Smart lifestyle changes you can make now to ensure a clearer complexion later.
Most teens — and adults — get acne at some point. But that doesn’t mean you have to put up with the pimples. With a few simple lifestyle changes, you can eliminate acne and have healthier skin — and a healthier body overall.
1. Eat smarter. You are what you eat — and a healthier diet, filled with fresh vegetables and fruit and lean meats, will set you on the path to eliminating acne. Consider adding foods rich in selenium and zinc, like Brazil nuts and pumpkin seeds, because these minerals can help you combat acne.
2. Stay hydrated. Drink eight glasses of water every day to help hydrate your skin and flush out impurities that might cause pimples.
3. Add probiotics to your diet. Probiotics are healthy bacteria that can help strengthen your digestive and immune systems and keep toxins from reaching your skin, where they can wreak havoc. You’ll find these positive bacteria in yogurt, bananas, honey, artichokes, and onions.
4. Choose the right skin care products. Look for cleansers, cosmetics, and other skin care products that are labeled noncomedogenic, which means that they won’t clog your pores and cause breakouts. By sticking with these products exclusively, you can help eliminate acne.
5. Minimize stress. Studies have shown that stress can have serious effects throughout your body, and on your skin. Look for ways to reduce stress in your life, like exercising, meditating, doing yoga, or participating in your favorite hobbies. (Who knew that chilling out could be a legitimate acne treatment?) As part of your stress-less plan, try to get at least eight hours of sleep each night. Studies have shown that getting enough sleep is crucial to reducing stress and eliminating acne.
6. Cut back on the carbs in your diet. Eating large quantities of carbohydrates can encourage acne — and sugar increases your body’s need for insulin, which sets off an unhealthy chain reaction. The insulin encourages your skin to produce more sebum, and the additional sebum encourages the growth of acne-causing bacteria.
7. Head outside to clear your head — and your skin. Exposure to sunlight boosts your mood and increases the production of vitamin D. This “sunshine vitamin” not only strengthens your immune system but spurs your body’s production of calcium — another mineral that can help you have a clear complexion. Simply engaging in outdoor activities can also serve as a mood booster and stress reliever, which can help eliminate acne once and for all.
source: http://www.dailyglow.com/articles/64/dealing-with-acne/banish-those-zits-in-7-easy-steps.html