Think of the organs as people, and like people, these organs have responsibilities, needs, wants, likes and dislikes. So, when addressing the skin, I like to turn to an old adage, keep your friends close and your enemies closer; it rings true even when it comes to your skin care practices.
The skin has friends and foes and again, like people, friends are good for us (uh, well, not all the time) and enemies are bad for us (but you can learn a lot from them). You get my drift. So, who are those friends and foes i’m referring to? Let’s take a look.
Friends of our skin
Antioxidants – are molecules that protect your skin cells from the effects of free radicals.
Healthy and balanced diet – Eat foods rich in antioxidants that will fight off the effects of free radical damage, and include, prunes, all berries, apples, raisins, plums, onions, eggplant, beans, Vit E, Vit A, Vit C, Alfalfa sprouts, beta carotene and other carotenoids.
A consistent and appropriate skin care regimen – Know your skin type (oily, normal, sensitive, combination, dry). Adopt routines and rituals for morning and evening that includes, cleansing, toning, moisturizing and protecting.
Healthy physical life style – this includes, exercise, getting enough sleep, avoid smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and the use of drugs.
Foes of our skin
Free radicals – are molecules, which are responsible for cell damage and aging.
Inflammation – This is the bad ass of the body. It can build up and cause problems like acne and heart disease. And by the way, it’s the underlying cause of most major, killer diseases on this planet, including cancer and diabetes.
Ultraviolet Radiation – are the harmful combination of UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays can cause visible damage such as freckles, tanning and burning, all of which are indications of internal cell damage sometimes to the DNA. UVB rays are not immediately noticeable, but penetrates further into the skin and causes greater damage than UVA rays. Continued damage can lead to wrinkles and skin cancer.
Dixie Lincoln- Nichols is a biological science educator, health and wellbeing consultant and Qigong instructor. Her work has been featured in media outlets like, Oprah Mag, SELF, Yahoo and more. She is the founder of Inside Outer Beauty Market, a multi-cultutal retailer curating and creating products to support the body inside and out. Visit the site at www.iobeautymarket.com
