What Men Should Do To Protect Their Skin In Their 20s

Wear sunscreen.

Sunscreen isn't just for preventing nasty sunburns at the beach. The sun's ultraviolet rays are extremely strong. If you aren't protected from UV rays with sunscreen, your skin will inevitably suffer damage, eventually causing wrinkles, sun spots, and other signs of aging. But the effects of sun damage are even more serious than that. Failing to protect yourself from the sun massively increases your risk of developing skin cancer. Wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 whenever you are out in direct sunlight for a significant period.

Use a good cleanser.

The excessive oil production that causes teenagers so many problems with acne doesn't just stop when you turn 20. You are likely to still have issues with oily skin, especially in your early 20s. Using a quality facial cleanser containing salicylic acid and natural ingredients is the secret to keeping your skin clean and acne-free. A good facial cleanser will fight the bacteria that cause acne and minimize the amount of oil on your face, helping your pores to not get clogged.

Use a quality moisturizer.

While oily skin remains a problem for many men in their 20s, that doesn't mean a good moisturizer isn't still needed. In fact, if your skin becomes dry because it isn't treated with moisturizer, it may overcompensate by producing even more oil. Having dry, dull skin looks bad and can feel unpleasant. A moisturizer counteracts this problem and slows skin aging.

Use a good exfoliant.

An exfoliant is used to remove the layer of dead skin cells from your face. While exfoliants are much more important as you get older, they are still of value in your 20s. Skin cell turnover will start to slow even by your mid-20s. By getting rid of dead skin cells, exfoliants encourage the skin to produce new skin cells. In your 20s, stick with a gentle exfoliant since skin cell turnover is still relatively high.

Follow a healthy lifestyle.

Eating a nutritious diet and getting regular exercise is something you should be doing anyway. However, if you need one more reason, following a healthy lifestyle will benefit your skin enormously as well. Like the rest of your body, your skin requires a nutritious diet to be at its best. Foods rich in antioxidants are particularly beneficial, while sugar and processed foods contribute to skin aging. As for exercise, it increases blood flow to the skin, relieves stress (which can contribute to skin problems), and slows aging in general.