7 Skin Sins and Their Solutions


We all have skincare problems. If not always, we all have some skin issues sometimes or another in our life. If you don’t have skin issues you are lucky. By reading a book called The New Beauty Bible, I came to know that there are 7 sins, i.e., things we do [or don’t do] and things we may face in day to day life that cause our skin to behave badly. So without further ado, here they are the seven skin sins:

Sin 1: Sun

Sunscreen

Although we Indian girls are obsessed with fairness, we still forget that going out into the sun not only makes you tan, but also causes damage to the skin. If you want to look older [and wrinkled] faster, then stepping into the sun without sunscreen would be the way to go. When your skin gets exposed Ultra Violet rays there occurs a formation of molecules called free radicals which love sucking Elastin and Collagen out of our skin, these both are the things that keep it firm. These two are the ones responsible for keeping wrinkles at bay, the faster you lose these the faster wrinkles start to appear. Elastin and Collagen can be affected by UV rays in as little a time as 3 minutes. Spending time in the Sun can cause burning in many and it is not pretty.

UV Rays

Solution

sun-burnt-skin

You can prevent sun damage pretty easily by wearing sunscreen whenever you go out in to the sun. For day to day purposes, use sunscreen containing SPF 15, but if you are on a holiday at the beach or sightseeing, wear sunscreen of SPF 30 or above. Wearing SPF 30+ sunscreen everyday also helps reverse the damage by giving skin a chance to repair itself. Apply sunscreen at least half an hour before stepping into the sun as it takes this much time for the ingredients to be soaked into the skin and reapply every 90 minutes. Use about a tablespoonful amount of sunscreen for your face. Stay out of the sun [or at least covered up] between the time of 11 to 3 O’ clock; even the strongest sunscreen only protects you from 99% of the harmful rays.

Try: Garnier Sun Control Moisturizer [I don’t tan much so I don’t need heavy protection. Sunscreen preferences are personal so try to find your own HG sunscreen]

Sin 2: SMOKING

Smoking is the second most damaging issue for your skin. First, the nicotine in cigarettes makes the blood vessels of the face shrink, making your skin look grey and sallow. Also a chemical reaction occurs which creates a protein that causes the destruction of collagen and Elastin. Also the creasing and wrinkling of eyes due to the smoke and pursing of lips as you take a puff. This all makes you look much older than others of your same age.

Chain Smoker

This is the picture of a chain smoker taken before skin treatments.

Solution

Chain smoker after the treatment
Chain smoker after the treatment

The solution is quite simple-quit. Quitting is not easy –but it can be achieved if you have the determination and the perseverance. While trying to quit, eat lots of vegetables as it helps to neutralize the nicotine in your system faster and also helps to reduce cravings.

Sin 3: Alcohol

champagne_toast

Even though we are all Indian women here and some may think that it won’t be a problem for us. It would be surprising to many of you that the percentage of female alcoholics in India is at an all time high. Alcohol makes blood vessels larger and in sensitive skins this can lead to broken veins and high color. It dehydrates the skin .Even two drinks a day can dry the skin enough to make wrinkles more pronounced

Solution:

Drink Water

Alcohol problems can start after two drinks so try to keep it to that much a day. Aim to have three alcohol free days then aim for a week, and then gradually stop its usage altogether unless for a toast or something similar. Try to drink at least 2 glasses of water for each glass of Alcohol.

Sin 4: STRESS

Stress affects the skin in many ways. It increases the level of adrenal hormones which cause acne. Stress hormones also cause blood flow to be directed away from the skin to the major organs of the body and this means that skin doesn’t get all its necessary nutrients, giving it a grey tinge. To top this all off, skincare products won’t be of use as stressed out skin won’t absorb products as well as relaxed skin.

Solution:

bath

Always try to see the lighter side of things. This will help you keep calm and would help all issues including skin issues. If you do get stressed out try drawing yourself a relaxing bath with a few essential oils such as lavender which helps in increasing relaxing levels in the brain too. Also try some scented candles and dim the lights and put on some soothing music to relax yourself. Exercising releases calming chemicals into the body and also deep breathing slows the heart beat [in a good way] and produces calming chemicals too.

