Skin Nutrition
By Pam Patterson

Does beautiful skin really begin within? The answer is yes. Unless you have subjected your skin to much sun over the years, much of the damage you see came from poor nutrition, smoking, drugs, alcohol, stress, acne and hormonal changes. As an Esthetician, I have seen people spend a lot of money having skin treatments, lasers and cosmetic surgery. Although these treatments are beneficial and sometimes necessary, treatments alone are not going to change your overall health or appearance.

Lets look at what you can do internally to reflect externally. Can you take a single vitamin combination that is designed for the skin? Yes and no. If you are generally healthy, eat right, and take a multi vitamin, an additional skin vitamin may help.

Unfortunately, the majority of us are not generally healthy, do not eat right, don`t exercise enough,  don’t get enough sleep, take medications and are nutritionally deplete.
Deficiencies of water-soluble vitamins are more likely to occur than fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies. The lack of any vitamin can cause many varied symptoms. Problems with hair, skin, eyes, mouth, blood and muscles as well as behavior, digestive, reproductive and neurological systems can all occur from a deficiency of any single or several vitamins.

Seeking a professional will get you on the right track. People go to the vitamin counter and find something they hear on TV or in the news. We hear something has great benefit and think it will help solve a problem. Then in one to two months, we generally give up and try something new. Our bodies are much more complex than that. At least 120 days is needed to make any significant change. Sticking with a program and making it a way of life is the best way to benefit your skin and overall health.

What vitamins or minerals are needed to reverse damage and protect the skin? Vitamins C, E, A, also Selenium, Zinc, and Niacin are important to skin health. B Complex is essential as well. Some non-specific symptoms of B complex deficiencies include rough, dry, cracked, scaly skin and dull, dry hair.

Amino acids, which are building blocks of protein, can be derived from a variety of protein sources and are beneficial for skin health. A high quality multivitamin/ mineral supplement and  good organic foods will help supply daily needs.

There is a nutrient polyphenol compound found in organic red wine, called Resveratrol, that is sweeping the nation and gaining huge interest in the medical journals for its ability to cause death of cancer cells including skin cancers. Resveratrol is also known for its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. There are countless studies being done on the wide range of health benefits.

Before you go out and start drinking red wine, the resveratrol content is highest in organic red wine from certain areas of Europe. The processing also affects the potency of resveratrol left in the wine. The best way to insure you are getting reservatrol is to get it from a standardized extract on a daily basis. Standardization ensures a consistant amount of reserveratrol with consistent high quality.

Additional skin and health benefits come from a variety of potent antioxidants including Ellagic Acid found in pomegranates. Essential Fatty Acids are found in fish oils and flax seed. Essential Fatty Acids are essential for the support of the skin, hair, and nails. EFAs are necessary for the structure and function of every cell membrane in the body.

Hyaluronic Acid is another essential for the skin. It is known for its moisture binding ability. Hyaluronic Acid is essential for cell regeneration, elasticity, and overall vitality and supports a smooth, elastic skin.

I have seen much improvement in the facial skin after clients have used good quality home care and facial treatments that contain important nutrients, antioxidants and hydration and sun protection. However, the skin is the largest organ of the body, and treated areas always look better than the overall skin.