Healthy skin can be obtained by using appropriate skin care products such as good quality cleansers and moisturizing lotions and creams. These products are external treatments. However, the internal aspect of skin care is often ignored. What we eat daily plays a significant role in the health of our skin as well.

Your skin is the first thing people see when they look at you. Strangely enough, it's considered the largest organ in the human body -- right up there with the intestines, lungs, and liver. It serves many purposes, including acting as our first defense against germs and the environment, and converting sunlight to vitamin D. The layer of fat under the skin's surface helps ensure that the important fluids inside our bodies stay inside our bodies.

The ironic thing about skin is that when people are young, their biggest concern about their skin may be how to get a tan. But as we get older, our top skin priority becomes preventing wrinkles.

Carrots are a good food for skin because they are a high source of beta-carotene. The body coverts beta-carotene to vitamin A for use within the body. Carrots are also a good source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that mops up free radicals, such as those produced by overexposure to the sun, that lead to the premature aging of skin. It also aids in skin collagen formation. Collagen helps skin look young and plump.

Make sure to include in your diet food items that are rich in Vitamin A. Some of Vitamin A-rich foods are carrot, spinach, sweet potatoes, etc.

Instead of having red meat, have fish, organic chicken, etc. Even if you want to have red meat, have it no more than three times a week.

Dairy isn't just good for your bones; it's great for your face, too. But it's the selenium in cottage cheese, not the calcium that has us really going wild for these creamy curds. Selenium, a mineral, teams up with vitamin E as a powerful free-radical fighting antioxidant. Plus, it's been touted to protect against skin cancer and even fight dandruff.

Don't let the 'germ' scare you - it's actually just the embryo within a grain of wheat, meaning it's very nutritious. Wheat germ is a good source of biotin, a B vitamin that is crucial to skin health. Biotin is so important that even a mild deficiency can actually cause dermatitis, a skin condition characterized by itchy, scaly skin. Sprinkle wheat germ on yogurt for a tasty way to get more biotin in your diet.

Foods rich in vitamin A, such as beef, liver, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, mango, spinach, kale, broccoli--and carrots, of course! • Green tea. This miracle of nature is a natural boon to preventative care, and it is an important factor in your skin care maintenance. • Water. Of course, water is the best kept beauty secret. Water is essential in keeping skin healthy and glowing. Drink 8 glasses a day for best results.

Orange Fruits & Vegetables. Vitamins A & C play vital roles in our goal for healthy skin. Carotene, the substance that gives carrots and sweet potatoes is deep orange color, turns into vitamin A inside the body. This powerful antioxidant helps to both deter wrinkles and fight cancer-causing radicals.

So what foods should you choose to boost your chances of having healthy skin? Take care of your skin by eating right and having fun with your food