Sin 5: Lack of sleep

Not getting enough sleep is the ultimate skin disaster. Skin repairs itself during night-replacing Elastin and collagen and dealing with the damage inflicted on the skin during day due to pollution and sun. Also treatments are more effective during night as skin is more absorbent during night than day. Lack of sleep stops all these benefits and causes issues of its own like dark circles, and sallow, tired skin as blood goes to fuel your tired brain and other major organs.

Solution:

Sleep

Not everyone really needs to sleep 8 hours at night. Some may find 4 hours a night enough for them while some may need 10 hours. To find out how much sleep you need, go to sleep when you are tired and wake up when you want to for a week then calculate how much time you spend sleeping each night and the most common time would be what your average sleep time is. If you really find it hard to sleep, try taking a bath of temperature 38 to 41 degree centigrade as this produces sleep hormones or add some lavender oils to your bath which also produces sleep hormones. Milky drinks can also make you sleepy.

SIN 6: POLLUTION

I know pollutions is not something only we created but it is something we face daily and which causes skin damage too. Pollution causes free radicals just like sun exposure ad can fasten aging. Pollution affects the skin it increases the oxidation of the sebum, causes pimples formation, allergies and rashes. Pollutants can suck out the oxygen from our skin making it look dull and saggy.

Solution:

fruits and vegetables

Never cleanse your skin using tap water, Use filtered water instead as tap water contains chlorine which can dry out your skin. Use creams and lotions contain antioxidants, fatty acids and vitamins.

Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables to increase the amount of vitamins in your body. Drink green tea as it contains powerful antioxidants that can destroy toxins. Steam your face once a week to cleanse your skin and to open the clogged pores.

Sin 7: LACK OF EXERCISE

Exercise

Physical activities help our skin by increasing the amount of oxygen in the blood and it keeps us fit. It also helps skin’s health by help dealing with stress and lack of sleep.

Solution

Try to do at least three sets of 20 minute work-outs per week. Cardio exercises are the best for this purpose as it increases the heart rate .Try exercises like running, swimming, cycling, and my favorites- jump rope and dancing.

And now-A girl with the most gorgeous skin EVER!!!

exercise

Images: none of the images are mine. It is all from Google Images.

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21 thoughts on “7 Skin Sins and Their Solutions

  1. Except alcohol, smoking and sun I can easily fit into any category. :((

    Guess I need to learn this article by heart.

    Thankies Fathima. 🙂

    1. aww!! 🙁 🙁 !I wrote this article because it was sooooo helpful for me….and i think i know it by heart now!!! :-)) :-)) :-))

    2. We are in the same boat Rati!Its time that we rectify ourselves.Even our little Fathima(don’t mind Fathima)is so aware.

      1. i like being called little fathima….it makes me feel like a 4 year old..the best time of my life…. :cute: :cute: :cute:

  2. Wow just when I was slacking off from working out another reason pops up for me to hit the gym!!!!
    Great article btw!

  3. Fathima, you have correctly pointed out the major blunders that we do damage our skin, we should be more careful about following a strick exercise regime and drinking the correct amount of water….good one pathu! 🙂

    1. well even though wrote this article and i had read bout this months back i am still lazy bout workin out…and i want to start …but i am still lacking motivation..anyone wanna start workin out with me??? you know..we cud share technique,diet,progress…..

        1. i am thinking workin out every morning with 150 jumps on the rope…then 50 situps,50 crunches, and 5 minute break…then repeat with 150 jumps,50 situps,50 crunches.. total to nearly 40-45 minutes……..

        1. oh dryness is something i hate too..i have combination skin..so it is oily in summer and dry as paper in winter..it really sucks…. 🙁 🙁

  4. Respected sir,
    I am deendayal patidar.My sister had burnt by very hot milk when she was 7 year old.Now she is 14 year old.her left palm to elbow in one hand and left thigh had burnt.She was treated by a Doctor and she is fine but white color skin on burnt area is not disappear so she wants to remove that color and make her skin color as normal body color.please give me some tips thank you

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