Add some spring to your skin

As we step into spring and enjoy longer daylight hours, it is a beautiful time to admire all the new life and beginnings blossoming around us.  From dancing daffodils to new born baby lambs, it is a good time to harness the season’s vibes and consider our own rejuvenation.

Here General Manager from Health Plus Simon Bandy, shares his knowledge about the body’s largest organ – the skin – and discusses how we can best support it during the seasonal change.

The face is normally the first thing people see and notice about a person.  With the skin automatically regenerating around once a month there are things you can do to support it.

H2O
It is suggested that the average adult needs to drink around two litres of water across the course of a day.  Being hydrated has also been known to help several problems including acne and can give the body an extra glow.

The sunshine vitamin
The body absorbs most of its vitamin D from sunlight during the months of April and October when the sun is at its highest.  It is important for the production of healthy cells and is known for playing a part in skin tone.  Vitamin D is essential for healthy teeth and bones so it is a good reason to get outside.

Sun cream
It is important to apply protection to the skin to help guard it from the sun’s harmful effects. This includes being safe in the sun when it is cloudy.  Just because the sky is overcast doesn’t mean you are not at risk of getting burnt.  It is recommended that adults apply a minimum of factor 30 with a UV rating of four stars or more.  Healthy, undamaged skin is said to age slower thus reducing the effects of premature ageing.

Antioxidants
Vitamin C is a great antioxidant and can be found in foods like oranges, broccoli, strawberries and sweet potatoes.  It assists in producing collagen and can help the skin heal.  Some people struggle with foods high in vitamin C as they can be too acidic on the stomach.  A good alternative for those who suffer is to try supplementing the diet with a non-acidic form such as Health Plus Easter-C 1000 (60 Vtabs/£15.45).

Finally, remember to exfoliate.  The act of doing so helps shed dead skin cells giving the skin a polished, fresh glow.