Having healthy skin is more than just looking good. It’s also important to take care of your skin and protect it from factors that can cause irritation, redness, and inflammation. Skin irritation can be extremely uncomfortable and distressing, leaving your skin feeling itchy or dry.
Causes could range from dry weather to a reaction to a product used on the skin. Whatever the cause, if skin irritation is prevented or addressed immediately, it could lead to serious skin damage. Fortunately, some tips can reduce or eliminate skin irritation. Here are a few of them:
Drink plenty of water
Staying hydrated is important in caring for our skin, reducing irritation, and helping it stay healthy. Maintaining adequate water levels in your body effectively prevents dry and irritated skin that can lead to inflammation.
When engaging in outdoor activities, drink plenty of water to maintain a balanced internal temperature and reduce the likelihood of experiencing sensitivity from environmental changes. Furthermore, all daily activities require consuming six to eight glasses of water. So make sure to stock up on H2O throughout the day.
Wear sunscreen
Protecting your skin from the sun’s rays is essential to prevent irritation, dehydration, and cell damage. Wearing sunscreen is the best way to do this. Sunscreen acts as a barrier between your skin and the ultraviolet radiation that comes from the sun, reducing skin inflammation and helping you avoid painful sunburns.
UVA and UVB protection are important components when looking for sunscreen. Use products with SPF ratings of at least 30 or higher to ensure maximum protection against both these categories of radiation. Additionally, apply the sunscreen properly, following package instructions and reapplying it every several hours if outdoors or sweating heavily.
Use a skin barrier moisturizer
Using a skin barrier moisturizer can help alleviate sensitive skin and prevent irritation. Barrier moisturizers create a protective barrier over the skin that prevents environmental factors such as wind or dry weather from causing discomfort. For maximum effectiveness, you can buy skin barrier moisturizers online that are fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and hypoallergenic.
Eat a balanced diet
Eating a balanced diet is a great way to help protect your skin from irritation and inflammation. Filling your plate with fruits and vegetables and healthy fats, proteins and carbohydrates will ensure you are getting the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients your body needs for optimal skin health. Eating these kinds of foods can also help maintain a healthy weight which, in turn, supports healthy skin.
Incorporating foods like avocados, walnuts and salmon provide omega-3 fatty acids that provide anti-inflammatory benefits, keeping your skin radiant. However, it is important to note that diets high in added sugars or processed foods should be avoided as they can contribute to inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis.
Avoid hot showers
To keep your skin healthy and avoid irritation, it is important to opt for cooler or lukewarm water when showering. Hot showers can strip away the natural oils, leaving skin dry and vulnerable to infection. Longer hot showers are dehydrating and risk making skin itchy and uncomfortable. Always take showers using warm water.
If you’re having difficulties keeping track of the temperature, a simple solution is sticking a thermometer in the water stream to make sure that the water is not too hot or too cold. Be mindful of how long you stay in the shower and limit your time according to what’s needed. If you have sensitive skin, remember that bathing for an extended period could increase the risk of irritation. Instead, consider limiting your shower time to less than ten minutes each session.
Get regular exercise
Regular exercise is essential for keeping your skin healthy and free from irritation. Working out not only aids in circulation but also helps to remove impurities from your pores, leaving them unclogged and smooth.
Even a moderate amount of physical activity – like one brisk walk after dinner – is enough to stimulate the body’s natural detoxification process and rinse away any dirt or sweat that may have been trapped on your skin throughout the day. As an added bonus, regular exercise can help you de-stress, too – reducing those angry hormonal breakouts by lowering cortisol levels.
Taking care of our skin is essential if we want it to look its best over time! By following these tips – drinking plenty of water, wearing sunscreen, applying skin barrier moisturizer, eating a balanced diet, avoiding hot showers, and getting regular exercise – you will be able to treat any existing irritations while also protecting yourself from future ones too! Start today by implementing one or two of these tips into your daily routine now for healthier and brighter-looking skin tomorrow!