At this point, we’re all well versed in how important it is to keep a healthy gut microbiome, but did you know your skin has its own microbiome that it’s critical to pay attention to? Restoring your skin’s microbiome takes a little bit of effort and hard work, but it’s an investment that pays for itself in spades. Let us look at how you can restore your skin microbiome in a few easy steps.
Begin Within
As with other aspects of human health, what we put into our bodies directly impacts the health of our skin. Did you know that the skin is your body’s largest organ? Eating a healthy diet, whether it’s primarily plant-based or just avoiding overly processed ingredients, will benefit your skin immensely. If you know you indulge in convenience foods, sodas, large amounts of sugar, or other poor eating habits, use those as a starting point for eating healthier. As you get used to making healthy choices when it comes to food, the decisions become routine and much easier to make. Not only will you heal your gut microbiome, but you’ll be healing your skin’s microbiome too.
SPF
If you already understand the importance of having a consistent skincare routine, you likely understand how important the daily use of SPF is too. Sun Protection Factor is critical when it comes to maintaining or restoring a healthy microbiome for your delicate skin. While the sun has many benefits, especially crucial Vitamin D, it can also damage the skin. No matter what season or type of weather, you need to apply a minimum of 30 SPF to your face daily. You want to add your SPF after your moisturizer and before your makeup. Additionally, depending on your activity level or how much you sweat, you will sometimes need to reapply SPF throughout the day.
Be Delicate
When aiming for skin longevity, you want to be as delicate as possible with your skin. After all, your skin microbiome is home to many beneficial bacteria, and stripping them away can happen quickly if you’re not paying attention to what you’re using. You can be delicate with your skin is what you use on it. So, make sure you’re avoiding harsh chemicals when choosing the products you use. Ensure you are familiar with all the ingredients and consult your dermatologist or an esthetician if you’re not.
Another area you can be delicate with your skin and preserve its microbiome is as simple as how you dry off when you get out of the bath or shower; if you’re like most people, when you step out of the shower, you somewhat aggressively use your towel to get all the water off your body. Next time, try gently patting your body with the towel until you’re dry. Though this takes some getting used to, it’s a practice that pays off with not only smoother but healthier skin.
Get Outside!
On top of the physical benefits of movement and exercise outdoors, it benefits your skin’s microbiome and overall health as well. We need the crucial Vitamin D from the sun, but staying active outdoors helps your skin by getting you out of the house or the city where you’re more likely to come into harmful irritants. So, if you’ve been eyeing that AirBnB in the middle of nowhere, let this be the motivator to book that getaway finally. If you live close to beautiful trails, mountains, or parks, take advantage of them and do your overall health a significant favor.
Heal Your Gut
It’s not uncommon to have food allergies or sensitivities, and for many people, they show in their skin. Making an effort to heal your gut and avoid any triggering foods can make a world of difference in healing not only your microbiome but visual skin afflictions as well. Adding a probiotic to your daily regimen is a great way to give your skin a leg up it needs toward a healthier microbiome.
When we feel like our skin is visibly unhealthy, our self-confidence can be damaged, and we can feel down on ourselves. Thankfully, most skin conditions can be remedied with a little bit of research or through the help of a dermatologist or esthetician. Let the above-mentioned sections be your starting point to feeling great in the skin you’re in!
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