5 Tips for Smoother Skin

1: Healthy Living

Keeping your weight in check can give you smooth and healthy skin. Exercise, combined with a good diet, will do wonders for one of your most important organs.

Exercise increases your circulation, delivering more nutrients to the skin and the rest of your body while carrying away toxins. It also helps the body produce collagen, which minimizes wrinkles [source: WebMD].

If you smoke or drink too much alcohol, chances are you're harming your skin. Smokers have more wrinkles around their eyes and mouths, and tobacco can cause the skin to turn a yellow or brown color [source: American Skin Association].

People who consume too much alcohol develop enlarged oil glands and blood vessels, which can make your pores appear larger. Chronic alcohol abuse can often lead to liver problems, turning the skin a yellowish color.

2: Maintain a Proper Diet

You are what you eat, and that goes for your skin, too. If you want smooth skin, there are certain foods to consider and certain foods to avoid.

Foods rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C and Vitamin D help keep skin smooth and healthy. Vitamins A and C are particularly helpful if you want smoother skin. They can also prevent spots and other growths from coming later in life [source: American Skin Association].

A good diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids from fish and antioxidants and vitamins from tea, fruits and vegetables may help preserve smooth skin and protect it from disease [HealthyWomen.org].

But a good diet for smooth skin would be incomplete without the most essential ingredient -- water. The human body is made up mostly of water, and keeping it properly hydrated is essential to preserving good skin.

Drinking 8 glasses of water a day can help maintain the proper fluid levels to keep your skin working right and properly moisturized [source: American Skin Association].

The positive effects of a good diet on your skin can be multiplied by taking a few more steps toward healthy living.

3: Moisturize

For some people, smooth skin means injections that provide instant gratification. Botulinum toxin, hyaluronic acid and collagen injected into tissue near the surface of the skin can smooth wrinkles, plump up sagging areas and restore a youthful look.

But overuse can cause permanent loss of some muscles, swelling, or bruising and unsightly lumps. They're not cheap, either, and they don't last forever [source: WebMD].

Your skin is made of three different layers: the epidermis, or the outermost layer of your skin; the dermis, the middle layer that contains blood vessels, nerve endings, and oil and sweat glands; and the hypodermis, which is mostly made of fat and contains your hair follicles. Moisturizers help that top layer retain moisture -- and this keeps skin smooth, too.

The best time to apply a moisturizer is right after you step out of the shower or bath. With your skin still damp, apply the moisturizer so your skin will keep that moisture in. You can also apply after you wash your hands and before going outdoors for extended periods in cold weather [source: Mayo Clinic].

Make sure to pick the right kind of moisturizer for your skin type. Water-based moisturizers are fine for skin that's neither too dry nor too oily. If you have dry skin, a heavier, oil-based moisturizer may be necessary, because it won't evaporate. Oily skin still needs moisturizing, but be sure to pick a water-based moisturizer that won't block up your skin's pores; look for the word "noncomedogenic" on the label.

4: Keep Your Skin Clean

If you want smooth skin, you'll need to have clean skin, too. Washing your face twice a day with warm water, a clean wash cloth and soap or a cleanser removes dirt and oils and keeps your skin healthy [source: American Skin Association].

Be gentle when cleaning your skin if you want it to stay smooth, though. Avoid strong, scouring soaps, and limit the time you spend in the bath or shower. Shave carefully using a lubricating gel or foam, and pat dry with a towel after cleaning instead of wiping -- this will keep some moisture on your skin [source: Mayo Clinic].

Also, make sure you don't overdo it. While it's necessary for good hygiene, washing your skin too often, especially your hands, can cause damage. Soaps and detergents are among the most harmful things we routinely put on our skin. So, look for the most gentle soaps you can find and apply them regularly, but judiciously.

5: Protect Yourself from the Sun

The sun causes the most damage to our skin, so protecting it when you're outside is a top priority. Skin cancer, age spots, wrinkles, freckles, and skin that's rough or dry are all symptoms of too much sun.

Staying out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest, can help protect your skin from ultraviolet rays that do the most harm to your skin. If you do go out during that time, wear clothing that covers as much skin as possible, including wide-brimmed hats and full-length shirts and pants.

When you do expose your skin to the sun, wearing a good sunscreen can protect you. Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. If you're at the beach or exercising outside, make sure that it's water-resistant and sweat-proof, and that it'll protect you from a broad spectrum of radiation (both UVA and UVB rays). Reapply the sunscreen as needed [source: MedicineNet.com].

And while indoor tanning is popular, tanning beds harm skin cells in the same ways as the sun, increasing the risk of skin cancer later in life [source: American Skin Association].


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