Beauty is more than skin deep - Digestion – the key to health

Your skin is a remarkable reader of your body’s health. Your skin shows signs of what going on in your body such as a red face when hot and sweaty after exercise. It’s not only what you put on your skin but what you eat that affects the skin, as most skin problems are linked to digestion. While an insufficient intake of the right nutrients can affect the health of your skin so can poor digestion and absorption. Whoever said "You are what you eat" is right. However how do you know whether or not your digestive system is working right? The most obvious symptoms of one’s system not working right would be the following: • stomach upset • Bloating • Gas • abdominal pain • rumbling noises • Nausea • Vomiting • Burning sensation after eating • hemorrhoids Another common sign of digestive issues are breakouts along the jawline. If you break out regularly on or beneath the jawline, or red sensitive skin and it is very possible that all you need is to detoxify and support your digestive tract. How does all of this affect the skin? Food that lingers in the digestive tract any longer than necessary will produce toxic by-products. The build up of toxins in an unhealthy colon has been linked to skin disorders such as psoriasis, acne and skin sensitivity to name a few. A speedy digestion is step one to maintaining optimal health and optimal skin health. Here are some suggestions which can get you started. These tips are just the beginning, keep an eye out for next week’s skin health newsletter for Bodytique’s skin detox diet to learn more. Tips: • Filter your drinking water and your shower and bath water, to avoid absorbing the chlorine. Believe it or not, for some people, this completely clears up their skin problems! • Increase your intake of Omega 3 fatty acids which can be found in organic, cold pressed oils and fish. Walnuts, flax seeds and salmon are good sources. • Increase your intake of raw vegetables and fruits, or supplement your diet with enzymes to reduce inflammation and improve digestion. Such as : o Bromelain – found in pineapples and is used reducing inflammation and swelling as well as activates a chemical that promotes the breakdown of fibrin. As a supplement take 500-750 mg per day. You can also add pineapple fresh in your diet because it is rich in fiber and other nutrients. break down proteins, which may help with promoting digestion, states the American Cancer Society Please don’t take without consulting your physicians or health shop consultant. o Serotonin Here are a few of the ways we can develop low serotonin: • Smoking cigarettes • Alcoholic beverages • Too much caffeine • Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners (use stevia or xylitol instead!) • Not enough sunlight • Inactivity and lack of exercise • Digestive problems • A low protein diet Some natural foods that include serotonin are - dates, papayas and bananas or one can take 5-HTP - 50 mg o Antioxidants such as vitamins C, E, and A and beta-carotene can help reduce the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals • Consider supplementing your diet with probiotics (friendly bacteria) to improve digestion and elimination, or with foods such as yogurt and sauerkraut which contain beneficial bacteria. • Avoid or limit sugar and alcohol which deplete the immune system and create inflammation in the body. These are never helpful when you have skin problems! • Don't overstimulate the skin with massage, rubbing or over cleansing. Other things besides diet that can affect skin health: • STRESS: emotional unhappiness, work-related anxiety. • DRUGS: Recreational or prescription reaction, allergies to detergents and household products. • SYSTEM OVERLOAD: especially liver exhaustion, adrenal malfunctions, nervous system, and bowel sluggishness Lastly, remember that when you start making changes to your diet, lifestyle, or skin care routine, you shouldn't expect to see changes overnight. The key is to be patient. It may take three months to a year to really see an improvement in your skin. Please remember that supplements are best taken under guidance of health practitioner. Next week Detox for clear skin.

