No matter how little you think of it, your skin is a very important organ on your body. Surprised? Very few people think of their skin as an organ; but scientists have disabused our minds that the skin is, indeed, an organ.

Not only does it cover everything inside the body, it also protects the organs from damage by the sun and the environment. Without the human skin, people’s muscles, bones, and internal organs would be hanging out all over the place. It’s the skin that holds everything together. It helps keep the body at just the right temperature.

The skin is the beauty of the body. One only need imagine an existence without the skin to know that it is one of the essential organs in the body.

However, as important as it is, many do no not take care of it the way they would their eyes, ears or legs. In fact, the skin gets little attention when it is damaged by cuts or wounds.

Consultant dermatologist, Dr. Yemi Onigbanjo, who describes the skin as the window to the human body and soul, says it is unwise to neglect the care of your skin.

According to her, not taking care of your skin could expose you to many health challenges, including cancer, kidney disease and liver problems.

She says, “Your skin says a lot about your health and wellbeing. In fact, the skin is the organ where major symptoms of diseases manifest the most. The skin is what gives us our form and also protects us from harsh conditions of the environment. However, many pay little or no attention to it.”

Onigbanjo says the best way to take care of the skin is not by buying expensive creams and lotions, but living a healthy lifestyle and eating diets devoid of junk.

According to the dermatologist, many of the nutrients that the skin needs to glow can be derived in most natural foods. She adds that when this is combined with good hygiene and a healthy lifestyle, one need not spend a fortune trying to look good.

One of them is water. Onigbanjo states that water is the fluid that keeps the skin in shape.

She says, “Water supplies the cells of the skin with fluid, helping them to stay in form. It hydrates the skin cells, reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles. It helps cells take up nutrients and purge toxins. Water improves circulation and blood flow, keeping your skin glowing.”

To ensure that your skin and other organs of the body get their daily requirement, Onigbanjo recommends that individuals should take at least eight glasses of water a day.

She notes that instead of bombarding the skin with creams and lotions daily, one can also consider changing to a diet filled with fruits and vegetables to nourish the skin.

“Many of the products in our body creams damage the skin over time and they may add no value. The nutrients the skin needs are what you can readily get in your food.”

You may now want to ask yourself, do I eat healthily? If we check your plate during lunch, are we going to see only fried and processed foods?”

If you want to stop your skin from looking dry and flaky, follow the skin treatment regimes stated below…

Eat fresh fruits

Grab an orange, a carrot, or a slice of cantaloupe. These fruits and vegetables are loaded with vitamin A. Applying vitamin A to the skin appears to reduce signs of ageing such as wrinkles. Topical and oral forms of vitamin A are common prescription treatments for acne and other skin conditions, including wrinkles. Other sources of vitamin A include leafy greens, eggs, and low-fat dairy.

Vitamin C: Power over the sun

Vitamin C helps protect skin from the sun. It also helps undo damage done by free radicals, which destroy skin-firming fibres such as collagen and elastin. Excellent sources of vitamin C include red bell peppers, citrus fruits, papaya, kiwi, broccoli, greens, and Brussels sprouts.

Vitamin E: Booster of skin health

Vitamin E is another antioxidant that may help shield your skin from damage done by the sun. Vitamin E is also an anti-inflammatory and immunity enhancer. It is found in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, olives, spinach, asparagus, olives, and leafy greens in small amounts.

Essential fatty acids

Essential fatty acids such as omega-3s and omega-6 help produce your skin’s natural oil barrier, keeping dry skin and blemishes at bay. EFAs are necessary fats that leave skin smoother and younger-looking.

Good sources of essential fatty acids include olive and canola oils, flax, walnuts, and cold water fish such as salmon, sardines, and mackerel.

Healthy oils

Some oils pack more than essential fatty acids. Good-quality oils like extra virgin olive oil and cold- or expeller-pressed oils are more simply processed than many commercial oils, and so they may help retain more skin-boosting nutrients.

These oils may also help lubricate skin and keep it looking and feeling healthy.

Green tea: Antioxidant powerhouse

Green tea may be the closest thing to a magic elixir that nature can offer for your skin. Green tea helps to stop inflammation, slow DNA damage, and can help prevent the sun from burning your skin.

You can find green tea in an abundance of cosmetics, but why not go straight to the source for a green tea boost: your tea pot.

It keeps your insides from falling out. It helps you warm up when you’re cold and can cool you off when you’re hot. It lets you feel things by touch. It protects you.