Skin Deep

In the United States, the skincare industry is worth ten billion dollars a year.  Most of this money is spent by women, although men’s skincare is expanding as well.  New products come out every month with trendy new ingredients that promise to erase wrinkles, clear pimples, and firm the skin.  At present, the average American woman can expect to pay $200,000 for cosmetics over the course of her lifetime.   But are these products really worth the cost?  Do they deliver on their promises? Can topical preparations really change the skin all that much?

From a holistic perspective, the skin is an outer reflection of inner health.  Chinese medicine particularly looks at the face for signs of what might be happening at a deeper level.  For example, redness in the face indicates heat – and this heat can be due to internal issues such as a fever, stomach issues, or menopause-related hormonal issues.  Dark circles under the eyes, as most of us know, can be a sign of poor sleep.  Some skin issues are blamed on hormones – such as acne – whereas in Chinese medicine, we might look more to the diet or digestion for the cause of pimples.  

In looking for deeper causes of skin issues, it makes sense that we can improve the appearance of our skin by paying more attention to our inner health. Consider the items on the following list for ways to contribute to your own skin health and overall well-being.

1. Diet:  Almost every skin issue can be helped, at least in part, by eating mostly fresh vegetables and good-quality protein.  For example, although hormonal changes seem to lead to acne, one does have to wonder why hormones go haywire in the first place.  Keeping chemicals and additives out of our diet will help normalize hormonal cycles, which can in turn reflect in a clearer complexion.  Another example is dry skin:  flakiness may be better served by including healthy fats in the diet rather than endlessly slathering on lotion.  If you have trouble digesting fats in the first place, it begs further investigation and support.  Good time to drop us a line!

2.  Water: Make sure to consider what’s in both your drinking and shower water.  Drinking several glasses of water per day may help flush out some toxins, but a good-quality mineral water can help the skin hold onto some of those fluids, giving it a moist, dewy appearance.  Also, tap water may be too harsh for sensitive skin in the shower; putting a filter on the shower head may soften not only your skin, but also your hair.  And never never never drink “alkaline” or high-pH water!  Water by its very definition should be at a neutral pH:  7.0.  Your digestion and skin will both thank you.

3.  Green tea:  while we’re talking about water, one way to get your requisite fluid intake every day is with two or three cups of green tea sipped throughout the day.  Green tea offers the body a long list of benefits, and protection from sun damage is one of them.  Make sure to buy organic green tea, but there are many varieties to choose from in order to suit your taste.

4. Bone broth:  When made from the bones of organically fed, free-range animals, bone broth provides nutrients for the skin that can’t be beat.  Rich in collagen, hyaluronic acid, and calcium (yes, our skin needs calcium too!), bone broth should be taken in some form daily if you really want your skin to maintain its youthful, elastic consistency.  Drink it as a tea with pink salt and lemon, or cook your rice with it in the summer if you’re not in a soup-y kind of mood.  (Until July when the fog rolls in and you’ll want soup for sure!)

5. Fish:  Low-mercury, wild-caught fish provides the best dietary source of the omega-3 oils and food-based Vitamin D that our skin needs to stay healthy.  (Plus, research shows that eating fish three or more times per week is the best predictor of cardiovascular health.)

6. Sunlight: Yes, your skin needs to get some direct sun.  But no, this is not a pass to stay outside at noon in August without sunscreen, even if it’s foggy.  Spend just a few minutes in the morning sunshine every day before you slather on the day’s sunscreen – your body will turn that direct sunlight into Vitamin D.

7. Herbs:  Our body’s “fuel filter,” the liver, carries the body’s toxic load in this chemical-drenched modern world of ours.  When our lovely livers become overburdened, oftentimes the overflow shows up in our skin.  We use herbs in our clinic to help correct this imbalance, thus improving not only the appearance of the skin, but overall health as well.  This approach needs to be individualized for each person’s different needs, so drop us a line if you’d like to know more.

Consider this list of options for a deeper approach to your skin’s needs rather than relying solely on topical products.  And if you need more support for eczema, dryness, acne, psoriasis, or “maturing” skin, come and see us!