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February 3, 2021 By Mrinali Dwivedi 1 Comment

Want Younger Looking Skin? Try These Foods Now!

younger looking skinThey say real beauty comes from within. Well, people may have different perspectives over this quote but in the opinion of a Nutritionist, what food you put inside your body, is what reflects on your skin! Ageing is a normal physiological phenomenon which starts from the inside out. This makes it imperative to take care of your diet to prevent the effects of ageing. With advancing age, the proteins and pigments of our skin start to deteriorate. However, with a healthy lifestyle and good nutrition, in the absence of disease, one can still manage to have a plump skin. Just like our emotional troubles can be seen on the face by the way of our expressions, the internal troubles of our body show up on the skin. If you feed your body with the right kind of food, it radiates right on the skin. Let’s look at some foods to get that younger looking skin you’ve always wanted!  

Foods For Younger Looking Skin

  1. Water: As simple and feeble as it may sound, water is the most important component of a skincare regime. In all forms, whether luke warm, chilled or infused, water is the most effective tool for younger looking skin and to fight any skin abnormalities. It cleanses the excess metabolites and harmful substances that may accumulate beneath the layers of skin. Water helps keep the skin moisturised and flush out infectious agents.
  2. Berries, Melons and Citrus Fruits: Berries are natural chemical exfoliators. They contain salicylic acid which is a popular ingredient in beauty products known for anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Berries are also rich in Vitamin C and ellagic acid that can help reduce acne. Rich in Vitamin A, C and B, melons can prove to be effective in maintaining good skin health. They can also improve your digestive system and prevent constipation. This, in turn, aids in clearing up the skin. Melons are also effective in treating psoriasis, a dry skin condition that causes itchy, flaky and red patches of skin. The rich vitamin C content of citrus fruits can effectively fight free radical action, which prevents skin ageing. Citric acid helps curb the bacterial action and pathogens present under the skin. As we age, our body’s ability to produce collagen decreases and the elasticity of the skin too. Vitamin C helps repair and rejuvenate the skin, helping in wound healing and building connective tissue, leading to younger looking skin.
  3. Turmeric: Being the most potent spice, Turmeric helps fight cell damage, chronic disease and aging, helping maintain younger looking skin. All this due to the powerful pigment, curcumin.
  4. Nuts and Seeds: Nuts are densely packed with a variety of skin healthy nutrients such as proteins, vitamin E, essential oils, minerals, and antioxidants. Soaked almonds, walnuts, flaxseeds and sesame seeds are the richest sources of vitamin E – which are very helpful to protect the skin from the UV rays of the sun. Vitamin E also helps strengthen your skin, avoid skin infections and give it a radiant glow.
  5. Dark Chocolate: contains cocoa flavanols. These are very potent antioxidants that protect the skin from the oxidative damage caused by pollution or sunlight. It also protects the skin by enhancing blood flow, which helps by nourishing and moisturizing it. Make sure to choose only dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa in it.
  6. Tomatoes: Tomato and tomato juice are high in lycopene, a natural carotenoid that fights pigmentation and darkening due to ageing or stress.
  7. Virgin coconut oil: Used in cooking, it slows down the aging process by lowering oxidative stress and relieving pressure on the liver, it nourishes the skin and hair to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and clears dark patches and cellulite.
  8. Avocados: are high in monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fats that are essential to nourish the skin and prevent dryness. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory to keep the immune system effectively functioning. The lutein and zeaxanthin in this fruit may help to protect the skin from UV damage. It is also full of vitamins A, B, C, E, and K which helps you get the glow of younger looking skin.
  9. Leafy greens: Spinach, Collard greens, Radish greens and Kale are excellent for replenishing tired skin and dark under-eye shadows due to their high iron and magnesium content. These leafy greens are rich in vitamin K that improve skin cell regrowth for a better complexion.
  10. Cucumbers: are more water than anything else. Oh so hydrating! Thus, they possess an extraordinary cooling effect. The peel of a cucumber contains antioxidants, Vitamin C and K, which can aid in skin whitening and can also reduce the appearance of fine lines. They also help in reducing puffy eyes and dark circles.

We hope this article helps you achieve that younger looking skin you’ve always desired. Before you switch to any of these foods, please ensure that you reach out to your doctor, nutritionist or dietitian in case you have allergies or any underlying medical conditions. For more on skin care, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play. 

