Tobacco, hypercaloric diet or lack of sleep: how Christmas excesses affect the skin

MADRID, 3 Jan. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Doctor Cristina Villegas, head of dermatology at the Sanitas La Moraleja University Hospital, has warned that the excesses of Christmas, such as copious meals, changes in routine, tobacco, alcohol and lack of sleep They can have harmful effects on the skin.

"It is necessary to take care of ourselves on the outside but also on the inside if we want to have healthy skin. For this reason, the skin, like any other organ, requires good nutrition and hydration to avoid oxidation caused by free radicals from the environment and even to prevent the appearance of problems such as acne", he explains.

Faced with this situation, he has drawn up a list with the main factors that contribute to deteriorating skin health during these dates.

In the first place, the consumption of alcohol and tobacco contributes extra toxins to the organism and that can be triggers of eczema or acne. In the case of tobacco, the skin is exposed to its toxic effects in two ways: directly through contact with environmental smoke and indirectly through blood and through the toxins that come from inhaled smoke.

With regard to a hypercaloric diet, rich in typical Christmas sweets, it increases fat secretion and worsens acne-prone skin, as well as contributing to its aging.

For this, it is necessary to try to counteract with foods with antioxidant compounds, vitamins C, E, or minerals found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, lean meats, nuts, the latter rich in essential fatty acids.

On the other hand, dehydration, which occurs when water intake is replaced by other types of beverages such as sugary soft drinks or alcoholic beverages, is very detrimental to skin health. Drinking water helps eliminate toxins and thus contributes to the maintenance of a healthy complexion by acting as a moisturizer from the inside out.

In this sense, it is recommended to consume between a liter and a half to two liters of water a day. Likewise, it is possible to increase the hydration of the skin by increasing the intake of vegetables and fruits, especially those that have a high content of lycopene and beta-carotene, such as tomatoes or carrots, and red fruits.

Thus, the expert has also reiterated the importance of sleep for the skin. The body synthesizes many substances, such as collagen and elastin, which contribute to the necessary skin regeneration to keep the skin in good condition during sleep, in addition to eliminating toxins accumulated during the day.

Therefore, although there are times when it is more complicated, the ideal is to sleep between 7 or 8 hours a day to have a restful rest. Lack of sleep can cause a rapid advance in the aging process of the skin.

Lastly, the dermatologist recalls the need not to abandon cleansing routines, since, during Christmas celebrations, makeup tends to be used more, and the skin is exposed to more toxins such as tobacco smoke .

"Given this, it is essential not to neglect the facial cleansing and moisturizing routine with products that suit each one's skin type and use a cleanser before applying the moisturizing cream both in the morning and before going to bed" , points out the dermatologist, to add that "it is highly recommended to remove the remains of makeup and contamination adhered to the skin."

SOLAR PROTECTION, ALSO NECESSARY IN WINTER

In addition, although during this time of year exposure to the sun is less and the sun's rays do not hit as directly as in other seasons of the year, radiation UVA and UVB are still present and, if not taken into account, damage the skin. Therefore, it is necessary to continue applying a good sun protection factor whenever you are going to spend time outdoors.

Although it is not always easy to avoid excesses at Christmas, taking these aspects into account can be very beneficial to balance habits during these days and guarantee correct skin care.