Skincare From the Inside Out


When skin care is mentioned, the first thought of many is the skin upon our face. While taking care of our face is very important, it is only one area of the body. As a result, this perception has lead to the rest of our skin being neglected. It is exposed to so many elements in our daily lives that sometimes we forget to treat it properly.
 We have to grasp the understanding that our skin is the largest organ of our body and it requires care that is not purely cosmetic.

What are some Functions of the Skin?

The main function of the skin is protection. Along with covering our nerves, veins, tissues and other organs; it has the ability to protect us from environmental factors such as damage from ultraviolet radiation, bacterial invasion, and injuries.
 It is also responsible for temperature regulation; namely, by retaining or releasing heat. Sweat is secreted from sweat glands through the skin. It is then evaporated, causing the skin to feel cool and dropping the surface temperature.
To maintain growth and proper function of many aspects of the body,  Vitamin D is able to be synthesized through the skin. This is normally induced by exposure to natural sunlight. [1,2]

What Can Affect the Health of Our Skin?

Our skin can be an alert message to what is going on inside our bodies. It is very important to look at the underlying causes, as there are many things that can cause skin conditions. It can be a result of environmental factors, an accumulation of toxins, or even stress.  These symptoms such as acne, premature aging, blemishes, and rashes are what our bodies use to communicate with us. For example, common acne can flare up due to the release of cortisol, a hormonal response to stress. [3,4,5] One can combat this by:

  • Exercising (exercise releases "feel-good" hormones like dopamine)
  • The use of calming essential oils (like lavender or frankincense ) 
  • Removing high processed foods and sugar from the diet
  •  Practicing gratitude on a daily basis
  • Or even as simple as getting a good nights rest! 

How do we Maintain Healthy Skin?

Skin care starts from the inside and in order to repair anything you need proper tools. Nutrients are the tools the body needs for healing and maintenance. Some of those tools for healthy skin are:

  • Antioxidants- can be found in berries, basil, cilantro, and turmeric. 
  • Vitamin D- can be found in sunlight, mushrooms, oysters, and cod liver oil.
  • Omega-3 Fatty acids- can be found in flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts and fish oil. 
  • Zinc- can be found in oysters, spinach, pumpkin seeds, and chickpeas.
  • Hydration: can be found in water, cucumbers, melons, and celery.
All of these "tools" play an important role. Antioxidants remove free radicals and, along with omega-3, inhibits inflammation. Vitamin D helps the growth of skin cells while zinc combats dry, itchy skin and improves wound healing.[6,7,8,9,10,11 12]

Getting the proper nutrients into your body is a great step but it is also important not to undermine proper washing, exfoliating and moisturizing for the entire body. Using natural soaps that will help purge the body of dirt and dead skin cells and following up with a natural body butter, cream or lotion is essential to help the skin perform the job it was created to do as well as improve its appearance.
Try to exfoliate the entire body once a month. You can use dry brushing techniques (Click here to see step-by-step instructions on how to perform dry brushing) or natural scrubs. I like using grounded blackseed or coffee scrubs. Here's a simple recipe for a natural coffee scrub I enjoying using:

2 Cups of grounded coffee
3/4 cup of coconut oil
1/2 cup of sugar
Few drops of lavender essential oil.

Mix sugar and coffee in a container or jar that has an air-tight lid. Add coconut oil and mix well. Then add a few drops of lavender essential oil. Store in an area away from direct sunlight.



Disclaimers

  • All product reviews are based on my experiences. Please be advised that everyone may not have the same experience. I am not affiliated with any product or marketing unless otherwise noted. Please check with manufacture disclaimers prior to use of any product.
  • All advice, information, and remedies should be taken into severe consideration. Please contact your health practitioner or holistic practitioner if you are struggling with a disease or currently taking any form of medication, pregnant or breastfeeding.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Let's Talk About Acne

Image
Hundreds of dollars are spent on acne treatments or concealers for teenagers and adults alike. Many of these expensive serums, creams, and washes fail to deliver their promising results. To make matters worse, some are filled with chemicals and ingredients that the body may view as toxins. Although there are cases of acne that require stronger treatment, many cases of acne can be controlled with proper care. What is Acne Acne is a term used to classify a skin condition that symptoms involve breakouts of pimples and bumps. Pimples are the result of dead skin cells and excess oily secretions from glands in the skin called  sebaceous glands  that can get trapped beneath the skin's surface and clogs pores. Open clogged pores lead to what we call 'blackheads'; dark clogged spots on the skin that appear black due to a reaction of the skin pigment, melanin, to oxidation. When sealed by the skin, they are white and can become infected. When infected, the inflamed pimple is fil
Read more

Edible Mushrooms

Image
A familiar sight in savory dishes, the mushroom has trecked throughout history earning a worthy place in cuisines around the globe. It was considered a "plant of immortality" by the Ancient Egyptians, who entitled it strictly for the pharaoh's enjoyment. The medicinal properties were held into account as well as its culinary purpose. In Rome, wild-foraged mushrooms were thoroughly enjoyed in the diet. Different ways of cultivating the mushrooms were introduced early in Roman civilization, around 200 BC.[ 1 , 2 ] Mushroom farming became popular in the Western world by a French gardener by the name of Chambry. He discovered the effectiveness of growing mushrooms in caves, where the humidity was high. With the abundance of deserted caves, mushrooms were grown all throughout Paris. [ 3 ] Types of Mushrooms and Their Benefits  The most recognized and used mushrooms in the US are White Buttons, Portabella, and Criminis ( Baby Bellas- which are just immature portabella mu
Read more

The Body and Sugar

Image
Photo Credit: Elisa Azzali No doubt that processed sugar is one of the main culprits of health sabotage. It is one of the first things that many people attempt to cut out when seeking to improve their diets. There is a good reason for it too, as added and processed sugars have been proven time after time as a detrimental aid in disease with no benefits. Naturally many will opt for an alternative. With sugar hiding under so many names and descriptions,  many become confused and even frustrated when looking at ingredient labels. Understanding the body and its Natural Sugars Our body produces natural sugars that it uses as energy called glucose. This is made through the process of breaking down the sugars and starches (carbohydrates) in the food.  Glucose is released into the bloodstream after being absorbed by the stomach and small intestine. Here it will be used as energy with the help of insulin (which is produced by the pancreas) or it will be stored in the liver to be use
Read more