#BeTheForce 

January 6, 2021 By Yogita Agarwal 1 Comment

Top 5 Foods To Fight Wrinkles And Premature Aging

We all want healthy and glowing skin but do you know that your skin reflects what you eat? Healthy skin needs nutrients, a healthy diet, enough water and good sleep. When these aspects are balanced, it shows on our skin. Wrinkles are a sign of ageing. We can’t stop or avoid it but with healthy food and lifestyle, we can delay it. When it comes to premature aging or wrinkles, it happens due to Sun damage and loss of collagen and elastin. These two proteins take care of our skin and keep it healthy, young and firm. 

When UV rays hit our skin, it reduces the production of collagen and elastin. It increases the production of free radicals and premature aging. As we age, the skin starts losing its firmness and elasticity. Other factors that contribute to the process are pollution, smoking, stress, dehydration, lack of sleep and unhealthy food habits.

Which Foods Help Fight Wrinkles and Premature Aging? 

  1. Avocado: is a fruit with healthy fats. It has fiber and many nutrients like folate, magnesium, Potassium, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Niacin (Vitamin B3), Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5), Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6), Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin K. Vitamin E aids skin nourishment, reduces scars and fights free radicals. Avocado is high in the antioxidant glutathione, which helps the body to detoxify and keeps skin clear of acne and wrinkles.
  2. Berries: All the berries are extremely rich in antioxidants, are a good source of fiber, Vitamin c, Manganese, Vitamin K1, copper and folate. Those are rich in flavonoids, vitamins and polyphenol. So berries are perfect food to fight wrinkles and fine lines. Berries not only help in reducing wrinkles but also help in the regeneration of new skin cells. Add berries to your breakfast or morning smoothies.
  3. Buckwheat: It is gluten free, rich in fiber, Iron, provides B1, is a rich source of magnesium and calcium, folate, helps in heart health and controls blood sugar levels and also reduces the signs of premature aging. It has Bioflavonoid rutin which helps to maintain the production of collagen in the skin and encourage the body’s utilization of Vitamin C.
  4. Papaya: is rich in a variety of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals like Vitamin A, C, K and E, Calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and Vitamin B. These help to improve skin elasticity and minimize the fine lines and wrinkles. Papaya is rich in the enzyme papain and chymopapain which helps to reduce inflammation. It helps to reduce acne by removing dead skin cells, and remove damaged keratin which can build up on the skin and form small bumps.
  5. Sweet Potatoes: are rich in Vitamin A, B,C, D, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, thiamine, zinc. It has the antioxidant beta-carotene which is converted into Vitamin A and helps in restoring skin elasticity, prompts skin cell turnover, which means healthy glowing skin. The Vitamin C and E in it helps in protection of skin from free radicals and keeps complexion radiant. Both the Vitamins are crucial to keep skin healthy, glowing and supple. Vitamin C boosts collagen and promotes tightening of skin. 

Above are the few foods which help protect our skin from wrinkles and premature aging. In addition to including these foods to your diet, make sure that you have healthy fats, a variety of veggies and fruits, especially different colour veggies and fruits. Keep yourself well hydrated, do regular exercise, learn to manage stress and sleep well. Reduce the consumption of alcohol, tea, coffee, preserved canned food and processed food. Our body does not have a voice but it talks to us through signs and symptoms, so pay attention to the health of the skin to be healthy and fit. With good food habits, healthy lifestyle, proper hydration, good sleep and stress management we can turn the clock on our skin to look 10 years younger. 

We hope this article helps you fight wrinkles! Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more tips on skincare, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play. 

#BeTheForce  

June 25, 2020 By Dr Supriya Vhatkar 1 Comment

Light and White Skin Patches? All You Need to Know About Vitiligo!

World Vitiligo Day Have you ever come across someone with lighter or white skin patches? Ever wondered what was wrong with them? Ever been curious enough to research? What these individuals suffer from is called Vitiligo. As today is World Vitiligo Day, let us understand this skin disorder.

Vitiligo occurs when pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) die or stop producing melanin — the pigment that gives your skin, hair and eyes color. The involved patches or affected area of the skin become lighter or white.

Common Symptoms of Vitiligo

  • Patchy loss of skin color
  • Premature whitening or graying of the hair on the scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows or beard
  • Loss of color in the tissues that line the inside of the mouth and nose (mucous membranes)
  • Loss of or change in color of the inner layer of the eyeball (retina)

Onset: Vitiligo can start at any age, but often appears before the age of 20.

