Your skin is the largest organ in the body. Of course we all want our skin to look great, but it is also important that it functions optimally. Your skin is a large detoxification organ that eliminates toxins from your body (through sweat). Your skin also protects you from invaders, such as bacteria and other microorganisms. It helps to regulate your temperature and protects you from mechanical injuries and radiation. The health of your skin impacts the health of your entire body, and the health (or lack of health) of your body can show up in your skin. Taking care of your skin is not a luxury, it is a necessity.
The best focus when dealing or managing skin is to allow a 30-60 day cycle to be your measurement guide when making changes. Epidermis skin cells replenish at a rate of about 10 days and have a 50 percent replacement in 4-6 weeks. If you begin to change eating strategies, if you begin to lose weight, affect your hormones, increase hydration, change skin care routines, or move to a new city then expect surface skin changes within the next 90 days.
Here are some of our tips for healthy skin:
Cindy Farrar, Aesthetician (An Optimal You Wellness Partner)
We all know the classic skincare tips we’ve grown up with; drink plenty of water, don’t smoke, take your makeup off at night…just to name a few.My most common, and I feel most important tip, is to take time to look through your skincare products and cosmetics and check out the ingredients that are listed.
*Note: It’s not a law to list ingredients, so if your products don’t have them listed, that’s a good indication they probably don’t want you to know. I’d toss them!
The wide use of chemicals and synthetic ingredients that can be labeled “Natural” can actually be detrimental to your skin and overall body health and some are potent carcinogens.
*Sodium Lauryl or Laureth Sulfate (SLS)- It’s a white powder used as a detergent, emulsifier and surfactant used in Thousands of cosmetic products, lotions, creams, shampoos and toothpaste. It’s a strong degreaser that strips the skin of its natural oils and can be highly irritating to skin causing all kinds of skin conditions.
*Propylene Glycol- It’s a petroleum (comes from the same place they get our gasoline from) derived liquid that attracts water which makes it widely used as a humectant, surfactant and solvent in many product lines.
And FYI …. It’s also used in antifreeze and hydraulic brake fluid.
*Parabens- Used to preserve chemical and synthetic ingredients (they don’t work to preserve plant based ingredients),some common names you’ll see are:
-Methylparaben
-Glutaraldehyde
-Quaternium-15
-Triclocarban
Parabens are known to disrupt hormone function and have been linked to reproductive, immunological, neurological, and skin irritation problems.
This list is just a small sampling and I advise that you stick to quality skin care products that do not contain harmful ingredients. Remember that our skin is the largest organ of our bodies and protecting it is essential to your overall health. Research the products that you are using and make sure that they do NOT contain harmful ingredients.
For those who don’t have the time to research products that are safe, I carry a high quality skin care line that I use on my clients and also offer for sale. The ONLY products I use in my skin care treatments are formulated from the finest, strictly chosen 100% Organic, Chemical and preservative free ingredients from around the world. My skincare product line is rich in phytonutrients, plant antioxidants, plant fragrances, therapeutic grade essential oils, flower and seed oils, Organic fresh elastin, hyaluronic acid, collagens, proteins, minerals, ocean rich vegetation just to name a few.
All of the ingredients have a beneficially biological effect on all skin types.
Cheers to healthy, radiant, beautiful skin!
Joseph Montgomery, PhD, Specializing in Integrative Nutrition (An Optimal You Wellness Partner)
1. Citrus Modified Pectin Powder – Many citrus plants have a white pith or internal connection
within their fruit between the skin of the fruit and the meat or pulp of the fruit. The collection
and utilization of the pectin from this pith is an amazing helpful product for clearing acne,
psoriasis, eczema, and general rosacea!
2. Schisandra Berry – The all-around immortal powerhouse of a berry from the Schisandra (Shee-Shawn-DRA) bush offers antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging benefits. For skin health, it can be incorporated topically, it can be made as a tea, it can be added to bath products, or it can be a new smoothie addition to your daily routine.
3. Omega Oil 3, 5,7, and 9 – Essential Fatty Acids are one of the most protective healing
supplements everyone should discover as they want to improve health and vitality. Omega Oils
come from a variety of locations; not just from fish. Many seed oils have a variety of concentration differences to make them perfect for your self-care routine!
Pomegranate Seed Oil, Moringa Seed Oil, Hemp Seed Oil, and Sacha Inchi Seed Oil are my
favorites.
4. Collagen Peptides – The layers of our skin form a very intricate network of fibers, muscles, fat cells, and skin cells all working together to keep you protected and looking amazing. A specific
form of thick fiber is called collagen. This layer must be replaced routinely along with your new
skin cells. Consuming collagen can be very beneficial to many vegetarians due to the limited
sources of abundant collagens in plants, mushrooms, and fruits!
5. Most Important – Water is the most essential skin protective, body balancing, natural health
tool that many people do not understand within natural healing. Our skin is one of the largest
organs providing many various functions. It is critical for proper detoxification. We must keep our skin well if we wish to have the best functioning heart, brain, and liver. A daily goal of 65-85 ounces of pH neutral, minerally balanced, spring water is best for routine health care. Locally, we are blessed with Palomar mountain spring source that offers this perfect balance.
Dr. Laurie Blanscet and Sharon Ackerman P.A., Integrative Medical Doctor and P.A.
Proper hormonal balance is critical if you wish to have healthy skin. You may realize that hormonal imbalance (in men and women) can cause fatigue, muscle and bone loss, loss of vitality, brain fog, hot flashes, night sweats, erection difficulties, etc…..You may not have realized that a hormonal imbalance can also cause your skin to be dry, to have more wrinkles, and to be less effective at detoxification. Even if you have had your lab work drawn and have been told your hormones are normal, it is highly possible that you have a hormonal imbalance based upon your symptoms. Many people have a hormonal imbalance that is missed because the hormone levels still fall within “normal” ranges. The “normal’ ranges of hormones are skewed. These ranges are obtained by determining the average levels from a random group of people without any regard to the state of their health. Optimal ranges of hormone blood levels are different than “normal” ranges. Optimal levels are the blood levels seen in people who feel and look great. Trust your body–if you feel that something is “off”, seek the advice from a medical provider trained to evaluate you and not brush off your symptoms.
Here is a brief overview of the main hormones that can impact the health and look of your skin:
Optimal thyroid levels keep your skin moist (not dry). Having fatigue in the mid afternoon, and/or a sluggish metabolism, and/or dry skin/hair can all be signs of low thyroid levels. Iodine offers a natural support for the thyroid and there are also bioidentical prescription thyroid medications if needed.
Estrogen, Progesterone, and Testosterone: All three of these hormones can affect the look, feel, and function of your skin. An imbalance of these hormones can cause you to have older looking skin that is dull. Optimal levels of these hormones assist your skin in looking younger and brighter. All three of these hormones help to keep your bones strong.Progesterone also helps with calming and sleep. Testosterone also helps with maintaining your muscle mass (keeping healthy muscle tone), memory, focus, mood, and energy. Estrogen also helps to eliminate hot flashes and can help mood. Both men and women need the proper balance of all three of these hormones to look and feel their best. Hormonal balance leads to a healthier body, mind, and skin.
Summary:
Your skin is important. It is not just about looking younger, it is about having having your skin function optimally and also having your entire body healthy. Of course, looking great is a side benefit of doing the right things for your skin. Pay attention to what you eat, drink, and put on your skin. Everything affects your body and your skin.
For anyone interested in beginning the benefits of natural and holistic skin care, body integration, and healing programs, then contact us today to get yourself back into alignment with personal self-care focused systems. We also offer periodic group healing classes. You can look and feel amazing!!