Each and every year, both men and women alike, spend billions of dollars on skincare products trying to find that fountain of youth. However, many skincare solutions only treat the surface of the skin. People assume that if they can apply the right lotions and serums to their aging skin, they will feed the skin what it needs to look beautiful.
It is true that skin can be responsive to the products that are applied to it. However, skin also reacts to many other factors. More and more people are learning the connection between what goes on inside their bodies to how they look on the outside. They are learning that optimal skin care should be holistic skin care.
It is important to understand how the body’s systems are interconnected to the skin. A lot of skin problems are the result of inflammatory processes in the body. Chronic inflammation leads to skin reactions like hives, eczema, blotchiness, and other skin conditions.
The body’s immune system is challenged from the inside by stress, poor eating habits, an imbalance in hormones, and lack of exercise. External factors such as overexposure to the sun, environmental toxins, and adverse weather conditions cause skin to react in a way that dilates blood vessels beneath the skin, weakening collagen and clogging pores. The results are flare ups, an uneven skin tone, and a dull, lifeless complexion.
The approach to holistic skin care is similar to that of holistic medicine. In treating skin problems, the whole person is examined to find out areas that that may be distressing the person, including the physiological, social and mental aspects of the person.
Skin is linked to all the systems of the body such as the respiratory system, circulation system, immune system and the nervous system. If one of these systems is impaired, that condition will eventually show up on the skin. Taking good care of these biological and emotional systems will result in a healthier complexion.
Part of holistic skin care is to cool down the body and soothe these inflammatory processes. Drinking plenty of water is one effective approach. Another approach is to boost the body’s immune system. This is done by eating a healthy diet rich in anti-oxidants. These are nutrients that defend the body against free radical that damage skin cells. Antioxidants can be found in foods rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, coenzyme Q-10, flavanoids, carotenoids. and alpha-lipoic acid.
Emotional health is very closely connected to skin health. Why else would some people break out in a rash when they feel extremely nervous or turn beet red when angry? Different bodies respond differently to stressors. Science has shown that people who suffer from depression and anxiety are more prone to eczema. Therefore, treating these emotional problems can put that healthy glow back on the face.
A holistic approach to skin care requires attention to total body health. Exercises should be done daily to reduce stress, to detoxify the body and to reduce inflammation.
Negativity and pent up emotions can manifest in the skin, so these emotions should be released. Deep breathing and meditation can calm the nerves. Combine that with a healthy diet and a skin care regimen that includes organic cleansers and facial treatment. When a person feels beautiful on the inside, she will look beautiful on the outside.