Different Types of Vitiligo

  1. Generalized Vitiligo: This is the most common type. The patches appear on most parts of the skin. The discolored patches often progress similarly on corresponding body parts (symmetrically).
  2. Segmental Vitiligo: In this type, only one side or part of the body gets affected. It tends to occur at a younger age and progresses for a year or two, and then it stops.
  3. Localized (Focal) Vitiligo: In this type, one or only a few areas of your body get affected.

It is difficult to predict how the disease will progress. Sometimes the patches stop forming without treatment. In most cases, pigment loss spreads and eventually involves most of your skin. In this condition, the skin rarely gets its color back.

What Causes Vitiligo?

The most common causes of vitiligo may be related to:

  • A disorder in which your immune system attacks and destroys the melanocytes in the skin
  • Family history (heredity)
  • A trigger event, such as sunburn, stress or exposure to industrial chemicals

Diagnosis

  1. Medical History and Examination: If your doctor suspects you have vitiligo, he or she will ask about your medical history, examine you and try to rule out other medical problems, such as dermatitis or psoriasis. He or she may use a special lamp to shine ultraviolet light onto the skin to determine whether you have vitiligo.
  2. Skin Biopsy & Blood Draw: Take a small sample (biopsy) of the affected skin, draw blood for lab tests to look for underlying autoimmune conditions, such as anemia or diabetes

Treatment

Many treatments are available to help restore skin color or even out skin tone. Results vary and are unpredictable. Some treatments have serious side effects. Your doctor may suggest that you first try improving the appearance of your skin by applying self-tanning products or makeup.

If you and your doctor decide to treat your condition with a drug, surgery or therapy, the process may take many months to judge its effectiveness. And you may have to try more than one approach or a combination of approaches before you find the treatment that works best for you.

Even if treatment is successful for a while, the results may not last or new patches may appear.

Medications

No drug can stop the process of Vitiligo — the loss of pigment cells (melanocytes). But some drugs, used alone or with light therapy, can help restore some skin tone.

  1. Creams That Control Inflammation: Applying a corticosteroid cream to affected skin may help return color, particularly if you start using it early in the disease. You may not see a change in your skin’s color for several months. This type of cream is effective and easy to use. But it can cause side effects, such as skin thinning or the appearance of streaks or lines on your skin. Milder forms of the drug may be prescribed for children and for people who have large areas of discolored skin.
  2. Medications That Affect The Immune System: Ointments containing tacrolimus or pimecrolimus (calcineurin inhibitors) may be effective for people with small areas of depigmentation, especially on the face and neck. This treatment may have fewer side effects than corticosteroids and can be used with ultraviolet B (UVB) light. However, the Food and Drug Administration has warned about a possible link between these drugs and lymphoma as well as skin cancer.

Surgery

This may be an option if light therapy doesn’t work. Surgery can also be used with those therapies. The goal of the following techniques is to even out your skin tone by restoring color.

  1. Skin Grafting: In this procedure, your doctor removes very small sections of your normal, pigmented skin and attaches them to the areas that have lost pigment. This procedure is sometimes used if you have small patches of vitiligo. Possible risks include infection, scarring, a cobblestone appearance, spotty color and failure of the area to recolor.
  2. Blister Grafting: In this procedure, your doctor creates blisters on your pigmented skin, usually with suction. He or she then removes the tops of the blisters and transplants them to an area of discolored skin.
  3. Tattooing (micropigmentation): In this technique, your doctor uses a special surgical instrument to implant pigment into your skin. It’s most effective in and around the lips in people with darker complexions.

Lifestyle & Home Remedies

The following self-care tactics may help you care for your skin and improve its appearance:

  • Protect your skin from the sun and artificial sources of UV light. If you have vitiligo, particularly if you have light skin, use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Apply sunscreen generously and reapply every two hours — or more often if you’re swimming or sweating.
  • Seek shade and wear clothing that shields your skin from the sun. Don’t use tanning beds and sunlamps.

Protecting your skin from the sun helps prevent sunburn and long-term damage. A bad sunburn can make your condition worse. Sunscreen also minimizes tanning, which makes the contrast between normal and discolored skin less noticeable.

We hope this article helped you understand the symptoms, causes and treatment of Vitiligo. Do you have any doubts? Let us know in the comments below! For more information, you can tune into our experts on GOQii Play.

