After spending plenty of time in the outdoors, your skin may be weathered—and you’re likely looking for ways to give it a smoother and more refreshed appearance. Over-the-counter products can help, but at-home care can only do so much for skin that is uneven and lined. Patients often find facial fillers from our Milwaukee-area practice to be one of the best methods for addressing etched-in wrinkles develop after too much sun exposure damages collagen and elastin fibers in the skin. There are also resurfacing options that can reduce fine lines, as well as uneven texture, spots, and more problems associated with UV radiation and other environmental stressors.
Cosmetic treatments go a long way for rejuvenating your skin, but prevention is the preferred strategy for dealing with damage. Taking action in advance can help to protect your skin from wrinkles, blotchy pigmentation, freckling, coarseness or dryness, loss of elasticity, and other forms of damage before they occur.
Everyone known (or should know) about the importance of wearing sunscreen—even in the fall and winter—but one of the more neglected aspects of sun protection is diet. What you eat helps to strengthen your skin and prepare it for the onslaught of toxins and harmful stressors that we face from the environment.
In addition to using sunscreen, limiting the amount of time you spend in the sun, and covering up with clothing, you can also safeguard your skin from the inside out by including sun-protecting foods to your shopping list:
Green Tea
If you want some added sun protection, drinking a cup or two of this tea a day could help. Since it’s rich in potent antioxidants (specifically polyphenols called EGCGs), green tea prevents damage from UV radiation. Studies have shown that it also helps to stop collagen loss.
Blueberries
Blueberries are a popular summer fruit, but they’re also laden with antioxidants and vitamin C—an ideal combo for repairing your skin.
Dark Chocolate
Need another excuse for regularly indulging in some high-quality dark chocolate? Surprisingly, it happens to be great for your skin. Cocoa flavanols are strong antioxidants that neutralize skin damage. Chocolate also contains phenols and catechins that block DNA-damaging molecules that can harm your skin.
Find out more about treatments at Parkins Plastic Surgery that can enhance the appearance of your skin, especially after the summer. For more advice, call us at (262) 269-1050 or submit a contact form and set up a consultation.
