Fast, simple ways to heal damaged skin

The working mom’s lifestyle wreaks havoc on your skin. Late nights, skipping meals, hormonal swings, and the drying effect of office airconditioning strip us of a natural, beautiful glow. The problem gets worse during summer. All that “fun in the sun” exposes our already-sensitive skin to chlorine and ultraviolet radiation. The result? Dryness, wrinkles, age spots, discoloration, and dullness. In short, looking old.

That’s why it’s important to take extra good care of our skin. We can’t switch to a perfect lifestyle (10 hours of sleep? You’ve got to be kidding), but we can protect it against some damage, and help it heal faster.

Defense against UVA and UVB

The danger. Both UVa and UVB can cause wrinkles and skin cancer, and slows down your skin DNA’s ability to repair itself. UVB radiation (which causes sunburn) gets really intense during 10am to 2pm, and becomes even more intense in the summer. In fact, the summer months account for 70% of a person’s yearly UVB dose. UVA radiation was thought to cause only “minor” damage but the latest research shows that it actually penetrates deeper into the skin. It can also pass through glass, so you’re exposed even when you’re in your house or office.

Your best protection: Make it a habit to wear sunblock — and not just at the beach. Every time you go to the street, or take an al fresco lunch at your favorite restaurant you’re letting your skin burn. You can also get UVA / UVB radiation indoors or an overcast days — if it can penetrate glass, it can also penetrate clouds.

Reduce Skin Discoloration

You’ve come back from the beach with an uneven tan, or have “splotchy” skin due to stress or hormonal changes (that’s why it can happen after pregnancy, or as a side effect of taking birth control pills).

The good news is that the latest lotions can help restore that fair, even complexion — and not just by bleaching the skin. The best formulas contain powerful ingredients that also help your skin restore itself. Lotions that contain licorice, which is a gentle yet effective lightening agent. However, it also has chamomile extracts that soothe irritated sin; aloe to moisture and reduce scars (the Egyptians have been using it for centuries); Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, and shea butter to reduce roughness and flaking.

As the skin becomes stronger and healthier, cell regeneration speeds up. You get newer, more radiant skin, and a light bright, youthful glow.

Night Time Healing

Though you’ve worn sunblock throughout the day, don’t forget to pamper and nourish your skin at night — when the body’s healing processes speed up.

Yes, we know beauty regimens the last thing you want to worry about at the end of a very long day. So, choose lotions that make the routine as good for the soul as it is for the skin. Pamper yourself, treat yourself to precious “me time”, and massage away the stress.