Guest Blog: Help Yourself to Healthy Skin

Alison Cullen BA (Hons), DN, DNT (Dist) is a nutritional therapist with a busy practice in Glasgow, Scotland. She has worked in the health industry since 1987 and currently combines her practice with the role of Education Manager for the leading herbal remedy company, A. Vogel Herbal Remedies.

There are many factors that can affect the health of our skin - age, heredity, diet and stress to name but a few.  The condition of our skin can say a lot about our general health so it’s worth paying attention to any problems that may arise and looking after it as best we can. After all, skin is the largest organ in the body.

The health of your skin depends on the nutrients brought to it in the bloodstream e.g. if you are lacking in zinc, vitamin A or essential fatty acids then your skin will be dry, flaky or irritated and slow to heal.   Foods that affect the skin are wheat, dairy products, additives such as monosodium glutamate, fatty or fried food and over-processed, refined foods.  Alcohol, nicotine and sugar are also recognised as having an adverse effect on the skin.  Your diet should contain lots of antioxidants such as fresh fruits and vegetables.  The antioxidants beta-carotene, vitamins C, E and the mineral selenium are thought to delay the appearance of lines and wrinkles and also feed collagen, the substance that keeps our skin flexible and elastic.

Puffiness and swelling of the skin can be improved by reducing your salt intake.  Avoid highly spiced foods and use a low salt alternative or herbal seasoning salt in place of your usual table salt.

If toxins are not removed from the body via the bowel, liver, kidney or lungs, they can come out via the skin instead, sometimes causing blemishes to appear. To keep your skin hydrated and to aid proper elimination of toxins through the kidneys and colon drink a minimum of 6-8 glasses of water every day.  This will help reduce bags under the eyes caused by kidney strain and keep skin looking fresh and dewy-looking.

Cut down on your intake of caffeine in the form of tea, coffee and fizzy drinks. These can drain moisture from the body and promote constipation.  Opt for herbal teas or coffee substitutes instead.   If you are constipated, skin problems can become worse so it’s important to include lots of fibre in your diet.   Fibre increases the volume and softness of bowel content and hastens its passage through the gut, preventing constipation. 

If you don’t get enough sleep you will have more wrinkles and skin impurities as you are not allowing your body the time it needs to recover and repair. 

To help prevent the appearance of spots and blemishes wash and cleanse the skin thoroughly on a daily basis. To replace the moisture and improve the condition of the skin use a herbal cream containing extracts of echinacea and viola tricolor.  The herb echinacea has antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties and can be used in the treatment of many skin problems.  Applied topically, it assists and speeds up wound healing.

If you are stressed it will show in your face.  You will look tired, your skin will be pale, shadows will appear under the eyes and possibly an outbreak of spots due to stress hormones. Make exercise part of your daily routine. Anything to get your blood pumping and your skin glowing. Aim to get out into the fresh air as often as possible to get some colour back into your complexion and make sure to set aside some ‘me time’ every day to keep those worry lines at bay.