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.




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