Do you look in the mirror and find that your skin looks lifeless? Does your skin lack the beautiful, radiant glow that it once had? Does your skin have a pale, yellowish tint to it? If so, you suffer from what dermatologists describe as sallow skin.
So, what is a sallow skin condition? What causes it? If you find yourself lacking sleep and undergoing a considerable amount of stress, your skin may take on a sallow tint. Furthermore, smoking, anemia (i.e. iron deficiency), and vitamin deficiency are all contributing factors as to why your skin may not be as healthy and beautiful as you’d like.
Don’t worry, though; all hope is not yet lost. Keep reading for positive, simple steps you can take to reverse the sallowing of your skin.
The first steps involve changing your habits. Ask yourself these questions about your health:
Do you smoke?
If you’re a smoker and you want to have healthy, glowing, radiant skin, it’s not going to happen. The main reason why smoking and healthy skin don’t go hand-in-hand is because smoking deprives your body of the oxygen necessary to fully carry out its functions. Near the surface of your skin are tiny blood vessels called capillaries. Smoking constricts these blood vessels, which, in turn, restricts the amount of oxygen your skin receives. This causes your skin to take on a sallow, yellow tint and leads to premature aging of the skin.
Do you eat healthy foods?
According to dermatologist and nutritionist Nicholas Perricone, best-selling author and owner of an anti-aging skincare line, simple carbohydrates found in refined sugar, white bread, and soda, cause your body’s insulin levels to spike, which ultimately leads to inflammation and a breakdown of the collagen and elastin that keeps your skin looking vibrant. Furthermore, a diet lacking in folic acid and B12 vitamins—found in many fruits and vegetables—can cause the skin to take on a sallow appearance.
Do you get enough rest?
When you’re sleep-deprived, your body automatically reacts by stressing out. Stress, in turn, releases a hormone called cortisol. Like the simple carbohydrates described above, cortisol also causes inflammation which breaks down the skin’s natural collagen and elastin. Collagen, as well as hyaluronic acid, is responsible for the elasticity and translucency of your skin. Sleep also gives the body necessary time to repair itself; in other words, when we sleep, the body has time to reverse the effects of aging caused by our day-to-day tasks.
The next step involves nourishing your skin with a little extra tender love and care. The following at-home cures, along with changing your health habits, can speed up the process of reversing your sallow skin:
-Honey Mask:
Buy some small Mason jars. Fill a jar halfway with honey and pour lemon juice into it. Pour the juice until the honey is smooth enough to rub on your face, but still retains a thick consistency. Use every night, and leave on your face for 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Honey naturally re-hydrates your skin and lemon kills bacteria that cause dullness.
-Buttermilk Mask:
Take a teaspoon of buttermilk and rub it on your face in a circular motion. Leave it on for 15 minutes and rinse with warm water. Buttermilk not only cleanses your skin, but also works to bleach the yellowness out of skin.
-Milk Powder Mask:
Take two tablespoons of milk powder and mix it with two teaspoons of sugar (granulated). Add water until a thick paste forms. Apply to your face and wait 10 minutes. When done, exfoliate your skin by rubbing your face in circular motions. Rinse with warm water.
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