Effects Hormones have on the skin

Hormones have a considerable effect on our bodies, in particular our skin. Hormones influence the development and function of human skin which also produces and releases hormones. Hormones levels affect the skin in your 20s, 30s, and 40s and beyond can affect a woman's skin. What are hormones? Hormones are chemical messengers that have specific effects on certain cells of the body. Hormones, which are produced by endocrine glands, are released into the bloodstream where they are carried to all parts of the body. But they will only affect cells that have specific receptors for that particular hormone. The tissue acted upon by each hormone is known as the TARGET TISSUE. The cells that make up these tissues have receptors in their cell membrane or within the cytoplasm to which a specific hormone attaches. The purpose of the receptor is to recognise the presence of the hormone. Once it is attached it then conveys the message to the nucleus, where the required action takes place through the regulation of the manufacture of proteins and enzyme synthesis. Hormones can only have an effect if they are able to bond to a receptor. If they cannot bond it will not matter how high the hormone levels are, they will have no effect. The more receptors in a certain area the more sensitive that area will be to that particular hormone. The skin contains receptors for different types of hormones: • Oestrogenic Hormones Female-like effect • Androgenic Hormones Male-like effect • Progesterone A precursor hormone to both androgens and estrogens. Oestrogen and the skin Estrogens are a group of hormones that play a key role in regulating many aspects of a woman’s overall health, and benefit s the skin in many ways, such as: • Increases the rate of cell turnover in the basal layer of the epidermis. • Reduces the size and activity of the sebaceous glands. • Keeps sebaceous secretion thin and less fatty. • Slows the rate of hair growth. • Increases the action of the enzyme hyaluronidase, which produces hyaluronic acid. • Keeps the skin metabolically active. • increase in collagen and elasticity content Androgenic and the skin Androgens, which are male sex hormones, regulate the production of sebum, or skin oil. When your sebum levels are increased, it makes it more likely that your pores will become clogged, which leads to acne. As well as: • Increase the rate of cell turnover in the basal layer of the epidermis. • Increase the size and activity of the sebaceous glands. • Increase collagen production through the stimulation of fibroblast cells to produce the proteins needed for collagen synthesis. • Increase hair growth. When Things go wrong many endocrine diseases and disorders affect the hormonal balance of our bodies. This can result in an imbalance of sex hormones, which can affect the appearance of the skin in the following ways: • Too much androgen causes the epidermis to become coarse and thick. The sebaceous glands enlarge and acne can develop. The hairline of both males and females can recede. • Too little androgen results in a dull, thin epidermis that becomes finely wrinkled. The skin can become dry and there is no facial, pubic or axillary hair. The skin can have pallor due to fewer blood vessels and decreased pigment levels. • Too little oestrogen in women causes changes to the skin that are very similar to a lack of androgens but not to the same extreme. The skin will appear dull, thin and finely wrinkled with some loss of tone. • Too much oestrogen causes pigmentation changes and the appearance of spider nevi. Stress can also disrupt the delicate hormonal balance, upsetting the menstrual cycle or even stopping it completely. That stress can be emotional, as in the break-up of relationships, exams or moving away from home. Stress can also be physical, such as serious illness or extreme physical exercise. Often women who are involved in such physically demanding sports as triathlons or bodybuilding can develop acne conditions because of the effect this has on their bodies’ endocrine system. References Pugliese, P. (1996). Physiology of the Skin. Allured Publishing Corporation. Trickey,R. (1998). Women, Hormones & Menstrual Cycle. Allen & Unwin.

