Food and Nutrition, Immune Health, Your Body, Your Natural Beauty
Practice Safe Skin…..Here’s What to do to Prevent Burns and Wrinkles!
Aug
When I moved to Arizona several years ago from the humid East Coast, I noticed had to put more effort into my skin regimen. “It’s a dry heat!” Yes, I know; better hair days here however, dry or moist (I believe dry is worse) the sun’s rays on your face can suck the youth right out of your skin if you are not being proactive.
As we get older, skin loses elasticity. It appears less smooth, drier and thinner. You may even notice you start bruising more easily which is due to the loss of support around blood vessel walls.
Here are some natural ways to keep your skin hydrated and slow down the aging effect, especially in the summer heat. They seem to be working for me so far!
From the inside out:
- If you don’t water the grapevine you end up with raisins, not plump juicy grapes! Hydrate by drinking plenty of water. In the summer heat, strive for more than half your weight in ounces. When running around add some pomegranate/blueberry juice and a dash of sea salt to your water bottle to replenish your electrolytes. (for more information, go to my early summer article on rehydration tips by clicking here)
- Clean out the gutter! Having a clean digestive system (healthy gut, healthy brain, healthy skin, ok healthy everything!) can help clear up impurities in your complexion. Kicking the Standard American Diet and replacing it with fresh whole foods and quality protein is a good start. A daily probiotic supplement will also help with protecting your colon. Ask your natural health practitioner trained in functional nutrition how to address your specific needs for a clean-up!
- Reduce stress on your liver! This organ is related to skin conditions according to Ancient Medicine (Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda). The ancient sages (seers of truth) who developed the oldest form of medicine known to mankind (Ayurveda) believed a healthy liver is the root of a healthy glow externally.. your complexion! I can attest to that from personal experience. Once I started seasonal liver cleanses or periodic lymphatic drainage therapies, the skin completely cleared up. And staying on a healthy eating program (#2) will maintain healthier skin and prevent more acne and blemish attacks.
- Oil up on the inside! Healthy fat and oils in your diet make a big difference. Load up on olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, avocados, and fatty fish (sardines, salmon, mackerel). Fish oil supplements with high purity grade and sourced from Norwegian waters are a good option.
- There are supplements to help maintain calcium levels in your tissues that are safe, food-based, and synthetic-free. Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter on my website to receive future info and tips on this and much more!
From the Outside In:
Well, you can hide your face from the sun with a wide-brimmed hat and big sunglasses, but at some point, you need to crawl out from under the incognito shield and see the light.
- You need Vitamin D! Many people are Vitamin D deficient because they are trained by media and professionals to wear sunblock during all sun exposure times. Expose yourself to the sun “au naturel” for at least 15min on a given day (well, as “naturel” as you can without violating any indecent exposure laws). Use a natural-based moisturizer like coconut oil to prevent drying out your skin. Ramp your exposure times up slowly to allow your skin’s melanocytes to develop pigmentation and protect you from overexposure. You actually make your own vitamin D when your skin is exposed to the sun’s life-giving rays. Dark-skinned people need a little more time to make Vitamin D. However after your safe exposure period, it is wise to use a paraben-free, mineral-based sunscreen and reapply every 90 minutes or so, and after swimming and sweating. A minimum SPF 30 is ideal and as a practice, I always wear sunscreen on my face, neck, and decollete.
- Do not burn! Protect your face and eyes with a safe sunblock and sunglasses and cap. I wear sunblock on my face and neck daily regardless of the season here in Arizona.
- Natural anti-aging skin products: There are numerous manufacturers claiming to reverse the aging process, remove wrinkles and plump up your face. The truth is all the costs of glorified trendy or infomercial-based products will not do you any good if you don’t make an effort to work on healthy skin from the inside! Seek out paraben-free products which also exclude harmful synthetics and preservatives. For a list of dangerous ingredients, you can visit the Environmental Working Group website: ewg.org. I use a PETA-certified, paraben-free line of skincare products made locally and rotate my favorite brand with other similar skin care products every few months. Visit my Amazon affiliate store for my favorite products.
- Give yourself an oil massage! Feeding your body with oils doesn’t only mean eating them. Transdermal absorption is quite powerful since anything applied to your skin is absorbed directly into the bloodstream, therefore, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract. I’m a firm believer in bodywork to physically move toxins through the body, stimulate and maintain healthy lymphatic flow, and tone the skin and muscles (breaking up cellulite too). Besides a professional massage therapy session, try a nightly ritual of gentle facial massage and lower leg/foot massage using a small amount of your preferred natural lotion and oil.
I would avoid these bad habits if you want to keep your skin looking young and slow the aging process:
- Smoking
- Laziness and Lack of Exercise
- Drinking soda (excess sugar)
- Excessive alcohol consumption (again, sugar) and coffee (both inflammatory)
- Insufficient Sleep
- Dehydration
- Chemical based, toxic skin products
My approach to healthy skin care is first to always making sure my body is clean from the inside. Without this foundational practice, anything I do externally will have minimal benefit. There are several ways to achieve healthy glowing youthful skin. As a chiropractor and natural health practitioner of course I prefer the simple, natural methods. And, the occasional organic facial with my esthetician is always a nice treat!
Down the road I will be sharing with you my personal tips and those of skin experts along with specific supplements and strategies to avoid burns, hydrate your skin and reverse the aging effect of the harsh seasonal environments. Follow me on facebook and instagram and my blog nakedtruthbydrmelanie by signing up for my newsletter on the home page so you don’t miss any of my tips, stories and opinions!
Dr. Melanie
