Care of the skin requires a nutritious diet, plenty of water, fresh air, exercise, sleep and minimum stress.
The skin needs to be protected against the environment - sun, wind, cold - by using barrier creams.
Poor health habits, too many fats and sugars, too many stimulants like coffee, are bad for the skin; so is excess smoking, excess alcohol.
Weight fluctuations should be avoided as, after sun, they are the prime cause of wrinkled skin.
When you gain weight the skin has to stretch and this puts strain on the elastic fibres of the inner layer.
When you lose weight the skin does not always spring back to its original shape, particularly if the loss has been quick and drastic.
Apart from wrinkles, visible scars remain - stretch marks - and they are seen mostly on upper thighs and stomach. (They can sometimes be alleviated by rubbing in pure coconut oil or cocoa butter, particularly as a preventive measure during pregnancy.)
Fat pads are extremely important to the skin's appearance; they lie directly beneath the skin and separate it from the deeper muscle and bone. Their function is to cushion and support the skin, to supply the sebaceous glands and to act as a vehicle for the oil-soluble skin vitamins A, D and E.
Loss of almost all fatty tissue through extreme dieting or disease can alter the appearance and quality of skin very quickly.
A wholesome diet is essential. It is important to get enough proteins, vitamins and minerals; lean meat, fish, poultry, eggs, fresh vegetables and fruits; avocado, cucumber and cabbage are particularly recommended.
Vitamin A is the skin's most needed vitamin, but it is widely available in everyday foods and excess can be detrimental. A supplement of C and E can do no harm.
It is generally accepted that vitamins A, D, E and K can be absorbed through the skin, though how much, under what circumstances and to what value, varies with the source.
The case for vitamin E is debatable. Dermatologists are dubious about its supposed skin-regenerating claims, but some people burst a 200 mg. Vitamin E tablet and squeeze oil directly on the skin, saying it thickens it, dries up whiteheads and helps erase wrinkles.