Sun your skins enemy

There are various theories on why so many of us want to roast ourselves in the sun, even though for many years now, we have been aware of the need to stay out of the sun and use sunscreens. Vanity and fashion however still win as well as the fact that most of us feel better when we have a tan. Don’t get me wrong the sun has it’s Importance’s to our body’s like the production of vitamin D. Understanding A,B,C of ultraviolet The sun emits different kinds of light: • the visible light you see, • the infrared light you feel as heat, • and invisible ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It is the UV radiation part of light which affects our skin the most. It is important to know about the sun’s UV rays in order to know how to protect your skin and prevent skin cancer. There are 3 types of UV rays: UVA: A stands for Aging. UVA radiation penetrates deep into the skin and is responsible for premature aging of the skin and skin cancer. Tanning beds can emit 2 to 5 times more UVA radiation than the sun. UVA rays cause skin tanning, age spots, and wrinkling of the skin, as well as contribute to the development of skin cancer. UVB: B stands for Burning. UVB radiation is stronger than UVA radiation. It mainly affects the outer layers of the skin, causing sunburns, premature aging of the skin, and skin cancer. These rays are strongest during the summer months – especially between 11 am and 4 pm. UVC: C stands for critical. UVC radiation is the strongest, most dangerous form of UV light. However, they are stopped by the earth’s atmosphere and do not reach earth’s surface. Although direct sun exposure can cause irreparable damage, your skin is also exposed to UVA and UVB rays at home and at work on a daily basis. UVA rays can actually pass through windows in your home and cars. Both UVA and UVB rays can reflect off of sand, water, and pavement, exposing you to UV radiation even in the shade. In addition, some indoor office light bulbs emit UVA and UVB rays, though at much lower levels than sunlight. The effects of such chronic exposure can be minimized with makeup and moisturizers that contain sunscreens. Overexposure to the UV rays can cause several types of skin damage. Sun Tan • A tan is not “healthy.” A tan is a sign that damage has been done to your skin. • Your skin’s melanocytes produce melanin, the dark pigment that creates a tan. Melanin is your first defense against the sun. It absorbs dangerous UV rays before they do serious skin damage. • A tan is your skin’s attempt to prevent UV rays from doing any further damage to the sensitive skin cells in your epidermis. Sun Burn • Sun burn develops when the amount of UV exposure is greater than our melanin can protect us. Dark skin can also get burn too, if you stay outside in the sun for long period of time. • A severe sunburn causes skin tenderness, pain, swelling, and blistering. • There is substantial evidence that sunburns can lead to DNA damage. Repeated sunburns dramatically increase your risk of developing skin cancer because of this damage to your DNA. (American Academy of Dermatology) Freckles and sun spots • True freckles (ephelides) are the little brown spots (spots of melanin) we inherit from our parents. They tend to disappear as we age. • False freckles (solar lentigines) are made of melanin that caused by UV rays. They are the skin’s attempt to defend itself from the sun. They do not fade by time. They get worse. • Lots of solar lentigines mean you have sustained sun damage, which make skin more vulnerable to sun-induced skin cancers. Wrinkles • Wrinkles are directly related to sun exposure. • UVA rays from the sun can penetrate deep into your skin and damage collagen, which is the protein that holds your skin together in a firm and smooth way. And results in accumulation of abnormal elastin. Which inturn result in the breaks down the collagen structure which results in wrinkles. • Once collagen is damaged, it cannot re-build itself. • Up to 80% of skin aging is caused by the sun. Texture Changes Caused by the Sun - UV exposure causes thickening and thinning of the skin. - Thick skin is found in coarse wrinkles especially on the back of the neck that do not disappear when the skin is stretched. A condition called solar elastosis is seen as thickened, coarse wrinkling and yellow discoloration of the skin. - A common effect of UV exposure is thinning of the skin causing fine wrinkles, easy bruising, and skin tearing. - Uv exposer can result in scaly red patches, called actinic keratoses, thought to be the beginnings of skin cancer. Break the UV Ray Cycle You can help protect your skin from wrinkles and other sun damage with the following steps: • Use sunscreen. Every day, generously apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, choosing products that provide what’s called “broad spectrum” protection against both UVA and UVB rays. When you’re in the sun for prolonged periods of time, reapply sunscreen every two hours. • Avoid peak sun hours. Stay in the shade during the hottest part of the day, usually from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are at their most intense. • Follow the UV Index. The UV Index is a daily indicator of how much UV radiation is expected to reach the earth — think of it as a pollen count reading for your skin. Developed by the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Weather Service, it’s usually broadcast along with your local weather report. http://www.koolasun.co.za/sa-uv-index.html. While the sun may feel warm and inviting, exposure to UV rays comes at a cost. Take steps to protect yourself from the havoc that sun damage can wreak on your skin. Are there any sunscreens that are better or worse for certain skin types? Of course, everyone should use sunscreen, regardless of their skin type, but some products are better for some than they are for others. A lot of people with oily, sensitive skin don't like to wear sunscreen because it makes them break out. But it's still important for them to use sunscreen. Oily Skin Types I personally prefer gels and oil free lotions over creamy lotions for people with oily skin. A sunscreen mist suited for oily skin Acne Prone Skin Those with frequent skin allergies may react to sunscreens due to the high incidence of allergies to sunscreen ingredients. Avoiding products with the chemical UV filters PABA, benzophenone and avobenzone can help; they can all irritate skin and lead to acne flare-ups. Physical blocking sunscreens micronized zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are a better choice. People with darker skin should choose a tinted sunscreen to avoid the chalky, violet cast that physical sunblocks can cause. Is there any way to increase your sun tolerance from the inside out,through diet or supplements? There is some interesting new data suggesting that antioxidants found in food can have a preventative effect in protecting against sun damage. For example, lycopene, as found in cooked tomatoes and tomato paste, can help tame the harmful free radicals that damage skin. So by eating things high in anti oxidants such as Red wine, pomegranate juice, oregano, green tea and chocolate are also rich in antioxidants and might help increase your skin's natural protection against the sun. As far as supplements go, fern extract (polypodium leucotomos) is a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to protect against UV damage. Vitamin C, Coenzyme Q10 and green tea extract can also be beneficial. However, none of these can replace sunscreen.

