Let's discuss the importance of skin health, along with tips for managing your skin's health care. See this podcast transcript below for more information.

Thanks for listening.

NOTE: *This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice. It does not attempt to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease. Consult your healthcare provider with health concerns or before taking supplements, especially if you take prescription or over the counter medications or have a medical condition.

Article copyright 2022 by Alive Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

IS YOUR SKIN STRESSED?

Stress and hormone imbalance can wreak havoc on the skin, leaving acne, eczema, and wrinkles in their wake. Learn how to mitigate stress and strike a balance in your hormones to cultivate a happier reflection in the mirror.

Like a multitasking parent, the skin juggles protecting the body from environmental stressors such as UV light; producing neurotransmitters and hormones; synthesizing vitamin D; and regulating electrolytes, fluids, and body temperature.

The skin also moonlights as a crystal ball to reflect how the body is doing internally. Your skin may be dry, itchy, flushed, yellowish, pimply, or wrinkled because of inadequate nutrition or underlying dysfunctions in your hormonal, digestive, and immune systems. And these body systems are heavily influenced by stress.

Waking up and going to bed at the same time every day (regardless of whether it’s the weekend!) is key for regulating hormones, since they’re affected by the circadian rhythm. The same thing goes for mealtimes; if you keep them as consistent as possible, your stress levels and hormones will be happy.

Pair movement with stress relief for a double whammy of health benefits. Whether that’s dancing, kickboxing, or walking, choose your bliss and do it often! Exercise encourages blood flow and lymphatic drainage, both of which help tonify and detoxify the skin.

Enjoy foods rich in the following nutrients, or supplement with:

omega-3s (fish, walnuts, chia)

vitamin D (egg yolks, fish, mushrooms)

vitamin C (bell peppers, citrus fruits, broccoli)

vitamin E (wheat germ oil, sunflower seeds)

vitamin A (leafy greens, sweet potato, carrots)

zinc (poultry, legumes, nuts and seeds)

collagen (bone broth)

Drink good quality water to hydrate your tissues and skin.

External

Incorporate these topical skin care products and apply them to the face in this order:

Wash face with gentle cleanser.

Apply toner.

Nourish with a serum such as hyaluronic acid for dry and aging skin, and vitamins C and E to protect against skin damage.

Apply a small amount of moisturizer.

Finish with two fingertips’ worth of sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher (and reapply according to instructions).

Look under the surface with blood work and other diagnostic testing to identify the contributing causes of your skin health woes. Keeping tabs on your thyroid hormones, vitamin D status, estrogen, and cortisol values in the blood can be helpful indicators of how your skin’s doing on a microscopic level.