Nourish the skin with the two substances it relies on most - oil and water. When the body is given the basic nutrients it needs, it responds in kind. Skin disorders or diseases or often external manifestations of any number of internal disorders. Common culprits include gastrointestinal disturbances, autoimmune disease, food allergies, and stress.
Water
Why is hydration important to the skin? The skin is the body's largest organ, and water is the most abundant substance in the body. In fact, nearly all biochemical reactions that occur in human cells depend on water. Human skin is a barrier between the internal and external environments, protecting the body from UV radiation, harmful substances, invasion by infections, etc.
Besides its vital physiological functions, the skin plays a significant role in the well-being and in physical attractiveness. Appearance of the skin is primarily determined by its surface texture, color, and properties such as elasticity, sweat, and scent.
Proper hydration enables the skin to maintain a supple, smooth, and flexible texture with elasticity. Classical symptoms of dry skin include roughness in texture and appearance, flaking, peeling and feeling of skin tightness, scaling, pruritis, and inflammation. When the skin becomes dry its barrier function is compromised. Dry skin increases susceptibility to infection, sun damage, and dermatitis. Keeping the skin hydrated is a crucial element of basic skin care. I suggest drinking one-half of your ideal body weight as ounces of filtered pure water.
Nourishing Oils
The skin's protective outer layer is dependent on a steady supply of quality dietary fat to maintain its fatty acid-rich intercellular domain. The lipid-rich intercellular domain serves as moisture barrier between the skin and the outside world.
For optimal physiology a 2:1 or 4:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 is generally recommended, but with today's Western diet rich in saturated fats this ratio is often way off. The right balance of omega-3 and omega-6 acids allows the cell the right flexibility and fluidity and has a profound influence on all the body's inflammatory responses. Foods high in omega-3 include fatty fish such as salmon, sardines; algae, chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds, walnuts and edamame.
Conclusion
Dietary supplementation with essential fatty acids and proper hydration are part of a basic treatment plan to improve skin health and appearance.
