Hammerling-Hodgers: Want healthy hair, skin, nails during the holidays? Follow these tips

The holidays are almost here, and while it can mean the most wonderful time of the year, it can be the worst time of year for your hair, skin and nails.

There are several factors that can affect the way you look at a holiday party.

During this time of year, the cooler weather, stress, sugary foods and alcohol can wreak havoc on your body.

Here are a few tips to help you look your best this holiday season.

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Take care of your hair

This is that time of year to dress up and get our hair styled festively.

Sometimes, using the extra products and styling tools can cause more wear and tear by drying out the hair.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), heat styling products can weaken the hair, so make sure to always use a heat protectant styler.

A simple way to nourish your hair is by investing in a quality mask such as Shea Butter Intense Mask for the hair that can nourish your hair and scalp on a weekly basis.

Also, make sure to keep your hair looking healthy by keeping your ends trimmed and fresh looking.

Consult with your hair stylist to see which products are best for your hair. Don’t use too heavy of a conditioner that may weigh down fine hair.

Healthy skin is a win

Several factors can affect the appearance of the skin, such as the environment stress, and the aging process.

Avoid smoking, which can dull the skin complexion and make sure to stay hydrated so your skin looks youthful with a nice healthy glow.

Never stop your daily skin care routine, even if you are busy.

After a busy day of shopping and visiting with friends and relatives, do not forget to remove your make-up before going to bed.

It only takes a few minutes to remove the makeup and oils on your face.

If you do go to bed without washing your face, it can result in more blemishes because of clogged pores.

It’s easy to keep the skin moist by staying hydrated and using a moisturizer that can be found at any local drug store or online, such as Cerave Cream, Aveeno cream or Vanicream.

The change in weather to cooler months can dry out the skin and make it appear red. Stress can also contribute to having problems with acne or wrinkles.

Make sure to watch your diet because certain skin conditions may flare if you eat too much foods with sugar or drink too much alcohol.

People with acne may notice their red bumps become more pronounced after enjoying all the tasty holiday treats.

Try to avoid certain holiday foods such as baked goods because they are packed with sugar, which can damage the collagen and elastin in the skin.

Drinking a few glasses of wine when socializing may trigger your face to turn bright red. Alcohol is known to dehydrate the skin.

Avoiding salty foods is important because too much salt can make you look puffy due to the fluid retention in the skin.

By maintaining a healthy diet to keep your skin healthy, continue to eat foods which have omega 3s to keep your skin glowing.

Most importantly, get plenty of rest, such as 6-8 hours of sleep at night to keep your skin looking your best.

Ask your aesthetician for recommendations on which Vitamin C serums, retinoids and hyaluronic acid is best for you and your skin routine.

All hail healthy nails

Paying special attention to your nails by getting regular manicures is beneficial for the health and appearance of nails by getting rid of dead skin cells and keeping them strong by hydrating them and having them trimmed short.

Avoid acrylic nails due to problems after wearing them.

Remember that we all need to pamper ourselves so we can look and feel our best by reducing the appearance of wrinkles and dull skin when making appearances at holiday parties.

Or conditioning our hair and nails to give ourselves a youthful look.

If you follow a few of these helpful hints, then you are on your way to being picture-perfect this holiday season.

Do you still need guidance on to make your skin glow and find the best products that are customized for your hair, skin and nails this holiday season? Then reach out for help to your local dermatologist.

Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels during this holiday season.

Susan Hammerling-Hodgers, a Member of the National Psoriasis Foundation, is a PA-C (Certified Physician Assistant) and MPAS (Master of Physician Assistant Studies) and works at Brevard Skin and Cancer at the Merritt Island, Titusville and Rockledge offices.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Take this advice to look your best during the holiday season