summer skin tips from the glow guru

--> via russh: dr. nicholas perricone's best summer skin tips

1. Eat a diet rich in antioxidants and healthy fats like extra virgin olive oil to address these problems from the inside out. 

2. If you long for that golden glow on face and body but don’t want the damage to skin that comes from tanning try a high quality self-tanning lotion.

3. Nothing ages the face like the combination of tanning and alcohol.

4. Don’t smoke!  Smoking will also rapidly destroy youthful skin.

5. Enjoy anti-inflammatory foods. A diet rich in protein, fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and healthy fats like cold-water fish, extra virgin olive oil and nuts will repair your skin from the inside out.

6. Apply the right creams. Any skin cream with high levels of DMAE, Vitamin C Ester and Alpha Lipoic Acid will help heal sun damage. You may ask your dermatologist for prescription Retin-A, which revives depleted collagen and elastin caused by sun damage and restores youthful skin.

7. Wear topical non-chemical sunscreens. I recommend non-chemical sunscreens such as ‘physical’ blockers titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide and not chemical sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens are more likely to cause allergic reactions or irritate the skin but the formulations are often lighter and easier to apply. Non-chemical sunscreens (physical sunscreens) are less likely to cause skin reactions.

8. Cleanse thoroughly after wearing sunscreen on the face because of left on the skin it will clog pores resulting in breakouts.

9. Eat your vegetables and fresh fruit including all orange, red and green leafy vegetables rich in carotenes including spinach, dark leafy greens, tomatoes, etc.  Numerous scientific studies show that oral supplementation with carotenes, especially lycopene and beta-carotene improve skin structure, have powerful wound healing properties and offer great protection from damage caused by sunlight. 

10. Drink green tea and/or take EGCG supplements. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a key component of green tea and it protects the skin from the sun’s damaging rays. Topical application also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

11. With so much skin exposed during the summer months, we are more apt to notice any unusual moles or skin changes. If you haven't started seeing a dermatologist yet, start now. It's always a good idea to see one every few years and more frequently if you notice anything unusual or if skin cancer runs in your family.

12. Avoid sugar and starches if you want to stay swimsuit slim and stave off wrinkles and accelerated aging.

13. Gentle exfoliation along with alpha hydroxy acids can help the skin to look fresh and renewed. The important concept to keep in mind is to be gentle and not to over do it. Too harsh or vigorous exfoliation treatments will create an inflammatory response in the skin, resulting in redness and irritation.

14. Avoid sun bathing!  You should be out in the sun for at least 15 minutes each day for a brisk walk or enjoying other activities, but don't bake in the sun.

15. Don't forget to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Eight to 10 glasses daily. Water keeps the skin plumped up and helps carry out the toxins and wastes produced in the cells—and helps us maintain a healthy weight. Water naturally suppresses the appetite and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that if we decrease our water intake our fat deposits will increase. Conversely, an increase in water intake will reduce fat deposits.

16. Vitamin D is unique among vitamins in that it can be provided to the body through food or from exposure to the sun. Sunshine is a significant source of vitamin D because UV rays from sunlight triggers vitamin D synthesis in the skin.  I recommend spending 15 minutes a day in the sun without sunscreen. This will increase Vitamin D protection known to reduce the risk of many internal cancers as well as reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Although sun exposure has been greatly vilified in the past decades, exposure to the sun is our most important source of this critical vitamin.

17. Protect your lips from summer sun. Soft, supple lips are a sign of both beauty and health.