Home > Tips for Healthy Skin

Are you showing more skin these days? Don't take that the wrong way - with spring here and summer on the way, it is an important time of the year to focus on your skin. It seems like now more than ever our appearance matters most. Since the skin is the largest organ you have (shocking I know - you thought it was your heart), we need to take special care both inside and out.

Before I get into the supplement angle, I want to bring up something that often gets overlooked - filtered water. More specifically, filtering the water you bathe in. It is imperative to use a shower filtration device if you want to have the healthiest skin possible. Your skin is like a sponge. It soaks up whatever it comes in contact with. In this case, the toxins in your water will be absorbed into your blood stream, and over a period of time can lead to some serious health issues. Skin conditions such as: acne, itching, rashes, etc. can all be caused by the water you bathe with. Your local Vitamin Shoppe stocks shower filtration devices that are very easy to install. Believe it or not, your skin will feel smoother and your hair will look significantly better just by using one of these devices.

Is beauty only skin deep? NO!My experience is that you need to work on your outer appearance by starting inside the body. Proper nutrition and the use of dietary supplements is the best way to achieve great skin. I start with Antioxidants which help your body fight the free radical damage that causes us to age. Wrinkles, age spots and skin cancer all have links back to free radical damage. The following are a few of the more popular Antioxidants I would use to help reduce free radical damage:

Another key to great looking skin is using EFA (Essential Fatty Acid) supplements. As with most health challenges, I prefer Fish Oil (Coromega, Nordic Naturals or Carlson) for skin health. Supplementing with 2-5 grams of Fish Oil per day will help your skin look healthy, smooth and supple in only a few weeks. My mother thanks me regularly for recommending Fish Oil to her years ago for her constant itchy skin. Most medical doctors told her to use creams and lotions with no results. Only a few days of using fish oil made a dramatic change in her skin. If you are a vegetarian, then I would use an oil blend like Udo's Perfected Blend (Flora).

Don't forget to hydrate! If you don't water your plants they will dry up and die. Your skin will too. Drink plenty of purified water each day to help rehydrate and detoxify your skin. Since your body is made up primarily of water, it is important to make sure you are well hydrated. I have seen many people have wrinkles disappear just by consuming more water alone. Give it a try; your body will thank you.

In addition to those supplements mentioned above, internal cleansing is a major key to skin health and appearance. On my message board (www.vsconnect.com) skin questions are very popular. One of the main recommendations I have for many skin health challenges is to detoxify the body. (My Philosophy - you are on the outside what your body looks like on the inside.) I start with a total system cleanse (CleanseSmart, Whole Body Cleanse, Total Cleanse, etc.). This type of cleansing works on most of the major systems of the body - including the skin. Upon completion, I usually recommend continuing to cleanse using a gentle daily detox (Flor-Essence tea) for a few months. If you like the results you are getting, I would continue to use the tea on an everyday basis. Remember to drink plenty of water, use a probiotic and eat a high fiber diet while cleansing.

Finally, there are supplements that you can buy in an external form. There are an abundance of products available.

MOISTURIZERS:Palm oil, Almond oil and Shea butter.

ITCHY OR IRRITATED SKIN:Calendula, Lavender or Chamomile

ANTIOXIDANTS:(Ubiquinol) CoQ10, Green Tea, E, Alpha Lipoic acid and Berry extracts

The more popular brands of natural products to consider are Aubrey Organics, Kiss My Face, Jason Natural Cosmetics, Burt's Bee's, Body Care, Avalon Natural Products and Tom's of Maine. It may not even be fair to stop at this short list, but you can consult with a store expert for more information on the line of topical products that will be right for you.

Other aspects that will positively impact your outer appearance are: