STEPS FOR HEALTHY, YOUNGER - LOOKING SKIN
Where a clinical treatment is one of the most wonderful, healthful things you can do for your skin, (I like to equate it to preventative maintenance) home-care is the most important thing for the health of your whole body, which of course includes your skin. The skin is our largest organ and it depends, like the rest of our body, on a number of health factors. Three of the biggest factors are optimal nutrition (which includes clean water) and of course exercise and a positive outlook on life. NEVER FORGET, we are what we think, feel or speak - it literally translates into chemical molecules, that influence our physical bodies. So be mindful of what you instruct your body to do.
OPTIMAL NUTRITION means of course healthy food choices - lots and lots of life foods (raw foods), where the life-force that God intended for our growth and health is in unadulterated abundance. Antioxidants are of course plentiful In raw foods and so easily used by our bodies, but additional vitamin supplementation is often recommended because we have little control of the foods we buy and can't always be sure we get all we need. Zinc and vit. A & E protect your skin from free radicals and essential fatty acids, which contribute to the formation of healthy cell membranes. Deficiencies of these nutrients are associated with a number of skin disorders, including acne, eczema, psoriasis and poor wound healing.
PLENTY 0F CLEAN WATER is of course the next thing. 70% of the dermis, the inner layer of the skin, is water. We lose about 30% of total water content as we age, resulting in dry flaky skin. Moisturizers of course are designed to trap moisture on your skin and are enormously important in skin care and may be reappllcd several times a day, even over make-up. But drinking lots of fluids is the most important thing, 8-10 glasses a day is not loo much, and if not practical, try to add clean water every chance you get to get to your maximum as much as possible every day. This is vital for overall health and imperative for supple, moist skin.
PROTECT YOUR SKIN from UV-B rays, which cause sunburn, and UV-A rays, which penetrate into deeper layers of the skin and cause cosmetic changes. So for everyday protection a sun-screen with SPF of 15 is advised, even during the winter months. I for one do not believe in total sun-avoidance or tanning for that matter, as there are many health benefits we only get from the sun, like feeling wonderful and the absorption of Vit.K, to help build strong bones. But unintentional overexposure and the resulting burning must be avoided at all costs, therefore a sun-screen is recommended for daily use and a total Block for prolonged exposure.
STIMULATE NEW SKIN WITH ALPHA HYDROXY ACIDS. (AHAs) are natural substances that have been around for ages, in milk baths or by the Hawaiian's use of sugarcane-pulp to keep their skin soft and supple. AHA's stimulate old cells to shed more rapidly and to retain more moisture. A 10% solution should be potent enough to make a difference and should be used once or twice a day, depending on your individual home care instructions.
VITAMIN C stimulates collagen formation, which is the supporting tissue of your skin. Together with water, it makes up the bulk of the skin. So, a topical Vit. C serum or cream should be applied once a day to improve your skin tone, plumping up wrinkles and filling in small lines. It will also improve the blood supply to your skin, giving it a youthful glow and most important, it is one of the most potent topical protectors from UV damage.
VITAMIN A • RETINOL helps your skin retain moisture and reduce fine lines and age-associated skin discoloration. It increases cell turnover and stimulates new collagen growth and is hailed for eliminating pre-cancerous cells. This is a very potent agent for promoting healthy skin.