Oxidative stress affects us all, and unfortunately, the first and most visible sign of its impact is on our skin. Premature aging and dull skin are unfortunate realities for many people, but they don’t have to be. There are ways to fight against this oxidative stress, and each piece of this fight is important. Eating the right foods and treating your skin with a quality regimen will help your skin glow beautifully.

The Right Foods for Your Skin

“You are what you eat.” When it comes to having glowing, radiant skin, what you eat has a direct impact on your skin. Many health articles emphasize the need to eat antioxidant-rich foods, but what are antioxidants, why do we need them, and how do they help our skin?

It Starts with Oxidative Stress

If you cut an apple and leave it out, what happens? It turns brown. Why? Oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a result of oxygen-containing free radicals damaging cells. Free radicals are harmful molecules that are imbalanced in their electrons, and it takes out its damage on your cells and other genetic material.

Oxidative stress is also what causes your skin to break down and suffer from premature ageing, wrinkles, and even cancer. You can’t get away from oxidative stress altogether, as it is created by the simple act of breathing.

Fighting Oxidative Stress with Antioxidants

What fights oxidative stress and lessens the damage? Antioxidants, and plenty of them. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by balancing their electrons. In turn, that helps protect your genetic material and your cells from excessive damage. By increasing your intake, you can nourish your cells and radiant skin will be the result.

Selenium, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene are all nutrients that are high in antioxidant properties, and foods containing these nutrients will boost the antioxidant impact. Here are some foods that are rich in antioxidants. Add them to your diet and reap the benefits!

• Berries, berries, berries: Blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and cranberries all pack an antioxidant punch.
• Citrus: Oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and clementines are vitamin C vehicles. They do your body good and are helpful in achieving radiant skin.
• Dark, leafy greens: Spinach, kale, and other dark green vegetables like broccoli, artichokes, and avocados should be routinely included in your diet.
• Nuts: Almonds and walnuts top the list but keeping a supply of mixed nuts on hand makes a perfect and convenient snack.
• Sweet potatoes: This delicious root vegetable is high in beta-carotene and vitamin C. It’s incredibly versatile, so enjoy it in a variety of sweet and savory recipes. Other orange vegetables, such as butternut squash and orange bell peppers, provide similar nutrients.
• Fish: Fresh seafood in general is high in antioxidants, but salmon, tuna, and oysters top the list. Avoid fried seafood, though, as frying foods destroys the nutritional value and increases the damaging free radicals.

In sum? Increase your raw fruit and vegetable intake and eat a well-rounded variety of colors. Want radiant skin? Eating the rainbow every day will help you exponentially.

The Right Skin Regimen

Faithfully using an appropriate skin care regimen also helps protect your skin and repair damage done by free radicals. It’s important, however, that you don’t simply grab whichever skin cream is cheapest or comes in the prettiest container on the drugstore shelf. Without properly assessing your skin’s needs, you could end up with a regimen that contains ingredients that irritate your skin or even damage it further with harmful chemicals. So, how should you choose which skincare regimen is right for you?

Start with a Consultation

First, get an expert consultation. Consult with a trained and certified dermatologist to find out exactly what your skin needs most, and which kind of products will help repair and protect it. There are different regimens on the market, and it’s important to choose one that is suited toward your skincare needs, your age, and the level of oxidative stress and damage already present.

Age is a huge factor in determining the right skincare regimen. The nutrient levels our bodies and skin need shift over time as we age and hormones fluctuate. You’ll reap the most benefits from a skincare regimen targeted to your particular needs, whether you have youthful or mature skin or anywhere in between.

Elizabeth Roche has created a full line of skincare products, and we are happy to have a consultation with you to determine which products will benefit your skin the most. Contact us today to set up an appointment! Our friendly staff will put you right at ease in our beautiful and tranquil office.

The Right Skin Procedures

Foods can help increase our antioxidant levels from the inside out, and a quality skincare regimen can boost those levels from the outside in. However, a rejuvenating procedure to help you have beautiful, radiant skin can be a piece of the equation many people overlook — and therefore, miss out on its benefits. What are some of those procedures, and how can they help?

AQUAGOLD ® fine touch™

This stimulating and rejuvenating microneedling treatment utilizes cutting edge micro-channeling technology. The AQUAGOLD ® fine touch™ device has gold-plated stainless steel surgical needles, which are truly the gold standard for biocompatibility with our skin. These needles are 0.6 mm long and  .13 mm wide, smaller than a human hair. Where other microneedling devices treat only by delivering micro punctures thereby stimulating the body’s production of collagen and elastin, the AQUAGOLD ® fine touch™ delivers bioactive compounds evenly under the dermis. This floods your skin with a nutrient-dense, antioxidant-rich treatment, leaving you with radiant skin: the evidence of rejuvenation and restoration.

You may also consider our HydraFacial treatment. Before your HydraFacial, you’ll consult with Dr. Elizabeth Roche, and a specific compound of serums will be selected so you can enjoy the maximum benefits our HydraFacial has to offer. Red algae extract, green tea extract, Spiraea Ulmaria extract, vitamin C, vitamin E, and mineral peptides including magnesium and zinc are only a few of the many serums we may use in your personal compound, and all of these are extremely high in antioxidants. We have several different HydraFacial treatments, and we’re ready to help you enjoy this customizable facial as more than a luxury, but rather a necessary step, on your journey to enjoying radiant skin.

Get Radiant Skin at Any Age

Treating yourself to a rejuvenating facial treatment in our office is the perfect next step in your response to helping your skin to be at its healthiest. When your skin looks and feels healthy and radiant, you feel healthy and radiant. And others will notice. Call our office today if you’re ready to enjoy healthy, radiant skin. We can’t wait to help you look and feel your best!