GOING TO THE DERMA CLINIC ISN?T THE only way to take care of your skin. There are affordable ways to get that healthy and natural glow. Some practical tips:

1. The skin is made up mainly of collagen. But, the process of manufacturing it requires vitamin C, which can be found in mangoes, guavas and citrus products.

2. The body gets rid of trash through bowel movement. Irregular or obstructed bowel movement causes toxin buildup and leads to dull and unsightly skin. Eating fiber-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables helps eliminate ?trash? from our bodies.

3. Free radicals cause cells to age rapidly. If you want your skin to be healthy, avoid fried foods that add free radicals to your system. Instead, take antioxidant-rich foods that protect the body from the effects of free radicals.

Fruits, as well as cruciferous and leafy vegetables, are naturally rich in antioxidants. When you eat them, you provide a defense against unwanted free radicals.

Antioxidants

4. Manganese also functions as an antioxidant. You?ll find it in whole grains, brown rice, beans, tofu, nuts, seeds and coconut.

5. Molybdenum, which is naturally found in legumes, reduces toxicity in the body.

6. Vitamins are needed for healthy skin: Vitamin A maintains its healthy sheen. Para-aminobenzoic acid protects skin from the damaging effects of the sun and minimizes wrinkles. B3 (niacin) helps prevent skin cancer, while B8 (biotin) is necessary to maintain skin elasticity. These wonderful vitamins are found in avocados, whole grains, leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds.