Top 5 beauty solutions

Resolve to take care of your skin in 2012

  1. Get enough sleep – Fatigue can cause dark circles, under-eye bags and puffiness, which is why it’s so important to get at least eight hours of sleep each night. In addition, sleep aids in the skin’s repair process, both preventing and reversing wrinkles and sagging skin.

  2. Consume anti-oxidants – Drinking green tea can help prevent the oxidative damage that occurs to the skin and throughout the body, slowing the aging process. The consumption of colored fruits that contain procyanidins, such as blueberries, strawberries and pomegranates, have the same benefits. Omega-3 fatty acids, either derived from plants or from fish oil, are another powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory supplement.

  3. Stay out of the sun – According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, about 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Be sure to apply an SPF 30 sunscreen year-round; check its ingredients to make sure it offers broad-spectrum protection. The best broad-spectrum ingredients are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, and give maximum protection against both UVB and UVA rays. These “physical” sunscreens have better protection against UVA radiation, which makes them better in the prevention of skin aging and development of melanoma.

  4. Work out four times a week – Exercise has excellent benefits for your skin and helps improve blood circulation, which may help your skin produce collagen. Exercise also modulates hormone production and helps in the anti-aging process throughout the body by releasing human growth hormones naturally. These hormones help maintain healthy, youthful cellular function.



  5. Moisturize your skin – Keeping your skin moisturized maintains the important barrier of the skin, reducing irritation. This will make the skin look younger with reduction of the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.


Alex A. Khadavi, MD, is a Los Angeles-based, board-certified dermatologist and an Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the University of Southern California.