Many of our daily habits have detrimental effects on our skin. What are these habits and what can we do to make changes?

Smoking and Exposure to Secondhand Smoke:

Have you ever noticed how smokers, over forty, appear tired, look old for their age, and have a grey tone to their complexion? Smoking and secondhand smoke have visible adverse effects on skin health. According to the Mayo Clinic, "The nicotine in cigarettes causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the outermost layers of your skin. This impairs blood flow to your skin. With less blood flow, your skin doesn't get as much oxygen and important nutrients, such as vitamin A." This unhealthy process causes premature aging to our skin. Secondhand smoke exposes the skin to greater toxins, therefore being around people who smoke is also a negative habit.

Toxins in the Liver:

Healthy liver filtration has an enormous effect on our skin’s condition. The liver absorbs toxins, in our bodies, which seek escape through the pores of our skin. Excessive alcohol consumption causes a buildup of toxins in the liver visible on the surface of our skin. Limited use of alcohol, or drinking moderate amounts of wine reduces toxins absorbed by the liver.

Milk Thistle, sold as herbal tea or in supplement form, is an excellent liver support. Besides milk thistle, sarsaparilla, sassafras, dandelion root, and yellow dock also support our liver which enhances skin health.

Incorporating essential fatty acids in our diet, in food or supplement form, is another way to detox our liver. A healthy liver cleanse on the inside the body results in enhanced skin health on the outside.

Climate and Skin:

It is important to familiarize yourself with the climate you live in and seasonal weather extremes. Not everyone can afford to live in an ideal and healthy climate. Weather extremes cause our skin to sweat excessively, or become dry and flaky. While no one can change their climate, we can minimize the negative effects to our skin with the right beauty products.

Excessive sun exposure burns our skin causing wrinkles and skin cancer. Forgoing or forgetting sunscreen is a common negative habit.

While excess exposure to the sun is harmful to our skin, moderate sun is healthy for our skin. To avoid the harmful effects of the sun it is important to hydrate, and use sunscreen. Short periods of moderate sunlight lift our spirits, provide vitamin D, improve sleep, and create a healthy skin tone.

For serious climate skin reactions, talk to your doctor or dermatologist.

Sleep Deprivation:

Lack of sleep is a common problem. Short-term effects of sleep deprivation are immediately revealed, the next morning, as we view ourselves in the mirror, with dark circles, swollen eyes, and pale skin. Chronic insomnia has long-term impacts on our skin's condition, detailed in the Dermatology News article, "Beauty Sleep: Sleep Deprivation and the Skin," which states, "....regular sleep deprivation causes skin inflammations including psoriasis, skin allergies, eczema, and acne."

For more information about how to improve your skin, feel free to contact us.