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Ever wondered what alcohol, stress and daily sweating is doing to your skin? Read our interview with Skin Laundry. The 15 minute laser and light treatment designed to vaporise dirt and remove bacteria resulting in tighter, brighter, softer skin. Hear their tips for maintaining skin health and how to fight free radicals…
How does training outside affect our skin?
There are pros and cons of exercising outdoors. Some advantages of outdoor activity include a dose of vitamin D from sun exposure. Lowered stress levels. Fresh air. And a less boring or repetitive workout scenery and routine.
There are downsides though. If you live in a city with high levels of pollution in the air, your skin is more vulnerable to toxins when we exercise outdoors. The negative effects the sun may have on our skin can outweigh the benefits. Sunscreen is crucial when outdoors during the daytime.
Whenever possible, wear a hat and long sleeves when exercising outdoors. Dehydration is also a concern that alters skin integrity, so be sure to pre-hydrate, rehydrate, and moisturize topically. Protection and prevention are key!
But overall exercising (indoors or outdoors) has a positive effect on our skin due to lowered stress levels, sweating, and circulation which promotes healing.
What are free radicals?
Free radicals are unstable byproducts of a natural process called oxidation which are further induced by internal and external factors. These free radicals can alter the integrity of proteins, DNA and cell membranes, decreasing their function and leading to premature cell death.
Free radicals can be created by pollution, sun, chemical products, poor diet, smoke, alcohol and even stress. Cell destruction ensuing from free radicals results in aging of the skin. Our bodies need healthy balance between free radicals and antioxidants to function properly. This is why antioxidants are so important.
Antioxidants are the vitamins and minerals our bodies use to combat oxidative stress. Ideally we should be applying topical antioxidants and also eating antioxidant rich foods to help fight the aging process and to keep us feeling and looking healthy.
Skin Laundry products contain various antioxidants including vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin A (retinol), vitamin B (niacinamide), coffee bean extract, green tea, and other plant/fruit/vegetable based ingredients.
How does stress affect our skin?
Skin is the largest organ of the body and is intimately connected to the mind and emotions on so many levels. This mind-body connection, as reflected in the appearance of skin, has led to a new field of research known as psychodermatology.
When under stress our body releases hormones such as cortisol which may increase oil production leading to breakouts. Stress can also cause cell destruction, aging our skin more rapidly. Finally, stress can trigger autoimmune responses such as vitiligo, rashes or rosacea. Because skin issues also lead to stress, it can be difficult to identify cause and effect.
Tip: what NOT to do when stressed? PICK! Go visit Skin Laundry instead, for pampering and skin health.
How does daily sweating affect our skin?
Sweating is actually good for our skin because it is comprised of mostly water, salts and proteins, serving as a natural exfoliant and removing impurities from our pores. Sweat is actually a sterile fluid secreted by two glands in our skin, eccrine and apocrine.
Sweat is also the same pH level as our skin which helps to protect our skin’s natural barrier. The tricky part is that our sweat contains urea and nitrogen that feed on our skin’s bacteria. Also when our sweat (mixed with impurities) begin to dry, this pH can change, creating an environment for bacteria to grow.
For this reason, is it important to cleanse your skin before and after exercise, removing makeup and impurities. Of course wear sunscreen if you will be exercising outside.
How does drinking alcohol affect our skin?
Some alcohol is worse than others based on what they contain and what they are mixed with. All in all, alcohol takes a toll on our skin. Drinks that have a high sugar content increase inflammation in the body and destroy cells, worsening acne, and aging our skin.
Drinks which are high in sodium with will lead to puffiness. Alcohol is also a diuretic which causes dehydration and leaves our skin looking tired and dull. Avoid sugar at all costs and drink plenty of water!
Any tips for maintaining skin health living in a City?
My best advice for City living is increase your antioxidant use. The obvious downside of City life is the air quality which affects not only our lungs but also our skin. Eating antioxidant rich food and using topical antioxidant products assist our bodies in fighting these environmental factors.
Less obvious City challenges which negatively affect skin include lifestyle, over-stimulation, lack of sleep, and eating out. To keep your skin youthful and healthy, drink plenty of water, get enough sleep, reduce stress, and use Skin Laundry’s antioxidant rich products.
Our Toner will remove any remnants of makeup or grime that has accumulated throughout the day. It is also a good idea to keep cleansing cloths in your car or bag for mid-day cleaning.
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