Looking At The Skin From Within

The skin is the largest organ in your body. It’s a complex, vital organ, set up to protect you from all the elements on the outside that are working against you, 24 hours a day. Your skin is helping you communicate with the world what’s happening on the inside of your body.

What’s the skin?

The food that we consume has a profound impact on all parts of the system in our body. The gut is a tropical rainforest in the human universe. It’s a biome that needs to be nurtured and cared for. 60% of our skin issues originates in the gut. Irritated skin is a telltale sign that something is out of balance on the inside. Our Omega-3-levels need to be in balance for the cells in our body to function properly, but this essential fatty acid has huge dermalogical benefits too.

People need to start building a routine to care for themselves all around, including the skin.

Functions of the skin:

• Covers the body and prevents water loss
• Protects the body from injury and infection
• Regulates body temperature
• Eliminates waste (i.e. sweat)
• Produces vitamins
• Gathers information about the environment
• Stores fat for fuel / insulation

Skin Types And Skin Conditions

There are five basic types of healthy skin: normal, dry, oily, combination and sensitive skin. Skin type is determined by genetics.

What is your skin type?

The first four skin types are characterized by pore size and oil production:

1. Normal skin types yet visible pores throughout the face and may get an oily shine in the center of the face mid-day/end of day. Normal skin is best defined as what it is not: neither oily nor dry, rarely sensitive and not particularly problematic.
2. Dry skin types have very fine, nearly invisible pores with no oily shine to the complexion. This thin, delicate skin is more prone to flaking, rough texture, and fine lines than others.
3. Combination skin types have either normal/oily or normal/dry characteristics. Their pore size may be visible through the t-zone and they may develop an oily shine through the center of the face.
4. Oily skin types have large pores that are visible throughout the face to the hairline. This thicker, more resilient skin typically develops an oily shine in the morning and/or shortly after cleansing. Oily skin happens when the sebaceous glands in the skin produce too much sebum. Sebum is the waxy, oily substance that protects and hydrates the skin. Sebum is vital for keeping the skin healthy. However, too much sebum can lead to oily skin, clogged pores, and acne. The final two skin types can’t be determined by pure observation and require further investigation before categorizing someone as either one:
5. Sensitive skin is a skin condition that is easily irritated by different factors, that are generally tolerated by well-balanced skin, such as skincare products or high and low temperatures. For some people, sensitive skin is a permanent condition, for others, sensitivity is triggered by certain internal and external factors. It occurs when skin’s natural barrier function is compromised, causing water loss and allowing penetration of irritants. Symptoms are exacerbated by factors that facial skin is most exposed to, from the sun to some ingredients in skincare products.
6. Acne skin is a skin condition and not just reserved for those in their teen years. It is a super common skin condition affecting an estimated 9.4% of individuals globally; and despite popular belief, it fails to discriminate based on age range or skin type. It occurs when pores become impacted with sebum and dead skin cells plugging the pores, and causing clusters of pimples known as breakouts.