Her World

Let’s say you train your glutes, abs and thighs.You work out on benches, bikes and blades. You’re in great shape, but chances are you’ve neglected the largest organ in your body.

How’s your epidermal IQ.? Do you know as much as you should about skin survival and safety?

Better forget what you think you know about skin care. Many ideas of skin care are about of a glob of cream being rubbed around on the face and then wiped off. That might have been true years ago, but we’re no longer in the epidermal dark ages. The technology is there just as it is in liposuction, brain surgery and other medical disciplines. We can do so much now with the super new products and techniques available. If you haven’t had a facial in the past few years, get one. You’ll be surprised.

We went to two experts and asked them what women who train need to do to keep their skin in fine form.

1. Take care of your skin! Avoid smoking, unnecessary sun exposure, wind and cool weather.

2. Avoid poor nutritionbut do not choose the oposite. The best thing is to follow a balanced diet of healthy foods, including plenty of vegetables and fruits, and clean your body drinking plenty of water daily.

3. Make a habit to take vitamin supplements that are rich in Vitamins A, C, D, and E. Very important is to take anti­oxidants that help to break down free radicals. Beta­carotene is also a good alternative vitamin source.

4. Use a sunscreen that contains zinc oxides and titanium oxide, which don’t irritate the skin and cause breakouts. Remember to use SPF 15 (or higher),
especially if you are exposed to the sun in excess. For those who work indoors and don’t get much sun exposure, use a foundation that contains titanium oxide. This can protect you enough and almost as much as if you were to wear and SPF 15 cream. Other options include wearing a hat and large sunglasses. Many doctors strongly recommend SPF 15 for lips, because of the risks of sunburn and peeling.

5. Eliminate skin problems before they start. Look for the precancerous signs. Be aware of any unusual blotches or spots on the skin and check for spider veins. If you have a skin problem, go to a professional an esthetician or dermatologist, not a salesperson at a store. You wouldn’t go to a barbell salesman to train your body, why give less consideration to the background and training of the person who will help you get your skin in shape?

6. Use only ­natural skin care products and not chemical based products. Chemical skin products (i.e. ones containing high concentrates of alcohol) can actually be destructive to the skin, especially if you have dry or sensitive skin. If you are allergic to natural products, be sure to use products that are alcohol free and fragrance free.

7. Be simple with your skin regimen. Use products that are specific to your skin type. Oily skin, for example, can benefit from small amounts of alcohol
or astringents. Dry skin, on the other hand, requires more moisturizers and emollients. Read the ingredients on the product label before using it.

8. Use a night moisturizer for dry or sensitive skin. Small wrinkles and fine lines can also be held in check by night creams and moisturizers.

9. Try using self tanning creams instead of getting tan the traditional way and running the risk of skin cancer. Many tanning creams on the market can give you the “look” of a new tan.

10. Focus. “Fitness buffs need to care about their skin as much as they do their muscles. Don’t neglect skin care. Your body can look great, but who cares if your face is prematurely aged?”

11. Cleanse before bedtime. Never, never, never go to bed without cleansing your face. No matter how tired you are, how many sets you’ve done that day,
or how many minutes you’ve spent on the Lifecycle, consider this the last daily exercise you must perform. Letting bacteria sit on the face overnight will only age your skin.

12. Washing your face isn’t enough, use the 3­Step action. You have to cleanse, hydrate and exfoliate. Only by removing the dead surface cells, properly cleansing the remaining layers of skin and hydrating them with a good moisturizer and/or spray mister will you be doing the job necessary.

13. Cleanse before workouts. Always go to the gym with squeaky clean skin. That way, you will have “clean” sweat after a workout and if you can’t get to a sink or clean the face for a few hours, the residue will be less damaging.

14. Start now. Begin a skincare plan now. No matter how young you are or how great your skin looks this minute, aging and damage is inevitable and you
can start now to head it off as much as possible.

15. Water. Drink 8­-10 glasses a day. When you train hard you lose even more of it through sweating and exertion than the average person. If you don’t put enough into your body, your skin can’t find enough to fill out and plump the cells.

16 No picking! Frequent breakouts are not uncommon in people who train regularly. We often spend a lot of time with sweat and bacteria on our face. This causes pimples. The temptation is to pick them away, but what we often get instead is scarring. So hands off. Have a series of deep cleansing facials or treatment for the problem.

About the Author:

Evie is a freelance writer interested in skin care. Learn more about visiting http://www.skin-cosmetics.biz/