Now Hyaluronic Acid Firming Serum - 30ml

Skin Health

The skin is the largest organ in the body. It has several important functions. It acts as a barrier to the external environment including harmful microbes, chemicals and radiation. It allows the exchange of water and some nutrients. It can eliminate toxins, minerals and other substances that have built up inside the body.
It modifies vitamins, like vitamin D, into more active forms. It helps to regulate body temperature. It is a monitor as to the health of our internal environment because the skin is one of the last organs to be nourished. Signs of deficiency often show in the skin before other areas of the body have been affected. 

Healthy skin also impacts on our mental and emotional well-being because skin is one of the first things we notice when we see someone. Skin can be used to judge a person's age, social status and health. Billions of dollars are spent each year in the cosmetics and personal hygiene industry. A great majority of this is to make our skin look healthier and more youthful. What can we do naturally to help our skin so that it will be healthy and maintain its youthful appearance? 

Skin is made up of several layers. The epidermal outer layer contains keratinized skin cells. It is the fibrous, protective shield for the body. The epidermis is firmly attached to inner layers of irregular connective tissue, the dermis. The dermis contains collagen, the structural support, and elastin, the stretchy support. Only the dermis has blood supply, nutrients reach the outer skin layers only by diffusion. 

Degeneration of the skin occurs for several reasons:

Free radical damage

Lack of moisture (water) and oil

Lack of nutrients and protein

Free radicals are unstable molecules that in their bid to become more stable must bump into healthy cells and cause damage. This can cause cell death, alterations in genetic material and autoimmune reactions to damaged cells. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun is the major contributor of free radicals that build up in the skin.

Skin oil is produced in the sebaceous glands. Its job is to coat the skin and prevent too much water from evaporating off the skin's surface. Water keeps the skin hydrated. The connective tissue in the dermis is composed of elastin and collagen. These substances need a supply of protein and nutrients to repair damage and form new tissue when needed.

Detoxification promotes skin health by reducing the build-up of toxins and waste products throughout the body. To help detoxify the body avoid packaged or fast foods, coffee, black tea, chocolate, alcohol, white sugar, salt, condiments, tobacco, dairy products, fried food, preservatives or artificial sweeteners. Consume 2L of filtered water daily, herbal teas and 100% pure fruit juices. Eat fresh or steamed fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, fish, soy products, nuts, seeds, cold pressed vegetable oils and spices. Drink a glass of warm water with the juice of half a lemon each morning to regulate bowel and liver function. Use supplementation to focus the detoxification on one or more organs.

Lifestyle factors, like emotional stress and inactivity, negatively affect skin health. Stress increases the production of free radicals. When an individual is under stress their diet tends to suffer, which can also compromise skin health. Inactivity decreases circulation to the whole body including the skin.

To prevent free radical damage to the skin avoid direct sunlight. Use sunscreens with full UV protection of at least SPF 15. Smoking generates large amounts of free radicals and contributes to skin wrinkling.

Avoid chlorinated tap water for bathing. Use gloves while handling any substance that irritates the skin. Avoid perfumes and colourings in laundry and personal hygiene products. Use glycerin and natural soaps to wash your body, face and hair. Bath or steam the skin with herbs for healing and rejuvenation. Invest in high quality natural cosmetics. Dry skin brushing is a wonderful way to exfoliate the skin, increase circulation to the skin and invigorate the body. Use a natural bristle brush.