By: Dr. Loretta Lanphier, ND, CN, HHP, CH

The skin is the largest organ of the body, and the fact is that whether you are pleased with your skin or not, you will have to deal with it for the rest of your life. Your skin serves you in many different ways. It assists in sensory perception; helps to protect you from injuries; works to prevent dehydration; is involved in body temperature maintenance; removes toxins from your system; aids in the synthesis of vitamin D, and provides structural stability to the organs and tissues within your body. Your skin is a hard-working organ that plays a key role in your overall health. It is essential that you care for and maintain it so that it can continue to serve you well throughout your lifetime.

Knowing Your Skin

How well do you really know and understand the particulars of your skin? Is it dry or oily? Sensitive or thick? Do new moles, blemishes, or wrinkles develop easily? Do you notice a difference in how your skin reacts when you change skin care products? Do you have a daily skin care routine?

The health of your skin is critical to your overall wellness. Take some time to examine your skin and become familiar with its various features and characteristics. If you are not satisfied with the current products you are using to care for your skin, maybe it’s time to aim higher and look into quality, natural, organic options that will improve the condition and appearance of your skin.

Skin Care Tip: It may be very helpful to be examined by a natural skin care expert who can help you to understand your skin type, analyze and monitor the condition of your skin, point out any troublesome areas, and suggest skin care products that will best meet your needs.

Protecting Your Skin

One of the best things you can do for the health of your skin is to protect it from the damaging ultraviolet rays of the sun. Excessive exposure to the sun can lead to all kinds of skin troubles, including: skin discoloration, premature aging, sagging, wrinkles, and even cancer. While your summer suntan will fade as the seasons change, the damage to your skin is an ongoing problem. Here are a couple of tips that will greatly minimize skin damage from the sun:

Sun Screen: Use of a natural sunscreen with a minimum SPF rating of 15 is a must. Even if you don’t plan on sunbathing, daily activities such as driving in your car or taking a walk will expose you to the sun as well. Use a natural sunscreen everyday in which you will be getting maximum sun exposure, and if you are exercising or you tend to perspire a lot, reapply it every 2-3 hours.

Reduce Sun Exposure: In addition to wearing sunscreen, it’s a good idea to limit the amount of ultraviolet radiation your skin is exposed to every day. Whenever possible, avoid time outdoors between 10:00AM and 3:00PM when the sun is directly overhead and its rays are most intense. Wearing clothing such as wide brimmed hats, long sleeves, and sunglasses is recommended. If you must be in the sun, try to build your tolerance by gradually extending your exposure by a few minutes every day.

Cleansing Your Skin

In addition to sun protection, proper cleansing of the skin is another vital step you can take to assure healthy skin. Properly washing helps to remove grime, pollutants, dead skin cells, bacteria, cosmetics, perspiration and other toxins that accumulate on your skin. Choose a gentle skin cleanser that is specifically designed for your skin type and particular skin care needs (e.g. oily skin or anti-acne.) Wash your skin at least once in the morning and once before bed, and more often if needed to keep it fresh, clean, and functioning properly.

Skin Care Tip: Never rub skin care cleanser directly into your skin. Instead, lather the soap or gel into in your hands, apply to the skin, and rinse with warm, purified water. This will keep the cleanser from overly drying, clogging, or aggravating your pores.

Maintaining Healthy Skin

Moisturizers: Skin care moisturizers help keep your skin hydrated by locking in natural moisture. They also smooth and soften the skin, and can be especially helpful if you have dry or sensitive skin. Moisturizers can also provide additional protection against the effects of cold, wet, or windy weather.

Lifestyle: Your skin needs a good supply of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients in order to remain well and function properly. Adequate exercise also helps to produce healthy skin by improving circulation, maximizing absorption of nutrients, and effectively removing waste products from your system. Eating wisely and getting plenty of exercise is excellent for your overall health in general, and that of your skin in particular.

Skin Care Tip: Drink a minimum of 6-8 glasses of clean, purified water every day to hydrate the skin and circulate essential nutrients. Be careful to avoid chlorine and other damaging chemicals as well. They can be very hard on your skin. Stay away from chlorinated swimming pools and hot tubs, and it is best to get a filter for your shower that will purge chlorine and other toxins from the water.

About the Author

Loretta Lanphier, ND, CN, HHP, CH is a Doctor of Naturopath (traditional), Clinical Nutritionist, Holistic Health Practitioner and Clinical Herbalist in The Woodlands, TX and Founder / CEO of Oasis Advanced Wellness. Under her leadership, OAW is known and respected as one of the leading companies in providing safe, clean and hi-tech natural health and wellness solutions for whole body wellness. Because of the need for high-end natural and organic skin care products, Dr. Lanphier has developed Oasis Serene Botanicals™, an all-natural skin care line which promotes natural health and anti-aging solutions for the skin. All Oasis Serene Botanicals™ and Oasis Advanced Wellness developed products are free of toxic ingredients, heavy metals, irradiation, excipients and preservatives and are certified organic, organic, wild crafted or of the highest purity and quality that we can obtain while still providing the utmost degree of active ingredients. All products are laboratory tested to ensure that you are getting exactly what the label states. We will never knowingly compromise health in order to provide a cheaper product or to get a product out quickly. Lanphier is Editor and contributor to the worldwide Free E-newsletter Advanced Health & Wellness. Please visit us at Oasis Advanced Wellness, Acne Resource Center, Allergy-Asthma-Sinus Relief Resource Center and www.oasisserene.com

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