July 2024: Skin, Your First Line of Defense

As our body's largest organ, skin comprises 15% of our total weight. Our multipurpose skin serves to:

•   Keep out unwanted invaders.

•   Control body temperature.

•   Protect internal organs.

•   Undergo constant renewal.

•   Signal a visible sign of aging

THE SECRET TO YOUNG SKIN

(Thanks to Dr. Anthony Youn, MD)

" If the body is healthy, the skin will be healthy. If you want to look and feel young, you start from the inside."

• The number one thing is the food you eat. Premature skin aging is stopped in its tracks by the antioxidant effect of varieties of fresh fruit, veggies and leafy greens.

Conversely, ultra processed foods plus excessive sugar and highly refined carbs, are a perfect storm for the skin.

• Chronic inflammation ages the skin. The usual suspects are:

Sugar (again).

All fried foods.

Processed vegetable and seed oils.

The CRP blood test will help your doctor determine if chronic inflammation is a problem.

•   Advanced glycation end-products, or AGE, is an unwanted substance resulting from excessive carbs. This sticky substance bonds to the collagen (80% of skin) and elastin, in the skin, further degrading and prematurely aging the skin.

•   French fries release free radicals causing damage to skin cells, induce premature aging, and weaken skin elasticity.

SKIN PROTECTION

Protecting the skin from prolonged exposure to ultra violet light is a major goal. This is true whether, or not, one is dark, medium, or light skinned. Fair skinned people are far more susceptible to UV's dangers than those with more melanin pigmentation in their skins.

Excessive UV radiation can cause skin deterioration in all types of skin, with the potential for skin cancer.

When skin is damaged by UV, such as sunburn, the skin quickly repairs itself assisted by your own supply of stem cells. These stem cells are very limited in quantity, so you don't want to waste them on unnecessary sunburns, but save them for major organ and brain cell repairs as you age.

TO TAN, OR NOT TO TAN

Getting that "outdoorsy" healthy tan will be popular again this summer. Here are some steps to keep you safe when in the sun:

•   If you are fair skinned, and want some natural vitamin D, it's OK to sunbathe without sunscreen, if kept to 10 minutes, or less.

•   Sunscreens are essential for moderate sunbathing, but do not eliminate all risks.

•   Avoid unlimited exposure to the sun, regardless of your skin type, or type of sunscreen.

TURN BACK THE AGING CLOCK WITH AUTOPHAGY

In 2016, the Nobel Prize was awarded for discoveries on how the little known function of autophagy greatly contributed to advances in human health.

Almost all of our some 17 trillion body cells use autophagy for daily housekeeping. That is, the clearing out of cellular waste, and other debris, left over from normal human metabolism. Autophagy can also recycle damaged old cell components, renewing cell efficiency.

A cell without autophagy will slowly die and take out a lot of healthy cells with it, something you don't want for healthy skin, or overall general health.

2024 is the year of autophagy.

Scientists now better understand how autophagy is activated and maintained on an individual basis.

Following these next steps will greatly enhance your skin and health:

•   A regular daily exercise regimen will trigger autophagy to stay up and running.

•   Intermittent fasting tells the body to sustain autophagy. The easiest fasting method is to stop all eating after dinner and wait until the next day. After 12 hours, or more, have passed, resume eating.

Staying permanently in autophagy can be accomplished with either of the above actions. Doing both insures that your autophagy is highly efficient. Doing nothing could result in poor skin and health conditions, the loss of energy, mental decline, and a shortened life.

TAKING CARE OF YOUR SKIN

The skin needs to be nourished and cleansed often, and even more so, as we age.

It's best to know your skin type is oily, or dry, and to use good moisturizers on your face, arms and legs, for hydration and protection. For additional

protection, a good daily sunscreen is essential to prevent skin damage and sunburn.

Lets look at some common skin care products:

•   For a wrinkle free face, Retinol is an excellent option, but must be used with caution to prevent sunburn (best used as a night cream).

•   Collagen keeps the skin looking healthy. It can be taken orally, or in a moisturizer.

•   Vitamin E oil is another good way to keep facial skin in good shape, especially for dry skin.

• a moisturizer.

• Vitamin E oil is another good way to keep facial skin in good shape, especially for dry skin.

Because healthy skin begins on the inside, we want to mention again how important good nutrition becomes as an essential skin aid.

Here are some good dietary examples to help optimize your skin:

• Olive oil

• Avocados

• Berries

• Omega-3 from fish and seafood.

• Hydrate often with good clean water.

SUNSCREENS

The large number of sunscreen products make it difficult to name any. We prefer to let the consumer check with their doctor for what is best for their type of skin.

Roger and Arlene