Skin strength & Suppleness

The strength and suppleness of your skin is dependent on two things that are based in the Dermis - Collagen & Elastin. Together, collagen and elastin make up about 70% of the dermal layer. Collagen Collagen the most abundant tissue in the body and is a fibrous protein that gives the skin form and strength. Collagen makes up 3/4 of the skin's dry weight so keeping it healthy is vital to having good skin. If you look at Collagen as the glue of the skin that holds together all the various structures of the skin and gives it it's plumpness and firmness. Tip to help keep your collagen fibers healthy: *Keep your skin moisture - by means of the correct skin care as well as the correct water intake *Keep sun exposer to a minimal *Weight fluctuation to a minimal as the skin loses its tone and suppleness. * Stress management *Vitamin C is essential for the formation of collagen. (Recommended allowances is 1000mg per day)- help to strengthen the body's ability to manufacture collagen *Soy products such as soymik and cheese contain an element known as genistein - this helping to block enzymes that tend to break down and age the skin. *Dark green vegetables - They are packed with an antioxidant called lutein.(10mg a day in order to see results , so about 114g of spinach or cabbage) * Beans help your body produce a vital anti-aging substance called hyaluronic acid. Aim for at least 2 tablespoons of beans each day * Red fruits and vegetables also are excellent sources to up the collagen content of foods in the diet. The presence of lycopenesl in these types of foods helps to act as antioxidants, which in turn increases collagen production. * Omega Acids also help to create an ideal environment for collagen production, fish and nuts. * Flaxseed is a major sources of the healthy fat omega-3 - this helps to plump up the skin. The lack of collagen results in wrinkles and sagging. As well as thinking of the skin. Elastin Is like an elastic band - after you have used it , the spring and tightness lessens.It helps to keep skin flexible but tight, providing a bounce-back reaction if skin is pulled.Elastin tends to deplete as people age, resulting in wrinkled or stretched out skin. Elastin constitutes about 25 percent of the total protein count in your body. Here are a few methods you can apply to help replace the elastic in your skin: * Vitamin C is needed in the production of elastin.(Recommended allowances is 1000mg per day) * Eat foods high in protein. The elastin in your skin as well as your muscles is made up of proteins. Include two to three servings daily of healthy foods high in protein. *Apply sunscreen, and keep sun exposer to minimal * Conclusion: As you can see that a healthy skin is not only what you put on the skin but what you put into your body as well. In house treatments that can help with improving Skin strength and suppleness : * Caci non surgical face lift * MDA * Skin peels Consult with your Somatologist about treatments and products.