Natural skin care enables the body to do what it naturally does to keep its skin healthy. That means the natural repairing and regenerating mechanism of the body that works in all its systems lets the skin takes care of its own self without the need of any chemicals and synthetic materials introduced into or placed on top of it. That points to one thing; skin condition is highly determined by how healthy the body is.
Dermatologists know that the physical and emotional state of a person is reflected in the condition of his or her skin. The skin will always show the environmental circumstances through which it has been. From one particular state to another, its condition varies according to changes in the habits and practices that rule the life of the person whose body it is covering.
Habits and practices that affect the body affect its dermal covering, and it is not surprising that those habits and practices that benefit the general health of the body produce clear and beautiful skin. Viewed through that perspective, it can be seen that it is actually logical and physiologically accurate to call the cultivation of health giving habits and practices as “natural skin care”.
One of the most important skin care measure, which probably need to be mentioned first, is the drinking of the right amount of water every day. Seventy-five percent of the human body is made up of water, and it must maintain a precise level of hydration all the time. When body fluids fall below normal the cells that make up the tissues of the body shrivel like dried up leaves and it is the skin tissue that shows that condition almost immediately. Correct hydration does not only mean the water content of the body, like filling up a container. It also means balanced distribution of nutrients and efficient disposal of metabolic byproducts that can become toxic to body tissues if they are retained. Water is the carrier of nutrients that is needed in every part of the body and when there is less of it the body gives the priority of supply to organs that are primarily vital to its survival, like the brain, heart and lungs, and the skin gets less of the “water-borne” nutrition as water is “diverted” away from it to other parts of the body. Less water also means less efficient disposal of metabolic wastes. Normally, one of the means employed by the body to get rid of things it no longer needs or are harmful to it is perspiration. When there are not enough body fluids to produce perspiration, its outlets in the skin may practically become clogged up with metabolic wastes, retaining toxic materials that can cause skin cells to age and die faster than their ability to regenerate. Drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water every day can help the body maintain a correct hydration level, which can support balanced distribution of nutrients and efficient disposal of metabolic wastes and toxic materials.
A nutritionally well-balanced diet and good eating habits should be an obvious part of every skin care measure. Unprocessed foods, like fresh fruits and vegetables, are better than those that are loaded with sugar, salt and preservatives and have been stripped of their health giving vitamins and minerals through processing. Whole grain products are healthier to eat than the factory refined. It pays to know what types of foods can produce in you allergic reactions, and for that matter, it is wise to discover why your body could be making such reactions.
A well-balanced routine of regular physical activity and sleep is important to natural skin care. Regular exercise not only tones the muscles but also boost the flow of blood circulation, ensuring the balanced distribution of nutrients and efficient disposal of metabolic wastes and toxic materials that should not be allowed to accumulate, particularly in skin tissues. Sleeping time is the time for the body to catch up with cell regeneration and tissue repairs that cannot be optimized during the awake-period when it also has to deal with the facilitation, processing and effects of normal life activities. Sleep-debt shows in the skin because skin cells degenerate faster than the cells of other tissues in the body, and when the time to optimize cell regeneration is shortened, as when normal sleeping time is drastically reduced, more of the skin cells can die before new ones can replace them. In many cases the skin can actually appear dried up and scaly after prolonged sleep deprivation. Physical exercise helps keep the skin well nourished and free from toxic materials while sleep enables it to keep up with the constant need of cell regeneration. A good balance between the two can already almost ensure the appearance of a clear skin that glows with health.
Simply keeping then skin clean is one important way to care for it naturally. Taking a daily shower, wearing clean clothes and sleeping on clean beddings can protect the skin from microbes and insects that can be sources of infection that can damage the skin. Many skin disorders, like pimples and boils, are caused by micro-organisms that have been allowed to stay on the skin unwashed and have found their way through skin pores or cuts in the epidermis and have infected the sensitive layer underneath.
The role of stress is one factor that needs to be pointed out when skin care is talked about. Stress affects all organs and every part of the body. It disrupts normal body functions and causes the systems of the body to operate in ways that has degenerative effects. It can induce allergic reactions, inflammations and faster cell degeneration. On the skin, it can cause acne, pimples and boils to appear. Psoriasis, which is an extremely rapid degeneration of skin cells, often affects people who are stressed. Being able to cope with stressful situations is important to skin care. Exercise, adequate sleep, balance diet and enough daily water consumption help much in enabling a person to cope with stress. Many boost their stress-coping capacity by taking vitamin supplements, taking a bubble bath, listening to music and by doing activities that discipline the mind and the body like yoga exercises.
Outdoor activities can be very healthy, but prolonged exposure to the sun is really damaging to the skin. The number of cases of skin cancer is currently on the rise. It appears to have direct relationship with the growing attraction of people to activities and vacation plans that put them under the direct rays of the sun. The sun easily burns the skin and the blisters may take a long time to heal. The body also gets easily dehydrated in sun-drenched places. Many times, amidst all the fun of the outdoors, this fact becomes neglected. It may be realized, if at all, only later after the skin wrinkles have become evident. To enjoy the sun without the resulting damage to the skin it is wise to use a hat, an umbrella or a long sleeved white shirt, when long exposure to the sun is anticipated.