It has been said time and again that the skin is the body's largest organ. It protects us from the elements, provides insulation during cold, and protects all other vital organs and tissues.  So it comes as no surprise that the skin serves as a reflection of one's over-all general health.  For instance, if someone is ill, malnourished or anemic they may appear pale and translucent.  If someone has hormonal imbalance or inflammation their body may develop acne or redness in the skin.  Vitamin deficiencies may manifest as brittle nails, dry flaky skin and even hair loss and texture changes. BEING HEALTHY is a beautiful thing!  So, when health is compromised we often look much older than our chronological age.   

Until the practice of aesthetics and cosmetic medicine arrived, many of us had to rely upon cosmetic counter advice for warding off the effects of aging and damaged skin.  Today, with a simple plan and a little maintenance skin can be repaired and rejuvenated!  You are likely to live longer than any generations before you, so an approach that combines options for healthy aging combined with professional skin solutions makes sense.

1.  Feed Your Skin -- The same diet you require to keep your body lean and tone is the same one you need to maintain clear, healthy skin. Lean protein from fish, skinless chicken, and legumes helps build collagen, a key building block for skin. Fresh fruits and vegetables provide vitamins and other antioxidants that aid in wound healing and skin health.  An adequate intake of magnesium, selenium, zinc and B vitamins, along with other micro-nutrients, is also essential.  Most people do not achieve sufficient levels of these by diet alone, so supplementing with a pharmaceutical grade multi-vitamin is often recommended.   Also, don't forget to drink lots of water to keep your skin and other organs detoxified.  Filtered or reverse osmosis water may have some added health benefits.

2.  Get Lean and Clean - physical activity, emotional stress, chemical exposure and even the weather contribute to the buildup of sweat, oil, and other debris on your skin. Cleanse every day with products geared toward your skin's unique needs.  No matter what your skin type, resurfacing the skin daily in some way is essential to improving the health and appearance of the skin.  Some of our favorites include topical alpha/beta hydroxys, retinoids, and antioxidants. 

3.  Soft and Smooth -- Dryness can become a significant problem as you age and hormones and/or nutrition changes. This is often the result of depleted essential fatty acids or specific hormone deficiencies.  For men, shaving and cleansing will strip your skin of protective moisture and oil.  High grade fish oil taken by mouth, like sockeye salmon oil or other omega 3 sources, in a dose of 2-4 grams per day, can enhance the moisture factor of your skin while also providing some additional overall health benefits.  Hydrating from the inside out is always best, but when extra moisture is needed consider some advanced products that are now available.  Products containing measured active ingredients like peptides, hyaluronic acid, grape seed extract, and vitamins C&E are a good choice.  Be careful not to grab just any moisturizer as it may do more harm than good.  Ingredients like mineral oil and certain parabens have been observed to cause breakouts or increased sensitivity to already compromised skin in some individuals. 

4.  Patrol the Moles -- Men suffer higher rates of skin cancer compared to women. Early detection is one key to a good prognosis. Visit a qualified physician once a year for a professional evaluation, learn how to perform a skin self-exam  and check your skin markings about once a month.  If your skin has endured significant sun damage you may consider early treatment with non-surgical procedures such as photodynamic therapy (PDT) to clear skin of sun damage, pigmentation and pre-cancer lesions.  Even in winter the following areas should have sunscreen daily:  face, ears, neck, chest, and backs of hands. 

5.  Sun Protection: Get Personal -- One sunscreen cannot fit everyone because skin tone and type has a critical influence on your risk for UV damage.  The sun protection factor (SPF) ratings, while still important, are beginning to take a back seat to the proposed FDA 5-star classification system that better predicts protection against harmful UVA rays.  This system will rate sunscreens for UVA coverage in addition to the SPF rating. It will also make SPF 50 the highest allowable rating claim and discourage vague claims like "waterproof" or "sweat proof", from use on the label. A daily-use broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 may be all you need.  There are many cosmetically elegant sunscreens that contain friendlier forms of zinc oxide which can provide added protection against the shorter UVA wavelengths which are thought to be more harmful, and contribute more to aging. Science also suggests that adding antioxidants like topical L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to the skin can provide even further protection against UV damage.  Also, don't neglect the neck, chest, ears, and hands when applying these products.

Consulting with a medical professional who specializes in Cosmetic Medicine and Healthy Aging is the best way to ensure that you have access to the technology, science and products available for great skin.