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How to Improve Your Skin Health Naturally

Authored by: Kristine Stein B.Sc., MS, Natural Health Practitioner, Certified Herbalist and Certified Aromatherapist

Aging is less about time and more about “accumulation.” Women accumulate approximately 5 lbs. of toxins per year through body care items.

Top 4 Do Not Use/Consume List:


1. Synthetic cosmetics - they create inflammation via inhalation and transdermal contact. Inflammation breaks down the collagen in the skin.

2. Processed foods - eliminate soy, wheat, sugar, and hydrogenated oils. Rancid fats are assimilated into skin cell membranes and predispose that skin to premature aging due to inflammation.

3. Gluten/high carbohydrate diet - sugar imbalance leads to AGEs (advanced glycation end-products); sugar stiffens the collagen in the skin and joints. Stiff collagen=wrinkles. Sugar also binds to hormone receptors that render them insensitive to insulin, this eventually leads to insulin resistance.

4. Avoid drinking and bathing in municipal water.

Top 6 Things that Promote Skin Regeneration:


1. Eat real food, friendly bacteria is very important
2. Pure water
3. Sunlight; light stimulates hormone production that promotes cellular repair
4. Sweat: move and keep the lymph system moving
5. Get outside in nature

Why do Wrinkles Occur?


Wrinkles occur when the collagen tissue is weak in subcutaneous fat. Collagen is a lattice of support, “cellular glue.”  It is a big process for the body to make collagen, the body needs amino acids for production. Collagen formation is not your body’s first priority. If your body is not getting enough amino acids, it will create other things first before collagen. So then collagen production gets put on the backburner. Many things can damage the collagen including inflammation, AGEs, chlorine (damages the lipids in the skin), and fluoride (dissolves “cellular glue” in collagen, it prevents new collagen formation and incorrectly mineralizes collagen leading to softer bones and stiffer skin). Elasticity is directly related to protein assimilation in the body and it is reduced when we have a lot of inflammation. AGEs cross-links with normal proteins (which keeps cells pliable) which cause the cell to harden; this happens very slowly with normal blood sugar levels. When this does happen, the “clean-up crew” (white blood cells) will come in and clean up AGEs which then gets eliminated by the kidneys. However, when the blood sugar is too high too often, this creates a constant creation of AGEs.

Another big cause of wrinkles is dehydration. Dehydration leads to a lack of cell flexibility. Lack of water over time can have an accumulative effect over the years.

Causes of Acne


The lining of the skin and gut have similar needs, they both need and have beneficial bacteria. Gut health is huge! If it is not healthy, i.e. bowel irregularity, not enough healthy bacteria, etc., you will have a backup through the skin (pathogens, undigested proteins, hormones, etc.). Typically, hormone-induced acne is around the jawline and chin. Another form of acne (called chemical acne) can occur due to an inflammation response to chemicals in make-up, cleansers, lotions, etc.

How to Restore/Avoid Problems with Wrinkles, Acne, Sagging Skin, Cellulite, etc.

Topical Solutions

Topically, you can apply essential oils such as frankincense, rose otto, chamomile, marjoram. This helps inhibit negative enzymes and strengthens the collagen matrix. Aloe Vera increases the production of fibroblast cells, which help make collagen and then quickens the production of your own cells. Some good aloe products include “Aloe Vera” by Aubrey and “Skin Aloe Vera Oil” by Life-Flo.

Maintain your Acid Mantle

Your skin has a slightly acidic barrier (created by natural skin oils combined with sweat). This helps kill bacteria, viruses, and fungal pathogens, acting as a barrier against anything that may penetrate the skin. A lot of synthetic chemicals found in conventional soaps eliminate the acid mantle. More blemishes will occur until the acid mantle is restored.

The acid mantle is a very fine, slightly acidic film on the surface of human skin acting as a barrier to bacteria, viruses, and other potential contaminants that might penetrate the skin.[1] Sebum is secreted by the sebaceous gland and when mixed with sweat becomes the acid mantle. The pH of the skin is between 4.5 and 6.2, slightly acidic.[2][3] Since blood is slightly alkaline (7.4), pathogenic bacteria that become adapted to the pH of the skin and are able to reach internal tissues will encounter an environment to which they are less well adapted. This combination of acidic exterior and the alkaline interior is one of the body's non-specific host defenses against bacterial pathogens. (Source: WIKIPEDIA, 2019)

For hormonal acne, a progesterone supplement (chaste tree) is useful in the luteal phase (which typically is day 14-21 of a woman’s cycle).

Clear up Constipation

If constipation is an issue, consume fermented foods and probiotics a few times a week. Eliminate processed soy in the diet. Soy can disrupt natural estrogen levels in the body. Supplements to combat estrogen dominance include chaste tree, iodine, DIM, and IC3.

Supplements for Rough Skin & Acne on Arms

Rough patches on skin or acne on the back of the arms can be an indication of low vitamin D3, K2, and A levels. Incorporating more fat-soluble vitamins into the diet is helpful in this case.

Reduce Consumption of Sugar and Grains

If there is too much sugar conversion that is occurring in the body, protein molecules can cross-link with these sugar molecules. Once this cross-linking process has occurred, the new sugar proteins are called advanced glycation end products (AGEs). The human body does not recognize AGEs as normal and will produce antibodies against this process which then causes inflammation in the skin. Once formed, AGEs tend to gravitate toward dermal collagen and elastin (both found in skin).

As people age, proteins in the body can become damaged through the introduction of AGEs—one of the key factors in the aging of the skin. The more sugar and grains you eat, whether processed or natural, the more AGEs are produced. When the body is overwhelmed with AGEs, collagen becomes compromised. The effects of the AGEs process at the cellular level of the skin’s structure may result in wrinkling, loss of elasticity, stiffness, accelerated aging, and compromised acid mantle function.

Lastly, optimize insulin levels by eliminating grains. When insulin levels are normal, inflammation that promotes “bad” bacteria growth on the skin goes away. 

If you have questions or would like to learn more, call to set up an appointment with Kristine: 262-251-2929.

 

Wikipedia/Acid mantle. (2019, October 3) Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid_mantle

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