It is hard to achieve flawless skin. External factors, such as pollution, lifestyle, dietary habits, etc. often take a toll on your skin, reducing its glow and making it age before time. While many of us want to have the skin of our dreams, some routine habits often interfere with this long-standing dream. We spoke to a dermatologist about how to take care of the skin and keep problems away. Here are their expert tips.

Make Sunscreen Your Best Friend

When it comes to skincare, consider sunscreen your holy grail. No matter the skin type or concern, applying sunscreen is a must when you go out or even when you stay indoors. Sunscreen blocks the UV rays from harming the skin, thus protecting it from premature aging, sunspots, skin cancer, and other problems.

You can find a suitable sunscreen for your skin type. Apply it every three hours if you are outdoors. Do not skip it in any season.

Eat a Healthy Diet

What you eat shows on your skin. As per dermatologists, healthy food reflects healthy skin. Thus, besides maintaining your skincare routine, it is equally important to incorporate healthy foods into your diet. Take a balanced diet, including proteins, healthy fats, fibers, and other nutrients. Stop eating fried food or junk food. Eat more home-cooked food than outside.

Eat fresh fruits and seasonal vegetables as they offer all the necessary nutrients to your skin. Include nuts, eggs, and lentils in your diet.

Drink Enough Water

Besides eating a healthy diet, you must maintain enough water level in your body. Water is important when it comes to hydrating your skin. Lack of water in the body causes dry skin, which later leads to other problems. Depending on your body weight, drink at least 2-3 liters of water to maintain skin health.

You can also include fresh fruit juices and detox water in your routine to maintain proper hydration levels.

Use Skincare Products that Serve Your Skin Needs

Nowadays, social media is full of marketing gimmicks. Every day, a new skincare brand claims to change your skin game and offer you the best skin. Dermatologists strictly suggest not to fall for these marketing strategies.

Not every product is designed to suit all skin types. In the best practice, you must understand your skin needs and then build a skincare routine. For instance, if you have acne-prone skin, use products that contain salicylic acid to counter acne. Similarly, for lack of hydration, choose products with hyaluronic acid. Talk to your dermatologist about your skin concerns and let them prescribe the best products.

Quit Smoking

Cigarettes are the biggest enemy of your skin. Smoking speeds up skin aging, causing lines, wrinkles, and other concerns. If you smoke, wound healing also takes longer than normal. If you are a light or heavy smoker, quit smoking and save your skin from aging and other unwanted issues.

Takeaway

If you swear by these tips, you will achieve the best-looking skin. Start by understanding what your skin needs and then create a proper routine around it.