#BeTheForce

December 13, 2019 By Vandana Juneja 8 Comments

8 Simple and Effective Winter Skincare Tips

winter skincare tipsWith winter around the corner, we all look forward to the beautiful, exciting days ahead! Despite the cold weather, winters bring a warm feeling that compels us to spend time with friends, family, outdoor picnics, get-togethers coupled with good food and warm drinks! Ah! You get the picture. As with all good things, there’s a flipside to this weather as well. It can be really harsh on your skin, hair and overall health. Ideally, you need to change the way you take care of yourself during this season and that’s why we’re here! We’ll be focusing on a few simple winter skincare tips to help you take care of your skin and keep it moist and supple all season long.

1. Moisturize Your Skin Well

The atmospheric humidity drops drastically during winter and so does the water content in our skin. We need to protect it well with a heavy moisturizer and use it more frequently. Be cautious while picking a moisturizer as you may need to seek advice from a dermatologist to ensure it suits your skin type. For instance, if you have dry or combination skin, you might want to use an oil-based moisturizer instead of a water-based one. 

Moisturizers with ingredients such as safflower oil, soybean oil, sweet almond oil, carrot oil, Shea butter will provide sufficient moisture and nourishment to the skin. Moisturize often, at least twice a day. You can even apply oils such as coconut oil, olive oil and mustard oil 10 or 15 minutes before bathing. This will give your skin a protective layer and not let the hot water remove moisture from the skin.

In case you have oily skin, you may not feel the need to moisturize your skin but when the tightness, dryness and itchiness are apparent, start moisturizing! Your hands will need extra care, especially after each wash. Use a hand cream and massage your hands well. Wearing waterproof gloves when washing dishes or cleaning around the house will also keep them in good health.

2. Apply Sunscreen

winter skincare tipsUsing Sunscreen during winter! What? Well, even in winters, the UV Rays are powerful enough to damage and age your skin. Before you step outside, apply a moisturizing, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher to all exposed areas of your body. To know which sunscreen you should pick, click here. 

3. Keep Yourself Well Hydrated

Water is essential to keep your cells full and hydrated, reducing the risk of skin conditions like chapping, peeling, irritation, itchiness etc. Water also helps remove toxins or impurities from our body giving a smooth and flawless texture to the skin. Dull skin is another common winter issue, due to dry air, in-room heating and lack of hydration. Keep your skin glowing by drinking at least 8-10 glasses spaced out through the day at regular intervals even if you don’t feel thirsty.

4. Eat Good Food

Skincare means nourishing the body from the inside too. Foods rich in Vit A, C and E, plus Omega-3 Fatty Acids are especially beneficial to keep the skin healthy, acquire and retain moisture. Foods you should include in your daily diet are Citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruit, Indian gooseberry (Amla), broccoli, carrots, avocados, spinach, blueberries, nuts and seeds, olive oil, and coconut oil. Green tea is also rich in antioxidants which eliminate free radicals and reduces flaky skin. Dark chocolate is also one of the best foods to keep your skin glowing during harsh winters.

5. Get Active!

Shrug off the winter chills by keeping your energy levels up by staying active! Exercising regularly improves blood circulation and removes toxins from our system. This helps keep the skin healthy, beside other numerous health benefits. Don’t wait till New Years to join a gym. Start now!

6. Use Warm and not Hot Water to Bathe

Avoid bathing with steaming hot water. Instead, use lukewarm water and reduce the time spent to bathe. Hot water dehydrates your skin and strips it off the natural protective oils. Whereas lukewarm water seals the moisture inside the skin. You can even add a few drops of oil, honey or milk to the water.

7. Cover Yourself Well

winter skincare tipsRemember to cover yourself up well before moving out to avoid overexposure to the cold air. Use scarves, hats, gloves, etc. to cover your head, neck and hands. If your skin is already irritated, avoid synthetic woollens and use soft, comfortable and loose-fitting clothes instead.

8. Comfort is Everything

Many winter fabrics cause skin irritation, making it dry and itchy. Try and avoid direct contact with the skin. Wear comfortable, breathable fabrics underneath and then layer it with heavy, warm clothes to avoid irritation to the skin.

Even after following the above tips, if you still experience irritation, redness and dryness on your skin, seek medical advice immediately. Most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy the winters!

This article was featured on the Vishakha Sodha Blog. Read it here and watch her blog for more guest articles from GOQii!  

#BeTheForce 

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