Look After Yourself…
Many aspects of lifestyle, including stress, cigarette smoking and sun bathing or UV tanning may lead to premature ageing of the skin. The skin is our largest organ. It functions as a protective covering, a key sensing organ, an oil producer, and an important organ of elimination. Through regular evaporation and perspiration the skin can clear all types of toxins to help maintain internal balance. The skin must be well nourished to stay healthy. It needs good circulation through its millions of tiny capillaries, good nerve function, and a ready supply of nutrients to aid its rapid growth.

Our skin surface reflects the health of the underlying organs and our internal body function. By looking at the skin, tongue surface, eyes, and hair quality one can get a good idea of an individual's general health, vitality and internal balance. In Chinese medicine the skin colouration around and under the eyes reflect the health of the different organs.

The condition of the skin and tissue around the eyes can suggest other problems too. Signs of fatigue and increased ageing lines or dark circles under the eyes may indicate stress or weak adrenal-kidney energy. Puffiness may mean water kidney imbalance. Wrinkled bags under the eyes can show colon congestion/imbalance. Allergies may be revealed by slightly puffy or pitted dark circles. Many skin problems can be treated by strengthening the function of these organs.

To keep our skin healthy it is most important to take good overall care of ourselves. Drinking adequate amounts of water may be the single most important factor in healthy skin and good eliminative functions. Two litres a day of quality drinking water is the suggested average, but this may vary for different individuals, according to a number of factors. More water is needed for a rich, fatty diet than with a lot of fruit and vegetables; with a high activity level than with a sedentary lifestyle; with hot dry weather than with cold and damp; in summer than in winter. Caffeinated and sugary drinks should be taken only in moderation.

No smoking for healthy skin! The smoke and chemical irritation, besides causing a variety of serious medical conditions, causes rapid ageing of the skin, especially around the mouth and eyes. The effect of smoking on the ageing process is due mainly to an increase in free radicals, which are damaging to the skin cells in the dermis as well as to the cells in our inner organs and tissue linings.

Smoking has a drying effect and the many toxic chemicals present in the tobacco can cause more chronic irritation internally. Equally bad can be pleasure drugs such as cannabis, ‘E', cocaine and heroin.

Excessive exposure to ultraviolet light can reduce elasticity and tone and cause premature aging. Use a good antioxidant cream with a mineral sunscreen (like our Solace Active Day Cream).

Diet

Do eat:

• Fresh fruit and vegetables
• Vegetable oils (especially Olive and flaxseed oils)
• Seeds and nuts
• Fresh fish
• Eggs, poultry and meat in moderation

Skin-Supporting Nutrients:

We also recommend taking Alpha Lipoic Acid and Co Enzyme Q10 daily as these are powerful antioxidants that can help protect against premature aging.

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