Holistic skin care is a relatively new practice that deals with treating your skin from a “whole” approach. It views the whole picture to go past your visible external symptoms, to understand the underlying cause of your skin imbalances so that it is a lot more than just skin moisturizers and cleansers. It’s all about understanding your body so that you can address the issues underlying your skin, not just your skin conditions. If you’ve got a poor diet, don’t get enough sleep or are exposed to environmental irritants then your skin is going to show it.
Most people are reluctant to try this approach as they are afraid of what they will find – a new style of dermatology, different approaches to treatment, using unfamiliar (and often cheaper) skin care products. The truth is, most people are simply not trained in this area. So, an experienced esthetician might be a great person to refer you to.
The term “holistic skin care” can mean a number of things. Basically it just means using a whole range of healthy skin care ingredients. These can include some prescription acne medication and/or prescription sunscreen and moisturiser. You should never have to pay for something you can get elsewhere, but there are some times when paying for a prescription product can make sense. Here are some ingredients that you can use and where to get them from:
Vitamin E is one of the most common ingredients in acne skin care products, but it is also very useful for healthy skin. It repairs and rejuvenates your skin and helps it to stay looking youthful for longer. In many ways, vitamin E is a type of antioxidant – it stops free radicals from destroying cells and damaging tissue. Free radicals are produced as a by-product of the body’s ability to produce collagen and elastin.
Research has shown that stress can have serious repercussions on health and the appearance of the skin. A good holistic skin care product will contain plenty of vitamins, antioxidants and stress-relieving elements. Stress can be reduced by incorporating regular exercise into your lifestyle and avoiding environmental stresses. Vitamins A, C & E are all beneficial for reducing stress and taking regular multi-vitamins can further help. In this context, it is important to remember that stress can be caused by anything – bad diets, smoking, high levels of anxiety, excessive caffeine or alcohol intake, not getting enough sleep, or worrying too much about money or other aspects of your life.
Some people don’t like the idea of using skin care products that are mainly natural and holistic. If you feel this way, perhaps it would be best to switch to a product containing more natural ingredients. One such popular choice is Acnezine, a topical medication that fights acne using a range of natural ingredients. Among these, it contains a range of retinol substances such as retinaldehyde, tretinoin and isotretinoin, all of which have been shown to be effective in fighting acne. Other ingredients include Vitamin A, Vitamin B5 and Vitamin E.
Foods that contribute to healthy skin are well-known. For example, fresh vegetables and fruits provide the body with plenty of essential nutrients, such as Vitamins A, C & E, all of which are essential for skin health. The sebum production by the sebaceous glands is stimulated by a healthy diet, too. The body needs a balance of these essential nutrients to keep skin looking smooth and young. Many people often forget about this, failing to make enough healthy foods to support their skin, leading to unhealthy sebum production.
Another way to help control inflammation is through the use of anti-inflammatory foods and ingredients. These can include omega3 fatty acids such as oily fish, flax seed and walnuts. Some research has even suggested that taking a regular fish oil supplement can be beneficial. These types of foods may reduce inflammation, so they could be an effective weapon against the aged, dry skin.
