Good Skin Health: The Bad, The Good, The Great
“Our skin serves a critical function in protecting our muscles, bones, and internal organs.” (Courtesy Thinkstock.com)
Did you know we are made up of 70 percent water, and without our skin, we would not be able to survive?
Our skin synthesizes critical vitamins, such as vitamin D and B; however, most people vastly underestimate the importance of good skin health.
Our skin serves a critical function in protecting our muscles, bones, and internal organs. It’s the most fascinating insulator as it regulates our body temperature and allows us to sense the outside world.
Here in Dallas, as in all sun-drenched climates, our skin protects us from ultraviolet rays, which damage our DNA. This harm causes inflammation, redness, uneven pigmentation, brown spots, thin skin, and loss of elasticity. For most women, increased pore size and uneven texture is particularly troublesome.
By now you are probably asking, what can I do to protect my skin? Sun avoidance would be ideal, but extremely impractical and absolutely no fun at all.
It is important to note that in the United States we receive 80 percent of our sun damage between the ages of 18 and 25. Ironically, these are the years our skin appears as perfect as it will ever be, so we can become overconfident. It is critical for our children and really, all of us, to use sunscreen every day as we get bombarded with damaging rays, even when driving our cars. Sun protection embedded in hats and clothing is helpful as well.
For those of us who missed the memo on sun protection in our youth, the damage is done. That is the bad news.
The good news is, today we can reverse those changes to a variable, but significant degree in most cases. I recommend starting with a comprehensive skin care plan, based on your own skin characteristics and preferences.
Today, there are “med spas” seemingly on every corner due to the widespread nature of sun damage, but they are not all created equal. It is critical, in my opinion, to make sure a physician who is trained and dedicated to quality skin care solutions is directing the treatments.
It has been proven and published in the Journal of Scientific Dermatology that a specific light-based therapy, “Broad Band Light” or “BBL, used three times yearly, produces not only a clearly improved skin appearance, it actually changes your DNA to a more youthful expression. That is great news. This light therapy reduces unwanted red and brown age spots and improves texture as well as pore size. Other outpatient treatments such as the Halo laser can improve mild to moderate wrinkles.
More aggressive treatments are recommended for severe sun damage or deep wrinkles, but excellent results can be achieved even in these advanced cases.
Now you’ve heard the bad, the good, and the great. I hope this information is useful in spurring you on to great skin health.
