Radiant skin

The skin is the body’s largest organ — each human adult has a total surface area of about 10 square feet of skin, or approximately six pounds of skin cells.

by Dr. Renee Waldman — 

The skin is the body’s largest organ — each human adult has a total surface area of about 10 square feet of skin, or approximately six pounds of skin cells. Our skin serves to protect us from the constant onslaught of environmental stressors in various ways. Not only does it act as a barrier against pollutants, but it also plays a key role in helping us absorb healthful substances like light, oxygen and moisture, as well as helping eliminate waste products from our systems.

Our skin is vital to our health and a direct reflection of our well-being. We all desire soft, smooth, supple complexions that are radiantly youthful. So what is the single most important consideration in keeping our skin healthy?

Healthy skin is an “inside” job — skin that is happy on the inside is happy on the outside. There are a number of easy ways to support our skin’s appearance and function. (See below.)

The top age accelerators are stress and negative emotions. Think about the simple ease with which we can predict how someone’s day has gone just by examining his or her face. But remember — we not only wear stress on our faces, we also carry it in our cells.

Our moods and attitudes continually affect our physiology. Negative states trigger the formation of powerful stress hormones like cortisol, and positive states activate the formation of highly beneficial substances like endorphins and enkephalins. The more time we engage in rejuvenating activities that promote positive, relaxed and meditative states, the more our cells are revitalized.

For example, growth hormone is a substance that sustains youthfulness and vitality by promoting efficient metabolism, lean body mass and healthy bone density. Our pituitary gland is stimulated to release growth hormone whenever we sleep, exercise, meditate or visualize. Therefore, even though its production diminishes with age, we can still help sustain optimal levels of this hormone by engaging in the very activities which trigger its release.

All of these are important factors to be considered when establishing a comprehensive approach to the promotion and maintenance of vibrantly healthy skin. Start a new skin care routine today for radiantly healthy skin tomorrow.

Support your skin’s appearance and function

• Consume a healthy, natural diet comprised of organic foods that are free of hormones and pesticides.
• Drink plenty of purified water to enable proper and efficient elimination.
• Use nontoxic, safe ingredients in shampoos, makeup and other skincare products.
• Use sunscreen (with a minimum of SPF 15) daily, even on overcast days.
• Have a weekly exercise regimen to promote and improve circulation (ideally, four to five 30-minute sessions of aerobic activity, with four to five 15-minute sessions of resistance training).
• Get adequate sleep every night.
• Implement a routine practice of meditation, visualization or yoga.

Dr. Renee Waldman, a naturopathic physician, is one of the founders of Wellness Effect, and has helped individuals achieve states of emotional balance through the benefits of color, light, sound and aroma within a 30-minute experience. 602-687-9477, DrWaldman@WellnessEffect.com or www.wellnesseffect.com.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 26, Number 6, December 2007/January 2008.