When you look in the mirror, you may see mostly even-toned, soft, smooth skin. If you’re like many of us, however, you’ll probably see some uneven pigmentation, a few age spots, redness, acne scars, fine lines and wrinkles, and sagging. It's called signs of living..however sometimes, living in a less than gentle manner leads to a compromised skin barrier.
Just like a brand new car gradually loses that shiny sheen and becomes etched, dulled, rusted, scratched, and marked, our skin gets worn by exposure to the sun and environmental elements, and because of the inevitable changes that occur as we age. I'm not just talking about wrinkles, because as you all know; I see them as life lines and a reminder that we are privileged to still be alive! Our lines tell our stories. Damaged skin on the other hand is what happens when we abuse our skin with harsh products, over exposure to the sun, or a toxic lifestyle and diet.
So heres's the question: Can damaged skin be repaired?
YES! With the right ingredients and care.
First of all, let's talk about what causes a damaged skin barrier:
There are several things that can damage the skin:
• Sun exposure—the biggest culprit ( Protect Oil SPF)
• Harsh weather elements (Thankful for FACE BALM!)
• Environmental pollution (Deep Repair or Regenerative Oil )
• Dehydration
• Cigarette smoke
• Exposure to harsh and drying chemicals in personal care products
• Poor diet
• Lack of exercise
• Excessive use of alcohol and drugs
• Stress
• Chlorine in swimming pools
• Bacteria, infections and medical trauma
All of these factors and more can lead to a breakdown in skin cells, and weakening the outer, protective layer aka: the epidermis. Once this layer is weakened, cracked, and damaged, our skin is even more vulnerable to an attack from bacteria, UV rays, pollution, and more. This compromised state results in loss of water and leaves us with dry, flaky skin.
Our skin relies on a healthy immune system for optimal health and radiance. Just like your body needs nutrients, sleep, and stress relief to maintain a strong immune system, your skin also relies on this immune system to repair and protect itself from the elements and toxic or harsh exposures. The more damaged our skin is, the harder the immune system must work in order to repair itself. In fact, the skin’s ability to self-repair can decline by more than 50 percent by middle age, unless we are consuming a nutrient rich diet and applying nourishing and protective skin care products.
HOW TO PROTECT AND REPAIR SKIN DAMAGE INTERNALLY:
Eat foods high in vitamin C, A and E (fruits, hibiscus, rose tea, orange veggies, raw organic dairy or organ meats as well as walnuts, avocados,flax seeds and raw pumpkin seeds.
Include minerals like Zinc, silica through egg yolks, fish, musgrooms, Brazil nuts, organic grass fed red meats, or supplements.
Sip on herbal teas like dandelion tea, liver supportive teas, rose tea, nettle tea or hibiscus tea to help the liver filter excess hormones and toxins.
Consume healthy proteins. Our bodies and skin need lots of protein for wound healing and skin cell production. Remember HEALTHY proteins because we truly are what we eat!
Exercise regularly at a moderate level to assist the liver in flushing out toxins and increase circulation which in turns helps with healing and collagen/elasticity.
Meditate or practice stress management to reduce excessive cortisol production which in turn increases inflammation (see blog post on stress and the skin).
TOPICAL SOLUTIONS TO REPAIR THE SKIN BARRIER:
The key to healing the skin barrier with products is gentle and nourishing. Avoid harsh exfoliants or chemicals and try gently exfoliation with our enzymatic Face Polish and seal in moisture while repairing sun damage or flaky dryness with a layer of Deep Repair and Face Balm or Moisture Mask. The Sensitive Skin set includes all of these products and offers a bundle discount.
Take care of yourself and don't forget to smile in the mirror and tell yourself how wise and beautiful you truly are!
Megan