Pg. 70-79 10 minute read
Within just one square inch of skin, there are millions of cells, 650 sweat glands, 20 feet of blood vessels, and thousands of sensory receptors. The skin acts as the principal barrier protecting our internal bodies from the external environment while also serving critical roles in sensing our surroundings. What happens within each layer of the skin is mind-boggling. The brain and the skin affect each other. For example, when we get nervous, we may sweat or get flushed skin. Short-term stressors such as a little nervousness will not leave lasting effects on our skin, but repeated bouts or longer-term stress will.
Emotionally, skin is the face we want to show to the world. Skin reflects self-image; skin disorders can challenge self-confidence and self-esteem and interfere with social connections. Even though many skin conditions are not life-threatening, people with skin conditions may experience significant psychological distress. Unresolved inner tensions may manifest through conditions like acne or rosacea. Diseases showing up on the skin may be a cry for help when one cannot communicate it; otherwise, the body speaks it for them. If you tend toward skin issues, exploring what you need to shed or express may be worth investigating. You may want to try on a new skin. Our skin reveals much about our interior physical and mental well-being. By seeing "skin deep" as so much more than surface level, we gain a fuller appreciation for this remarkable organ and how best to care for it.
Ultimately, having healthy skin requires more than topical treatments – our lifestyle choices like diet, hydration, stress management and use of cleansers and skin care products all impact the skin's condition from the inside out and outside in. Let's dive in by starting with cleansers. Avoiding harsh soaps that strip the acid mantle and using slightly acidic moisturizers can help maintain this protective barrier. Modern-day soaps and toiletries deteriorate our skin; for example, the acid mantle, the outermost layer of the epidermis, is a thin layer of lipids and sweat with a pH of 4–6.5. We want our skin to be acidic! This acidity is what kills harmful bacteria and fungi on our skin, and it also helps protect it. Soap products are highly alkaline, which neutralizes the skin's natural defences. When the acid mantle loses its acidity, the skin becomes more prone to damage, infection, irritation, and sensitivity.
Massaging any suitable carrier oil on the skin nourishes skin microbes. We want our skin microbes to hang out with us; if you have a visitor and you don't feed them, they are going to need to leave to get food. Skin microbes reduce skin infections – this is why dry skin is more prone to infection. The good microbes block bad bacteria from getting into our skin, protecting us, and we have evidence showing our skin microbes communicate with our gut microbes, improving overall immunity.
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