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There’s more to taking care of your skin than exfoliating and slapping on moisturiser every day. Your skin is actually an organ that serves a vital role in keeping your body healthy, so it makes sense to do all you can to protect it. This will not only help you age well and look good, but will benefit the rest of your body too. Of all the things that can upset the delicate balance of your skin, the following three are the absolute worst, and should be avoided at all costs.

The sun

We all need a little bit of exposure to the sun to stay healthy – with the help of sunlight our bodies produce vitamin D, which is vital for bone health. But every expert will agree that there is no such thing as a healthy tan. Tanning is a sign that your skin is trying to protect itself from the damaging effects of UV light. UV light causes the skin to age prematurely, can contribute to hyperpigmentation (dark spots), negatively affect your immune system, and even interfere with your DNA’s ability to repair itself. So, always wear sunscreen, cover up whenever possible, and stay out of the sun between 11 am and 3 pm, when it is at its strongest.

Free radicals

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Free radicals are nasties that weaken your body’s tissues and cause inflammation. They’re a natural byproduct from your body breaking down food into energy, but exposure to the sun and smoke (see below) can lead to free radical overload. One way free radicals are bad for the skin is that they break down collagen (connective tissue that keeps skin free of wrinkles), which is a major cause of ageing in skin. The best way to deal with the free radical problem is to eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables rich in antioxidants, and to avoid exposure to cigarette smoke.

Cigarette smoke and pollution

Smoking dehydrates the skin, slows the growth of the skin, depletes nutrients and leads to the breakdown of collagen. Pollution irritates the skin and leads to inflammation. So, besides stopping smoking, you should try to limit your exposure to polluted air, and avoid being exposed to second-hand smoke.

Tags: Healthy skin, skin care, Smoking, sunscreen