Fight Acne with Your Lifestyle! We all know what acne is and we all share a sort of dislike for the stubborn blemishes that appear when it’s least convenient. Acne can affect anyone at almost any age so it’s important we are living a lifestyle that positively affects African American skincare. A couple of weeks ago, we showed you how to determine your skin type and to create a personalized skin care routine. There are multiple factors that trigger acne break outs, so it’s important to understand how they work. Caryl Karcher, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology stated that the ―skin is a reflection of your total body health‖. So this week, we’re focusing on building an anti-acne lifestyle that we’ve broken down into three parts: nutrition, activity, and stress
Nutrition What we eat plays key role in the way our bodies function. When it comes to skin care, it’s all about eating more nutrient packed foods, and avoiding the foods that have processed most of the nutrients out. Foods with high amounts of antioxidants are ideal for the health of Black skin, because they neutralize a lot of the damage caused by the environment such UV rays and pollution. Dark berries like blue berries, black berries, raspberries, and strawberries are full of antioxidants and other nutrients. Also be sure to incorporate good fat foods. Foods with good fats contain omega- 3 fatty acids, and work amazingly to increase the health of skin. "These fatty acids are responsible for the health of the cell membrane, which is not only what acts as the barrier to things that are harmful, but also the passageway for nutrients to cross in and out and for waste products to get in and out of the cell," says Ann Yelmokas McDermott, PhD, a nutritionist at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston. Omega 3 fatty acids can be found in tuna, salmon, sardines, avocados, walnuts, and among others.
Activity It’s no secret that exercise is essential in attaining an overall healthy lifestyle. ―But how does it factor in with acne directly?‖ you might be wondering. Exercise is a great way to nourish the skin with much needed oxygen and nutrients. The increased activity helps to circulate blood flow, which carries nourishment to all parts of the body, including the skin. Circulating blood flow also helps to flush certain toxins out of the body that can trigger acne. By maintaining a healthy activity level, we can achieve that radiant skin that we love in Black Women’s skin care. If you’re working out in the sun, be sure to also protect your skin from the harsh UVA and UVB rays with Clear Essence’s Skin Beautifying Milk with PSF 15.
Stress Stress has an effect on a lot of bodily functions including acne. When a person is stressed – either physically or emotionally—the skin is affected directly. The walls of clogged pores break, and the body produces an increased amount of oil. Monitor a few aspects of your life to decrease stress, and in turn, lessen your acne break outs! Lack of sleep is a common source of physical stress and is one that affects our entire bodies. The average adult should get 7-8 hours of sleep a night or at least moments of rest from a demanding schedule. On the contrary, a sedentary lifestyle can also cause physical stress. As mentioned earlier, an active lifestyle can help the body’s overall health. Physical activity releases dopamine (the ―happy‖ hormone), which helps fight stress.
Always remember, “Fresh skin, Just lip!”