Your skin reveals a secret about your health. It will expose you, even if you say you’re feeling “okay” to everyone. I’m not referring to a tan, I’m referring to skin tone, texture and color.
If you are pale, you may be anemic and deficient in iron. It shows up on your skin even if you mask the accompanying fatigue with NoDoz or coffee. Pale skin that is also dry may be a clue to your hypothyroidism, which also causes fatigue and hair loss.
Healthy folks have a good supply of blood flow and oxygen throughout their body, so skin appears rosy and pink, as opposed to people with heart disease, high cholesterol or circulatory disorder.
People with cancer sometimes have grey or blue-tinged skin or lips due to the lack of oxygenated blood.
Asthma requires the use of steroids (i.e. prednisone) which can cause easy bruising; this problem also occurs from aspirin, ginkgo, fish oil and prescription anticoagulants to prevent a stroke or heart attack.
If you are alcohol or nicotine-dependent, you will look older than you should, and have saggy skin because these lifestyle factors attack your collagen and elastin. Drinking and smoking age you inside and out.
Sun worshippers and smokers often have age spots and an uneven skin tone, which is from the ultraviolet light. But this oxidation isn’t happening on your skin surface, it’s also happening to every single organ of your body, including your brain, heart, blood vessels and reproductive organs.
People who suddenly take on a yellow tone may have liver compromise from a drug they’re taking, or from alcohol use. If severe, it’s called jaundice and requires medical attention.
Perhaps you think beauty is only skin deep, but as I’ve shown you, it clearly isn’t. It is a reflection of your body’s general physical health. Radiant youthful-looking skin, hair and nails is actually an inside job.
Reducing your exposure to free radicals can help you obtain gorgeous skin, but of course you need to make sure that you eat right and drink enough water to nourish your body. You’ll also want to minimize the amount of synthetic chemicals (including prescriptions) that you take.
There are a only a handful of supplements that I recommend to help with cell protection, collagen formation and general good health.
Among the best we have biotin, collagen (but only high quality), silica, hyaluronic acid and/or lipoic acid. What you’re going for is a healthy glow to your skin, which – at the end of day – translates to a healthy body.
Here are some of my favorite skin-loving supplements.
- Milk thistle. It’s a food, and also a liver-supporting supplement. Your liver processes everything that goes in your mouth, including alcohol, prescription medications, pesticides, preservatives, additives and artificial colors. Your liver detoxifies everything your body doesn’t need. When your liver falls behind on its job, poisons come out through your skin causing rashes and itchiness. (Avoid milk thistle if you’re allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds or daisies.)
- Collagen. Collagen is a natural component of skin that declines as you age, resulting in thinner, less elastic, saggier skin. You can take collagen in supplement form — known as collagen hydrolysate — that’s derived from cows (so it’s not suitable for vegetarians). Two 2014 studies found oral supplementation with collagen may improve skin elasticity and diminish wrinkles. It’s completely tasteless, so you can stir a dose (usually a teaspoon) of it into your morning coffee or tea.
- Silica. This makes hot springs pretty and blue in color. Silica is a trace mineral that helps soothe psoriasis, eczema and rashes when applied topically. Taken internally, silica helps you make collagen naturally, strengthening your nails.
- Vitamin E. You may think of rubbing vitamin E oil directly on your skin to prevent scars, but taken orally, vitamin E is a powerful cellular antioxidant, which means it gobbles up free radicals that could otherwise potentially damage your skin cells and lead to premature aging. All vitamin E isn’t created equal. Most companies make fake E, or they give you only one part (there are actually eight parts to vitamin E!).
- Zinc. It’s not just for your prostate health or for colds! When you take it orally, this mineral helps your skin repair itself. It also plays a role in managing the production and turnover of skin cells. When I worked in nursing homes with patients who had wounds related to diabetes, gangrenous areas, or decubitis ulcers, we always put them on low-dose zinc, usually 10 to 15mg per day. But be careful with zinc – don’t take too much which could cause a magnesium or calcium deficiency. Minerals have to be in balance for you to have good health.
A licensed pharmacist for over 22 years Suzy Cohen shares the pros and cons of medication use as well as natural substitutions for most any of your health concerns. Visit Suzy's website at www.dearpharmacist.com.