. And with the protective ozone layer increasingly being damaged, This threat becomes worse all the time. Fair-skinned people are the most vulnerable to the sun, but even those with darker skin are at risk. But it's never too late to save your skin! You can still keep new wrinkles away and help protect yourself from skin cancer by staying away from the sun, even when it's not sunny - harmful UV light can still go to the beach, but stay under umbrellas or wear wide-brimmed hats or baseball caps. And don't forget to use sunglasses with UVA/UVB protection; it protects the delicate skin in the eye area from the sun and keeps you from squinting ( which also causes wrinkle). Sure, this sounds like a hassle, but it'll be worth it when you get older and still have great skin!

How Does My Overall Health Affect My Skin?
You can't have healthy skin without a healthy body. Your diet, lifestyle, work stress, exercise...all of them play a role in how your skin looks. Because your skin is what lies between your internal bodily organs and the external environment, you have to help it out by protecting it from the harsh elements it's constantly bombarded with. At the same time, your skin is a reflection of how healthy you are inside. Haven't you noticed that when someone is feeling sick, their skin shows it? In traditional Chinese medicine, the doctor of the skin sround the eyes is supposed to indicate the condition of specific organs inside the body. This is why the Chinese medicine men would often treat skin problems by healing these organs. So the next time your skin looks unhealthy, it might be worthwhile going to your doctor for a check-up, just in case.

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