Skin Health

Skin Health 101: Understanding Healthy Skin and Proper Skincare

The skin is an often overlooked but crucial aspect of achieving optimal health in the human body. It is often considered the great protector of human physiology, but it is rarely offered the essential care necessary for the skin to flourish and function in the most efficient and effective manner. Consider the following facts about skin health and learn how to develop a quality skincare regimen.

An Intro to Skin Health

The skin is much more than a covering that protects muscles, internal organs and bones. The skin is the largest organ of the human body. It is living, full of activity and boasts a more rapid regeneration process than any other aspect of human physiology. Biologically, the skin is composed of an incredibly resilient cellular makeup, and these cells enjoy healthful benefits from the inside and outside.

The skin is made up of working layers, as well as components such as pores and hair follicles. The skin plays host to the nervous system, as well as components of the cardiovascular system. These simple facts allow for easily drawn conclusions. Regardless of lotions and creams used to present the skin with a soft and supple texture, true skin health begins from within. 

Skin Health and Oxidative Stress

Chances are you've cut an apple or banana and left a portion of it sitting on the kitchen counter. When you return, the meat of the fruit has more than likely entered into a process of oxidation. It becomes brown, unappetizing to look at and the texture changes rapidly. This is similar to what happens within the human body at the molecular level.

The process of oxidation affects every human cell, as the body’s cells are constructed through a partnership of molecules. The skin is particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress due to the elements, UV exposure and poor diet. In order to fight oxidative stress and to repair free radical damage, antioxidants are a necessity.

How Does Diet Affect Skin Health?

When most people think of skin health, they immediately think of the finest external skincare products that money can buy. The fact remains; the skin is most susceptible to change, both positive and negative, based on diet. There is certainly nothing wrong with applying high-quality skincare products to the outer skin (especially for UV protection), however, achieving healthy skin will always be dependent on what the body is fed. The skin will absorb far more hydration and nutrients internally than it ever could from even the highest quality external application.

Achieving Optimal Skin Health

Skin health begins with a diet rooted in water consumption over sugary, caffeinated or highly acidic beverages. From such a foundation, foods that are high in nutrient quality and quantity will aid in achieving optimal skin health. All the wonderful foods that grow in gardens, as well as in the sea, will serve as the best food options for radiant and healthy skin. Dietary supplements can also greatly aid in filling nutritional gaps. Antioxidants found in vitamins, CoQ10 and carotenoids like astaxanthin are also essential in achieving optimal health and function of the skin.