Skin Care in the 21st Century :: Beauty :: Skin Care

Skin Care in the 21st Century
by author Sonya Bass, CH

Give your skin the nutrients it needs to maintain its elasticity, tone and integrity. You’ll be handsomely rewarded! What happens when you take the largest organ in the body for granted comes a decade later, when fine lines appear, along with dry flaky skin and rough patches.

In the quest to keep skin at its optimum functioning level, the first step is to find out why tone and elasticity decline. More important is why that decline is more rapid in some people. Teams of cosmetologists, scientists, herbalists and consumers have worked together researching the answers. Findings endorse the fact that the skin is a demanding organ. It requires water–lots of water–six to eight glasses a day! It’s also thirsty for nutrients and must have an adequate supply of both water and nutrients in order to replenish the cells of the dermis and epidermis of the skin.

External factors increase the loss of skin integrity and promote premature aging. Free radicals are attack cells and a major factor of aging. Free radical damage can come from overexposure to the sun, smoking, poor eating habits and the pollution we encounter every day in the air and in our homes and work environments.

Damage to the other organs of the body is often not easy to detect, but the skin is visible. In the presence of free radicals the supporting structural components of the skin, elastin and collagen, break down and the result is the fine lines and wrinkles that appear on the epidermis layer.

The Science of Beauty

Topically applied moisturizers are part of our daily skin care regimen. Skin care lotions address the symptoms and are important in supplying hydration to the skin’s surface. Quality products are easily absorbed and don’t leave the skin feeling sticky or oily. However, the underlying cause of premature aging must also be addressed. The solution is simple. When we supply the skin with the nutrients to fight free radicals, the developing dermal cells will be healthy, strong and have elasticity.

Feeding your skin is crucial, much like dietary supplements that help maintain overall good health. Double-blind studies prove that by supplying the skin with adequate moisture and specific nutrients, prevention of further damage is achieved and, in many cases, damage is reversed.

Food supplements for healthy skin are specifically formulated to support the cells of the dermis and epidermis. The choice of ingredients for these capsules is critical: gingko biloba, grape seed extract and gotu kola are selected for their antioxidant properties. Marine extracts and borage oil provide essential fatty acids. Vitamin E and zinc protect against sun damage. Rapid absorption of nutrients, stability of raw ingredients and easy to swallow capsules are also requirements.

Researchers have shown that when skin care capsules are taken over a period of two to four months, the outcome is striking. Changes include a noticeable increase in dermal layer thickness, resulting in diminished fine lines and wrinkles and a considerable increase in the moisture content of skin cells. Other improvements are greater elasticity and a "toned" appearance, all indications of healthy, well-nourished skin.

Sonya Bass has worked in the natural products industry for 15 years. She lives in White Rock, BC.

Source: alive #222, April 2001

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